March 28, 2005
I'm that jerk at work
The one who comes into the office with sickness oozing out of his pores. I didn't want to come in today. In fact I would happily (well, as happily as possible bearing in mind the sickness) have worked from home but I left all of my project notes at work. I did this on purpose so as to avoid the temptation of working over the weekend. I made a special effort not to work over the weekend because my dad and step-mom were visiting us for the weekend.
Incidentally, that's why there wasn't anything here on Friday. We were enjoying 80 degrees and sun as we traipsed all over Stone Mountain.
We had a great time with the visit. Bacon was attached to Papa's leg for close to 4 days straight. Bear taught him how to get pummeled in record time playing his favorite video game. Sunday's festivities included hunts for two baskets per child (I told them the Easter Bunny was overstocked so was liquidating some of his stock), egg decoration with Nana and Papa (I have no idea how they kept these three ruffians so clean during the dying phase), an egg hunt (Burger won hands down with 21 eggs), and dinner out at our favorite family restaurant the Golden Corral (when you have three kids, the buffet is your friend).
I've been battling the sickness all weekend. I think I'm past the contagious part but just in case I've taken steps to avoid infecting my coworkers. I have a spray bottle with bleach in it and any time somebody walks into my cube I squirt them. This works well not only to kill any germs they may have inadverdently picked up but also to discourage future visits.
Posted by: Jim at
09:03 AM
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If you're that guy, then I'm that girl. About the only things that'll keep me home are spontaneously releasing bodily fluids or a fever high enough to make me too delirious to drive. My sick days are saved for the kidlet. :-) But I'll be sure to use that bleach spray idea in the future. That's much better than the "Quarantined by order of the CDC" sign I typically use. ;-)
Posted by: Kathleen at March 28, 2005 09:43 AM (zGCA0)
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LOL! I need a spray bottle of bleach in my cube.
Man, I hope you feel better. All three kids got the flu... one week at a time. I thought it would never leave my home. Some how... I managed not to get it. I keep saying it's my superior immune system. No doubt that will come back and bite me in the butt sooner or later...
Posted by: Boudicca at March 28, 2005 09:44 AM (z7nbM)
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Well, I hope you feel better soon. And I agree about the buffet/young children thing. It is so much easier to eat out if the kids can be fed without significant wait time. So much easier.
Posted by: RP at March 28, 2005 10:37 AM (LlPKh)
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"This works well not only to kill any germs they may have inadverdently picked up but also to discourage future visits."
HA! So that's the trick...
Posted by: songstress7 at March 28, 2005 11:24 AM (jEGU/)
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I thought you were admitting something I suspected, until I read past, "jerk."
Posted by: Victor at March 28, 2005 11:31 AM (L3qPK)
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Bleach? What a softie.
I use Ebola.
Posted by: Harvey at March 28, 2005 01:59 PM (tJfh1)
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The buffet is our friend, too. Especially if it involves pizza (Cici's) or Chinese food (good place we haunt in Snellville). We do Golden Corral on occasion too, but it is a bit pricier (my kids are teenagers).
Posted by: diamond dave at March 28, 2005 04:25 PM (75WzH)
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(((Jim)))
Or, on the other hand, keep your flipping germs to yourself, freak.
Posted by: Elizabeth at March 28, 2005 09:02 PM (r/dTW)
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I do the same thing. I don't like it when my employees call off sick, so I make it a point to come in when I'm sick. Back in January I was walking around work with pnuemonia. I figured why be miserable at home when I can be at work making others miserable.
Posted by: Contagion at March 29, 2005 08:45 AM (Q5WxB)
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March 23, 2005
Coworkers unite in support of the BBMRE*
It seems that I'm not the only person offended by the
frequent flushing violations in our 2nd floor mens room. Yesterday somebody printed out and posted the following sign on the inside of the bathroom door:
Way back in 1953, the U.S. Department of Health (now the CDC) determined that flushing toilets and urinals in public restrooms reduced the spread of disease by more than 88%. Today's society has acrimoniously decreed that flushing should be an automatic function (hence the many infrared toilets today). This company has determined that the use of a paltry 1.5 gallons of water per flush is worth the investment to keep its workforce healthy. So, the question to you is...
Why Don't You
Flush?
It's disgusting, rude and unsanitary.
Go back and flush.
(and then wash your hands.)
more...
Posted by: Jim at
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Amazing. Your company has co-ed bathrooms? Because it's been my experience that all those "Your Mother Doesn't Work Here" messages have all been penned by women.
Either you've got a Felix Unger on your premises -- or you're not 'fessing up here.
Which is it d'ya suppose?
Posted by: Margi at March 23, 2005 12:01 PM (lWAiX)
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All of our "This company is not your mama" signs have been written by men in my office.
Of course, we don't have a flushing problem at my office right now.
At our office, people wipe boogers on and around the toilet. That is a violation of directives in the BBMRE and I count myself as a supporter of that inspired tome as well.
Posted by: Trey Givens at March 23, 2005 12:35 PM (6jtXT)
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Yeah ya know... you can do whatever you want at home... don't flush for 2 or three incidents, whatever. It's good because you conserve water and money, just make sure you clean the toilet regularly.
