It Happens

It starts with Taoism. But I recognize bureaucracy, software development and economics. In:

Taoism Sh.t happens
Confucianism Confucius say: “Sh.t happens”
Buddism If sh.t happens, it is not really sh.t
Zen What is the sound of sh.t happening?
Hinduism This sh.t has happened before
Islam If sh.t happens, it is the will of Allah
Protestantism Let the sh.t happen somewhere else
Catholicism If sh.t happens, you deserve it
Judaism Why does sh.t always happen to us?
Mysticism Just experience sh.t happening
Ascetisim If sh.t happens, renounce it
Agnosticism Nobody knows why sh.t happens
Gnosticism I know why sh.t happens but will not tell you
Atheism Sh.t happens and that is all there is to it
Cathesianism Sh.t happened to me, therefore it exists
Platonism There is ideal sh.t happening somewhere
Stoicism I do not care if sh.t happens
Epicureanism Let us party while sh.t does not happen
Cynism Of course sh.t happens
Occultism Sh.t materializes from other planets of existence
Terrorism Sh.t will happen unless you do as I say
Puritanism S… can happen all day as long as you do not call it that
Behaviourism You are conditioned to having sh.t happen
Freudianism If sh.t happens, it is your mother’s fault
Parapsychology Sh.t happens without material causes
Surrealism Purple sh.t happens near melting clocks
Cubism If sh.t happens, you will not recognise it
Optimism If sh.t happens, we will find a way to use it
Pessimism If sh.t happens, there will not be enough for everybody
Tabloid sensationalism Green sh.t from Mars happens to Elvis clone
Biblical creationism Sh.t happens because God created it
Scientific obscurantism Sh.t happens because it evolved from primitive sh.t
Bureaucracy I do not care if sh.t happens as long as you fill out the forms
Feminism Women demand to have sh.t happen
Ecology If organic sh.t happens, it is OK
Capitalism Let us profit from sh.t happening
Socialism If sh.t happens, let us distribute it evenly
Patriotism Our sh.t is better than your sh.t
Conservatism They don’t make sh.t happen like they used to
Liberalism Sh.t should not happen tomorrow
Classical physics Sh.t does not “happen”, it just moves around
Quantum physics Sh.t happens but you can not say both where and when
Sh.t happens in discrete quanta called shitons
Holistic physics If sh.t happens, it happens everywhere at once
Software development If sh.t happens, we will fix it in the next version
Applied mathematics The probability of sh.t happening approaches unity
Engineering When sh.t happens, paint over
Medicine If sh.t happens, take two aspirin and call me in the morning
Economics Sh.t happens because there is a great demand for it
Politics If sh.t happens, make a deal with it
Diplomacy Let us pretend sh.t does not happen
To which I can already add:
Accountancy However bad, sh.t can be left hidden from sight as long as you can ‘prove’ to not have seen the pile of it that you’re drowning in

If you would have any to add, please do …

Short note: Büro muss sein

Yet again, there was clarification re the demise of organizational culture … into totalitarian bureaucracy, greenwashed in ‘modernity, coolness and hipness’ with some doublespeak / newspeak and beards.(in Dutch >:-|):

Which would be nothing new for you if only you had been reading up on this blog over the past year…

But you didn’t, and maybe I can’t blame you – despite wanting to.
To add to the above, it seems to have escaped many that in the Netherlands, there is no such thing as ‘working’. Oh well, a few underlings do that, apparently. But the masses, and us the elite (quod non), rather dabble in ‘managing’ and ‘leading’ to the extent feasible without being accountable for anything. Because the anything will be failure, and we know that, but just don’t want it to happen on our watch après nous le Déluge. Whereas worker time is preferably continuous without disturbance in particular not with useless meetings, manager time is meetings. Meetings is ‘work’. Hence, to work really hard, one has to meet really hard. All the time. And since there would be a danger in doing anything useful during those meetings, like having accountability shoved onto one, one would rather just demonstrate to be really good at managing, i.e., meeting. Through not doing anything useful in them… A modern manager’s job description is to have meetings, isn’t it ..?

Alas, this will mean totalitarian bureaucracy will reign, where following procedure is far more importanter than doing any work. Meeting procedure in particular.
Whereas we would want:

But as long as the managers have it, rules will rule and being effective is a threat to the status quo that benefits the ones who can only perfect their being bureacrat also to prevent being found out about incompetence to do anything useful. It is just collateral damage that this blocks you from doing the best you can, and also all new flex work from home (Why? Why not a tropical beach?) schemes can not be made to work (sic), as the ones who would let us (not: lead us..!), lose too much by letting us.

This story to be continued…

[Edited to add:

  • BTW 1: Don’t take me for a misanthropist on this issue; I really do expect an Age of Aquarius breakthrough after IoT has delivered the Singularity
  • BTW 2: The above, isn’t new. My brain reminded me of this masterpiece of masterpieces, to be read nay studied in its full, 2-part/volume extent.]

