dispatches from the new world of work

Note to the Appalled on Bear Scat

My neighbor brought me the bear scat. (See immediately below.) He had it in his hand—and handed it to me. Basically, it's modestly digested bark and nuts. (Period.) I surely wouldn't take a knife and fork to it, but it's a long, long way from what city folk might imagine. Particularly when the world goes wobbly, it is pure joy to be imbedded in the land, listening to bear calls at night (they sound like owls), waking up to farm sounds and having an oasis a long way from Citicorp HQ. I'm one of the old fashioned types—I guess it's the new fashion, in point of fact—who think we were designed to be in touch with the land in one way or another. (I say all this, while I claim with equal sincerity that I left my heart in San Francisco. Lucky me.)

Tom Peters posted this on 11/25/08.

Comments

Tom,

I thought the picture was some sort of metaphor: The bear has eaten, done his bear bowel business (ON and TO our property), and the bear is moving on.

Doesn't Vermont have any Bulls? Surely they make deposits?

By the way, I was in Best Buy on Sunday. Packed! Couldn't get anybody to help me.

Posted by S. Anthony Iannarino at November 25, 2008 10:20 PM

Bear scat? Makes a change from the diet of bullshit which many of us consume (and deliver?).

And 'pure joy to be imbedded in the land' brings to mind the old (almost ancient, even) Gore campaign of 'We were wild once. And will be again.' used to sell their extreme weather clothing.

Yep, in so many ways we're soooooo-damn-out-of-touch with stuff which really matters... 'group tree-hug' anyone?

Posted by g at November 26, 2008 12:41 AM

Tom,

You have earned the right to put a picture of any kind of shit on your website. (especially when it carries a great metaphor)

Steve

Posted by Steve Yastrow at November 26, 2008 12:54 AM

I have 3 dogs and their doings aren't as major as bears'. However, I shall no longer refer to my weekly clean up of the garden as pooh-picking but as pandit-purging.

Posted by Mark JF at November 26, 2008 6:53 AM

"my weekly clean up of the garden as pooh-picking but as pandit-purging."

Nice!

Posted by tom peters at November 26, 2008 10:31 AM

I vaguely remember bear (not the panda) as the symbol of a country, somewhere.

Posted by Gerson at December 1, 2008 7:55 AM