The SF Asian Art Museum has an exhibit called Drama and Desire: Japanese Paintings from the Floating World. Sometimes when I try to convince a group that they should take risks seriously and see the benefit of distributing funds to safety and security, I remind myself that there are some people who see no evil, want no weight on their project. Or, as Ukiyo Monogatari explained in Tales of the Floating World:

Living only for the moment, turning our full attention to the pleasures of the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms and the maple leaves; singing songs, drinking wine, diverting ourselves in just floating, floating: caring not a whit for the pauperism staring us in the face, refusing to be disheartened, like a gourd floating along with the river current: this is what we call the floating world . . .

So, here’s my new warning to VPs of software development:

Don’t just be a gourd floating along with the river current.

Hmmm, on second thought, that might need some refinement.