But yeah.. when you have 30-40 people using the facilities all day long... damn man... flush ... yech.. I worked in an office where there was some guy who pissed this dark almost red fluid. It was kind of frightening and made you wonder what sort of other health issues he had.
Posted by: Oorgo at March 23, 2005 01:03 PM (lM0qs)
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If it's yellow
let it mellow.
Fucking 90s eco-hippies.
Posted by: ilyka at March 23, 2005 01:47 PM (Kj7iE)
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Yeah... 'cause water is an inexhaustable resource, of course!
Posted by: Oorgo at March 23, 2005 02:07 PM (lM0qs)
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Wow. I'm feeling so... so... blessed that I work for the company I work for....
Posted by: Boudicca at March 23, 2005 02:22 PM (z7nbM)
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'cause water is an inexhaustable resource, of course!
Just like sanctimony!
Being in favor of the proper and sanitary disposal of urine does not mean I consider water an inexhaustible resource. It means I'm in favor of the proper and sanitary disposal of urine, and whoever thought up the "if it's yellow, let is mellow" rhyme. That person needs to die.
Posted by: ilyka at March 24, 2005 10:43 AM (VLEsa)
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and whoever thought up the "if it's yellow, let is mellow" rhyme. That person needs to die.
This is just one example of why Ilyka rocks my world.
Posted by: Jim at March 24, 2005 10:51 AM (tyQ8y)
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let is mellow
Jeez, even with comment preview forced on me I couldn't type that right.
I was blinded by the hate, I guess.
Posted by: ilyka at March 24, 2005 11:17 AM (VLEsa)
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March 18, 2005
There's a story here somewhere...
Just got a friendly "TO: Everybody" email about mailing things from the office. Item 1 reminded us that the deadline to drop mail in the mail room is 4:00 PM, M-F. Item 2 reminded us that the post office picks up from the mailbox out back at 4:30 PM, M-F. The third item dealt with personal mail:
Metering your PERSONAL mail is a COURTESY and not a company requirement. As always, your payment should accompany your personal mail unless youÂ’ve communicated otherwise. With that being said, please place your mail in the appropriate outgoing tray before 4PM. NOTE: If your personal mail happens to include renewal subscriptions to any pornographic magazines, materials, and suchlike, please make sure you take care of that on your own personal time!
I really want to know what inspired that note but the receptionist isn't talking.
Posted by: Jim at
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Here's the story:
One of the Senior VP's realized that his Playboy subscription was about to expire and decided to have the company pick up the tab. After all, he works long hours and needs a pick me up on occasion, but rather than point out the schmuck that is using company funds to pay for his porn (being a VP and all) they decided to scold everyone just to cover the tracks.
Posted by: Wendy at March 18, 2005 09:12 PM (lVGGv)
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March 17, 2005
May you live in interesting times...
Well today was definitely interesting. I arrived at work to a message from my boss asking if I could join a meeting. He's remote and was having connectivity problems and there was too much visual going on for him to follow well over the phone. When I got into the meeting he dropped out.
So I was in a meeting with the execs from a new division of the company. The division is new because we just acquired their company. A morning and most of the early afternoon was spent helping them define their business objectives and doing business analysis and requirements for their web portal and consumer online presence.
Weird activities for a quality assurance specialist, eh?
Got a call from my boss during the meeting, asking me to call him back when I had a few minutes. Don't you hate messages like that? Ones that give you no clue why you're calling? I sure do.
So I called him and he explained that the very large project I am consulting on now was being reorganized. He was taking over management of the project himself. Problem being, he can't be on-site here to actually manage the project. So, could I help out by doing the business analysis and business requirements locally?
There's those words again. Business Analysis. Business Requirements. Not QA stuff. Program analysis and standards are QA things. But I love doing this stuff so I said of course I'd be happy to help. That's when he popped the question.
Would I consider leaving QA for a Project Management position? He wants me on the business side of the business, said I excelled there. Yes, QA is very important but he has a critical shortage on the BA side of his house. He reassured me that it wasn't a do or die thing. I was hired for QA, I am doing a fantastic job here, this job is secure if I want to stay in it. But, would I like to step to the next level under the executorium?
I said "Hell, yeah. What took you so long to offer it? I've been here waiting for five freaking months already! Hello?"
Well, maybe it was more along the lines of a gracious acceptance. The position switch will come about in the near future after we wrap me out of some QA projects.
Say hello to Jim Peacock, Project Manager elect.
Posted by: Jim at
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Congratulations, I hope you enjoy the new position. I know personally I always love being promoted.
Posted by: Contagion at March 17, 2005 02:55 PM (Q5WxB)
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Hello, Jim Peacock, Project Manager elect.
Congrats!
Posted by: DeAnna at March 17, 2005 02:59 PM (IdVP4)
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Congrats Project Manager Elect Jim Peacock.
Posted by: tommy at March 17, 2005 03:13 PM (VCRgB)
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Eerie. Is your career path synchronized with Helen's, or what?
Congratulations! May you know no Hadrians and no Roosters.
Posted by: ilyka at March 17, 2005 03:19 PM (q2ID+)
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The use of an ancient Chinese curse in your title followed by news that your boss wanted to talk to you was unnerving. Thought you were going to tell us you were unemployed again.
