John Boehner And Ted Cruz-The Real Life Pinky And The Brain

Warner Bros. Pinky and The Brain

Remember Pinky and the Brainthe wonderful, Warner Bros. animated television series from the 90s where each episode began with Pinky asking the Brain, Gee Brain, what do you want to do tonight? The question was always followed by the ominous response from The Brain The same thing we do every night, Pinkytry to take over the world! Off the two would go in pursuit of The Brains latest diabolical plan to accomplish world dominationa plan that, without exception, always lacked the critical endgame that would give The Brain what he craved. Instead of victory, each and every episode would result in abject failure for The Brain and his haplessbut lovablehenchman, Pinky. Here is how Wikipedia describes the two main characters of the show Pinky and Brain are genetically enhanced laboratory mice who reside in a cage in the Acme Labs research facility. Brain is self-centered and scheming; Pinky is good-natured but feebleminded. In each episode, Brain devises a new plan to take over the world, which ultimately ends in failure, usually due to Pinkys idiocy, the impossibility of Brains plan, Brains own arrogance, or just circumstances beyond their control. Does any of this sound as familiar to you as it does to me?

Is it just possible we are, today, watching this cartoon play out in real life before our very eyes? Ted Cruza brilliant but self-centered and scheming deviant who begins each day hatching a clever, but impossible to execute, plan that will result in world domination when he moves into 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. John BoehnerCruzs good-natured but feebleminded (wine-addled would also work) henchman, with genetically altered orange skin, who actually has more good sense than his master but is happy to aid and abet The Brains plan if that is what it takes to stay in the good graces of his friend. Together, these characters have set out on an adventure of domination, doomed at the outset to bring the same conclusion that every episode of Pinky and the Brain brought at the end complete failure and embarrassment. Sure, Ted Cruz is a very smart guy. And while he showed himself to be capable of engineering a strategy that gave him what he wantedthe shutdown of the United States government and the potential defaulting on our debt obligationsthe Cruz strategy is, of course, doomed to fail for precisely the same reason that The Brains hair-brained schemes always failed. Cruzs devious plan for domination was impossible to accomplish right from the outset. While Senator The Brain may have been clever enough to shut downWashington and put the nation in fear of the catastrophe that would be wrought if the government defaults on our obligations, he lacks sufficient brain power to concoct the successful endgame that would give him the prize he seeksexecutive branch domination.

Lets face itObamacare is not going anywhere, the government shutdown will end, default will be avoided and Cruzs party will suffer the blame and the political fallout. And when all of that comes to pass, Ted Cruz will do what The Brain always didhell come back the next day to begin a new episode with a plot to take over the world and will, once again, fail entirely. Meanwhile, that hapless but lovable John Boehnerwho knows this entire scheme is destined to fail like all the others that have come beforewill go along with The Brain as the price to be paid

for being permitted to remain a lead character in the cartooncapturing a bit of the reflected glory that all henchmen seek as their reason for being. Along the way, Boehner will do Cruzs bidding, pretending that The Brain knows what hes doing, all so that he can maintain his role in the show. After all, if Pinky were to ever say no to The Brain, his character would no longer have a reason to exist and someone else would play the role of Speaker of the Housethe official designation given to whomever serves as Pinky to Cruzs The Brain . There you have itour real life enactment of one of the funniest animated television series ever staring our very own Pinky & The Brain. It is truly life immitating art with one big difference In the real life version of the cartoon, real people

are actually getting hurt.

