Finally some recognition

Employee evaluations are this week. My employer has a website with an electronic version of my evaluation. Basically, I did real well but there are areas that are rated in which my supervisor really has no way of evaluating me with a higher score than the "met expectations or requirements" rating. All the individual scores are a 1-5 rating with 5 being the best.

When going over my review with my supervisor, I pointed out that those areas could't accurately be judged because we seldom see each other and can't be measured on a spreadsheet. Since this was likely true for all the 1700+ techs in the company to some degree I didn't push it.

In the areas that really matter though I got all 4's. I don't think anybody ever gets 5's on anything. That indicates no room for improvement right?

My supervisor told me that of all the tech's in our district which extends from Seattle to Monterey...I got the most 4's of anybody AND that I qualified for a raise. The raise will be retroactive to the last pay period that was just turned in so I'll see the results in 2 weeks.

We recently had a Town Hall teleconference where they stated the average raise would be 3%...meaning that the highest raise would be about 6% which they didn't say. I'm supposed to have a conference call today with my supervisor and HR to acknologe and accept my evaluation.

For the company, giving raises is a big thing. The decline of warranty policy purchaces for $299 computers has taken a huge toll on the repair industry. Less money in the pot so to speak so our company has reduced what they pay techs at least 3 times over the last 5 years. and the result is no raises.

So the vote is still out on just how much they value what I do....but should find out either later today or when the check arrives.

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XP Vista Wars - A Videographers Point of View

I belong to a great Video Editors Group on Yahoo http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/amateurvideoediting/ . The discussion has been going on for several months now about the problems many members have encountered with Vista in regards to incompatibilites and problems with most of the popular video editing software packages. Most of us agree to stay with XP...prove it will work...fix the broken S..t! and come back when you can prove to us that it is the end all of operating systems.

One of the more prominent members of the group had this to say:

 

BEGIN RANT

Operating systems are supposed to be headed in a direction where someday they will be TRANSPARENT.

Did we know anyone who claimed that GTE had a clearer dial tone and faster connections than Bell System? We did?

But riddle me THIS, Batman....did you ever hear anyone complaining that they could NOT CALL a GTE phone via the Bell System or vice versa?

Did we ever have to take a Bell System phone in for service every six months so that the handset could be updated in order to function with the network?

People still have ROTARY DIAL PHONES out there.

The point I am making is that "operating systems" are NOT the center of attention.

The work we get to do with the machines IS.

Is this a wrong attitude to take? Should we be polishing the cases with a soft cloth and marveling at the way the grain travels on the DVD-ROM door?

Should I have my Vista CD's framed like little Gold Records?

Aren't more than a few of us a little tired of hearing and seeing the various operating systems jumping up and down and screaming "LOOK AT MEEEEEE!" , as if it's some sort of Coke vs. Pepsi fight.

I'm looking to edit video, not worship an operating system or proclaim brand loyalty.

If I could edit in a washing machine I'd do it.

It just so happens I have to use a computer, and when the machinery works I don't notice it anymore because I'm caught up in the damn story, but when the machinery and all the gears start screaming for attention, that is when I realize once again that computers and operating systems have NO SOUL and they sometimes reach out in an effort to suck mine dry.

I want my toaster to toast all kinds of bread and not just the kind made for the toaster, and I dont want to change toasters every time a new kind of bread comes along and if by God I want to cook my bread over a damn campfire I'm going to do it.

And I don't want to "interact" with the company that made the toaster or walk around with a tee shirt that says "Hamilton Beach" on it, looking down my nose at all the Proctor-Silex users.

We're all just trying to make sandwiches, aren't we?

I turn off all the cute little themes on my cell phone for the same reason.

I don't get a little woody when I hear "T-Mobile!", I just want to talk to my wife or my clients.

The day computer software companies figure out that they are supposed to make a product that works silently in the background is the day they will figure out what they are in business for, unleashing human creativity.

END RANT OFF SOAPBOX.

JeffH in TX

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QotD: [this is home]

Where do you consider home?  Is it the place you grew up; the place you're currently living?  Why is it home?
Submitted by uncagedbird

Technically, my home is where I am now. Moved here from Santa Cruz in 1999 and have been back once since then. I really live in my jeep evidenced by the mess I never seem to ever get fully cleaned. When people ask where I'm from my first answer is "from my mommy". So for me this is a good question.

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New Drip System

Turns out the float on the swamp cooler is not adjusted right so water is running down the roof and slowly filling the gutter. Then it drips out into the garden because the gutter is plugged up. I've paid the cooler guy twice to adjust the float recently...the drip becomes a drain!

(That's drain with a P)

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Worlds Smallest Airport

Over the last week on my recent adventures, I got to experience several airports. RDD, LAX, SEA, PDX, SFO, and finally on Sunday, SMF (Redding, Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Sacramento). Right after I got back a friend emailed me this movie. The timing was perfect.

The Pilot AND the Driver need to be attached to the same brain to pull this stunt off!

This Just In - Hooter's Sited in Portland!

Got back home late last night finally.

I drove to Portland from Seattle on Thursday . The company put me up at the Ramada Inn...nice room for a change. While driving to my first job on Thursday I notice a BIG sign I couldn't miss right off Highway 5 in Jantzen Beach. HOOTER'S. I figured I'd stop there after work and have dinner.

Not know exactly what to expect, I was rather suprised. Because I was in there myself I probably got special treatment.

All the girls came by, one-by-one, and sat down and ask me different things, basically to say hi and the all sign a souvenier napkin for me. Of course they all were at least young (20-25) and reasonably well endowed. In addition to the tight fitting tops, they wore bright orange tight shorts that resemble basically the shap and size of men's briefs. After taking your order, they climb up on a chair and clip the order to a clippy with rollers on a wire that extends from the front to back into the kitchen. They give it a big push and the order is on it's way. The only thing missing was roller blades or skates. None of them bend over in front of you to flaunt thier stuff so the show was all very tastefully presented.

As far as food goes, they don't have a great selection but the steak sandwich and curly fries were good. I did find out that the Portland area has 2 Hooter's...one on each side just like the girls. I wonder if that is part of thier marketing approach for other cities.

 

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Seattle or Bust

Actually finally made it to Seattle Monday Night. Spent the entire day Monday travelling. The motel the company booked had Internet but the VPN wouldn't connect so I ended up changing motels.

Today was a busy day but not as productive as I would like. Tommorrow should be a little better.

I should be here until Thursday morning and then drive to Portland and work thursday and Friday there. Weather is great! I hear its hot at home.

SEATAC DAYSINN ROOM #331

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Handshakes and Shirttails

A handshake with an open hand origionated, I was told, as a way to show you had no weapons. The idea was to create a form of trust between men during brutal times. Now it seems, according to this video, that dress codes should be implemented to require tucked in shirts and pants that fit.

The high school I went to dropped the dress code right after I graduated because they said it was unconstitutional. But I do remember having to wear clothes without major holes in them that kinda fit at least, shirt tucked in and a belt. Girls had to wear skirts that could be 1" above the knee. Basically you could wear anything you wanted as long as you looked what was reasonably considered acceptable. Of course, being the rebels we were, with few exceptions, we all pushed the limits.