TGIF BYOB ASAP

Do you understand what I just wrote?

My guess is that many of you do, and this is just one example of how we live in a world of initials and acronyms. Initials and acronyms can quickly communicate a message or shut out others.

Maybe you've seen the AT&T ad where 1/2 to 1/3 of the dialogue is initials with subtitles to interpret, all to promote its text messaging.

This past week I sent emails with FYI, BTW, LOL, XOXO. Ok, I didn't send the last two to business clients.

I like to figure out personalized license plates. I saw one recently, HUNY GRAM. I figure the cars' owner is either a lovable grandparent or a cracker.

It's amazing how much we rely on initials. Many businesses in the entertainment media are known by their initials. NBC, ESPN, HBO.

Our favorite government agencies, FBI, IRS, FDA.

Businesses and organizations have their own initials and acronyms. Toastmasters has its own initial stew, CC, AL, DTM. It also occassionaly uses acronyms.

On the July Toastmaster magazine cover was "SNAFU Survival" to promote an article in the magazine of how to succeed when events don't go your way. Two months later there were letters to the editor, DO YOU KNOW WHAT SNAFU MEANS?! IT'S MILITARY SLANG FOR "SITUATION NORMAL, ALL F_ (FOULED) UP. HOW CAN A REPUTABLE ORGANIZATION PUT THAT ON THE COVER? I NORMALLY PLACE MY TOASTMASTER MAGAZINE ISSUES OUT FOR OTHERS TO SEE, BUT NOT THE JULY ISSUE.

These people were PO'ed. I can only image what would happen if Toastmasters placed "FUBAR Follies" on the cover. They would need CPR by an EMT before going to the ER, otherwise they'd be MIA from TM. OMG!

Sometimes the initials can have unexpected results.

In the 1960's and 1970's the state of Washington started building nuclear power plants to supply their energy needs. They were built through the Washington Public Power System. After Three Mile Island, the plants were inspected by the NRC, not to be confused with the RNC or the DNC because it's a part of the DOE. They found the plants weren't AOK. TV reporters began referring to the agency by combining the first letters of the agency into the word "Whoops" (WPPS). A rather prophetic set of initials.

I've always considered Washington a progressive state, so if you go forward about 30 years, the topic is public transportation. In the Seattle area, $50 million dollars was invested for the South Lake Union Trolley. All this because the EPA won't raise MPG, so the DOT wants to get people out of SUV's, H3's, and other WMD's (cars) and into HOV's to reduce CO2 all because of VP AG's IT.

I think the head of the "Ride the South Lake Union Trolley" marketing campaign was recent UW graduate who wanted to increase ROI with SRO of SWM by making the marketing "Ride the SLUT". I understand the t-shirts are big sellers on Ebay.

Maybe it's just me, but could there be something in the H20? If so, they must be sending it to the California Legislature.

This year the CA legislature discussed bills on healthcare insurance. Being self-employed, I have an HSA which used to be an MSA through USAA and Blue Shield, also known as BS. The legislature is working to combine several proposals into the All California's Medical Expenses insurance. Maybe I watched too many roadrunner cartoons growing up and the unsuccessful products used by the coyote to catch the roadrunner, that I don't have much confidence in the All California Medical Expenses (ACME) insurance.

I also remind myself that the legislature is many of the same individuals who got involved to save me money on my energy costs a few years ago, and I'll be paying for those savings for years.

My only hope is the Governor, the Terminator, will declare the bill DOA PDQ otherwise we'll be SOL renting a UHaul and driving east on I80.

We can use initials and acronym's to quickly share information. At times it's frustrating when someone goes WPPS over a SNAFU with your ACME insurance concerning a SLUT. When this happens to you, my advice is to LU, lighten up.