working less to help the economy

A guy on CNN, Jack Cafferty, has brought up the idea of changing to a four-day workweek here in the U.S., to help deal with rising gas prices.  It’s not an original idea, because the staff here at Buffet o’ Blog have discussed various plans to work less and/or to increase the length of the weekend.  So while it’s not a new idea, it is good to see it finally gaining some traction with the mainstream media.

I’ll volunteer for the four-day workweek, even if it’s just in an experimental stage.  And I volunteer to work from home, too, which would really save on gas prices.

I figure some companies would expect employees to start working 10-hour days to compensate for the extra off-day, but that’s not necessary.  It would be best to leave it like it is except for removing one whole day of work.  Not only would that help the economy and help prevent global warming, it would dramatically improve morale, which would be a huge thing in this time of major corporate layoffs and downsizing.  So companies ought to think about this new strategy.

Actually, I think the four-day workweek would be widely accepted idea among employees (which make up the majority).  So perhaps research is not needed on that.  But if they want to research taking it a step further, like a three-day workweek, I’ll sign up for that.  🙂

add your own captions, Barack Obama and John Kerry

Here’s our next caption contest.  (Yes, it’s a contest — while there are no official prizes, if you make people laugh, you “win”.)  All you have to do is write a caption for this picture.  This week we’re featuring a photo from the campaign trail, featuring presidential wanna-be John Kerry giving advice (or consolation) to presidential candidate Barack Obama.

Have fun with this one…  🙂

John Kerry and Barack Obama

(To see the other entries in our caption contest, click on the “Say What?” category in the sidebar.)

a spamtastic secret to skinniness

I got a spam e-mail today with the subject line of:

RE: Clean Colon = Flat Tummy

First, that’s just an odd association.  But second, my research* has proven that’s not true at all.

* I know some people who “cleanse their colon” on a regular basis, and, well, that’s all I’ll say.  🙂

the special days of May, pt 3

Now we will conclude our look at the special days / celebrations / observances of May.  (To see the previous entries, click here to search for them.)

  • 16 Love a Tree Day — This seems absurd to me.  I appreciate trees, but I don’t love them.  But I reckon there are a number of tree-hugger type people out there…
  • 16 National Bike to Work Day — This is a good idea.  If only people would take gas-free transportation to work once in a while, then demand for gas / oil would go down.  A one-day boycott of buying gas will not make any difference whatsoever to the “Big Oil” corporations if you still drive your vehicle.  But using less gas, and therefore reducing their profits, they will notice.
  • 17 Pack Rat Day — This must be for me!  Actually, I’m not nearly as bad as I used to be, when my room would have piles of stuff in it…
  • 18 No Dirty Dishes Day — To have no dirty dishes, you need to use no dishes.  So either use paper plates or go out to eat.
  • 20 Be a Millionaire Day — Where do I sign up?!?  I’ll participate!
  • 21 National Memo Day — This is when all your bosses make sure they tell you (again) to put cover pages on your TPS reports.
  • 22 Buy a Musical Instrument Day — If you can’t play an instrument, you should learn — it’s a great hobby.  If you have children, they should learn.  It broadens the mind.  And if no one in your household wants to play one, you can buy me one!  🙂
  • snail24 National Escargot Day — Escargot may sound like a fancy food, but it’s just snails.  I’ll pass on this one…
  • 26 Blueberry Cheesecake Day — Ah, a day to eat cheesecake!
  • 26 Memorial Day — A day to remember…  And there tends to be grilling, which is awesome!
  • 29 ??? — My sources say there isn’t a special day on May 29, that it’s waiting to be claimed.  So I claim it Buffet o’ Blog Day.  On this day, people shall get off work, catch up on reading this awesome blog, and grill burgers, steaks, and hot dogs (or eat at pizza buffets if you’d prefer).
  • 30 Water a Flower Day — Let’s hope it rains this day!
  • 31 National Macaroon Day — A Macaroon is a flourless cookie, and it’s popular among the Jewish community, especially during Passover.  I don’t know if I’ve ever had one, but it’s a cookie, so I’d try it.
  • 31 Save Your Hearing Day — The world can be a loud places, from all the traffic and the whirring of computers and phones ringing.  So for this unique holiday, you should stay home — in bed.  Turn the phone off, and just sleep.
  • 31 World No Tobacco Day — This one should be year-long.  Tobacco is not something you should smoke or put in your mouth — it kills you.

That concludes the special days of May.  I hope you found some that you could celebrate.

Thank you, drive thru…