[Edited to add, too, two data points in this here blog post that bear out my idea(s), big if you could call them that.]

Steve and Tim went up the hill…

Aren’t recent developments around, through, by the brand just an amusing (?) sign of the times – the times being the same as ever: A (single?) sinus wave (or multiple smaller ones, stacked on a larger one (bigger wavelength and amplitude); wavelets sales) –, as in this piece and this one ..?

As the latter quotes: “This is not [irrelevant reference to a musicological drama; ed.], and should instead be remembered primarily as a monumental blunder by the tech industry.”
to which:

But the details aside, why didn’t many enough see this coming? Why did anyone expect continued excellence from any company, in particular one so hyped, so turned into a dangerous cult already ..? Whereas so far, every co has demonstrated to have a serious Best Before / use By / Sell By issue. Except the rare exceptions, noted for the exceptionality.
As in:

Adn also don’t forget these twelve wineries… Yes some are so common and/or famed still that you wouldn’t think they’d be so old and still be in the same line of business… [Thanks Wine Turtle for the post]

So, the expectance that something(s; probably multiple, of varying error sizes and (distinct) impacts) might go wrong in any near future, would have had to be raised already, and rise still further. Note that through fuzzy logic, this isn’t offset I think by lowered probabilities of doing things well…! This is just how fuzzy (business) logic works, sometimes…
[Edited to add: And then we find this… Strangely not built into the corp system]

So, Steve and Tim went up the hill to have their little fun, then Tim forgot by taking the blue pill and now…

DSCN2435[What a once great name … Reims. Yeah, look it up, I’m not going to spell it out for you]

Wired / Tired / Expired, October 2014 edition

DSCN6765[Ah, what a pleasant fortress! Córdoba]

Yes here’s the October edition of my Wired / Tired / Expired jargon watch overviews, a mixed bag again:

WIRED TIRED EXPIRED
Stealthy introductions Gartner Hype Cycles Apple Product (Launch) Events
Let the products speak for themselves, let them grow organically around the globe, don’t try in vein (sic) to go viral or so. Be happy with moderate growth as it will be sustainable so much, much longer. Don’t believe this hype … Will have a separate post on this in the near future. Nothing new; all hyped and epiphany only for the fast-shrinking few simpleton acolytes left…
Smart analysis integrated into regular audits Process Analysis Big Data
Like, let the process analysis take its place in the Understanding the Business part of any audit. No craze, just helpful in all sorts of directions (including early-on advisory work). For it’s own sake, no more. Not accepted, not acceptable anymore. Meh. If less than a yottabyte, not it. Tools in place, again the other 99.9999% of work to be done is human; which is not available in sufficiently intelligent, sufficiently large numbers. Hence, fails beyond the tiniest of anecdotal finds.
InfoSec groundswell / tsunami Hyping APTs, megaleaks RO(S)I, ISO, et al.
No more top-down, just bottom-up, by guerilla even if needed, but with a desperate need to improve by all (not granted) means and authorizations necessary. Doing, not waiting (not) to be allowed. Oh my! The Sky Is Falling! No more. APTs are still around, yes, vastly more than ever before; megaleaks of the data breach kind and of the Snowden kind, ditto. But nobody listens anymore so why dwell on these? Ah, the passé methods of yesteryears… Didn’t work. Didn’t fit with InfoSec, do still fit with corporate policy but who cares; if there’s no match, nothing will result. If you still try to match, also nothing (serious in InfoSec terms) will result.
3rd Platform Software Defined BYOD/CYOD
Where the first was Mainframes, the second one Client/Server. Now // Just a way to cement the bricks of your architecture. Well, there’s so much work in here if one’d want to do this right but few! the effort, I don’t want to think of this too much. Done deal. BYOD; CYOD’s not going to fly (discussed earlier, somewhere on this site; use the search, Luke!).
Ello Snapchat Whatsapp
Well, qua hype. Otherwise, very very maybe still Nice ‘n quick, but has it gained enough traction ..? Even your old, 30+ relatives use it now. If (dinosaur) Then (expired).
Ideate Empathy UX
Being creative and coming up with new ideas, needed its separate buzzword. Well, maybe. Will age quickly I guess. Yes all companies still need it, but none have a clue. Here I was wondering what all these flimsy design-types had to do with Unix. Turns out, it’s user experience – above good design, but stumbling till you accidentally hit something good, isn’t It. Has never been. But is; expired.
Don’t care about illegal downloads Chase the most petty, pityful of “illegal” downloaders only Push a U2 album
Just because your business model doesn’t depend on levying silly huge distribution costs. You know, trying to wring millions out of the poor that otherwise would not buy scrap from you, while you know the damages are 99.999% into the lawyer’s pockets only. Ah, the FAIL …! This deserves a (cultural) backlash flogging by the billions (yes) that weren’t interested…
Locally produced, biodynamic even but without the zeal Super foods Don’t Care
Yes one can eat/drink healthily but don’t need the fanatism. Just somewhat less, quite a bit healthier produced (full supply chain including externalities), and varied. Quod non; as proven over and over again. After so many, many failed attempts, don’t numbly try again; you’ll fail for sure. Eating all the preservatives and sweeteners, too much of it all, just isn’t ‘permissible’ anymore.
Decently colourful Normcore bland Grey all the way
Yes even in Fall/Autumn, there’s many colours (not colors) that fit the season and are cheerful and bright. It already looks formless, has the colours to match: Why? Duh, that was last year’s one big great miss without purpose.

