Ray’s Daily
April 7, 2022
Approach each new problem not with a view of finding what you hope will be there, but to get the truth, the realities that must be grappled with. You may not like what you find. In that case you are entitled to try to change it. But do not deceive yourself as to what you do find to be the facts of the situation.
Bernard Baruch
Ray’s Daily first published on April 7, 2005
These are wise words, easy to agree with but often hard to do. I think too many of us lose sight of the value of truth and objectivity as we defend our preconceived notions or our previous positions. I worry sometimes that those who predict the worst are reluctant to embrace something good when it is contrary to their predictions. It seems like many of us feel the need to prove to others that we are right even when we are not.
We see many examples around us every day; take the Iraq situation as an example. We all know that the aftermath of the fall of Saddam did not come close to the rosy picture that had been forecasted, yet there were those who continued to say everything was great even when it wasn’t. What bothers me now is that many of us predicted that the elections would not go well, a government would never be formed, and a total failure of the effort to democratize Iraq. While the jury is still out things have progressed far beyond what was predicted by many astute observers. The problem as I see it is that too many of us are unwilling to admit we were wrong and spend our time trying to convince others that we were right, in spite of the facts. It is sad when that happens. Why don’t we celebrate the good things that happen even though we predicted they wouldn’t?
Life is not a game that is scored by how often we convince others that we are right. It is a result driven game that that is scored by what really happens. It probably would not make that much of a difference if our commitment to our point of view did not often affect the outcome. As an example I sometimes found managers who gave employees negative performance appraisals telling the employee they must improve, even thought they were sure they would not. Too many times the employee would improve but the manager was unwilling to recognize the change because he just could not admit he was wrong, thus resulting in the loss of a potentially good worker.
So please join me as I commit myself to doing everything I can to be objective, and especially to recognize and celebrate the good things that happen in spite of what I may have predicted.
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The greatest and noblest pleasure which men can have in this world is to discover new truths; and the next is to shake off old prejudices.
Frederick The Great
~~~
The artist tried to concentrate on his work, but the attraction he felt for his model finally became irresistible. He threw down his palette, took her in his arms and kissed her.
She pushed him away. “Maybe your other models let you kiss them,” she said.
“I’ve never tried to kiss a model before,” he swore.
“Really?” she said, softening, “How many models have there been?”
“Four,” he replied, “A jug, two apples, and a vase.”
~~~
When the only tool you own is a hammer, every problem begins to look like a nail.
~~~
One Sunday after church Mom asked her very young daughter what that morning’s Sunday school lesson was about.
Her daughter answered, “Don’t be scared, you’ll get your quilts.” Needless to say, Mom was perplexed.
Later in the day, the Pastor stopped by for tea. Mom asked him what that morning’s Sunday school lesson happened to be about.
He said, “Be not afraid, Thy comforter is coming.”
~~~
Heredity is what sets the parents of a teenager wondering about each other.
~~~
Linda: What’s that you’re reading?
Jill: A diary.
Linda: What’s in it?
Jill: I can’t tell you that. A diary is a highly personal and confidential affair, It has important secret dreams and secret yearnings. It’s private. It’s not meant to be shared lightly with other people. And besides, this diary belongs to Margaret.
~~~
Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned, it’s harvest time.
Yiddish saying
~~~
A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night. When they made it to the bedroom, they saw a big brass gong next to the bed.
“What’s a big brass gong doing in your bedroom?” one of the guests asked.
“It’s not a gong. It’s a talking clock,” the drunk replied.
“A talking clock? Seriously?” asked his astonished friend. “Yup,” replied the drunk.
“How’s it work?” the friend asked, squinting at it.
“Watch,” the drunk replied. He picked up the mallet, gave the gong an ear-shattering whack, and stepped back. The three stood looking at one another for a moment.
Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed, “You idiot! It’s ten past three in the morning!”
~~~
Good teachers are the ones who can challenge young minds without losing their own.
~~~
A guy tells his doctor, “I am under a lot of stress.
I keep losing my temper with people and insulting them.
You gotta help me, doctor!”
The doctor says, “Tell me about your problem.”
The guy looks at him and yells, “I just did YOU STUPID S.O.B.!”
~~~
I had a difficult time remembering names until I took that Dave Carnegie course
~~~
An interoffice softball game was held every year between the marketing and support staff of one company.
The support staff whipped the marketing department soundly.
To show just “how” the marketing department earns their keep, they posted this memo on the bulletin board after the game:
“The Marketing Department is pleased to announce that for the 2004 Softball Season, we came in 2nd place, having lost but one game all year. The Support Department, however, had a rather dismal season, as they won only one game.”
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When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
John Ruskin
~~~
Four-year-old Little Johnny asked, “Mummy, where do babies come from?
“The stork, dear.” replied Johnny’s Mom.
“Mummy, who keeps bad people from robbing our house?” Asked Little Johnny.
Johnny’s mother answer, “The police, dear.”
“Mummy, if our house was on fire, who would save us?”
“The fire department, dear.”
“Mummy, where does food come from?”
“Farmers, dear.”
“Mummy?”
“Yes, dear?”
“What do we need Daddy for?”
~~~
The truth which makes me free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear.
Herbert Agar
~~~
Management is not responsible for duplicates from previous dailies. The editor is somewhat senile.
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