Three days into my lateral promotion and things are starting to pick up. Management has decided to roll out a new break report which I'll be responsible for starting on Monday, and we're spending the week training for research and break resolution.
Also, I have Friday off to go golfing.
Other quick hits:
(1) I'm digging the New England Coffee Chocolate Cappucino flavor
(2) I haven't been to Dunkin' Donuts in over a month
(3) The ping pong table and my couch are now residing happily in my basement (so all is right with the feng-shui universe)
(4) and pretty soon we'll be replacing our heating system!
So I am now poor.
-t
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
How Else Would A Phone Sound?
My manager called a group-wide meeting for this afternoon, today's the big day! Lateral promotion! Woo!
I am, in reality, much more excited than I should be about getting to work on a new group of funds.
There is, really, very little actually changing.
(1) new funds
(2) new manager
That's it. I'm not even changing desks (which is stupid, I'm two rows away from the rest of the group, but the difficulties in transferring a phone line from one desk to another in this building are, apparently, insurmountable. Folks go years under the wrong name in a directory even after an approved switch.
I don't really understand it, they're not physically running new phone lines or splicing wires to a different cubicle. They just have to update the directory and switchboard which is (or should be) saved on some database on a server in the IT department.
Something like "Find: Tom" then "ReplaceLocation: 12F76, 14GH5" (I assume each cubicle has an undecipherable code referencing some 3D seating plan) and "ReassignExtension: 5-4433, 5-4843"
Right? I bet, in real phone systems, those three commands are all folded into one. It's all software (or should be). There shouldn't be a need to move hardware at all. And even if there is, the phone itself should be able to talk to the server routing calls. "Sup, router, it's Calvin, serial no. 12345558133463LB0.54 Here's the 411: I'm at a new desk! Send any calls 4 me this way now, k? gr8thanxbai"
Right? Easy. (Yes, my phone's name is Calvin)
Ok, so I wasn't planning on a phone rant. Sorry about that. The point is: Change!
-t
I am, in reality, much more excited than I should be about getting to work on a new group of funds.
There is, really, very little actually changing.
(1) new funds
(2) new manager
That's it. I'm not even changing desks (which is stupid, I'm two rows away from the rest of the group, but the difficulties in transferring a phone line from one desk to another in this building are, apparently, insurmountable. Folks go years under the wrong name in a directory even after an approved switch.
I don't really understand it, they're not physically running new phone lines or splicing wires to a different cubicle. They just have to update the directory and switchboard which is (or should be) saved on some database on a server in the IT department.
gr8thanxbai
Something like "Find: Tom" then "ReplaceLocation: 12F76, 14GH5" (I assume each cubicle has an undecipherable code referencing some 3D seating plan) and "ReassignExtension: 5-4433, 5-4843"
Right? I bet, in real phone systems, those three commands are all folded into one. It's all software (or should be). There shouldn't be a need to move hardware at all. And even if there is, the phone itself should be able to talk to the server routing calls. "Sup, router, it's Calvin, serial no. 12345558133463LB0.54 Here's the 411: I'm at a new desk! Send any calls 4 me this way now, k? gr8thanxbai"
Right? Easy. (Yes, my phone's name is Calvin)
Ok, so I wasn't planning on a phone rant. Sorry about that. The point is: Change!
-t
Friday, September 18, 2009
Thinking About Making 'Job!' My New Catchword
I got a new job! Sort of!Lacking the associated title change and pay raise! So, more of a transfer, really...
Job!
I'll be moving from my supervisory role in this group to a more hands-on role in a similar group which handles slightly more difficult funds.
An unexpected benefit of the change is the news that I will be working with my old boss from my very first job!*
Details to follow.
-t
*note to longtime readers: not hypermanager, but his boss, Mike, who was cool, moved to New York, and came back to Boston.
Job!
I'll be moving from my supervisory role in this group to a more hands-on role in a similar group which handles slightly more difficult funds.
An unexpected benefit of the change is the news that I will be working with my old boss from my very first job!*
Details to follow.
-t
*note to longtime readers: not hypermanager, but his boss, Mike, who was cool, moved to New York, and came back to Boston.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Repost Reader Participation Week!
I invite new readers to the blog and twitter followers to enjoy this marvellous movie meme and submit your answers! I still can't believe no one has answered #5!
Originally posted here!
Quotes Game (via Eileen)
(a) Post one quote from each of your 15 favorite movies.
(b) When a reader guesses the movie correctly, post their name and strike the quote.
(c) Memory/guesswork only.