Anyway, happy to hear that the news was good instead. Congratulations!
Posted by: diamond dave at March 17, 2005 04:31 PM (Zd60f)
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I've been following Ilyka around saying "What She Said" all day; why should this post be any different?
Posted by: Margi at March 17, 2005 05:29 PM (lWAiX)
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When the honeymoon phase is over, drop me a line! Archive everything about this day because when you have a bad one (and I predict you will), you'll want a reminder about why you said yes to this role!
I'm a manager of HR projects (including technology projects). I have three major organizational transformation projects on the go and I'm in major project head mode right now (i.e., waking up at three in the morning and leaving myself voice mails, having vivid dreams about murdering a member of my team or vice versa!). We have team sympathy cards, pre-signed with appropriate condolences by team members. When you have a bad day, you get the sympathy card and get to keep it until the next poor person has one!
We also customize Dilbert cartoons and send them to ourselves. Get to know Dilbert.
But to be serious for a minute, enjoy this moment! I wish you well........
Posted by: knpepper at March 17, 2005 08:13 PM (MURV4)
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I really enjoyed when I was a Project Manager.
Have fun! I think it's a great job.
Posted by: Bou at March 17, 2005 08:40 PM (z7nbM)
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I should get at least one synchronicity point; you're going from a QA job into a project manager job and I'm going from a project management job into a QA job (yes, I know it's management, but it's still in the QA department). Eerily coincidental, doncha think?
And congrats; I'm sure it's well-deserved.
Posted by: Kathleen at March 17, 2005 08:58 PM (zGCA0)
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Jim, I am damn happy for you and thrilled that people are leaning on you and know you are competent. Congrats on that, sweetie. May org charts fall in your stride.
I swear I don't want to urinate all over your public holiday, but are you sure about all of the details? Did you get a pay raise and agree that you have the control of the project (warning bells sounded when you wrote: "He was taking over management of the project himself. Problem being, he can't be on-site here to actually manage the project. So, could I help out by doing the business analysis and business requirements locally?"
In my world that translates to: you don't get the say-so, you get to be the go-to guy.
I swear I just want you to be covered on all bases-I would hate for you to be in the utter hell I am in, especially since I know you are competent and clever and deserve this.
*wipes self now*
Posted by: Helen at March 18, 2005 03:27 AM (Vd6WF)
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hooray Jim!
Does this mean I can include you as a 'contact' in my network now? Let's do lunch!
Posted by: shank at March 18, 2005 09:02 AM (+H1yK)
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hello to Jim Peacock, Prime Minister reject.
Hope you get elected next time.
OO! 1pm! Time for my dyslexia medication...
Posted by: Harvey at March 18, 2005 01:55 PM (tJfh1)
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I agree /w what Helen said. Similar thing happened to me; it stank.
The very best of luck to you, Jim. I know *you* make your own luck, and that's the best kind.
Posted by: Victor and his fifteen pet rats at March 18, 2005 03:48 PM (L3qPK)
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Thanks everybody!
Fear not, Helen and Victor, it's on the up and up. This particular project is a problem child but the position will be the real thing.
Not to toot my own horn but they're removing an established Project Manager and putting me on instead because it only started actually moving when I started working on it.
Posted by: Jim at March 18, 2005 03:54 PM (tyQ8y)
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March 15, 2005
Behold, the Ides of March!
It's March 15th and that means
The Grande 2004 Peacock Invitational has come to a close. So, how did we do?
Of the five of us, two made it. Tiffany's breasts did not get bigger as planned but except for this small setback she made it through a smoke free year without a problem. Tig made it too and keeps his last unsmoken ciggarette as a war trophy.
I lost it sometime during my pain filled unemployment days. Ironic, eh? Lose a job and pick back up an expensive bad habit. Jeremy didn't make it either. Busy stress life brought this valiant warrior low. And what of Joey? He got busy with school and work and disappeared many moons ago. It's possible that he survived but signs point to no. If he ever resurfaces we'll ask him and collect cash if what we suspect is true.
So over the course of a year we had a 40% success rate. That's hella better than any professional system out there. Think I should pattent this?
Posted by: Jim at
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I was wonder what had happened - I'd seen where you had removed your link (or whatever you did to signify you were out of the running.) So - did you pay the blood money??
Posted by: Clancy at March 15, 2005 08:48 AM (JxYJc)
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Yup. Jeremy and I paid up. Joey just vanished so nobody knows what happened with him.
Posted by: Jim at March 15, 2005 08:55 AM (tyQ8y)
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Tiffani's link goes to Tig's blog. Guess you were having a bad copy-and-paste day :-)
Posted by: Harvey at March 16, 2005 02:39 PM (tJfh1)
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Doh!
Fixed now.
I guess that shows just how often my links are used.
Posted by: Jim at March 16, 2005 02:44 PM (tyQ8y)
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*cries at name mis-spelling*
Posted by: Tiffany at March 16, 2005 07:47 PM (bj98V)
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Name mis-spelling? What name mis-spelling?
[whistles nonchallantly]
Sorry about that, Tiffany. I was working up interview questions for my blogdaughter just before this post and I had "i" on the brain.
