Shown is a cover of what many consider as Jose Y. Dalisay's best collection of short stories
“People used to jargon — which is the way certain closed communities use special terms that are perfectly clear to them but not to others (like “myocardial infarction,” “collateral damage,” “network externalities,” and “ceteris paribus” — will tend to insist on those terms instead of more easily understandable ones. I’ve often been hired to “popularize” technical texts to render them more accessible to lay readers, and I think I’m pretty good at it, but I’ve sometimes found that — after doing what I was contracted to do — the client reverted to the original, finding the jargon-free version too strange for comfort.
So what do you do when your edits are overruled by someone far less capable, even after quoting ten sources to prove that “in spite” is two words and not one? Lick your wounds, read a good book, and move on. In spite of everything, you’ve done your level best at your salary range. Let them make fools of themselves if they insist; but if they don’t, make them shine like stars.”
– Jose Y. Dalisay Jr., from the second tranche of his two-part piece entitled Editing as a Profession, which was uploaded to his blog on October 25, 2010. [See: Jose Dalisay Jr.'s blog]
(From Travelgoes.com)
“The Company undertakes not to contract out existing positions, jobs, divisions, and departments presently occupied by present or future regular employees within the collective bargaining unit. All existing programs whereby positions, jobs, divisions, and departments presently occupied by regular employees are being contracted out temporarily arising from exigencies of operations, shall immediately be deemed discontinued when the said exigencies or needs cease. Thereafter, where these programs have resulted in transfers and/or other adverse implications on security of tenure, all affected employees shall be immediately restored to their status and position prior to said contracting out, without any loss of seniority or diminution of benefits.
In case the Company deems it necessary to reorganize its corporate structure for the viability of its operations by forming joint ventures and spin-offs, the Company shall do so only after proper consultations with PALEA [Philippine Airlines’ Employees Association] not less than forty-five (45) days before the implementation of said reorganization for the protection of the Union and those affected employees.”
— From Article 24, Section 4 of the 1995-2000 labor agreement between Philippine Airlines (PAL) and the PALEA. Arguably, the agreement remains in effect after both parties agreed to extend it in 1998. During that time, the company sought — and later secured — court approval to temporarily suspend debt payments to creditors. In October, the Philippines’ Department of Labor and Employment affirmed an earlier decision dated June, allowing the outsourcing of 4,000 jobs in the airlines’ inflight catering, airport services, and reservations staff. The June 2010 decision was made after workers appealed a much earlier verdict rendered in March that also ruled against their favor. Earlier, workers filed a case against PAL, disputing its plans to contract out its labor needs. The case also sought to renew the labor agreement that had already lapsed. [See: Labor Dept. allows layoff of PAL workers]
Screen grab of Manhattan's characters driving out of New York in what appears to be a really cool Porsche 356
1) Groucho Marx
2) Willie Mays
3) Second movement of Jupiter symphony
4) Louis Armstrong’s Potatohead blues
5) Swedish movies
6) Sentimental education by [Gustave] Flaubert
7) Marlon Brando
8) Frank Sinatra
9) Apples and Pears by [Paul] Cezanne
10) Crabs at Sam Wo’s (A Chinese restaurant on 813 Washington Street in Manhattan) [See: Sam Wo]
11) Tracy’s face (Tracy being the girlfriend of Davis, a 17-year-old high-school student played by Mariel Hemingway)
— as spoken into a microphone attached to a cassette tape recorder by Davis, played by Woody Allen, while making notes about a short story he planned to write regarding “people in Manhattan who are constantly creating neurotic problems for themselves.” [See: Manhattan The Movie]
