Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free. Tis a gift to come down where we ought to be, and when we have come to the place that is right, we will be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we will not be ashamed, to turn and to turn will be our delight, till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

Tis a gift to be loving, tis the best gift of all, like a quiet rain it blesses where it falls, and if we have the gift we will truly believe, it is as blessed to give as it is to receive.

When true simplicity is gained, to bow and to bend we will not be ashamed, to turn and to turn will be our delight, till by turning, turning we come ’round right.

It is sometimes called a Quaker song, but it is probably more proper to call it a Shaker hymn. Joseph Brackett wrote it in 1848. Pete Seeger and Tricia Martin sang it. Edward R. Murrow used it for years to introduce CBS Reports. It too has some bearing on the question, Where do cowboys come from? – though neither this cowboy, nor very many other cowboys, are actually Quakers or Shakers for that matter.

Original appearance May 9, 2007 / CIP2 589 / © 2007 / SHE

Unless you are a rocket scientist, forget the metric system. Honestly, they did, and missed Mars. Still, if you are on a short visit to France, let’s say less than a lifetime, you can easily afford to forget the metric system – unless of course you drive in France, and then rule # 1 is: ‘Don’t Drive in France’. Actually it is a beautiful system – logical, decimal, magnificent, and downright deductive. It follows and flows. It is poetry. Everything should be beautiful in France, and it is; but it is not because of the metric system, it is in spite of it. Nothing fits in France. The difference between the multiple of two and ten is gorgeous inefficiency. And if you do drive in France, remember the multiple for a mile per hour is 1.6093 kilometers per hour, but that is only the first reason not to drive in France.

Original appearance May 9, 2007 / CIP2 585 / © 2007 / EUS

The French Senate is right in the middle of the Left Bank (that may describes both its geographical and political position). Since 1799 it has been the successor to the Chamber of Peers. The original palace was built between 1615-1627 by Salomon de Brosse for Marie de Médicis, the widow of Henry IV and mother of Louis XIII. It was originally built for her in the Florentine style and, through many modifications and additions, it has retained that flavor. During WWII it was the German headquarters for the Luftwaffe. The gardens are spectacular.

Original appearance July 25, 2005, © 2005 / Le Sénat, Palais du Luxembourg, (The Senate) / 15 RUE DE VAUGIRARD, 75006 / 01 42 34 20 00 / CIP 136, 00 11, RD 25, YP 30/5-25

RESUME WRITING – Résumé and Network are the twin pillars of getting an interview. I suspect in France the network may have slightly more weight, while in the rest of the world the résumé could take the cake. Don’t neglect either. Consider:

A – Benefits to the Company – The person reading your résumé is almost certainly only concerned with advantages for their own establishment. Focus on your benefit to their company not vice versa.

B – Concise & to the Point – Keep it concise and relative. Sonnets and bonnets have no place in a well written résumé. Professional, positive and business like – that’s the ticket. Have a point and make it.

C – Communicate Value – Strive, strive hard, to convey merit. Worth and benefit are what its all about. If they don’t see your value on the paper they won’t see you in their office. It’s as simple as that. Dollars and sense.

D – Contact Names – Research them, remember them, and even use them in cover letters, but it is a little too pushy to utilize company personnel names in your actual résumé. Remember all the names you come in contact with for possible inclusion in your network later.

Continued below / Original appearance May 7, 2007 / CQ 692 / © 2007 / TPS

E – Stand Out With Specifics – Enumerate particular accomplishments. Sometimes be a little creative here. Perhaps you could praise one of your subordinate’s triumphs and glow in reflected glory; besides it illustrates excellent management techniques on your part.

F – Unadvertised Positions – Do not limit yourself. Many if not most posts are not advertised. Usually the personnel people know of upcoming needs long before they advertise and frequently fill them in that stage. If the firm interests you send your CV.

G – Create a Position – Sometimes if you know the perfect company for you it is possible for you to conjure up the exact position you could fill. Describe in detail an ideal new solution or product for them and they will often hire you to make it happen.

H – Attitude is Paramount – Chemistry is critical even before the interview. You need to be in sync just to get the first question. Your attitude must match their company culture and expectations. Figure the fit before you send the lit.

I – Professional Image – Each word is important and when taken together they reach iconic status. Almost nothing is as vital. Your Professional Image is your second most valuable asset. Reality and Ethics is the only thing that outranks Professional Image.

J – Industry Buzzwords – Every industry has their own. Know them, use them, and be current.

K – Reverse Chronological – For years it has been the standard format for abstracts and it is still safe. Use it as your default setting. However a little creative experimentation with the various elements of format can set you apart from the competition. That is desirable.

Continued below / Original appearance May 7, 2007 / CQ 693 / © 2007 / TPS

L – Check Your References – Sometimes we assume too much. Be sure and check that your references think as highly of you as you think they do. When hiring I have checked some candidates references that certainly did not have positive things to say about them. They did not get offered the job. Do the checking discretely.