Posted by: Jim at March 16, 2005 07:50 PM (MDLz3)
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March 14, 2005
Adventures in email
Over the weekend I received an email from a phisher trying to get my eBay log-in information. I'm not exactly sure why my eBay log-in information would be of any value to anybody. It's a buy-as-you-go type of place so it's not like they would have gotten any of my money or anything.
But it really pissed me off. It pissed me off enough that I went through the email headers to find the originator domain and sent this email to their abuse address:
One of your customers is a motherfucking, cock sucking, phishing bastard. I sincerely hope he dies with his severed cock shoved up his ass as he gags on his own vomit.
Just thought you'd like to know. Headers below, followed by the phishing email:
[headers]
[original email]
You can tell I was really angry because I never say "gag" unless I'm seriously burnt.
Unbelievably, I got an actual answer back, from an actual email address, from what (if I close my eyes and click my heels together three times) could be confused with an actual person!
Hello,
We are currently investigating who sent that message.
Kind regards,
Vlad Georgiev
Technical Support
Sure, it's an auto-response and yeah, it's probably from the same group that is doing the phishing. Still, through an alcohol induced haze it appeared like I was making a difference, and isn't that really what it's all about?
Appearances, yeah.
Posted by: Jim at
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I think they wanted your login to get to your Paypal login possibly. Also, they could use your account to bid on things, for which you would pretty much have to pay for right? I guess it would be a good way to make sure they sold their stuff at decent prices.
Posted by: shank at March 14, 2005 12:21 PM (+H1yK)
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Hmmmm..... I just got a phishing email at my charter.net addy ..... and that irritates me!! Thats the first one I've gotten at that addy .....
Whatever you do .....NEVER EVER EVER click on the link provided in those emails!!!!!! NEVER EVER!!
Posted by: Denise at March 14, 2005 12:22 PM (JTlEe)
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How 'bout giving us some standard form letters for replies to phishing scams? I just love your command of the English language and ability to properly communicate in a business letter format. Think we can all learn from it.
"...severed cock shoved up his ass as he gags on his own vomit" indeed!
Posted by: diamond dave at March 14, 2005 10:25 PM (P0Fqu)
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Feel free to use this one as an all purpose template, Dave. You'd be surprised at the results it gets!
Posted by: Jim at March 15, 2005 05:15 AM (MDLz3)
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March 11, 2005
Stink update
Yesterday's stank source has been identified. I was more correct with the stink bomb theory, except the perpetrators were our IT guys.
We have a large server farm located downtown (production) and a smaller farm locally (development). The server room is protected by an advanced fire retardant system. If fire is detected it floods the room with a gas that eliminates all oxygen therefor extinguishing the fire. The gas is harmless to electrical components and is odorless.
Odorless, that is, until a chemical is added to it to produce a strong odor. This is done to give an olfactory notification that the system was used and the room is compromised and possibly dangerous until completely ventilated. A very good idea.
Unfortunately the chemical used produces a smell like burning sulfur or Zeus's own gaseous expulsion. Why in the world would they choose such an obnoxious odor for the telltale? What's wrong with cinnamon or vanilla? Maybe a fresh pine scent would give just as much notice that something happened and yet allow everybody within the building work without constantly fighting their gag reflex. Hell, I'd settle for new car smell.
Personally I think it has something to do with the fact that the corporate IT guys work downtown. I bet their system smells like roses when it goes off.
Posted by: Jim at
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My guess is that the sulfur imparts the sense of urgency. If it smelled like cinnamon toast, one might not take care of the situation as quickly as one should.
??
Just a thought. But yeah. Ugh.
Posted by: Margi at March 11, 2005 01:02 PM (lWAiX)
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Well... I don' t know about that. What if it smelled like popcorn? You know that everyone and their grandmother shows up when the popcorn smell hits the air. Nothing more urgent than going around the office saying, "who made popcorn?" as if they are going to get some if they figure it out. Annoying as hell, but if it makes the ear perk - it's a smell I would use.
Posted by: Wendy at March 12, 2005 01:15 PM (lVGGv)
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March 10, 2005
Stinky
Got on the elevator this morning and was immediately assaulted. Somebody had fouled the beast.
Got off of the elevator and was met with a stronger version of the same odor. Apparently somebody had done a preliminary attack in the elevator and then launched the atomic blast in the atrium.
Walked to my cube and found no lessening of the odoriferous monstrosity. The terrorist must be somebody in my department.
Went to the break room for coffee. Stank present. Now I began to worry.
In amazement I made a full tour of the floor. The smell of anal exhalation was everywhere.
Either we've been stink bombed or somebody's guts have turned feral.
Posted by: Jim at
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If the stank followed you every where might one not think the obvious?
Posted by: Machelle at March 10, 2005 09:39 AM (ZAyoW)
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I had the same horrid thought when I stepped off of the elevator. Fortunately the talk in the office this morning has been pretty pointed on the subject and I quickly verified that not only was the stench present before I got here but the unanimous opinion of my co-workers is that the entire floor smells of fart.
Posted by: Jim at March 10, 2005 09:41 AM (tyQ8y)
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I was blaming you before the end of the second paragraph.
Sorry. *ducks*
Posted by: Margi at March 10, 2005 12:59 PM (lWAiX)
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Maybe something died behind a heating vent or something?
