Edible Political Correctness
The WSJ (paid subscription) has a story today about the backlash against politically correct eating.

One of the biggest political battlegrounds in America these days isn't Bush and Kerry -- it's fish and dairy (or at least milk-fed veal). Gourmet edibles are coming under a new barrage of legal and activist attacks, and some diners and chefs are striking back...

Foodies are resisting, including a San Francisco chef who staged an all-foie gras dinner with picketers assembled in front of his restaurant. (The same chef says he'll keep serving Russian Beluga "until it becomes illegal.") Fish lovers are gobbling farmed salmon...Veal is appearing at high-end restaurants at the highest rate since 1998

And my take on this? I ate WHALE in Japan a few years ago, and you can't get more politically incorrect than that, so you can guess my stance on this topic (if you're curious it's a little chewy and tastes like beef). To be fair, I wouldn't volunteer to go out and eat whale, but as a guest at the dinner, turning it down would have been a severe breach of politeness, causing my host to lose face. And while I have might have had personal misgivings about it, I am certainly not going to tell the Japanese (or anyone else) what they can and can't eat.

Of course, I WOULD put my foot down at eating dog in S. Korea. Yes, there ARE restaurants that serve dog there (someone pointed one out to me before), but it is eaten by a very small percentage of S. Koreans and the practice seems to be dying out.

Hat Tip: Prof Bainbridge

posted by Director_Mitch @ 12:45 PM (Permalink)
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Restaurant Recommendation (SoCal Only)
I've never blogged on a restaurant, but I had such an good experience last night, I thought I would pass on a recommendation on to my readers in Southern California.

Looking for something different, I decided to try a Moroccan restaurant not too far from my house, and both the food and ambiance were great. The place is set up like an authentic Moroccan establishment, with short tables and couches with lots of hanging curtains separating eating areas of 3-6 tables, almost like you're inside a very large tent. If you didn't know any better, you might have thought you were next door to Rick's in Casablanca.

The waiter, from Morocco, came to our (short) table wearing a fez, handed us towels, and washed our hands in warm, scented water poured from a silver pot. Traditionally, you eat your meal with your hands - and we did for most of the courses - although they also provide silverware. 98% of Morocco may be Muslim, but that doesn't stop this place from having a full bar, so I enjoyed several "Kasbah" mixed drinks while my wife had a "Belly Dancer", before having a surprisingly good glass of Moroccan wine. (A link here explains that alcohol consumption was customary before Islam penetrated the country, so alcohol is both manufactured and sold there).

The menu is a set, five-course meal (soup, salad, appetizer, main course, desert) and the food was outstanding, and very different from what you might be used to eating. The meal is topped off with a very good glass of hot mint tea.

The place is called Marrakesh and they have three places in SoCal: Costa Mesa, Studio City, and La Jolla. The food will cost you about $30-$35 a person, so with drinks a party of two will be about $100. With the great food and ambiance, I recommend it as money well spent.

posted by Director_Mitch @ 9:13 AM (Permalink)
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To My Readers in Quebec: Happy St. Jean Baptiste Day
To all my right-wing, conservative readers in Quebec who might be reading my site (there is a population of one who fits that description in the whole province), a happy St. Jean Baptiste Day.

The calendar company that sells into Office Depot must also distribute in Canada, so there are all these Canadian holidays on there...

posted by Director_Mitch @ 9:02 AM (Permalink)
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End of An Era
I remember when Comdex was THE tech show in North America. It was large, it was fun, it was business. Now it's dead, something I indicated might happen after my last visit: Comdex's Organizers Cancel This Year's Show

posted by Director_Mitch @ 9:23 PM (Permalink)
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Since I Haven't Posted a Stupid Quiz In a While...
Early in this Blog I used to have a Friday quiz. That lasted about six weeks, but I still occasionally find amusing, time-wasting quizzes on other blogs. This one is courtesy of Prof Bainbridge, and is surprisingly accurate for me (you have no idea how often I pine for the mid 80s...)


My inner child is sixteen years old!

Life's not fair! It's never been fair, but while adults might just accept that, I know something's gotta change. And it's gonna change, just as soon as I become an adult and get some power of my own.
How Old is Your Inner Child?


Note that the good Professor is much older than I am...

posted by Director_Mitch @ 8:54 PM (Permalink)
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Reader Advice: Do You Volunteer Plans For a Year Out During a Job Interview?
Got the following email today from a reader (edited for content and length):

I had a part-time administrative job with no benefits for about 4 months. Two months ago, I got engaged and told everyone at work that I would very likely have to move when my fiancé graduated in about a year. At this point my plans were essentially public knowledge.

