...the right office design can help

It’s a sad truth, but most workers spend their work days in terribly uninspiring environments. There are some progressive companies, however, who push the envelope of design to provide their employees with a truly invigorating work environment.

Ask yourself…is your office design drab and uninspiring? Do thoughts of going into your office dampen your spirit? It may be time to consider your office design and your productivity.

You may not have the time or budget for an office design makeover, but a few simple ideas can go far in boosting your business productivity….ok how? Match Your Brand: An important element of business marketing is the branding and image of your company…right? Whether you entertain clients or not, your office design should match your brand!

(What?)… Successful branding requires you to look and "feel" the brand. Having glossy business cards and a high-tech image but out-of-date office furniture and equipment, will make you feel like an imposter and you will have difficulty projecting your “brand” to customers.

Bring in Nature: Spending long hours in an unnatural environment can be hazardous to your health. Locating your office in a space with windows if possible is important. Consider nature photos to make your office a more pleasurable place. Add real plants to have fresh oxygen in your workspace.

A cautionary note for start-up companies “not thinking about office design.”

Many start-ups high on hope and low on cash will be tempted to NOT spend on office design or proper furniture. Look before you leap…but be honest with yourself. Begin with frugality in mind…but realize that you are at the office more than you think. The right office design can help you reduce stress, improve productivity, and in the end, enhance the profits of your business.

Isn’t it time you worked with an expert? Maybe you should be working with me on your office design, layout, and furniture.

...Indian Summer? Why not?....

Right out of the box Monday morning, Los Angeles was on track for a record-setting day. A flow of air from the deserts set the stage for the Los Angeles' hottest day ever recorded in the downtown area Monday.


According to Western Weather Expert Ken Clark, "The City of Angels had their hottest day in 20 years on Sunday with a high of 105 degrees." Sunday was the hottest day downtown since the mercury climbed to 107 degrees on Oct. 10, 1991. Temperatures of 10 to 20 degrees above average were being felt as far north as Portland, Ore., and as far south as San Diego. Temperatures in San Francisco Bay Area were projected to peak near 90 Monday and the 80s on Tuesday.

Is this an Indian Summer?

An early American writer described Indian Summer well when he wrote, "The air is perfectly quiescent and all is stillness, as if Nature, after her exertions during the Summer, were now at rest." This passage belongs to the writer John Bradbury and was written nearly an "eternity" ago, back in 1817. But this passage is as relevant today as it was way back then.

The term "Indian Summer" dates back to the 18th century in the United States. It can be defined as "any spell of warm, quiet, hazy weather that may occur in late September, October or even early November." Basically, autumn is a transition season as the thunderstorms and severe weather of the summer give way to a tamer, calmer weather period before the turbulence of the winter commences.

The term "Indian Summer" is generally associated with a period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions ushered in on a south or southwesterly breeze. One explanation of the term "Indian Summer" might be that the early native Indians chose that time of year as their hunting season. This seems reasonable seeing the fall months are still considered the main hunting season for several animals.

It is about time with the "Poor Summer" we had in Oregon this year....the year of "no tomatoes."

....Joker...Joker.....Joker!!!

Kentucky heads south to start SEC play with Florida this weekend.

Starting 3-0 for the third time in the last four seasons, the University of Kentucky football team heads south to Gainesville, Fla., to begin Southeastern Conference play against the ninth-ranked Gators in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

Kentucky is 21-53-2 in 76 conference openers, having won two of its last four lid-lifters with wins against Ole Miss in 2006 and Arkansas in 2007. Florida began SEC play last week at Tennessee, notching a 31-17 victory over the Vols in Knoxville...but they just didn't look like the old Gators.

Last Saturday, Kentucky posted a 47-10 win over Akron to move to 3-0 on the season. The Wildcats put together an all-around performance against the Zips, totaling 544 yards of total offense and holding the Zips to only 172 total yards. The 544 yards of total offense was the most by a UK team since posting 568 yards against Eastern Kentucky University in 2007. UK had balanced offense with 200 rushing and passing yards for a school-record third-consecutive game.

