It's only *time* after all...we've got *plenty* of that

I hate people who waste my time. I hate projects that are assigned for no purpose other than because someone can. I hate directions that are incomplete and meandering, and delivered by someone with more education but less skill. I hate feeling trapped. I hate having no compass, let alone anything remotely resembling a roadmap. I hate having to manipulate data to match someone's idea of what the data should reflect, not what the data actually shows. If a manager is dedicated to the success of the team, they must be devoted to the success of the individual. A failing individual means the guaranteed failure of the team, over the long term. If a manager is a poor leader, the poorly led are not going to manage.

I know it may be this way wherever I may choose to go. But at least it won't be done under the guise of high ethical standards and "academic integrity". Recent events have reminded me as to the value of time. I had forgotten. It's finite. Use what you've got. Because it's all you have.

Because being cheap is quite the positive attribute

There's now a sign on the refrigerator next door stating that the bottles of water and Coke on the bottom shelf are for the chief executive and Governor's guests only. (The Governor steps foot in the office he keeps here *maybe* three times a year.) That's fine. I guess I can understand that. Although, that *is* a communal fridge and a common breakroom, and a case of water costs less than ten dollars. But overlooking handful of staff in the offices that commonly do business in that suite taking the occassional bottle of water is apparently cutting into their "giftbags and assorted bs" budget. In addition to this, there's now a sign by the coffee machine saying that we're "welcome" to partake in the often poorly brewed coffee from the big percolator, but that contributions to the supplies are "appreciated". Half the time, when I go over there, the executive's assistant hasn't even bothered to make it, so I end up doing it (which is fine, because a lot of people over here brew something that resembles burnt tar). I love when the illusion of generosity gets ripped away, and you can see what's really underneath: a bunch of people pinching a penny and losing a pound as they pander to politicians and corporate muckity-mucks who ultimately will do very little to contribute to the success of this institution, as the ridiculously loyal staff (not all of them hard-working, but, still...) continue to get squeezed. No COL in four years, because we're "state employees" when it suits the legislature. Budget cuts for two years, affecting primarily the staff levels, and hitting maintenance especially hard. The ability to pay $10K for a cubicle for an executive assistant who turns around and retires, and various under the radar increases for favorite employees or as hush money for others, but little money and advancement opportunity for those who really are working their asses off. It all adds up to the hard truth that I've worked here way too long.

More dusters and period drama, less sharp clavicle

So, no updates because I'm working on filling my brain with alternate reality, alt-history fiction. And work sucks. And I'm exhausted. And I'm looking for a new job. That's...pretty much it.

I had an anonymous SPAM comment posted on my last missive. Haven't had one of those in a while. Ahh, nostalgia.

And now, for something completely different - all refined brooding and repressed passions courtesy of those loves at the BBC: a nonworking link to a YouTube video that doesn't fit the tables in this here blog. (Thanks loads, Google, for making your products sooo compatible with each other. You're a peach!). Alas. Alack. Well, look up the miniseries "Little Dorrit", to see what I was talking about (OMG DUSTERCOAT), and *then*do yourself the favor of tracking down the 1998 version of "Wuthering Heights" where Matthew MacFadyen plays Hareton Earnshaw.

Sadomasichism at its finest as the hallmark of higher ed

It looks like I got a B in the Anthropology class. I somehow managed to just about bomb the last exam, with a 78 (C grade). If I'd have done an extra credit project, I'd have enough points to have an A overall. But I didn't do extra credit because I didn't think I was going to completely tank the last test. I feel like I've failed every expectation I set for myself. I feel like giving up. Update: final grade was 89.75 - she set my letter grade as an A-. Huzzah!!

To add insult to injury, I got *this* delightful message today (names and identifying info have been removed so as to protect...whoever needs protecting from whatever I'm protecting them from or somesuch...):

Hi [Redacted],
You have successfully shared your eportfolio, but unfortunately it is listed as "under construction" and the links to the response papers do not function. Please be certain to address these issues ASAP: remember that (as per the syllabus) failure to submit your response papers to your Eportfolio will result in an F for the course.

Note: the Eportfolio is not the same as SafeAssignment: papers submitted to SafeAssignment will not appear in your Eportfolio. For instructions on how to create an Eportfolio and upload documents to it, please look under "Course Documents" for this class.

If after reading through the instructions you are having difficulty with the Eportfolio, I encourage you to stop by my office hours and I will work with you to address any problems. However, you must do this as quickly as possible, as the semester ends shortly.

Dr. [Redacted]

Sooo. I'm left to wonder - am I the only one still having problems with this part of the class? This feels like a form letter, so it's possible that this was sent out to some of the other people in the class. But that message is what greeted me first thing in the morning, because he didn't send it out until 8:30 last night. Today is technically the last day of classes. So, what - he didn't check the submissions on the due dates and notify his students immediately that there was a problem so we could troubleshoot? Not to mention the fact that my particular issue wasn't covered by the instructions we were given, so I had to suss out the solution to why he was getting an "under construction" error. All I know is that my portfolio has been set up since January and we've had two assignments to submit since that time, and I hustled to get them in on deadline...and he notifies me basically a day before the last day of classes that he can't see the papers I submitted and I might end up having to take an F in the class that I've worked really hard in? Seriously?

R.A.G.E.

News from the front

A wire update on the ongoing war effort: the Germans are advancing and the Pacific theater is a mess of warships and jungle combat. Higher casualties than previously anticipated are being reported. The rationing continues, and everyone is encouraged to plant a victory garden and pray for the safe return of our boys overseas.

One of the HR people just barged into my office, after the most perfunctory of knocks, and proceeded to rail at me about something that someone told her I said. She didn't want to listen to what I had to say, she just wanted to be upset (trust me, it doesn't take much), especially because she's had previous run-ins with the person she was originally arguing with -- about document shredding, in this case. Office resources are highly emotional topics around here, and cause conflict ridiculously easily, so the heated discussion migrates to other points of contention, my name gets brought into the mix, and this lady wants to be mad at me because I said that HR uses twice as much paper as I do, but I buy half of the paper for this whole office and it's affecting my budget, so I may have to start tracking the paper I *actually* use from the HR stock and cover just the cost of that. It's worth almost shouting at me, apparently? HR is populated by a group of individuals not known for their logic and rational thinking. I don't have time for this childishness...some of us have actual business to attend to.

My shipyards are commissioning new warships as we speak, and ground forces are being given orders to overtake and neutralize enemy positions at all costs.