01.I can be in the NBA. I'm tall, I like to wear shorts. Hook! Hook! Dunk! Dunk! Baby, I'm all about three points [Good Will Hunting] Eileen
02.Tell me about an ambush. I ambushed you with a cup of coffee! [Ronin] Hetherjw
03.Watch out, the yellow ones don't stop! [Elf] Eileen
04.Metaman, express elevator! Dynaguy, snagged on takeoff! Splashdown, sucked into a vortex! No capes! [The Incredibles] Laura
05. I believe it our fate to be here. It is our destiny. I believe this night holds for each and every one of us, the very meaning of our lives.
06. Three-two-six three-eight-two-seven!
07.Now when I created the World... [Newsies] Zoe (!)
08.So you're telling me there's a chance! [Dumb and Dumber] Eileen
09.'La ola es mia.' 'the wave is mine'...I spoke Spanish in my dream! [Airborne] Dan
10. With friends like you who needs friends?
11. Why would a reviewer make the point of saying someone's *not* a genius? Do you especially think I'm *not* a genius? You didn't even have to think about it, did you?
12. Only when I cease to breathe will I be dead,
13. I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American...
14.We were taxiing out to the runway, right? And we, you know, we kind of hit a moose. No, the moose is fine, but we gotta make sure that the plane's all right, so some of the boys are pushing it back so these guys can take a look at it. Patti, the moose is okay. He ran off. I saw it. [Miracle] Heather
15.Now get back to the stands before I shave off half your mustache and shove it up your left nostril.[Bad News Bears] Dan
[Bonus quote: same movie as #15: "Those Yankees are real turds."]
-t
Originally posted here!
Quotes Game (via Eileen)
(a) Post one quote from each of your 15 favorite movies.
(b) When a reader guesses the movie correctly, post their name and strike the quote.
(c) Memory/guesswork only.
01.
02.
03.
04.
05. I believe it our fate to be here. It is our destiny. I believe this night holds for each and every one of us, the very meaning of our lives.
06. Three-two-six three-eight-two-seven!
07.
08.
09.
10. With friends like you who needs friends?
11. Why would a reviewer make the point of saying someone's *not* a genius? Do you especially think I'm *not* a genius? You didn't even have to think about it, did you?
12. Only when I cease to breathe will I be dead,
13. I may not make an honest buck, but I'm 100% American...
14.
15.
[Bonus quote: same movie as #15: "Those Yankees are real turds."]
-t
Dan Goldin Day Prep
We are two months away from DGD '09 and I want to make sure everyone is ready!
For a brief history of Dan Golding Day please refer to the previous posts on this blog (here). I would direct you to Dan Goldin's wikipedia page, but the "editors" keep deleting my updates. [UPDATE - holy crap! "Dan Goldin Day" is a sub-head on the wikipedai page!]
In brief: DG got paid for, basically, not showing up for work as BU prez, and we, the students, got a day off from school for his parade, even after it was cancelled, which gave me an extra day to study for an insane math exam, which I then passed, allowing me to graduate, then get job, buy things, etc.
To celebrate, simply take the day off work, and have a drink in Dan Goldin's honor, to commemorate those times when not showing up for work works out the best for everyone involved.
This year November 17th falls on a Tuesday, so the official observation of DGD will be Monday, October 16, 2009.
For those of you who cannot take a day off, feign sickness, or call out, I recommend a long lunch instead, heavily lubricated by alcohol.
One final note on the expansion of DGD internationally, this year we expect to be celebrating not only in the DGD bastions of old (Boston MA, Milwaukee WI) and new (Philadelphia PA, Baltimore MD), but a few new American cities (Lawton OK, Seattle WA) and at least one international city (Dublin IRE).
For those readers celebrating in a town I have not mentioned above, please drop me a line in the comments and I will be sure to add your city to the DGD roster. (I'm talking to you Londoners, Kiwis, and Antartic Station researchers who love reading the blog and skipping out on work for the flimsiest of reasons.)
Happy Dan Goldin Day 2009, everyone!
-t
For a brief history of Dan Golding Day please refer to the previous posts on this blog (here). I would direct you to Dan Goldin's wikipedia page, but the "editors" keep deleting my updates. [UPDATE - holy crap! "Dan Goldin Day" is a sub-head on the wikipedai page!]
In brief: DG got paid for, basically, not showing up for work as BU prez, and we, the students, got a day off from school for his parade, even after it was cancelled, which gave me an extra day to study for an insane math exam, which I then passed, allowing me to graduate, then get job, buy things, etc.
To celebrate, simply take the day off work, and have a drink in Dan Goldin's honor, to commemorate those times when not showing up for work works out the best for everyone involved.
This year November 17th falls on a Tuesday, so the official observation of DGD will be Monday, October 16, 2009.
For those of you who cannot take a day off, feign sickness, or call out, I recommend a long lunch instead, heavily lubricated by alcohol.