Posted by: Rachel Ann at March 10, 2005 04:37 PM (tqjrf)
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Bummer. At work you can't blame the dog.
Posted by: Victor and his seventeen pet rats at March 11, 2005 07:42 AM (L3qPK)
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March 08, 2005
Say what?!
Lovely Wife is a huge U2 fan. She even likes the crap that came out after
The Joshua Tree. Now
THAT'S dedication.
Anyway, they're currently touring and there's a decent chance they'll be coming through Atlanta. They're continual teasing about it anyway. Lovely Wife went online to find out how much U2 tickets are running at their other venues on the tour.
Here's a serious question for y'all. What flavor of stupid do you need to be to pay $4,800+ for a ticket to see a band? Any band. Led Zeppelin reunited - not worth it. The Beatles in their prime - not worth it. Lynrd Skynrd's Back From The Dead Tour - with an intermission show where they "Go Southern" on the Dixie Chicks - not worth it. Well, maybe. Depending on what I meant by "Go Southern".
The point is that if I'm paying $4,800 to see U2 the concert better end with Bono giving me a blowjob while The Edge juggles my jewels. Whoever else is in the band can serve drinks and pastries and provide towels as needed.
I'm just saying.
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It's not aimed at people like you and me. Scary isn't it? There are people out there with that kind of money that they aren't going to BLINK when they fork it out. Guess what...a bunch of them live in PB County and will fly their personal jets to see them. Blech.
Posted by: Boudicca at March 08, 2005 10:18 PM (z7nbM)
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Wow. Just... wow. Hubby-head and I and our friend Ryan got tickets for the U2 concert in our area for about $60 each with all the taxes and fees. Of course, that's because our friend Ryan was on Ticketmaster.com for 10 solid minutes hitting "refresh" until the tickets went on sale. They sold out in less than an hour if I recall correctly.
Posted by: songstress7 at March 09, 2005 05:53 PM (jEGU/)
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They have 2 concerts in San Jose and I STILL couldn't get my hands on any tickets. That just bites. I may be forced to play the stupid radio games in hopes of winning some. UGH!
Posted by: Pam at March 12, 2005 07:01 PM (4w1GY)
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School daze
I've written a short essay on the fundamental problem in our current public school systems. You can find it at
Zero Intelligence.
RP's post here is what sparked it and his post is a good read as well.
Posted by: Jim at
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March 07, 2005
It's official! I'm a published author
The first issue of the
Vacant Funhouse, an online webzine featuring short stories and poetry of a horrific and macabre nature, is up. Issue #1 features the short story
Hunting Todd by everybody's favorite blogger with an alarm clock themed weblog title.
Spread the word. Do links and things to the Funhouse. Make them ubersuccessful so they'll buy lots more of my stories and make me rich so I can retire to a tropic isle and blog full time.
Posted by: Jim at
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I vote for Confusion and Evolution
Sorry, having trouble with my trackbacks, they are logging but not showing up.
Posted by: Frick at March 07, 2005 11:51 PM (4eChD)
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Yay, Jim! Well deserved, too! I'm very excited for you!
Posted by: RP at March 08, 2005 08:25 AM (LlPKh)
Posted by: Tig at March 08, 2005 09:06 AM (+SYjv)
Posted by: pylorns at March 08, 2005 11:53 AM (FTYER)
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Author's Grant
1. The Author grants permission to include his/her story entitled ___”Hunting Todd_," a work of approximately _2726____words, hereinafter referred to as the Work, in THE VACANT FUNHOUSE...
What's that about? Well, I've just sold my first story! The Vacant Funhouse is "A Webzine of horror, mystery, suspense and crime short fiction and poetry." More importantly, they've recognized my genius and purchased one of my light horror short stories for their debut issue.
Said issue will be up later today at which point I will link it prominently. Y'all should do likewise so they become amazingly successful and continue to buy my short stories.
Posted by: Jim at
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Congrats Jim. Tried to get the trackback thing to work, but I suck at the internet!
Posted by: shank at March 07, 2005 12:39 PM (+H1yK)
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Wow! Congrats, J-Snooze!
Posted by: DeAnna at March 07, 2005 03:54 PM (IdVP4)
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To think I knew him when he was just a blogger...
Well done, old boy.
Posted by: Simon at March 07, 2005 07:40 PM (OyeEA)
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Congrats..... My Mom always said that being able to write was important, now spelling correctly is another thing.
Posted by: Frick at March 07, 2005 07:43 PM (xjk4d)
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Thanks, y'all. :-)
The issue is up now. See the post atop this one.
Posted by: Jim at March 07, 2005 09:09 PM (MDLz3)
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March 03, 2005
Radiant heat
It's one of those mornings...
It was very cold this morning. Cold enough that I cranked the heater in the van up all the way. As such things go it eventually got too hot.
So I turned the radio down. Amazingly it was still too hot.
I turned the radio down some more. Still too hot.
In exasperation I turned the radio off. The heat did not diminish.
Great, I thought, now I have to replace my radio.
Where's my coffee?
