What the mail-man brings

In the words of Handel, "Hallelujah!"

"Emotional Lubricant"

Dear Milt:

Hate to have to tell you this, but I think you left your copy of Morty Feinberg's *Effective Psychology for Managers* on the plane.



Yup, that's right. You must have left it on that flight to Dallas/Fort Worth we took back in July.



Actually, looks like you were reading a section called "Why We Need Our Disguises":

"At some time or other, every individual feels the need to hide his inner feelings behind some sort of curtain or disguise. In fact, some psychologists claim that personality itself is a disguise. The very word, in fact, comes from the Latin 'persona,' which means facial disguises."

That Morty. He sure loves his facts.



But, hang on, Milt. Now, that I'm looking here, maybe you left the book on that flight we took from Atlanta back to LA. I sure can guess what you were reading then!



Be Enthusiastic

A moderate amount of flag-waving is helpful. At least convey the impression that your project or idea is appealing.

You must believe in something, and demonstrate that belief through enthusiasm, before you can be successful at persuasion. Your own enthusiasm is the best emotional lubricant for others. When they, too, become enthusiastic, they'll find it easy to agree.

"Emotional lubricant"? Really, Morty?

Well, Milt, I always have enjoyed our trips together. A pinch for the kids, and slap that wife on the fanny for me.

—Scooter

Our Finest Gods

Do you have a god? If not, would you like one? Sounds like it could be a rewarding relationship. But, where to find one? That's the tough part.

Now, friends like William Blake tell us about seeing "a world in a grain of sand / And a heaven in a wild flower." So, mayhap we could say that this god for whom we seek is everywhere around us and we don't need to go anywhere in particular. Well, Mr. Blake is a highly eccentric character and most cultures seem to have taken a different line with this.



Often, our finest gods seem to be found in some fairly dark places. Old Ken need not remind you of our quest from a few years back for "The Christmas Grotesque": http://nicebirdrox.blogspot.com/2006/12/christmas-grotesque.html. But let's let the fact that both Christ (in a certain tradition) and Santa Claus (in another tradition) can be found inhabiting grottos give substance to my point for the moment.



But, lo! What is this that stands before me? Figure in black! Who are you in this darkened hallway? Why do you gleam so radiantly amidst this gloomy space? You must certainly be important, oh light-giver, if you are so hermetically encased in glass. Who art thou? Am I worthy to look upon ye?



Could thou be some-random-assortment-of-books-published-by-humanities-faculty-in-a-science-and-technology-school-where-no-scientist-would-ever-be-caught-dead-publishing-a-book-(versus-articles)? Can I bask in the healing glow of thine dusty curly-upped-paged-ness? In this era of cut-backs and restrictions on useful research tools and funding, how felicitous it is that the mere thousands of dollars it has cost to envision, build and install you has not been cut so that you can broadcast your genius to passing janitors or anyone rushing to use the bathroom! Thanks to you, my protector and my friend. Thank you.