Panic Week! Day One

"Scream" by Jason Prini on Flickr

The FAA is inspecting the base this week, and as is always the case, there's a tiny bit of panic in the air. I think Patrick McManus called this a "modified stationary panic" and if I remember right, it's the kind of panic that induces an overwhelming desire to run while simultaneously causing complete muscle rigidity. Mostly, the victim just vibrates without going anywhere.

Another way to look at it is to remember Shakespeare's title "Much Ado About Nothing." Inevitably, the focus of attention will be on the wrong things. Some of it is almost comical. One guy used the cleanup, commotion, and panic as a means to get out of his cubicle and into a proper office - all under the guise of the 5S program. (This is the latest management fad. Don't make me go into it or I may hurt you.)

We didn't see any FAA inspectors today, despite much gnashing of teeth and tearing of hair. They'll probably appear tomorrow, and then the fun starts for real!