Update: We have a nice coffee set-up here. For creamer we have those little half-and-half containers that you peel the top off of. The first creamer went into the coffee cup normally. The second one emptied successfully. The third one caused a spill. It took me several seconds to realize that container two and three had been poured into container one.
Now you see why I need a secretary.
Posted by: Jim at
09:15 AM
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1
I turn the radio down to adjust the heater/ac all the time. I had to pull over once to remember how to properly work the electric window. It made me cry!
Posted by: Holly at March 03, 2005 12:39 PM (3SP8e)
2
I think it is not a nice thing at all that I am sitting here laughing about this. All I can say is that I am not laughing at you. Just near you.
Posted by: RP at March 03, 2005 02:40 PM (LlPKh)
3
Well, I had to read about your heat problem twice before I got it. I couldn't figure out why your heat wouldn't go down. I guess I've had a long day. :/
Posted by: Kristine at March 03, 2005 07:11 PM (QpBmT)
4
You don't need a secretary, darling. You need a wrangler.
And I'm also not laughing at you. I'm laughing in your general direction.
Aheh.
Posted by: Margi at March 05, 2005 02:54 PM (zalxZ)
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March 01, 2005
What the hail?
We just had a hailstorm here. It was beautiful but short. You wouldn't think frozen precipitation would delight an old Buffalo son but I think this was the first real hail storm I've ever seen.
The granules were very small, maybe a millimeter, and came down strong and steady. Looking out through the hail was a curious mixture of snowstorm and rain shower. They fell like rain but had the luminescence of snow. The tiny balls of ice bounced through the leaves of the trees like the disks in a Kerplunk game. Just beautiful.
It's been over for a couple of minutes now and the accumulation is already melted. Ah, nature's wonders are ever transitory.
Posted by: Jim at
10:10 AM
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Ah,screw it....I moved down here for the NICE,WARM weather........the cold crap they can keep up north!LOL
Posted by: LW at March 01, 2005 11:14 AM (MDLz3)
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February 22, 2005
MTV - where did the videos go?
It's almost an oxymoron. MTV - Music Television. Turn on MTV at almost any hour of the day and you'll see partying teens or a reality show. The few videos they still play are during request shows and it's the same 10 videos as last week, every week.
Over the weekend Lovely Wife and I watched an hour or so of "classic" music videos on VH1. These are videos from the 1980's for the most part. It was quite a trip through retro-ville, let me tell you.
And I now know why MTV started moving away from actually playing videos in the 1980's. It's because these videos suck with the terrible and inexorable strength of a black hole.
I'm just saying.
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February 21, 2005
Bad neighbors
Yesterday evening we got a visit from some new neighbors. It was not a pleasant experience. They just bought a house down the street and moved in a short while ago. They've got a fenced back yard where they keep two dogs.
Nine-eye, our much loved neighborhood dog, went visiting. Although he is very timid with people he is very social with other dogs. Being a large boy and an experienced fence jumper he has no difficulty getting into their back yard. Our new neighbors are not pleased with his actions.
Perhaps "not pleased" is a bit of an understatement. What they are is angry enough that they threatened to kill Nine-eye if he goes into their yard again.
Yes, the mister said flat out that if we didn't keep Nine-eye out of his yard he would kill the dog.
This upset me greatly, but wasn't what brought me within inches of my first adult fist fight. What pissed me off even more than his threat was his qualifier, which he kept mouthing as if it absolved him of any consequence of his actions.
"I don't mean to be hateful, but..."
"I don't want to sound hateful, but..."
"I'm not trying to be hateful, but..."
Finally I couldn't hear that any more. My blood was boiling and I was about to pop. I looked him straight in the eye and said "I cannot imagine anything more hateful than that". Proud of me? I sure am. What I really wanted to say included colorful expressions about his person and a goodly dose of vitriol.
As it was, my simple words calling him on the carpet difused what was becoming a very bad situation. After I said that he got quiet for a few moments and when he spoke again the belligerence was gone. I got him to agree to call us if he saw Nine-eye in his yard again. Hopefully if we scold Nine-eye it will be more effective than him chasing the dog out of his yard.
It will not be a permanent solution. Nine-eye is very canine social. He wants to be with other dogs. He will return there eventually. Although we were able to reason with these new neighbors I do not think they will remain reasonable for very long. A person who'll come up to your house and tell you he is going to kill your dog is not the kind of person who strikes me as being reasonable for any length of time.
So what can we do? The best long-term solution is to get him out of his dangerous environment. Lovely Wife has started looking for a permanent home for him. He's a wonderfully friendly dog, very gentle and easy to handle. Once he's comfortable with a person, that is. He is very timid with most folk but recognizes "dog people" pretty quickly. He is quite smart and very social. I think he would be an excellent house dog after some patient training. He would also do very well as a yard dog but the fences need to be jumper-proof and he would absolutely need other dogs around him.
If you're in the Atlanta Metro area and would like to own a wonderful animal, please let me know. Heck, if you're outside of the Atlanta Metro area but would like to own a wonderful animal this is the perfect excuse to come see the delights of the area and pick up a pet while you're here. If you know anybody who might be interested please point them to this entry.
Update: Lovely Wife took some new pictures of Nine-eye. They're at the post linked above. Damn, that's one handsome dog! Here's one of them. He's tied up so he won't go into that backyard. This makes him very sad.
