Amalgamated Humor's Disgruntled Employee of the Month

Each month, Amalgamated Humor's Public Relations specialist, Gary Newbrunswick, puts the spotlight on a valued member of the Amalgamated Humor corporate family. In addition to an extra vacation day and photo with a receptionist from the executive office, they also get a featured interview.

January's Disgruntled Employee of the Month: Tom Roper, Futurist.

GARY NEWBRUNSWICK: Hello, Tom.

TOM ROPER: Hello Gary. Happy January!

Tom Roper

GN: Uh, yes. Happy January to you, as well. I must admit, I was a bit surprised by this assignment, as I didn't realize we had a, um, "futurist," here. I'm not even quite sure what it is you'd be doing, exactly.

TR: Yes, I've been here for a couple of weeks, now. Mr. Brockie hired me. I ran into him at a cocktail party in December and he asked me questions for hours and hours.

GN: Ah, that explains a great deal. So you're what, some kind of psychic? Because, if you are, we've had problems with him doing this in the past...

TR: Oh, no, no. What I do is study trends in the culture and make certain recommendations and predictions about directions to follow to keep ahead of our competitors and customers.

GN: Oh, okay, then. Well, that makes a bit more sense, I suppose. So, what do you see in the coming year?

TR: I'm glad you asked, Gary. I see big changes in the novelty item/consumer product/humor website industry trend curve in 2002.

GN: 2003.

TR: Yes, 2003.

(silence)

GN: Such as?

TR: Hm?

GN: Trends for 2003?

TR: Oh, yes, yes. Thank you for asking. First off, I'm sure, you're well aware that people in this country are rather uncertain about the future nowadays- Where things are going in terms of the economy, world affairs. We may be going to war, Gary! Have you heard that? War!

GN: Yes, I've heard about it.

TR: War, Gary.

GN: Yes.

(silence)

GN: Well?

TR: Oh, yes! Well, we need to be there, Gary, to take their minds off their problems. We need to sell them things. Things we produce.

GN: Alright, such as?

TR: Oh, novelty items, consumer products, humor websites, that sort of thing. You don't happen to have a list handy, do you Gary?

GN: A list?

TR: Of things we make, to get the old trend-spotting juices flowing.

GN: You have no idea what we make here, do you?

TR: Sure, sure I do. Wooden sailor statues.

GN: No.

TR: Those squirting flowers?

GN: Some, yes.

TR: There we go! Squirting flowers for the public! All production will be shifted to that division!

GN: A squirting flower division?

TR: Precisely!

GN: Hm. Have you discussed any of this with Mr. White yet?

TR: No, just Mr. Brockie and he loves it. I haven't even met Mr. White yet. Apparently, he's been on holiday. I'll be giving him my full report next week.

GN: I think past trends in his irrational anger can allow you to make an accurate prediction about your future with Amalgamated Humor.

TR: Really? What's that?

GN: Never mind. You'd better just stock up on office supplies while you can. Happy January.


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