How To Earn Your Employees' Respect -- Without Terrifying Them

Attila the Hun

Ive been chewing on these ideas for awhile, especially after I sat in on a scrum with my development team. I hadnt attended a scrum in awhile, but needed to step in because the project leader was ill. Although the team was working hard on a very big project, I was concerned because the project schedule and deliverable dates were slipping. Usually I would have quickly jumped into discussing my take on the project timeline. But this time, I sensed the team was feeling anxious, and was clearly aware of the existing delays. Feeling the tension, I shifted my message from a hard line to a softer, more motivational message, and the mood in the meeting palpably lifted. At that moment the team needed a pat on the back, there would be another scrum meeting to talk about timelines and project deliverables. As the leader of a rapidly growing business I think its less relevant that a leader be liked or feared to engender respect and loyalty from the troops. What I think is most relevant is a leaders competence both real and perceived. Competent leaders provide their teams with: 1. Clearly defined expectations. Targets, goals, expectations have to be clearly defined and communicated. Face ityoure all in the same boat so everyone needs to row in the same direction. Lack of clarity can result in people working at cross purposes and can stall, if not sink, an organization big or small. 2. A logical structure and processes that organize workflows. A rational organization needs to be in place so the team understands their respective roles and responsibilities. If roles and responsibilities are unclear, anarchy ensues and survival of the fittest becomes more important than the companys priorities. In addition to a logical organizational structure, Processes for accomplishing work must be defined and implemented. Process is the great enabler for teams to work efficiently as a TEAM, and deliver consistently for customers. 3. Tools and resources. Proper and sufficient tools and resources needed to get the job done are the most fundamental level of support a leader can provide. 4. Objective, timely feedback and two way communication. Employees need to be able to gauge how theyre doing in the fulfillment of their roles and responsibilities. They need frequent speed and heading checks and a full scale, deep dive review at the end of major projects or at least annually. As a leader, you need to keep the door open for focused, two way conversations at all times, in addition to providing regular feedback. You also need to be able to moderate how you deliver messages to suit the circumstances. 5. Predictable management behavior. It is important that you handle surprises (good and bad) in a consistent manner. Your team needs to be able to predict your reaction to good news and bad and to trust that however you react, you will react consistently. So, even if youre prone to rantingbe predictable about it!

As a leader, you will earn the respect (and trust) of your team by providing the above elements that you are personally liked or disliked as a leader is less important. So, whether your personal style is more Attila the Hun than Mahatma Ghandiwhether you inclined to pound on th e table and exhort the troops to meet targetsor to take the troops out for a beer to soften the blow of bad news It is your competency, and not whether you are liked or feared, that will determine your ability to rally the troops, lead them effectively, and ultimately drive company successes.

Don't Become A Survivor: 8 Resilience Behaviors That Help You Recover And Thrive After Trauma And Suffering

Cheryl Hunter

Several months ago, I received an email from a woman named Cheryl Hunter in California who reached out in thanks for my work on Forbes, and to offer something in return. She shared with me her TEDx Santa Monica talk, offering it humbly and generously as something that might be of interest. I receive literally hundreds of emails each month from folks reaching out to share their work, but Cheryls note stood out somehow, and I clicked on her TEDx talk link immediately, and heres what I saw: How To Handle Life Stressors And Keep Moving Toward Your Goals

The Top 5 Myths Of The Chronically Unsuccessfulr7 Essentials For A Happy And Fulfilling CareerKo Kathy CaprinoContributor