Posted by: Jim at
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I think Nine-Eye smells that something is going on.I tied him up today and he was all mellow with it.He does cry a bit but takes it well at the moment.But I hate it...god damnit.....I hate chained up dogs,thats NO LIFE.
Also,he has gotten so much better with people.My neighbors to the left can pet him now and to the right,the folks who fix up the house,he walks right up for some love.
Gosh.why the fuck would someone want to kill this dog???
I bet I am going to have another sleepless night about this....I wish I could do SOMETHING.
Posted by: LW at February 21, 2005 12:16 PM (MDLz3)
2
I want your dog.
Badly.
THat whole "6 months in quarantine" makes it impossible.
I do, however, want to beat the snot out of your neighbor. Killing dogs just 'cause? What a fucking sad waste of human refuse that guy is.
Posted by: Helen at February 21, 2005 01:22 PM (9jsh4)
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Not sure how but I'll pay for your plane ticket to come here and kick some ass!Trust me....when I am on edge I would do a thing like that..LOL
Posted by: LW at February 21, 2005 01:40 PM (MDLz3)
4
People are such assholes, aren't they?
I have a very social dog, too, and some lady that bought the house next door said that he was "annoying" some of her workers fixing up the place with his barking. (Note: he was mostly barking at his favorite rock. Yes, you heard me: his favorite rock.) She came to our house threatening LEGAL ACTION if we didn't keep our dog inside (he only comes inside at night), or get him a bark collar (HELL NO!!!) Talk about getting off on the wrong foot with your neighbors! To make matters worse, we have some unsavory types down the street whose pit bulls keep getting loose. Now THERE'S one breed I absolutely don't trust...
Sorry to ramble, but I feel for your situation. I'd consider taking Nine-Eye, since I live just across town from you, but we can barely afford the dog we already have. I'll put the word out amongst people I know that Nine-Eye needs a new home. If all else fails, look around for animal rescue groups.
Posted by: diamond dave at February 21, 2005 05:03 PM (zxjPs)
5
That reminds me of what the vet lady at Petco told me last weekend when I asked her about the microchip we had implanted in our little run-away Nicky.She said she had it done to her cat,whom she keeps outside during the day.One day she got a call from the shelter to come get her cat because the NEIGHBOR who hates cats had caught the cat,boxed it up and brought it for destruction to Animal Control.The law says,microchipped pets can NOT be destroyed.SO,I got my answer,yes,the chip works and yet another story about ASSHOLE neighbors!
We can barely afford our dogs either.....but I guess Walmarts cheap food (their version of Kibbles and Bits)and PETCO vets are a lifesaver,one just has to hope nothing BAD ever happends because then the only thing I can afford will be the 50 bucks to put them down.
:-(((((((((((((((((
Thank you for your help,btw!
Posted by: LW at February 21, 2005 06:26 PM (MDLz3)
6
You might also consider looking into the legalities involved if someone kills your dog. That is, if you can prove Nine-Eye is truly yours. Be nice if you can end up owning your neighbor's home and telling them to pack their shit up and get the fuck out of your neighborhood. Probably would be more complicated than that, but just a thought.
Once again, I ask: why are people such assholes?
Posted by: diamond dave at February 21, 2005 10:29 PM (cHHMb)
7
Ah hell... if the neighbor kills your dog, kill his back. Kill both of them.
You really need to be careful of someone like me... I have no dogs so if I kill your dog you can't retaliate in kind. Didn't think of that, did you?
Muhahahaha!
(Note: I'm only kidding. If you need this parenthetical note to realize that, you need more help than I can provide in an aside).
Posted by: Garret at February 22, 2005 07:31 AM (IOwam)
8
do you have a home for nine-eyes? he looks like part collie. they are very social and caring of other animals.
we have a collie that has markings like nine-eye.
Posted by: cj at March 13, 2005 07:56 PM (QXWUV)
9
No, not yet. We tried keeping him in the back yard but the only way we could get him to stay was by chaining him up and he got so depressed we had to stop. He seems to be staying away from the threatening neighbors for now. Hopefully he'll keep avoiding them until we can get him a safe home.
Posted by: Jim at March 14, 2005 10:09 AM (tyQ8y)
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February 18, 2005
Another moneymaker
We've got morning traffic reports. We've got web-based mapping services. Combine the two.
Introducing MyTraffic.com*! Pull up the site before you head out the door. It shows you the best route to work taking into consideration slow traffic flows, accidents, etc.
* This is not a real site. Yet.
Posted by: Jim at
11:38 AM
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brilliant isn't it... they have this feature integrated into the navigational system of cars now... currently it's a subscription based service so that when you link up you are receiving a private feed... won't be long before it's open source!
Posted by: mcg at February 19, 2005 02:46 PM (ncGwe)
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February 15, 2005
Thoughts on VD
Valentine's Day - you either love it or hate it. Or ignore it, I guess. Or, like the vast majority of humanity, have no idea whatsoever that it even exists.
Where was I? Oh, yeah - it seems that posts on Valentine's Day fall firmly into one of two camps. There are those who hate and despise it as a Hallmark Holiday full of false sentiment and overly public displays of affection. Then there are those who embrace it for its celebration of true sentiment and overly public displays of affection.
