Keep on Growing

How would a Patriot Act?

This book, published by Working Assets (of which I am a proud board member) is #1 on Amazon's bestseller list, weeks before its publication date. 

The DMV Surprises Me

I guess I had low expectations for a government agency when I went to my appointment today to renew my driver's license.  (After several renewals by mail, an in-person visit is required; appointments can be scheduled online.)  Despite a scary-looking line that snaked around the entire office, and dozens of chairs filled with people waiting, the system worked well.  My appointment happened right on time; every person I spoke with was pleasant and competent.  For once I wasn't re-engineering a process to make it work better.  Instead I marvelled: they were dealing with a very diverse group of SF residents, many of whom do not speak English, and all five clerks I experienced were smiling and helpful.  (The security guard even expedited people who need written tests so they wouldn't be waiting in line when the test-taking time was over; he should be immediately hired for airport security.)  Makes you realize how few places get customer service right.

AfterGlow

On our way to breakfast this morning at Rose's Cafe, we were almost hit head on by an impatient SUV driver driving quickly, on the wrong side of the road.  He was impatient with the line of cars that were on the right side of the road, waiting to drop off their kids at school, so decided his time was more important than anyone else's life, and was going around them.  Stewart averted the crash and the guy stared straight ahead, avoiding our eyes. Just then another car came up the wrong side -- a police car, with lights on, which pulled over the miscreant.  We hadn't had time to gnash our teeth and wonder why police are never around when you need them.  This time they were and I am still smiling.

Every divorced person can relate to this story

From the front page of today's New York Times, "No Flattery is Found in an Imitation of  Rockwell." (registration required)

Read to the very last line.