My father-in-law says, about business decisions, that as long as you're getting more than 50 per cent right, you're doing better than guessing.

Cliff reckons if we're getting fewer than half our decisions right, we may as well flip a coin – the odds will improve.
The same could be said for a number of other major decision-making arenas – including bringing up children, training dogs, commenting on a spouse's clothing, recording with a VCR, baking sponge cake and avoiding major disasters.
I'm sure at some stage, Tiger Woods' parents must have decided: 'Sure, let the little guy swing those golf clubs. What harm can it do? Oh, yeah, and let him play with little Sally next door, too. What's the worst that could happen?”
On that basis, Cliff's 50-50 theory is pretty accurate.
Then there's the Hindenburg builders who at some stage would have had the discussion:
'Vee should build ze hugenmassiv zeppelin.” Then another bright spark from down the back has piped up: 'Ya, unt ve shutt hav der flamenspittin barbecue on ze deck.”
All was going well, till Helmut decided to grill the sausages.
Similarly, the anti-whaling warriors in the Antarctic were doing pretty well with their calls, until someone decided to position the carbon fibre Ady Gil under the bows of a much larger and heavier steel ship. Mind you, the publicity generated from the sinking of the high-tech, round-the-world trimaran has been worth millions. Probably more than the stressed out hulls on the old girl were worth, after thrashing around the world a couple of times. Possibly better to go out with a bang than a whimper.
Lazy summer
We've had some interesting feedback on Lazy Susan following last week's rant. Here's some more dirt on her, from Pete.

Gidday Brian, Just about the time your column Peters out here's a Peter coming in with a coincidental story about that thingy of the female persuasion in the middle of some tables. We have long been blessed with the help of this delectable creature, much to the delight of visiting grandies who like nothing better at mealtimes than to give her a whirl (or take her for a spin) until she loses her grip on various jars and dishes placed thereon, or until Grandma arrives on the scene and puts a stop to such racy practices.
We have always referred to her as Lazy Susie but I recently had cause to renew the small stick on pads on her base and was mortified to find that her name (on an original small label on the base) is in fact Lazy Lucy.
Unfortunately I have no other information on her origins although she has a 6” diameter centre picture depicting a Swiss winter scene of snow, sledges and people cavorting in scarves and winter clothes.
Enough of that, Have a great New Year, regards to all. Pete.
It's all right here
Meanwhile, Dunedin has announced it is looking for a new slogan. The city has decided 'I am Dunedin” has 'aged gracefully” which really is just a polite way of saying it is still the dumbest slogan anyone's ever heard. It's just taken them nine years to get rid of it.
It used to be 'It's All Right Here” which was infamously used by some mischevious cricket folk a couple of years ago, when the West Indies were playing as: 'It's All White Here.”
Here at RR we are delighted that the Dunedin City Council has invited us to submit ideas. We have some suggestions and I'm sure our readers will come up with some too.

'Dunedin, it's a riot.”
'The Hamilton of the South.”
'Don't bag us for the haggis.”
'Dunedin: Easier to spell than Fonganui.”
'Not as cold as Invercargill, but nearly.”
'Dunedin: When you find Oamaru too exciting.”

And these from Twitterers:
You can afford to buy a house here!
Parents, can you please come pick up your kids?
A nice place to chill.
I can see Antarctica from my house.
Looking forward to global warming.
More car parks than people.
98,000 and still shrinking.
Hang a left at the burning couch.
Just the way you left it.
Riviera of the Antarctic.

Parting thought:
Quote of the week, from a guy whose has just had a second satellite dish installed on his roof. 'My house now looks like Mickey Mouse.”