It feels good to get mail
KAI RYSSDAL: I’m not gonna name names here, but a lot of the letters we get are sent from office e-mail addresses. Makes sense, given that many of us spend at least a third of our day at the office.
We did a story this month on the workplace of the future, where cubicle walls are low and there’s plenty of room to roam around. The idea is to increase productivity by making the workplace feel more like home.
Will Cervarich from Portland, Oregon says sometimes, an office ought to just be an office.
WILL CERVARICH: Modern offices may feel more friendly with their low cubicle walls and collaboration spaces, but for the right employee, this setup is in fact an invitation to socialize. Low cubicle walls make it OK to tell everyone in the office at once exactly what you ate for dinner.
Whether they’re high or low, cubicle walls have become a popular place to post family photos and vacation memorabilia. Not so, though, for commentator Lucy Kellaway. Earlier this month, she explained why you’ll never see pictures of her kids where she works: she likes to keep office and home apart.
Natalie Law from Atlanta, Georgia disagrees.
NATALIE LAW: Looking at my schedule of symphony concerts or the conservation photography on my cubicle walls reminds me that work is not the summation of my life. That before and after is when I do the majority of my living.
Life was supposed to be getting better in Zambia. Debt relief had put that country on the path to economic recovery. But before all the debt was forgiven, an American businessman bought a slice of it. He sued the Zambian government for the balance due — plus interest. Our report laid out what might happen to the Zambian economy if the country has to pony up all the cash — $55 million. Nothing good, to be brief.
Gary Davidson from Santa Monica, California says he’s appalled at the blatant profiteering.
GARY DAVIDSON: Your report on the fund that bought Zambia’s debt has me furious. I think calling them “vulture funds” is too nice. Shame on them for profiteering from other’s hardships.
Finally, a clarification. We told you a couple of weeks ago House Majority leader Steny Hoyer had invited lobbyists to support his political action committee at a fundraiser in Puerto Rico, and that Hoyer had booked 137 rooms at a posh golf resort and casino for the event. Turns out that number counted rooms booked for more than one night more than once. Representative Hoyer’s won’t say exactly how many lobbyists will pay to go golfing with the congressman. Only that it’s more than 60.
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