The Wildcats are looking to snap a 23-game losing streak to the Gators. The battle on Saturday against Florida will mark the 21st consecutive time UK has played a ranked UF team. Kentucky is 3-27 all-time against ranked Florida teams.

New Coach Joker Phillips talked a big game over the summer about how he was going to bring the "Mildcats to another level"……he gets his chance with a night game at the Swamp. The one playmaker on Kentucky is Randall Cobb, who will line up at WR and occasionally take direct snaps, being a former QB. Mike Hartline has not distinguished himself at QB in 3 years, and doesn’t worry the Gator defense. Derrick Locke leads the SEC in rushing, but so did Tauren Poole of Tennessee, until he ran into (repeatedly) the Gator defense.

Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or “The Swamp,” is widely recognized as one of, if not the toughest, environments for a visiting team in all of college football. Several facelifts after the stadium’s original construction in 1930 have made Florida Field at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium the state-of-the-art facility you see at today’s game.

Without a bad seat in the house, "The Swamp" ranks as the largest stadium in the state of Florida. The Gators’ average attendance last season of 90,544 ranked ninth in the country. Florida’s home record of 106-13 (.891) since 1990 is the best mark in the country during that time, proving that at "The Swamp," only Gators get out alive!

Except this year....go BLUE! Joker...Joker.....Joker!!!

...."it's just a day in the life of an Interior Designer"

An interior designer is responsible for the interior design, decoration, and functionality of a client’s space, whether the space is commercial, industrial, or residential. Interior designers work closely with architects and clients to determine the structure of a space, the needs of the occupants, and the style that best suits both.

The position is a combination of engineer and artist, and it takes a unique type of mind to handle both of those concepts well. Interior designers have to be good with more than color, fabric, and furniture; interior designers must know materials, have budgeting skills, communicate well, and oversee the ordering, installation, and maintenance of all objects that define a space.

They also have to know about electrical capacity, safety, and construction. This broader range of required knowledge distinguishes them from 'interior decorators.' Interior designers have to be able to work with contractors, other vendors and clients alike, planning and implementing all aesthetic and functional decisions, from faucet handles to miles of carpeting —and all this usually must be done within a fixed budget (and often in a hurry).

Interior designers are hired for their expertise in a variety of styles and approaches, not merely their own personal vision. Therefore, they have to be able to balance their own tastes and their clients’ tastes—and be willing to put their clients’ tastes first. This requirement can be frustrating at first for many who enter the profession. Interior designers are often asked to begin their planning before construction of a space is finished; this means that they must be good at scheduling and comfortable reading blueprints.

This element of the job comes as a surprise to many new interior designers, who expect to have less of an administrative and technical role and more of a role in influencing the overall feel and appearance of a space. Those who thrive in the industry say this ability to balance the practical with the aesthetic is crucial to being a successful interior designer. Interior design is hard work, but those who do it well find the work very satisfying.

I have learned a lot in the last year from one designer in particular, here in Portland...congrats on a well deserved project! You are one of the best I have worked with in the past 20 years. Again...great job!! I watched as you controlled your client while providing excellent answers to the same question...over and over. Your demeanor and expertise actually 'disarmed' the client and literally "won" the business for us. I am proud to work with you on this project.

I know you would just say, "It's just a day in the life of an Interior Designer."

....not a square to spare....

How in the world did we get to this point? What happened? When did we decide as a country that we need to be 'politically correct' about everything? On Tuesday, the U.S. State Department called on Americans to "stand up" and denounce the planned Quran burning as "un-American" and as an inappropriate commemoration of the 9/11 attacks.

I can certainly sympathize with the great responsibility political leaders have in our country during this time of tragedy. I understand that they must be careful to do their part in restraining and discouraging any persecution of citizens of Middle Eastern descent.

However, we have reached a point of "politically correct" insanity. When our country was founded, "toleration" never meant approval or agreement. Suddenly, many of our political leaders and media spokesmen have become theologians, teaching the country that there is no difference in the major religions and that it somehow "hatred of people" to teach that another religion is false.

