i find them totally hillarious. it's the whole "team attitude" applied to celebrating individual things (such as a person's birth) that make them so conflicting and funny in my mind. it's so efficient too, i bet it comes from the japanese. i wish it weren't contained only among corporate settings. i would love to send one card to all of my friends and family that says, simply, "happy bday everyone!" and that would take care of that. actually, i'd be content with one celebration to celebrate all things.