My eighty-six year-old grandfather beat me to Twitter.
I signed up today, which doesn't mean much in the here and now. It probably won't mean much later, honestly. I doubt I'll be using it much, beyond following a couple of bloggers and online personalities that I find intriguing. I've been told — commanded really — that I need to get on the bandwagon. So, we'll see. Call it a new experiment.
I know myself too well, when it comes to communication and networking. Bottom line: I suck at it, outside of folks that I physically interact with regularly. I've got a feeling that fragmenting my attention into yet another "social communication tool" will only make matters worse. But here's hoping that I'll turn a corner.
What really gets me is the proliferation of online identities. It took me a good twenty minutes to come up with a Twitter handle. Damn near every single iteration of my name was taken. My primary online pseudonym, "kakuzo" (see blog address), was taken. As an experiment I started typing in random stuff, and it was quite amazing how many are already allocated. I've already lost a couple of those battles.
The other day, for example, I found out there's another Designing Me on Blogger. Thank you Maja from Arizona for stealing my thunder, both here and on Twitter. I was around first, just for the record (neener, neener!), but (1) she did come on the scene while I was off on one of my various Blogger hiatuses and (2) she seems to be fairly active on both fronts. So I don't mind too much.
The second I found something I liked Twitter-wise I immediately went around and snatched up the corresponding gmail address (and variations on it), since I'd like to try and keep a handle (pardon the pun) on my internet branding.
31 August 2009
13 August 2009
Day of Days
How often do premonitions come true, I wonder. Myself, I'm not overtly sensitive in that sort of way, so I've got no experience on the subject one way of the other. But people talk about them all the time. "I just knew X was going to happen."
Twenty three employees at our office had a bad day today. Each walked into work, for what must have seemed like a normal day. They left around midday, carrying cardboard boxes.
A couple, for various reasons, had some advance warning. Most of them didn't. How many of the latter felt something was up?
This isn't our first layoff. I've got no reason to think the office is closing its doors, and I'm fairly confident I'll remain employed as long as that doesn't happen. But the atmosphere around the building has changed. The cuts are getting deeper and deeper. The uncertainty and rumor are running rampant.
I trust that the folks making the decisions are making the right ones, and we can find our way back to better times. I have to trust in that, because there's not much else that can be done.
Twenty three employees at our office had a bad day today. Each walked into work, for what must have seemed like a normal day. They left around midday, carrying cardboard boxes.
A couple, for various reasons, had some advance warning. Most of them didn't. How many of the latter felt something was up?
This isn't our first layoff. I've got no reason to think the office is closing its doors, and I'm fairly confident I'll remain employed as long as that doesn't happen. But the atmosphere around the building has changed. The cuts are getting deeper and deeper. The uncertainty and rumor are running rampant.
We're not lost, Private. We're in Normandy.
I trust that the folks making the decisions are making the right ones, and we can find our way back to better times. I have to trust in that, because there's not much else that can be done.
11 August 2009
Fanboy
I have to admit it: I'm an Apple fanboy.
Been using Macs all of my professional life. I'm actually typing on one right now. But it wasn't until Saturday that I truly got all geeky. I just purchased my first iPhone. Man, is it nice.
My old phone, a RAZR, has been on its deathbed for quite some time. The last insult was its refusal to ring. Before that was the random "Invalid Battery" warnings. Though, that one was funny. If the phone is on I think we can safely say that the battery does, in fact, work.
I'm going to get spoiled with the new shiny. I'd wanted one since the first generation models, but have resisted the urge since I didn't need a new phone. I didn't really need one. This time around I couldn't resist.
The novelty hasn't worn off yet, and I'm still making up excuses to play with it.
Been using Macs all of my professional life. I'm actually typing on one right now. But it wasn't until Saturday that I truly got all geeky. I just purchased my first iPhone. Man, is it nice.
My old phone, a RAZR, has been on its deathbed for quite some time. The last insult was its refusal to ring. Before that was the random "Invalid Battery" warnings. Though, that one was funny. If the phone is on I think we can safely say that the battery does, in fact, work.
I'm going to get spoiled with the new shiny. I'd wanted one since the first generation models, but have resisted the urge since I didn't need a new phone. I didn't really need one. This time around I couldn't resist.
The novelty hasn't worn off yet, and I'm still making up excuses to play with it.
04 August 2009
10/6
Coincidence loves allusions, I've decided. There's nothing better then walking into the office and being reminded about the absurdity of yesterday, just by looking at my (immediate) boss's desk.
He just returned from a six day vacation; a full week plus Monday. Like me, he hates making a big deal about his birthdays. Which was yesterday. While I fully support not working on one's birthday (assuming you've got the time), it really was quite futile to think he was getting out of any hoopla.
Why I'm not sure, but the theme for his desk was Alice in Wonderland, specifically The [Mad] Hatter. I really do need to ask around as to the why.
I saw a group of folks started to decorate as I walked out. I really wish I'd made the connection yesterday, but my brain was just too fried from the whole farce. It would have been glorious to drive home with a song in my head:
At the end of the day, though, everything's worked itself out. I made a call, trying to honor everyone's intentions. Y'know, just using reasonable steps. My boss signed off on it, and all should theoretically be good with the world. For now.
He just returned from a six day vacation; a full week plus Monday. Like me, he hates making a big deal about his birthdays. Which was yesterday. While I fully support not working on one's birthday (assuming you've got the time), it really was quite futile to think he was getting out of any hoopla.