What's in this book that is sacred that it cannot be looked upon as producing evil? Let's state some facts that are in the book...shall we?

---"Believers, do not make friends with any but your own people...They desire nothing but your ruin....You believe in the entire Book...When they meet you they say: 'We, too, are believers.' But when alone, they bite their finger-tips with rage." (Surah 3:118, 119)

---"Forbidden to you are...married women, except those you own as slaves." (Surah 4:20-, 24-)

---"Seek out your enemies relentlessly." (Surah 4:103-)

---"Believers, take neither Jews nor Christians for your friends." (Surah 5:51)

---"Believers, make war on the infidels who dwell around you. Deal firmly with them." (Surah 9:121-)

---"Try as you may, you cannot treat all your wives impartially." (Surah 4:126-)

---"...make war on the leaders of unbelief...Make war on them: God will chastise them at your hands and humble them. He will grant you victory over them..." (Surah 9:12-)

---"Prophet make war on the unbelievers and the hypocrites and deal rigorously with them. Hell shall be their home." (Surah 9:73)

What? This is Holy Scripture? How did we get to this point?

Well...for them, Jews and Christians are regarded as being part of the great mass of infidels: first, because they have deliberately rejected the truth, and second, because of their connections to Western colonialism and Zionism. Both Jews and Christians are viewed as being part of a wide-ranging conspiracy to corrupt, divide and destroy Islam. This effort was instigated by the Jews and Christians of the 7th century, and it continues down through today.

The Obama administration is working on changing the language of the National Security Strategy to more politically-correct terminology. Counterterrorism officials say the goal of the new version is to emphasize that the United States does not view Muslim nations through the lens of terrorism.

The National Security Strategy document, which outlined the Bush Doctrine of preventive war, currently states: "The struggle against militant Islamic radicalism is the great ideological conflict of the early years of the 21st century."

During a visit to Cairo last year, President Obama promised a ‘new beginning’ in the relationship between the United States and the Muslim world. "Do you want to think about the U.S. as the nation that fights terrorism or the nation you want to do business with," said National Security Council staffer Pradeep Ramamurthy, who runs the Obama administration’s Global Engagement Directorate.

Karen Hughes, who served as President Bush’s top diplomat to the Muslim world in his second term, urged the White House to avoid using religious language. “Whenever they hear 'Islamic extremism, Islamic jihad, Islamic fundamentalism,' they perceive it as a sort of an attack on their faith. That's the world view Osama bin Laden wants them to have,” Hughes said.

This nation and much of the Western world are in a war, not against a generic "terrorism" but against a particular and brutal strain of Islamic extremism that wants to do as much damage as possible to our freedoms and way of life.

George W. Bush was wrong to call this the "War on Terror." But he was right to focus on it as he did in the aftermath of the murderous and cowardly Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on America by Islamic extremists.

Politically correct I have never been....so allow my point of view. No one would say a word if someone in Yemen wanted to burn a Bible.

So lay low terrorists and all will be well....stir it up...lay your rugs and blankets in the middle of the street to pray during rush hour traffic...build a shiny mosque near 'ground-zero'....and someday you will get your ass kicked. You may have our president and leaders fooled...but the average person can see right thru your bullshit.

....I could be driving a Volvo

The heart of the Parnelli Jones Edition is its Boss 302 engine. Ford wanted to keep the Boss label for a future project, so although the 302 appears in oddly familiar script around the vehicle, the word Boss is nowhere to be found. That's ok! In place of the 4.6-liter SOHC V8 of lesser 'Stangs, the PJ has a true 302. It starts out as a 4.6, but Saleen strokes and bores it to make it a Five-Point-Ohhhhhh. They also add bigger injectors, ported aluminum heads, performance camshafts, forged-aluminum pistons, forged-steel connecting rods, a forged-steel crank and dual exhausts with bitchin' big oval tips. Oh, and that huge Shaker scoop up top.

This is a race car remake so the Saleen team made sure the Mustang handles like a race car, but one suited for the street. The Saleen Racecraft suspension system is standard on this car, like on all Saleen Mustangs. The shocks, struts, and sway bars are designed by Saleen to help offer the extra grip and excellent road feel. The wheels check in at 19x9 up front and 19x10 out back and are branded with the Saleen/Parnelli Jones logo. Stopping power is provided by Saleen 14-inch brakes.

