A story has been told of a group representing Americans challenging a group representing the Japanese to a rowboat race. The race was run and the Japanese won by a mile! The slightly embarrassed American group called in analysts to conduct an investigation. After many months, the analysts filed their findings.

The only difference they could locate was that the Japanese boat had one coxswain and six rowers, while the American boat had six coxswains and only one rower. The American group held conferences and at length decided to reorganize the structure of the crew for better efficiency. They reassigned the crew as follows: one chief coxswain, five assistant coxswains and one rower.The race was re-run and the Japanese boat won by more than two miles! The rower was found to be negligent in his duty and was fired. He appealed his dismissal due to negligent record keeping and today is living on his pension. The American committee is still searching for a competent rower for the next race.

Kyle B. Sorensen

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Salt Lake City

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