Friday, August 12, 2005

Oil Prices = Cliff Hangers? Is it me, or am I the only one that gets reminded of the "Cliff Hangers" game from The Price Is Right when I hear the report on the current price of a barrel of oil?  I can't help but hear the yodeling of the climber as he continues his climb, hearing Bob Barker saying how much further can the climber go before he falls off the cliff.  Open this link in Internet Explorer.  Firefox does not like it.  11:02:27 AM    comment []  trackback []

Birthday Greets Happy Birthday, Fool!  Go have a day.  * Yes, I am a big nerd, people.  Deal with it.  10:54:35 AM    comment []  trackback []

Short Timer's Syndrome Setting In Over the last couple of days, I have found that "Short Timer's Syndrome" has been setting in for me at the current job.  Yesterday brought it out a little bit, and this morning I delivered the email smackdown to someone.  I normally tend to be diplomatic in my missives--almost writing in a very technocratic style (as my friends know and lament).  This morning, I finally had it with the pretentious expectations of a technical employee on staff here.  He is responsible for supporting our rather large administrative persons, e.g., the big bosses on campus.  Well, as part of our on-going efforts at migrating all email systems to one, some of these very important persons are being migrated.  Some from old mail clients to newer mail clients that work with the new mail system, while other VIPs are getting moved from one mail system to the new mail system.  As an aside, when you are approaching the end of your employment with a firm, try not to make more work for yourself.  When I made my announcement, I started getting various tasks put in my lap.  The key is not to open your big mouth--especially in my case--at a manager's meeting mentioning that some product can do some thing.  Bad idea, as it gets placed on your ever-expanding To-Do list.  Now, the technical person responsible for the University VIPs has a tendency to shirk some basic responsibility--mainly delving into things he needs to delve into.  Well, I was the recipient of an email asking me where things stand for the migration of one of the VIPs.  I replied this morning--as yesterday afternoon I was knee-deep in a NetWare upgrade.  I laid the electronic smackdown, letting this person know I did not appreciate being pressured on a project in which I have a tangential role.  I informed him that I would do what I can, but that other demands are encroaching on the time I have remaining at the University.  I, of course, was not the other person to lay a smack down on this person in the last day, but I felt the need to make my displeasure known.  It is now that I realize my "Short Timer's" is setting in.  I have no terrible objection to telling someone what I think.  I have regressed somewhat to my sometimes undiplomatic style my old manager used to chastise me about.  Part of this is born out of my need to get other tasks done, but another part of it is a way I can "tweak" some persons on my way out the door.  I realize it may be somewhat poor professionally, but there are just some people that need that little reminder of where they reside on the office totem pole.  10:52:59 AM    comment []  trackback []