Turn the key and it does indeed shake. It also sets off car alarms within 4 parking spots of yours. Really. It revs freely and keeps going well past what you feel it should. Especially if you've driven other recent muscle cars. The whole time producing a wonderfully sonorous wail.

The transmission is possibly the weak link here. Saleen uses the standard Ford 5-speed manual, albeit with a nifty PJ billet short-throw shifter. Reassuringly firm, but a bit sloppy at times. Traction control is standard and helpful, rather than intrusive. You can spin the tires a bit before it intervenes, or shut it off and wait an extra tick or two before the tires hook up and launch you down the road.

It makes for a very satisfying driving experience. Overall, this has to be one of the best naturally aspirated powerplants ever made by Ford.

Watts linkage. Remember those two words. That's what takes this Mustang from acceptable to damn near perfect. As much as anyone would like the sweet-sounding, rev-happy motor, the suspension is what really convinced me this was the Mustang to have. The Parnelli still uses a solid-beam rear axle, but two Saleen-developed Watts links are added in place of the stock Panhard rods on each side. This allows Saleen to use PJ-specific RaceCraft Suspension pieces like a thicker anti-roll bar and stiffer springs, bushings and shocks all around.

The handling and braking of this car is great. The word balance keeps coming to mind. The Watts links really make a huge difference in giving a driver the confidence it takes to truly take on the canyons. It begs to be driven harder, which is very endearing. The steering was nicely weighted and the pedals and other controls gave great feedback so you knew what was happening at all times too. It all adds up to a winner in any book.

The high compression engine also features forged internal components, high revving valvetrain, and an aluminum flywheel. The computer has been calibrated using Saleen's PowerFlash technology. Adding visual excitement under the hood is a set of valve covers bearing the legendary 302 logo.

At the end of the day, this is one fine car. The best Mustang out there to say the least. That strong, free-revving engine, beefed up suspension and retro racer look make it the total package. With performance on par with BMW M3s, Audi RS4s, and Aston Martin Vantages, it can even be seen as somewhat of a bargain. And let's not discount the limited edition nature and the name on the dash. When you buy a car like this, you're buying a piece of the legend that surrounds it.

I have been asked, " How in the world can you put miles on this car Tracy?"...."It should be on blocks in your garage."

My response is..."I could be driving a Volvo."

.....Fantasy what?

Five years ago I read about (and thought about joining) a fantasy football league...thinking at the time how silly it must be to sit and look at numbers and “points” to generate a win in a football game. This is a game built around an alternate state of reality.

Now…everyone seems to have an opinion on fantasy football, and there's no mushy middle to inhabit. You're either with the fantasy players or against them, and the debate is almost entirely dominated by the true believers who worship the game. This scared me a little. What the hell is wrong with people and this must be a "fad" that will not last very long.

So let’s see…in the last five years…..the housing bubble burst, the stock market tanked, and the economy almost slid into a capital-lettered second Great Depression, but fantasy football is bigger and thriving more than ever. That point was soundly driven home to me again when I read that the NFL announced the league was jumping with two feet deeper into the ever-expanding world of fantasy football.

I read that for the first time, NFL.com has launched a new fantasy platform (and don't you know it's all about the platforms these days), featuring "the world's only NFL fantasy game with video and extensive in-game highlights.'' The press release goes on to say that player projections are tied to Madden NFL 11, which seems about right, since that seems to link a fantasy game that really doesn't exist in reality... to a video game that really doesn't exist.... in reality. All by a league that may not play any real games itself next year if it doesn't get its labor situation figured out.

How perfect.

NFL at its March owners meeting heard a pitch from former Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson, who along with current Dolphins owner Stephen Ross is marketing a hand-held video device called Game-Day Vision that would be available to fans in their seats at the stadium, allowing them to keep track of everything that unfolds around the league while they're at the game.

