Human resources (off topic)

Things slowed down at work this morning around 3:30 a.m. They often do at
that time. It's then that the two-way radios (on my job everyone has one
either in their vehicle or at their side) come alive with everything from
sports to favorite cooking recipes.

Finding a lull in the conversation, I submitted the following "test" to the
guys (and one woman):

"Okay, here's something," my words eased over the microphone. "Everybody
with a watch equipped with a minute hand, try this. . .see if you can recite
the months of the year in alphabetical order in less than one minute."

Almost immediately, the radio waves crackled with the following response
from one of the "smart" ones: "Uh, let's see. . .August, oops, I mean
April. . .then there's, uhh, eerrr. . .December?. . .hmmm, uhhh. . ." At
that point he stopped transmitting.

After no more than ten seconds of radio silence, another voice in the dark
proudly ran the list in a little less than 60 seconds. He was very proud
until somebody responded, "Hey, what happened to "June?" Adding salt the
the wound, another person pointed out that May and March were in the wrong
order.

It wasn't much longer until this "tough" exercise fell by the wayside to
talk of the world series. I disappeared into the darkness of the predawn
hours and fixated on Procyon, Sirius, Betelgeuse, and Salph, noticing that
they seemed to constitude the "Great Square of Winter."

Later, as I walked through the lunchroom where the time clock is kept, I
tried to slide by two of my former contestants. "Hey Martin, look at this,"
Jim said as he produced a dirty piece of paper bearing the names of crossed
out and rearranged months. "We just did this in 53 seconds," he said with
undeserved pride.

"That's very good," I replied, hoping that the tone of my voice did not
reveal my disappointment. The "test" had already revealed what was now
apparent. . .pointing out that the little exercise was designed to be
tackled with the paper and pencil of their brains would have been futile.

I am,


Starstuffed

"Starstuffed" wrote in message link.net...
.

pointing out that the little exercise was designed to be
tackled with the paper and pencil of their brains would have been futile.

Starstuffed


Damned lateral thinkers! ;-)

Chris.B

I'm the kind of a dumb smartass who would have figured it was a joke,
and quickly recited
the months of the year in alphabetical
order in less than one minute."

Marty