A month later my department created a full-time, full-benefit administrative position that I was highly qualified for. While not management level, it was better than the part-time position I had, and I was the best qualified in the department for the post.

I applied for the position and got it. During the interview, my boss never asked me about my plans to stay with the company, so I never brought it up. We discussed my interest in the job, my experience with the work, and some things we had in common.

After I got the job, a co-worker started asking me if I told my boss about my plans to move, and has been pressuring me to go back and warn my boss that I might not be there in a year. This co-worker is a good friend, and I honestly think she's been making this suggestion with my best interest at heart. She didn't apply for my job herself, and had told me she thought I was the best candidate. The problem is that she allows other people to talk to her and those people were trying to make a political issue where there was no need. If anything, her pressure was an attempt to diffuse gossip and back biting.

Was I under any obligation to bring this subject up? Does it really benefit anybody if I do so now?

You have two issues: one ethical, the other political. On the ethical side, you are okay since you were under no obligation to volunteer the fact that you might move for the following reasons:

"Maybe", "Perhaps", "Likely" - You state that it is very likely that I would have to move. This is not definite, and plans always change. I see no reason to put your career on hold and not take a job you are suited for since something "might" happen later on. (The company "might" shut down)

Time Frame - A year? If it were four weeks, then, yeah, sure, tell him during the interview. But a year is forever in business time. Can ANYONE in your company guarantee they will be there in a year? It's more likely that the company will change the department by then (laying you off, changing managers, etc.)

Being a Manager Means You Have To Manage - Your manager knew when he was interviewing you that you aren't going to spend 40 years in this position and then retire. Turnover is a fact of life and every time a manager puts someone in the position, there is the risk the person might leave for professional or personal reasons. It's part of the job, and he'll deal with you eventually leaving, no matter when it is.

Level Not High Enough - CEO position? VP position? I can see where someone in these positions might bring up potential plans a year from now, but at this non-managerial position you are talking about I don't see this as important. In addition, there is no "training period" before being up to speed in this position, so it's not like there is a huge corporate investment in the position before it's proficient (in which case, the interviewer would definitely have asked you about long-term plans).

At Will Employment - You don't give the company any guarantee that you will be there in a year, and the company doesn't guarantee you will have your job in a year. It's a two-way street, and unless this company can give you its employment picture for 12 months out (no way), I see nothing "unethical" about taking this particular job promotion with the possibility that you "might not" be around in 12 months.

So ethically, you are okay.

The second problem, the political one, is a little more difficult, but I don't think the problem is that your co-workers have a problem with the possibility of you leaving. The problem is that no matter who gets promoted, there are people who are always upset. If they didn't know you might leave in a year, they would find another reason, trust me (other favorites are "not here long enough", "not ready for promotion", and "he got the job because he's friends with the manager"). Inter-office rivalry and envy are going to exist and you are not going to change their minds.

There is also the possibility that one of these co-workers might let it "slip" to your manager that you got engaged and might be moving. You have to decide how you want to handle this situation: let him come to you and ask about it, or go to him and let him know.

I would really have to understand your relationship with your manager and any plans to stay in this particular industry, but based on the information I have, my advice is to do nothing. If he does approach you, let him know that you simply don't know what your plans are and for the time being you are staying here, but if your plans change, he will be the first to know. Of course if/when you do make a definite decision about leaving you have to decide when to let him know, but that's a question for another time.

In the mean time talk to your friend/co-worker and outline the reasons you are not going to talk to your boss - the basic one being that you really don't know what is going to happen a year out. You can't prevent her from talking to others in the group, but if she knows that your plans really aren't definite, it might help defuse the situation.

Anyone else have additional or contrary advice?

posted by Director_Mitch @ 1:32 PM (Permalink)
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Open Your Door To A Voter Drive Felon
File under democratic stupidity. Wait, that one's full. I'll put it under democratic desperation:

A Democratic group crucial to John Kerry's presidential campaign has paid felons - some convicted of sex offenses, assault and burglary- to conduct door-to-door voter registration drives in at least three election swing states.

Yeah, everyone deserves a second chance, so let's send sex offenders door-to-door to find women staying at home alone with their small children and burglars to find out which homes are empty.

posted by Director_Mitch @ 1:22 PM (Permalink)
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I Can Finally Try Grey Goose
With my boycott of French goods, I hadn't allowed myself to try Grey Goose, but it looks like I will be able to give it a taste in a few weeks: Bacardi to Buy Grey Goose Vodka

posted by Director_Mitch @ 2:45 PM (Permalink)
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