You get the feeling we're headed for all access, all the time, with fantasy football furthering its grip as this sports-crazed nation's favorite pastime while watching its favorite game. In the NFL world, fantasy is the clear-cut king. Even if non-believers like me have our reasons for not liking it, it's not about to go away or decrease in popularity. From the looks of things, to think otherwise is pure fantasy.

Now excuse me...my fantasy draft starts in 13 minutes and 11 seconds.....and I have the second overall pick.

...what a Barista Boy can't teach you

With the growing number of corporations adopting teaming strategies, the workplace is rapidly evolving. Bringing people together is only half of the collaboration equation.

The physical environment must support the group by providing the right tools for effective problem solving, strategic planning and brainstorming. Which factors should you consider when designing a team space?

Casual Collaboration:  The environment must be designed to foster interaction. Casual meetings at the coffee machine, photocopier or even the washroom result in spontaneous creativity. As companies recognize the importance of these impromptu water-cooler meetings, architects and space planners must respond accordingly and encourage these interactions with facility design. Although environment alone cannot guarantee the brightest ideas, workspace design does have a measurable impact on team productivity.

Variety – the Space of Life:  Variety is key when designing team space. Making both closed and open meeting spaces available is necessary to support different work styles. Dedicated office areas can double as meeting spaces for smaller groups. Larger, private areas like war rooms or project rooms are also needed. To maximize the benefits of collaborative work, finding suitable meeting spaces should be effortless. Diversity in room size, layout and design will ensure team members will always have an appropriate meeting space.

Collaborative Communication:  Sharing visual information is often an important component of team communication. Concepts are acknowledged and validated, which reinforces the individual, causes cohesion within the team and creates team spirit! Effective team spaces must be equipped with the tools to display the group's concepts, solutions and ideas.

The Right Tools:  What types of tools can be used to effectively capture information in team spaces? Flipcharts, dry-erase marker boards and notepads have been used in the past, but organizations are recognizing the limitations of such equipment. We are seeing Fortune 500 companies planning meeting spaces that include productivity tools to help team members manage the information generated during group collaboration. With products such as electronic and interactive whiteboards, teams can capture ideas directly to a computer for printing, e-mailing or saving. As companies recognize that time spent in meetings is actually a corporate investment, they will seek ways to effectively record all that transpires in team sessions. Keeping a record of all the notes coming out a meeting is invaluable.

Flexibility:  A group space should be flexible enough that a team can adapt the space when necessary. Open team space and adequate connectivity provide the flexibility for reconfiguration. Designers need to consider telecommunication and IT infrastructure as part of the design-build process. Non-territorial workspace with appropriate connectivity allows teams to pick up and plug in. Teams should have access to voice mail, e-mail, fax and networked information wherever they decide to meet. Consulting with information technology professionals throughout the design process results in flexible spaces that support natural fusion and fission common in work teams. All of the "Big 5" accounting firms are currently using such alternative officing strategies with telecommunications, software – and countless other industries are following the movement toward free-address space.

Designing a true team space is more than simply erecting four walls and throwing in a flipchart. Take a holistic approach by considering space availability, diversity, connectivity and flexibility to create an ideal environment which support the two-heads-are-better-than-one theory. With well-thought out space planning, corporations are experiencing increased productivity, faster product cycles and heightened employee morale.

Now isn't that better than a cup of Joe?...or as the kids say today a Raspberry Mocha Chip Frappuccino- Espresso Macchiato- Triple Tazo Citrus and Cream- Gingerbread Latte Grande? (nonfat of course)...

Tips & Warnings (if working with a Barista)

• Don't mumble
• Slow down, (I may not have made your drink before, or I may be new)
• Your Barista is not an idiot, but he is human
• Don't be jerk if your barista makes a mistake: things happen and nobody is perfect
• Some stores do not train their baristas as well as others. (Keep this in mind when traveling)

This method of ordering is for Starbucks only, though it will probably work just fine at most other family establishments.....

....another Pinocchio story

Ole Miss dropped a bombshell a few weeks ago when Rebel coach Houston Nutt invited former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli to Oxford in hopes of luring him into attending graduate school--and while he's there playing a little football--at Ole Miss.

