Sunday, February 05, 2006

There’s Something We Have to Show You, Mr. President

Have you seen the news clip of the president’s visit to the 3M plant in Minnesota, Thursday, February 3rd?

Poor guy. He just wanted to brag on the company by displaying one of 3M’s innovations—the Post-It Note. When he couldn’t make it stick to his podium, my heart sank. Why didn’t someone brief him on the operation of this device?

There must be an appropriate publication at 3M’s corporate headquarters for the effective operation of the Post-It note. Or could it be that its simple use is self-evident?

Certainly not! Our President?

Surely there must be a Government Printing Office publication for the device. But checking GPO’s website (http://www.gpo.gov/) a search on Post-It, showed no matching documents. Even entering IAD for Impermanent Adhesive Device, knowing the government’s penchant for acronyms, gave no matches.

Then I even Googled the query. But “instructions for post-it notes” only referenced instructions written on Post-It notes. Now that’s a concept! Maybe the last leaf on a Post-It pad should be an always-at-ready user guide. Let me suggest some easy-to-comprehend wording for such a directive:

1. This device is designed for writing on the top side. That is the side facing up when the face of this instruction sheet—if still attached to the Post-It note pad—is placed face down.

2. After recording desired communiqué, peel off gently, being aware of the potential for self-inflected paper cuts to thumb or forefinger.

3. Choose a clean, smooth surface within view of intended readers of your memorandum.

4. Attach your Post-It note message by pressing lightly its top surface while the back is in contact with object on which it is to be mounted. (Note: The back side is that which has a tacky strip along one edge. See warning in #2 on paper-cut hazard.)

This last point is most important, Mr. President. Please study these instructions carefully before your next speech. This common, but puzzling office product need not confound your mission with further embarrassment.

7 comments:

  1. Very good post Ardi! Our president not being able to comprehend how to use the post it "sticky paper" really says a lot about his lack of common sense..he see's and keeps using 'the only side he see's'..and doesn't understand or take the time to see whats on 'the other side'.

    Blesssings,
    Rhi

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  2. Thanks for that point, Rhi. I know the "other side" is a sticky issue for some. And there is the whole matter of facing the messy havoc wrought. Paper cuts can be quite bloody. Not to mention the victums of war.

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  3. There's a useful memo. The job offers should be rolling in any time now.

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  4. Laughing out loud! I tried to look up a video of the incident, but was unable to find one. If you know of one, do let me know. I will also link this post from my blog - It's just great.

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  5. Very funny post indeed. You know, it's hard to be clever when you're in front of millions of people on a live feed with a couple hundred cameras thrust in your face. Most of us think we've a world famous sort of nature when, in fact, we don't. The problem of course comes when someone without a world famous sort of nature ends up in the White House or in some other high profile position where the rest of us can clearly see that they're out of both their depth and their element. Ho-hum. A lot more of us like that out there, I'm afraid!

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  6. *ROTFLHAO*

    oh, it just fits ALL my personal opinions and thoughts on him. - LOL

    thank God the Presidental election is coming soon!

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