One final note on the expansion of DGD internationally, this year we expect to be celebrating not only in the DGD bastions of old (Boston MA, Milwaukee WI) and new (Philadelphia PA, Baltimore MD), but a few new American cities (Lawton OK, Seattle WA) and at least one international city (Dublin IRE).
For those readers celebrating in a town I have not mentioned above, please drop me a line in the comments and I will be sure to add your city to the DGD roster. (I'm talking to you Londoners, Kiwis, and Antartic Station researchers who love reading the blog and skipping out on work for the flimsiest of reasons.)
Happy Dan Goldin Day 2009, everyone!
-t
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Eire: A Quick Recap
I started typing a list. This is by no means complete. Also, there are pictures. Lots and lots and lots of pictures.
Thanks a million.
-t
- Everything was green. As green as the postcards, posters, pictures, brochures, stories, videos, and eye-witness accounts attest; That green.
- It does rain sometimes, just not on me. The climate seems to be what I would expect Seattle to be like: overcast, ocassionally drizzly, and cool.
- Also, there are cattle and sheep everywhere. Everywhere.
- I think it's a shame newer, bigger roadways are being constructed across the country. You don't need new roads. You can walk it.
- I hate American tourists. I have hated American tourists since my first trip abroad, and they have not grown any less loathsome as I have matured.
- Everyone in Ireland knows someone in Boston, or has lived in Boston.
- High Tea at the Shelbourne was awesome.
- All the Irish people we met were very nice. Most had awesome accents.
- Dublin is tiny. Tiny like Boston is tiny. Tiny like, I could walk across it in ten minutes.
- Most tourists go to Ireland to track down relatives/ancestry/genealogical records. Irish comedians amuse themsevelves by misdirecting these people to other parts of the island.
- The number of Dunkin Donuts in Boston is fewer than the number of castle ruins in Shannon, which is fewer than the number of tanning salons and "adult" toy shops on any given street in Dublin.
- Guiness is cheaper than Carlsberg in Ireland. This is something that should have been obvious to me before I saw the bill.
- Guiness is owned by a mulitnational beverage conglomerate, not based in Ireland. Guiness is still delicious, though.
- Entirely too many Irish folks drink Budweiser, Bud Light, and, [blech] Coors Light.
- Sweaters of Irish wool are exceptionally warm.
- The Liffey was pretty. Don't touch it.
- Public transportation is significantly cleaner, and more punctual, than the MBTA.
- The US dollar is weak!
- Hurling is awesome. And easier to explain than cricket. Which still makes more sense than Australian football.
Thanks a million.
-t
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Dan Goldin Day On The Emerald Isle
In preparation for my impending trip to the Emerald Isle I am trying to immerse myself in all things Irish, and, as the trip came together very last-minute I wasn't left the time for some long-term study or prolonged build-up of materials, instead I'm doing as much as I can as fast as I can. Like the night before an exam.
Modern technology, it turns out, is the perfect tool for this sort of high-speed, last-minute, cultural skimming.
So, I've changed my homepage from google.com to google.ie, following random twitter feeds published by anyone within two degrees of longitude of Limerick (oconlan), subscribed to a number of blogs authored by Dubliners (like Eclectic Micks) and non-Dubliners as well (culch.ie)
[Which is where I heard this cover of The Beatles Come Together which I had never heard before.]
I've also been creating new Pandora stations seeded with Irish bands, specifically The Dubliners, and The Young Dubliners, where I found this, hilarious, song:
I'm going to read the collected works of James Joyce tomorrow.
-t
Modern technology, it turns out, is the perfect tool for this sort of high-speed, last-minute, cultural skimming.
So, I've changed my homepage from google.com to google.ie, following random twitter feeds published by anyone within two degrees of longitude of Limerick (oconlan), subscribed to a number of blogs authored by Dubliners (like Eclectic Micks) and non-Dubliners as well (culch.ie)
[Which is where I heard this cover of The Beatles Come Together which I had never heard before.]
I've also been creating new Pandora stations seeded with Irish bands, specifically The Dubliners, and The Young Dubliners, where I found this, hilarious, song:
I'm going to read the collected works of James Joyce tomorrow.
-t
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Past Glories
I'm pretty sure there's a whole section of my brain devoted solely to being awesome on IM.
Consider the evidence.
I'm also convinced this part of my brain shuts down when I'm not IMing. I believe an entire quarter of my cranium has been dark since March of 2008.
*UPDATE* -- Ok, ok, ignore the above link and just jump to this comment thread, which is a better summary than I could give.
-t
Consider the evidence.
I'm also convinced this part of my brain shuts down when I'm not IMing. I believe an entire quarter of my cranium has been dark since March of 2008.
*UPDATE* -- Ok, ok, ignore the above link and just jump to this comment thread, which is a better summary than I could give.
-t
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