This is the quarterback who pled guilty to stealing a laptop computer and guitar from a fraternity house at Oregon. He also was caught driving a car with marijuana in the glove box.

Oregon coach Chip Kelly kicked Masoli off the Ducks team, and remember….this was a player who was touted as a Heisman Trophy candidate.

Masoli has earned the reputation as the bad boy of college football much like Lane Kiffin has earned the reputation as the bad boy of college football coaches. But Masoli now tells a very different version of the events that led to his downfall at Oregon. He claims he did not take anything, and in actuality not one witness ever saw him with any of the stolen merchandise. The problem came from the fact that Masoli lied to the police and to Kelly about being at the fraternity house that night, which he was.

Now he writes that it was a ‘misunderstanding.’ It makes for interesting reading. If his version is correct, then Ole Miss would be getting a terrific quarterback just at a time the Rebels need one. If the national perception is right, then Ole Miss could be getting a headache waiting to happen...

My guess? He won’t be able to compete with the real athletes in the SEC Conference. Big diff from running the option against Washington State or UCLA….then it is against Florida, Bama, LSU….and the rest…..we will see soon.

Hey, since he has lied a few times in the past…if it does not go well at Ole Miss…he can just say he was “never there”…right?

Another Pinocchio story…

....hey man, what about Napoleon Pete?

Once upon a time...I worked for a ‘family-owned’ company (problem was...I wasn't part of the family).

We have all had a boss who drove all his employees’ nuts. "Pete" would start wandering the hallways at 4:30 or calling-in to make sure no one left work before 5, he would give assignments but then micromanage them to death, he seemed to enjoy being in everyone's business...reading all the emails of every employee, and he rarely gave good performance reviews (that could be the reason only ‘family’ is left in the company) -- unless somehow it reflected back on him. Everyone referred to him as Napoleon Pete.

All-in-all, Pete drove everyone in the company crazy, and little-by-little every member of the company left (except Pete's family of course). Pete is a perfect example of the workplace axiom that job-seekers join great companies but leave because of bad bosses.

Maybe you have a boss who is sexist or racist…or perhaps a boss who takes all the credit for himself. Maybe your boss thinks you have no life outside work and makes you stay late…..or perhaps a boss who gives out too many tasks with impossible to meet deadlines (or constantly changing deadlines). Maybe your boss is a pathological liar…..or perhaps the boss plays favorites.

Bad bosses -- whether ogres, control freaks, jerks, micromanagers, or bumbling fools -- can be found in all organizations. Pop culture loves to make fun of bad bosses, from the pointy-haired boss in the Dilbert comic strip, to the completely insipid boss from "The Office," to the anal-compulsive and mean boss of the movie Office Space... but bad bosses are no laughing matter when you have to face him every working day. And, unfortunately, with the rightsizing of the last few years, there are probably more overworked and undertrained bosses than ever. It's also possible, though, that bad bossing is just part of the organization's corporate culture….trust me…I know first-hand.

One study found that almost 80 percent of the employees surveyed identified their boss as a lousy manager. And almost 70 percent in that study conducted by Delta Road stated that their immediate superior had "no clue" what to do to become a good manager. Author Harvey Hornstein, Ph.D., estimates that 90 percent of the U.S. work force has been subjected to abusive behavior at some time. He bases his conclusions on a survey of nearly 1,000 workers over eight years (unfortunately it took me nine years).

So, what can you do if you are working for a bad boss? Find the tools you need to manage the situation as best you can, but remember that sometimes the only solution is transferring to a different part of the company -- or switching employers…..

The worst thing you can do is simply to do nothing, hoping the problems will get resolved. No job, boss, or company is worth losing your health, sanity, or self-esteem. If you can't find a way to resolve these issues and/or your boss simply will never change his behavior, you should immediately start working your network and begin looking for a new job -- outside the organization.

Nepotism is favoritism granted to relatives or friends, with no regard to merit. The word nepotism is from the Latin word nepos (meaning "nephew" or "grandchild").

Hey man...you are either blood....or not....