I was riveted, moved, and deeply inspired by Cheryls core message namely that it is our many unique facets of imperfection that reveal our true magnificence. Without our imperfections, the flip side perfection, beauty, and magnificence are impossible to see and appreciate. So many people today strive tirelessly to HIDE their flaws and foibles to pretend at perfection, and to shun vulnerability at all cost. But here is Cheryl who as a teenager endured some of the most harrowing forms of abuse at the hands of two male strangers on her first day in a foreign country telling us so bravely and confidently that there is magnificence in imperfection (and embracing her own imperfect life experiences to the fullest). I wanted to know more about how we forgive, move on and grow after experiencing terrible suffering at the hands of others. I asked Cheryl to share her behavioral and educational model for helping people do just that embrace their life experiences, as shameful and degrading as some have been in order to become more of themselves. Cheryl shared with me her thoughts on the 8 most essential resilience behaviors that increase our ability to recover from trauma in life, and allow us tothrive after experiences that have brought incredible suffering, despair, and hopelessness. Cheryls take on the 8 most important resilience behaviors are: 1. Know that exacting revenge wont bring peace. In the grips of a catastrophe, many are shocked, stunned and unable to function. Soon the shock spirals into rage, fury and blame. As individuals and as communities, we want the killers to be brought to justice; we demand blood for blood. The problem is, even when the bad guys are brought to justice, peace doesnt come. Peace is an inside job; it is not tethered to outside circumstances. 2. Understand that sometimes your thoughts are not your friends. When difficulty strikes, we run the If only and What if? scenarios in our minds until were ragged. It is imperative to allow yourself to outflow by simply speaking with another unreservedly and letting go of everything thats in your mind. 3. Control what you can. We cant control what happens to us. We can control how we respond. Its always a good idea to do what you know workseat right, work out, sleep an ample amount, etc.but its essential to do those things when youre in the midst of turmoil. Keeping to your daily routine will ensure that life seems as normal as it possibly can. 4. Help others. Shifting your focus off of yourself and onto another is one of the few things that can provide a reprieve from the anguish of your own circumstances and thoughts, as well as giving yourself a much-needed perspective shift. No matter how bad we have it, there is always someone else

who has it worse. The act of helping people can also make a lasting difference for others, and the knowledge of that is soothing in a way nothing else quite can be. 5. Seize responsibility. Get a toehold to stop the world from spinning out of control by finding at least one thing for which you can be responsible. This process of seizing responsibility shifts the locus of control from being outside of yourself to being located with you, and it can make our life feel under your control again. 6. Dont become a survivor. Move out of victimhood and straight through the role of survivor without stopping. Understand that being a survivor and being a victim are opposite sides of the same coin; both are predicated upon dragging around the past. Do not condemn yourself to being a survivor; keep moving and put the difficulties of the past behind you. 7. Understand that theres no getting back to like it was before. Many people who are going through difficulty utter the words, I just want to get everything back to like it was before. Problem is, that is an impossibility. There is no way to un-ring a bell; whats happened has happened and there is no way to rewind the past. The sooner we can make peace with that reality, the sooner well allow our own healing process to begin. 8. Finally, embrace wabi-sabi. Wabi-sabi represents a powerful Japanese aesthetic centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection. Following this worldview and practice, we focus on finding beauty and peace within the challenges of life, and embracing the natural cycles of growth, decay, change, and uncertainty. Wabi-sabi further asserts that the magnificence and perfection of any object lie in its imperfections, so re-frame the way you see what is wrong with yourself and the difficulties you face. When you can hold lifes so-called imperfections in that light, youll find that what makes you magnificent is everything youve previously believed is wrong with you. ****** When you have that amazing opportunity in life to meet an individual who has overcome great suffering as a young person, and continues to grow and find new ways to embrace, love and accept herself and others, you know this person has something very important to teach about life, love, empathy and reaching your fullest potential on this planet. What imperfections are you struggling so hard to hide today? Can these flaws be the very reflection of how you are truly magnificent in the world?

Can I Wear A Velvet Blazer To The Office?

Style Strategy
Usually when we think of velvet, we think of evening. It is this dense fabric that is of course, traditionally associated with nobility. However, I think it is a great option for day wear, particularly when our daily commutes are hitting cool temperatures, but have yet to make us to reach for a wool coat. There are different variations of the velvet jacket to choose from and you could pair it with just about anything, but I would probably shy away from wearing it with anything metallic or shiny such as sequins for the office, or it may look as if you were on your way to a holiday party. Here are a few outfit ideas for the office: Mango black long sleeve top, $50 / Mango velvet blazer, $130 / Theory Ibbey pants, $265 / DV by Dolce Vita flat, $80 / Mango zip top tote, $110 / Michael Kors silver watch, $275 / Vince Camuto jewelry, $30 I think it would look amazing with a flared leather skirt, but in case such a skirt would be too much for your office environment, a non-leather version would also be very chic:

The New Young Traveler Boom

travelers today want, more than ever, to enrich themselves with cultural experiences, to meet local people and to improve their employability when they return home. With young people traveling further, staying away for longer, spending more, keeping in touch more and integrating with overseas communities on a scale not seen before, the industry is becoming far broader

than ever before, he added. Courtesy of the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation) Backpackers may finally be getting some respect at least from an economic standpoint. Young people are traveling more, staying away for longer periods of time and spending more money, a new reportindicates.

U.S. The Only Advanced Economy That Does Not Require Employers To Provide Paid Vacation Time, Report Says A Glam Option For Frugal Travelers: 'Boutique Hostels' Tanya MohnContributor

Tanya MohnContributor

Take a Gap Year, With Your College's Blessing Tanya MohnContributor SAttention Stressed-Out High School Seniors: Need a Break Before College? Consider Attending a Gap Year Fair Tanya MohnContributor

In 2012, $217 billion of the $1.088 trillion tourism spend worldwide came from young travelers, an increase that vastly outstripped that of other international travelers, according to a new study of youth and student travel released by Amsterdam-based World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation. Young travelers now represent 20 per cent of international tourism, making the group an important economic force. The WYSE Travel Confederation called the report the largest and most comprehensive survey ever undertaken for the youth travel sector. The study, released in September, updated rese arch initially conducted in 2002 and later in 2007, and looked at why, how and where young people travel and included survey responses from more than 34,000 young travelers from 137 countries.

Our research shows that the nature of youth travel has changed enormously in the past decade, said David Chapman, director general for the WYSE Travel Confederation. Young Highlights from the report: At a time of rising youth unemployment and global economic austerity, more young people than ever before are traveling to gain work, educational and cultural experiences, while those traveling purely for leisure has fallen from over 75 percent in 2007 to just 47 percent. More young travelers are shunning the traditional sun, sea and sand holidays to improve t heir resumes. According to the report, 22 percent of young travelers want to learn a language, 15 percent want to gain work experience, and 15 percent travel to study all significantly up from 2007. Student spending has increased by 40 percent since 2007 despite the global economic climate, with young travelers requesting more varied services. The age demographic of people identifying themselves as youth travelers has broadened. Young travelers are spending longer periods of time abroad; the number of trips more than 60 days has increased over the last five years. Youth travel is not all about budget accommodation; there has been a significant rise in travelers identifying themselves as more up-scale flashpackers, backpackers who travel with lap tops, smart phones and other high tech gear and who tend to have heftier budgets than traditional backpackers. Hostels have overtaken hotels as the most popular form of accommodation; they are adapting to meet the demands of modern youth travelers and increasing the variety of services they offer. The places that young people are traveling to are changing; they are spending less time in major gateway cities and are exploring more remote destinations than previously. More young people are living abroad. More young travelers now aim to live like a local when they travel abroad by immersing themselves in local cultures. Crime, identified as the main barrier to travel by survey respondents, has sharply increased from 14 percent in 2007 to 24 percent.

U.S. The Only Advanced Economy That Does Not Require Employers To Provide Paid Vacation Time, Report Says Tanya MohnContributor

A Glam Option For Frugal Travelers: 'Boutique Hostels' Tanya MohnContributor

Take a Gap Year, With Your College's Blessing Tanya MohnContributor Attention Stressed-Out High School Seniors: Need a Break Before College? Consider Attending a Gap Year Fair Tanya MohnContributor

The change in motivation behind traveling is one of the starkest shifts in trends the youth travel sector has seen in the last five years, Mr. Chapman of WYSE said. Its fascinating to see from the research how people now see travel as an integral part of their future with such uncertainty surrounding jobs and with so much uncertainty in the economic climate.

Zara blouse, $50 / Man