Jim: Best idea of 2006: Worldwide Corporate Recognition of Talent Shortages.

Corporate America – well, the world, really – is starting to recognize that talent is finite, that there really isn’t enough to go around, and that it is worth investing in (i.e., paying more to attract and retain it). Years after smashing the social contract with mass layoffs, employers are now finding that it’s not as easy to find and keep workers who do their jobs well.

There will always be “Chainsaw Al” style CEOs who think they can save a company by cutting costs, screwing over employees, and focusing on the stock dividend in the short term; but in today’s increasingly complicated and globalized world, that just isn’t enough to sustain a company over the long haul. A better strategy is to attract as many creative and motivated problem solvers as possible and let them do what they do best.

And this at least partially mitigates the sense of gloom that we’re all replaceable, that some cheap foreign laborer is going to be doing our job tomorrow. (“Coming in 2007, In The Kettle, a new blog featuring three New-Dehli based tea-swilling wiseasses, Chahel, Manit, and Jignesh, with twice the updates at half the costs of Cam, Marshall and Jim.”) According to the Economist’s “The World in 2007” special issue, China and India are running out of high-end skilled workers; “wages in India’s IT sector are up 20 percent and turnover is double that.” After years of strong corporate profits, businesses are finding they have to offer workers the fruits of their talents to stay competitive. It’s a good thing.

Runner Up: Director Paul Greengrass’ no-stars, no-glitz, from-the-heart effort to tell one of the important stories of 9/11 in his film, United 93.

Over on TKS I posted a bit about reasons for optimism for 2007, with all of the gloom in the news. In addition to the world events and trends listed there, I would note other reasons for good cheer about the world in the coming year: Thanks to dishes and satellite radio, one can now hear and watch any sports event anywhere in the world live. Harry Potter’s story comes to its final chapter in 2007, and children of the 80s will see a live-action Transformers movie on the big screen. Coming back this summer, the Pirates of the Caribbean, The Fantastic Four, Ocean’s 13, Jason Bourne, and Bruce Willis in another Die Hard movie. National Treasure gets a sequel.

Oh yeah. And in January, Jack Bauer’s back.

And in March, so am I.

Marshall: This one is easy — the idea to transport Kentucky Derby Winner Barbaro to an equine hospital rather than euthanizing him at the track — the fate that would have befallen most thoroughbreds after suffering the kind of devestating injury that felled the champion at the Preakness. A close second: all of the ideas, many of them risky and revolutionary, behind the horse’s miraculous recovery. And here’s to jockey Edgar Prado, whose quick reaction in the dirt of Pimlico race track saved Barbaro’s life.

Runner-Up Britney finally getting the idea of dumping idiot K.Fed.

Cam: WTF? Who replaced Marshall with Billy Bush? K-Fed? And what does this say about 2006 when the best ideas were saving a horse from the glue factory and a panty-less skank dumping her no-talent rapper boyfriend?

Best idea of 2006? It was going to be the video iPod, until I learned that came out in 2005. I think the best idea of 2006 has to be me deciding to watch “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel” on DVD. I’ve been able to amuse myself for the past several months, and now I finally get the hotness of Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Jim: Wow. I’m pretty sure that not long ago, I would have bet that Marshall not only wouldn’t have known who Kevin Federline is, but that he was kinda iffy on picking out Britney Spears out of a police lineup of a half dozen slutty blonde starlets.

I caught some VH1-style celebrity show not long ago, and learned that Feder- aw, hell, “K-Fed” - dates one actress, knocks her up twice; hooks up with Britney and somehow convinces him to marry her. Has two kids with Britney. God knows what he’s up to next. What on God’s green earth do these women see in him? “That mold-like facial hair really does it for me, and I’m sure he’ll be a good provider with his twin careers as a rapper and as a paid party guest; I want him to father my children”?

And having just gotten a video I-Pod, uh… yes, Cam, this little toy is going to destroy my attempts at productivity in the New Year.

Marshall: Especially in light of the post above, I have a new nominee for best idea of 2006 — inviting Shempu to blog. (HT: Steph)