on orientation

I’ve just finished the orientation week at business school and my brain is now full of new names, faces, national origins, past careers and future aspirations.

I’ve perfected the spiel about myself, and have only had to ask most people their names two or three times, not that I can remember them of course. When we take the name tags off next week things will get difficult…

So far it’s been very impressive, the caliber of the students and the faculty has been outstanding; head and shoulders above that at my previous schools. It’s like a collection of the top performers at my previous schools and workplaces. Mind you, it’s very expensive, you have to back yourself to make it a productive investment. So really its self selecting for people who have figured stuff out, have had life and work experience and are driven. Some are more driven than others of course and some students are taking things very seriously. On occasion it’s easy to feel quite aggressively networked at

The school certainly puts a very strong emphasis on its reputation, which is understandable; it’s a cut-throat world at the top of the business school rankings with lots of money and power at stake for each rung on the ladder. Having rejected the corporate “we are the best at everything really” trope at one stage many years ago as a load of so much hot aired toss, with no connection to reality, it’s different to be in an organization where their assertions of excellence are in sync with the experience.

Orientation also seemed to be focused on the end goal; the jobs which we are all here working to achieve. Which seemed a bit crass at the time, to frame the entire experience as an exercise in getting a highly paid job in a prestigious company. But I guess, deep down, that really is why we are all here. Anyway, classes start tomorrow so the adventure begins properly.

simpsons quote of the day

Homer: I don't need your pity or your money
Ron Howard: Usually when people say that, they give the money back.
Homer: I'm gonna do what now?

simpsons quote of the day

Marge : Homer, there's a man here who thinks he can help you.
Homer : Is it Batman?
Marge : No, he's a scientist.
Homer : Batman's a scientist!
Marge : It's not Batman!

Marge vs the Monorail

olympic advertising

Melinda Houston writing in the age today notes that the ads we've been subjected to during the Olympics have been pretty poor. Moreover, not many of them have really tried to make any link between the products being sold and the Olympics, perhaps to ensure the ads have a shelf life beyond the fortnight, but also perhaps because it seemed in the lead up that there may have been some difficult moments for the game's public image.

but the ad that is the exception to this is channel seven's own. and perhaps this is really why sponsors are shying away from tying their products to the sports.

Is it a parody? it is very funny. the soring emotional music trying to link scenes from the games to scenes from channel seven shows is just hilarious. equating an athletic triumph to something about mateship in a clip from Border Security showing someone sitting down in shock is an excellent example. but the highlight of the ad is the slow motion Andrew O'Keefe reaction shot from Deal or No Deal - gold medal. gold medal people. awesome...

errors in my favour

last week, whilst buying underwear, the fifteen year old at the check-out only scanned one of the three pairs in my pile of purchases. Thus I received a 66 per cent discount on underwear.

and a few weeks ago, a major business school decided to admit me.