the corner office

Entertaining delusions of grandeur is a highly underrated pursuit. I just followed a link from Gauteng Blog, to a character I'd never heard of - His Majesty Norton I, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico:

At the pre-emptory request of a large majority of the citizens of these United States, I Joshua Norton, formerly of Algoa Bay, Cape of Good Hope, and now for the last nine years and ten months past of San Francisco, California, declare and proclaim myself the Emperor of These United States. - September 17, 1859

Emperor Norton released a number of proclamations, covering everything from the abolition of the Republican and Democratic parties, to the banning the word 'Frisco. Why not, I say...

Plundering another link from GP - the Joshua A Norton wikipedia page.

There are some lessons to draw from this. For one, life's far more bearable if you don't take it too seriously. Also, don't gamble your entire personal fortune on rice.