Advice Line | Bob Lewis | InfoWorld | Happy Thanksgiving | November 22, 2006 08:11 AM

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Happy Thanksgiving

November 22, 2006 | Comments: (0)

Happy Thanksgiving

At the risk of being uplifting, here's a quick thought in honor of Thanksgiving:

More than two billion people have no access to basic sanitation. The same number figures a bowl or two of rice a day means they've fed well.

For much of the world, malaria is a fact of life, as is losing children to curable diseases. Hunger isn't something you experience because you're trying to lose weight, and trying to lose weight is a baffling concept.

So as you put up with the bugs and security holes in Vista and Internet Explorer 7, or with annoying end-user requests, or conflicting design requirements in your next software development project, keep in mind a distinction made by Robert Fulghum: The difference between a problem and an inconvenience.

Enjoy the holiday - your life is better than you know.

- Bob

PS: Don't worry. I'll return to being sarcastic and easily annoyed next week.

Posted by Bob Lewis on November 22, 2006 08:11 AM

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In the United States, the #1 health concern among our "poor" people is... obesity!

I have always said we don't have real poverty in America. When is the last time you saw an emaciated person in America? Yet, this condition is not uncommon in much of the world.

Posted by: DavidFilmer at November 22, 2006 11:13 AM

Thank you for reminding us of how good we do have it. Compared to 90% (95%?) of the world, we do live equivalent to the kings and queens of yesterday. Let us give thanks!

Posted by: Dan G at November 22, 2006 11:35 AM

Bob,

If you were easily annoyed or sarcastic, your thoughts wouldn't be so valuable, nor your columns so effective.

And thanks for the reminder of just how wonderful my life is. I'm frequently grateful, but the reminder doesn't hurt.

Kind regards.

Posted by: Ned Horvath at November 22, 2006 12:21 PM

Bob,

Week after week, your candid remarks in Advice Line are spot-on and serve to remind us that common sense is not all that common.

This week you remind us that perspective is also in short supply. The start of the holiday season is a good time to remember that it's about more than the work, the career, the technology, the lifestyle. That is, it's not really about us.

Happy Thanksgiving

Posted by: Jim Kreinbring at November 22, 2006 01:14 PM

Thank you.

As we are changed by the events of Sept 11 and those who died because of, we need to remember that that many persons have died of malnutrition every two weeks.

And continue to.

I live in Vermont near the Ben and Jerry's plant. During the tour, there are various slogans placed on cleverly designed inflatables. One says:

When you die and are before he who measures you, he will ask two questions:
Did you have fun?
Did you take care of my children?

---
Enjoy the holidays.

Posted by: Roger Gillim at November 22, 2006 01:17 PM

Three books. Three ways to change the world, your life, or at least Bob Lewis' bank account.

Leading IT: The Toughest Job in the World distills the world of IT leadership into eight learnable skills and gives you concrete, practical techniques for each one of them.

Bare Bones Project Management: What you can't not do makes project management manageable, even for first-time project managers with no formal training in the discipline.

ManagementSpeak: What managers say/What they mean … well, it won't help your career, and won't make you a better manager. Mostly, it will make you chuckle, guffaw, and maybe even chortle. Make friends - it's the perfect gift for anyone who has ever suffered through one of those meetings.

Order your copies today!

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