OK, any suggestions for next month’s edition ..?

Regulation Renegation Abomi nation

So, after privacy-enhancing regulations finally got some traction here and there – mentally, hardly in implementation yet – we’re getting the full bucketloads of bovine-produced fertilizer regarding adapted protection through ‘Data Use Regulation’.
Which already throws back actual regulation in intent and in the letter of it. But has many more nefarious consequences… As is in this article; couldn’t word it better.

We should be vigilant …

For now, I’ll leave you with this:
DSCN7182[A spectacle, Jerez]

Pops off the Top

To get you in the mood, and involved, please check out the longlist of songs eligible for my [emphasis by author] Top 2000 Of All Times (link to clean Excel here).
Yes,

  • I’ll have to prune a bit, there’s more than 2000 now;
  • They’re sorted alphabetically on Artist so far, yes, yes. But my next thing to do is to recursively bin the lot into shrinking bin sizes, you know, like a good algorithmically sound sorter would;
  • If there might be songs you miss on the list, please comment with your suggestions. Which are totally non-binding as the list is mine (make your own, feel free to copy the Excel and adapt / deteriorate) so don’t be put off if your wacky addition(s) don’t make it to the final list;
  • Most importantly, if there’s things (songs) on the list you’d deem ridiculous, you may be right. But They’re my choice…

And the usual pic:
??????????[Way back from the 60s, would still be Good if built today like this]
To get you in the mood, check out this random sample…

Titles Artist
Donna 10CC
Dreadlock Holiday 10CC
I’m Not In Love 10CC
The Things We Do For Love 10CC
The Wall Street Shuffle 10CC
Me So Horny 2 Live Crew
I’m On Fire 5000 Volts
Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In 5th Dimension
Chiquitita ABBA
Dancing Queen ABBA
Eagle ABBA
Gimme Gimme Gimme ABBA
Knowing Me Knowing You ABBA
Mamma Mia ABBA
Money, Money, Money ABBA
S.O.S. ABBA
Summer Night City ABBA
Super Trouper ABBA
Take A Chance On Me ABBA
The Winner Takes It All ABBA
Voulez-Vous ABBA
Waterloo ABBA
All Of My Heart ABC
Back in Black AC/DC
Hells Bells AC/DC
Highway To Hell AC/DC
Let There be Rock AC/DC
Shoot to Thrill AC/DC
Thunderstruck AC/DC
Who Made Who AC/DC
Whole Lotta Rosie AC/DC
How Long ACE
Killer Adamski ft. Seal
Amazing Aerosmith
Crazy Aerosmith
Dream On Aerosmith
Dude Looks Like a Lady Aerosmith
Good Vibrations Beach Boys
I Can Hear Music Beach Boys
Sloop John B Beach Boys
Tears in the morning Beach Boys
Wouldn’t It Be Nice Beach Boys
Brass Monkey Beastie Boys
Hey Ladies Beastie Boys
Intergalactic Beastie Boys
No Sleep Till Brooklyn Beastie Boys
You Got To Fight For Your Right to Party Beastie Boys
Hey Jude Beatles
While My Guitar Gently Weeps Beatles
Loser Beck
Don’t Forget To Remember Bee Gees
How Can You Mend A Broken Heart Bee Gees
How Deep Is Your Love Bee Gees
I Started A Joke Bee Gees
Jive Talkin’ Bee Gees
Play That Funky Music Wild Cherry
Lion In The Morning Sun Will And The People
Het Dorp Wim Sonneveld
Live And Let Die Wings
CREAM Wu Tang Clan
Gravel Pit Wu Tang Clan
Protect Ya Neck Wu Tang Clan
Making Plans For Nigel XTC
Close To The Edge Yes
I’ve Seen All The Good People Yes
Owner Of A Lonely Heart Yes
Roundabout Yes
Yours Is No Disgrace Yes
7 Seconds Youssou N’Dour & Neneh Cherry
If I Can’t Have You Yvonne Elliman
In The Year 2525 Zager & Evans
Hair Zen
Gimme All Your Lovin’ ZZ Top
La Grange ZZ Top
Legs ZZ Top
Sharp Dressed Man ZZ Top

Sorry wasn’t able to find any good Zzz and the Zzzzzs songs… Now get going and come forward with your extension suggestions …!

Maverisk / Étoiles du Nord