It was wonderful. It was inspiring. Now it's over - let's get back to work. A few thoughts about the inauguration, related matters, and how they relate:Everybody’s a critic: Draw your own conclusions about Obama’s inaugural address. I’m drawing mine about the legions of second-guessers who have nothing better to do than to explain how much better they would have done it.How it relates: Wall Street analysts recently explained that if Steve Ballmer knew what he was doing he’s lay off 9,000 employees. Why? To demonstrate to “the Street” that Microsoft is serious about products. Personally, I hope he’s serious about software, but that’s just me.Stop distracting us: Right now, Michelle Obama’s fashion sense doesn’t matter. The school lunch menu their kids will eat from doesn’t matter. Joe the Plumber’s opinions about the Middle East certainly don’t matter. What does matter? I presume you don’t need me to explain it.How it relates: I’m going to assume for a moment you’re working for a company that isn’t going to make record profits in the coming year; very likely you’re working for a company that isn’t going to make any profits in the coming year. If you have employees working for you who have the time to bring equivalent nonsense to your attention, congratulations! You’ve found an opportunity to cut costs without any serious negative consequences.It’s time to get back to work: I’m among those who considers Obama’s election and inauguration as president to be a remarkable milestone in this nation’s history, independent of his particular policies and political affinities. So far, from everything I’ve read, he appears to be a very smart, competent feller who prefers to work with very smart, competent people. That’s a great start.How it relates: In the mainstream media, and in industry media too, I read all sorts of analysis of what Obama, Microsoft or some other celebrity or celebrity company might do, should do, can’t do … “news” that’s nothing but speculation about future events. That isn’t news. It’s laziness, which is especially sad given how little real reporting the news media do anymore.After two years of electioneering and three months of transition, I’m tired of it all. We all have a lot to do this year.Let’s get to it.And yes, I include myself in this — I’ll stop indulging myself and get back to advice with my next post. – Bob Technology Industry