M – A Business Presentation – Always keep in mind that a résumé is more a business presentation than a personal diary. Yes, the facts and the accomplishments, even with a little spin, should all be there, but avoid the gush of celebrity press clippings.

N – Never Criticize – Seldom say a disparaging word about anyone and never criticize a former employer. If you can’t find something nice to say, say little or nothing at all about any specific person or company. Methods and modes, without attribution, are fair game.

O – Strategy not Stratagems – Gems are less than brilliant in this case. Substantial strategy is a good thing in your abstract, but suggesting tricks or ruses is best left out. Long term growth is valued over short term profits if the bump can’t be repeated.

P – Dynamic Words – Adverbs over adjectives. Vigor and vitality projected. Action orientation – driving, forceful, assertive expression. Convey solutions. Go.

Q – Utilize a Thesaurus – Don’t keep repeating the same common word. Beautiful can be lovely, gorgeous, ravishing or attractive. A profession might be an occupation, job, career or vocation. First use a dictionary, and then its brother a thesaurus.

R – Proofread Carefully – Simply put a typo is a terrible thing in this specific document. It will be noticed and it will often be acted on – or more correctly not acted on. You can’t expect them to hire you if you can’t even write. They can read and they will but by the second error they wont.

Continued below / Original appearance May 7, 2007 / CQ 694 / © 2007 / TPS

S – Cover Letters – If your aim is specific utilize, if your aim is general you can probably dispense with the cover letter. If you do utilize, do your research and send it to the correct particular person. If you do it, do it right, or not at all. Remember that when you send it your cover letter is your first impression.

T – Telegraph Competence – T, U, V, W & X are all about telegraphing competence – Y is not. Announcing your ability is the main function of the exercise. Read on and write.

U – Demonstrate Communication Skills – English counts, grammar counts, spelling counts. Strong business English with just a touch of flair – forget the flowery run on sentences. Command and communicate.

V – First Sentence – The first sentence in your résumé is really the first of your first impressions. Take special care with this gift – you are seldom given undivided attention. A punchy, iconic you in 10 words or less. Make them want to read on.

W – Accomplishment Focus – Now that they are reading, switch to an accomplishment focus. What you have done and what you can do for them. Skip the blue sky, down and dirty achievements on terra firma.

X – Achievements With Numbers – Concrete and specific. Don’t forget to include the digits. They verify and validate and add an aura of credibility.

Y - Y Not A Little Humor: The Y is just enough. Don’t overdo it, but sparingly utilize. I sometimes overdo it, but that is why an I is not a Y. Don’t overdo the I either.

Original appearance May 7, 2007 / CQ 695 / © 2007 / TPS

Curved wings envelop majestic gardens overlooking the Seine and directly facing the Eiffel Tower, the Champ-de-Mars and the École Militaire. If it weren’t for the Grand Axis this might well be the grand axis. A mounted Marshal Foch looks right through all this, and the Peace Memorial too, directly into the eyes of a mounted Marshal Joffre far in the distance. Built by Jacques Carlu for the 1937 Expo this is an excellent example of early 20th century architecture. Featuring 8 exquisite gilded bronze statues, and housing three major museums, and the TNP (National Theater of Paris), the palace and gardens, are also known as the Trocadero. When visiting the Eiffel Tower be sure to cross the river.

Original appearance July 19, 2005, © 2005 / Chaillot, Palais de Chaillot, a Palace & Museum / 17 PL DU TROCADERO, 75016 / NONE OR NL / CIP 134, OO 09, RD 19, YP 30/4-19

A detour here from the original proposed outline for the Second Conference. Due to all the hoopla over here regarding the Berlin birthday bash for the European Union about a month ago (March 25, 2007), this Cowboy thought it appropriate to comment. Of course the coverage extended across the spectrum from self satisfied pride to woe is me, all is lost. Still most of it was a relatively sober recounting of the roller coaster ride. As is to be expected, when one turns 50 it is a mixed bag – deep divisions evident, but still a rightful sense of pride and accomplishment. In point of fact they’ve come a long way since the signing of the Treaty of Rome by the original six countries creating what was then called the European Economic Community.

Continued below / Original appearance May 3, 2007 / RC2 477 / TC 688 / © 2007 / EUS

No matter how you cut it any comparison in Europe between the fifty years before and the fifty years after that signing would seem to weigh heavily in favor of the benefits of the European Union. Relative peace and stability have been attained. Economic progress has been substantial. Certainly the sense of idealism is alive, there is growing concern for the environment, human rights have progressed, cooperation and consensus have often paid considerable dividends. These and other benchmarks are real and to be commended.

Continued below / Original appearance May 3, 2007 / RC2 478 / TC 689 / © 2007 / EUS