Why I'm not sure, but the theme for his desk was Alice in Wonderland, specifically The [Mad] Hatter. I really do need to ask around as to the why.
“Have you guessed the riddle yet?” the Hatter said, turning to Alice again.
“No, I give it up,” Alice replied: “what’s the answer?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea,” said the Hatter.
I saw a group of folks started to decorate as I walked out. I really wish I'd made the connection yesterday, but my brain was just too fried from the whole farce. It would have been glorious to drive home with a song in my head:
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
Up above the world you fly,
Like a teatray in the sky.
Twinkle, twinkle little bat!
How I wonder what you're at!
At the end of the day, though, everything's worked itself out. I made a call, trying to honor everyone's intentions. Y'know, just using reasonable steps. My boss signed off on it, and all should theoretically be good with the world. For now.
03 August 2009
Upstream, Downwind
Had myself a very WTF day today. While I do love myself some politics, the corporate politics at the office can, on occasion, be absurd.
Let me preface by saying I still love my job, nine years in. The company has treated me well, and my work is both appreciated and respected. Even with the recession I'm in no immediate danger of losing my job, if for no other reason than the list of people who actually understand what I do is fairly limited. I have a "backup" trained, but she really can't do what I do.
The people signing the checks get it. All of the higher ups know me, like me, and treat me well. I'm not management, middle or otherwise, but I've got control over my own personal domain and my immediate boss gives me a pretty free reign. I have someone to report to, but am fairly autonomous in my day-to-day stuff.
The project I'm working on has been in corporate limbo for weeks. It should have launched several weeks ago, and it's frustrating that it hasn't. Nothing like a pissing match to throw a wrench into the works.
I'm working on developing a marketing campaign. My responsibilities here are fairly straightforward: get all the specs from the various parties, and execute on them. I take what they want, and pull it off. This process becomes problematic when the folks upstairs don't agree on the scope of things. When the Boss (emphasis intended) and the Marketing Manager disagree on how things work, well executing is a little difficult.
Talk to one party and get one answer. Talk to the other guy, who just spoke to the first... different answer. Neat, huh? It gets more entertaining when the Marketing guy tells me, straight up, that the Boss isn't managing the project (read: ignore him) not five minutes after you walk out of said Boss' office.
I seriously wanted to smack him, especially considering that his solution to my particular problem isn't technically feasible (something I've had to explain to him on multiple occasions). Sure, the Boss' answer wasn't all inclusive either. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to drag me under the bus with you. At least he gave me a straight answer.
I just kinda threw up my hands. Tomorrow I've got to get my immediate boss involved, and let him wade through the cesspool. Welcome back from your vacation, sir.
Let me preface by saying I still love my job, nine years in. The company has treated me well, and my work is both appreciated and respected. Even with the recession I'm in no immediate danger of losing my job, if for no other reason than the list of people who actually understand what I do is fairly limited. I have a "backup" trained, but she really can't do what I do.
The people signing the checks get it. All of the higher ups know me, like me, and treat me well. I'm not management, middle or otherwise, but I've got control over my own personal domain and my immediate boss gives me a pretty free reign. I have someone to report to, but am fairly autonomous in my day-to-day stuff.
The project I'm working on has been in corporate limbo for weeks. It should have launched several weeks ago, and it's frustrating that it hasn't. Nothing like a pissing match to throw a wrench into the works.
I'm working on developing a marketing campaign. My responsibilities here are fairly straightforward: get all the specs from the various parties, and execute on them. I take what they want, and pull it off. This process becomes problematic when the folks upstairs don't agree on the scope of things. When the Boss (emphasis intended) and the Marketing Manager disagree on how things work, well executing is a little difficult.
Talk to one party and get one answer. Talk to the other guy, who just spoke to the first... different answer. Neat, huh? It gets more entertaining when the Marketing guy tells me, straight up, that the Boss isn't managing the project (read: ignore him) not five minutes after you walk out of said Boss' office.
I seriously wanted to smack him, especially considering that his solution to my particular problem isn't technically feasible (something I've had to explain to him on multiple occasions). Sure, the Boss' answer wasn't all inclusive either. But I'd appreciate it if you didn't try to drag me under the bus with you. At least he gave me a straight answer.
I just kinda threw up my hands. Tomorrow I've got to get my immediate boss involved, and let him wade through the cesspool. Welcome back from your vacation, sir.
02 August 2009
Like Pulling Teeth
Thursday, that particular idiom took on some personal meaning. I don't remember the last time I was at the dentist. It is entirely possible that I'd never been before — I've got no memory of such a trip, if one ever happened. My streak ended a few days ago.
Started getting some pain in one of my molars on Wednesday. I'd broken the tooth months ago, but it'd never really bothered me. A quick "Oh, crap," and I moved on with my life. It just became a part of who I was. Me, minus about a third of one tooth.
Earlier in the week I'd started getting some headaches that wouldn't resolve themselves with a standard dose of ibuprofen. Pain is the body's way of saying, "Hey, dumbass."
Allison was quite horrified. I am now sans-tooth, and have learned that putting things off is a bad idea.
Started getting some pain in one of my molars on Wednesday. I'd broken the tooth months ago, but it'd never really bothered me. A quick "Oh, crap," and I moved on with my life. It just became a part of who I was. Me, minus about a third of one tooth.
Earlier in the week I'd started getting some headaches that wouldn't resolve themselves with a standard dose of ibuprofen. Pain is the body's way of saying, "Hey, dumbass."
Allison was quite horrified. I am now sans-tooth, and have learned that putting things off is a bad idea.
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