Once upon a time I was firmly in the anti-VD camp. That changed and I think I've pinned down just where the change happened. I started to enjoy Valentine's Day when it changed from a day of obligatory gift giving to an excuse for gift giving.
Let me splain. We have a single income with 3 kids. We make do with one car and not a whole lot of superfluous stuff because we are willing to sacrifice such things to bring up our kids the way we want. The downside is a relative dearth of expendable income (aka blow money). I don't have very many opportunities to spoil her like she so richly deserves. I welcome Valentine's Day as it gives me a well established excuse to do what I'd like to be doing every day.
So Happy Valentine's Day, y'all!
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1
I am firmly in the "I LOVE Valentine's Day" camp.
Even when I am single, I love Valentine's Day-there's nothing like a good reason for drinking an entire bottle of chardonnay and eating homemade macaroni and cheese like a single Valentine's Day.
Come to think of it, I do the same even when I am with someone...albeit, I swap the chardonnay for pink champagne.
Any excuse and all.
Posted by: Helen at February 15, 2005 09:19 AM (eyzrV)
2
Does she get anything for you?
Posted by: pylorns at February 15, 2005 11:28 AM (FTYER)
3
Are you kidding?VD is for the LADIES,dude!
Posted by: LW at February 15, 2005 11:40 AM (MDLz3)
4
Three words, pylorns:
cho co lat
Oh, yeah!
Posted by: Jim at February 15, 2005 05:04 PM (tyQ8y)
5
VD isn't just for ladies, it happens to both parties.
Posted by: pylorns at February 16, 2005 09:25 AM (FTYER)
6
Thats not what the advertisement said....
Posted by: LW at February 16, 2005 12:49 PM (MDLz3)
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February 11, 2005
$100 Million idea
iPod Shuffle is neat but it isn't really random. Everything it plays is one of your songs. Your selection only gets bigger when you add new songs and you have no chance of hearing a new song.
The new Napster is also neat. For a fixed fee per month you can listen to anything you want out of a monstrously huge selection of songs. But in your MP3 player it's still the same old thing - you program what you want to hear and there's really no big help to find new things.
What we need is MyFM. Here are the requirements:
more...
Posted by: Jim at
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1
It is a good idea. Especially the contract like cell phones.
Posted by: Paul at February 11, 2005 12:15 PM (vbP6L)
2
I really like this idea.
Posted by: annette at February 11, 2005 12:40 PM (m/BC0)
3
They are coming out with a portable XM ipod looking thing.
Posted by: Machelle at February 11, 2005 01:00 PM (ZAyoW)
4
that is really a sweet idea man.
Posted by: davis at February 12, 2005 03:49 PM (mkbJL)
5
Nice idea. Maybe this meshes with the satellite radio thing a little better. Or as an addition. The MP3 player can mix some of the music you own also.
It has taken a long time for the music moguls to 'get' the internet music idea.
I have probably purchased more downloadable music than I would 'hard' product, but not spent any more cash. That means the artist gets more of my money, I hope and I don't need the extraneous paper.
Posted by: Robohobo at February 13, 2005 12:51 AM (CnDDX)
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February 07, 2005
The dance sensation that's sweeping the nation
Saturday morning I was working on the computer. Bear came over and we chatted while I did some mind-numbing report review. He started doing the pee dance. That's the move where he stands there grabbing his crotch and gyrating a bit. If you don't have kids you're probably most familiar with this move from its common occurrence in rap videos.
Me: Bear, do you need to go to the bathroom?
Bear: No.
Me: Then why are you doing the pee dance?
Bear: My penis keeps bothering me.
Me: Your penis is bothering you?
Bear: Yeah. The penis part keeps sticking to my sack of balls.
'Sack of balls' has now been permanently entered into the family vocabulary.
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"Everybody's doing a brand new dance now..."
Do I get points for knowing the title is from dancing in the streets?
Posted by: Paul at February 07, 2005 08:26 AM (vbP6L)
2
I know exactly how he feels. I'm just impressed he had the vocabulary to describe it.
That was excellent!
Posted by: RP at February 07, 2005 08:47 AM (LlPKh)
3
Stealth Points: "At The Hop"
50's tune - I have NO idea who did it, but I can hear it in my head!!!
"Let's Go to the Hop"
Posted by: Clancy at February 07, 2005 09:27 AM (JxYJc)
4
Hmmm...Paul, you've quoted
The Locomotion to go with your guess of
Dancing in the Streets. I believe you're thinking of the lyric "This is an invitation across the nation". Good song. Wrong answer.
Clancy, it's from Danny and The Juniors and you are correct. 2 points!
Posted by: Jim at February 07, 2005 12:18 PM (tyQ8y)
5
Dammit!
Nobody's as sore a loser as I am...
Posted by: Paul at February 07, 2005 12:49 PM (vbP6L)
6
Hey, little kids are not the only ones doing pee dances.
If I have to go bad but am not near a bathroom the pee dance ensues until I reach afore mentioned destination.
Or if I'm busy doing something but don't want to stop at that second, the pee dance happens.
Posted by: Machelle at February 07, 2005 01:27 PM (ZAyoW)
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