"Work - Getting Crazier Everyday" written by Paul on estrip.org

Category: work

01/11/13 06:14 - ID#57130

Work - Getting Crazier Everyday

I really need a new position or a salary increase, preferably both. Luckily I really love what I do but my job has gotten substantially more complex over the last four years. In the last two years especially. I just wish I could finally have some authority and some people working for me as I really know what am I doing and have some great ideas but spend so much time having to ask permission and jump through hoops. The systems I am creating involve scores of servers intercommunicating and hundreds of thousands of lines of code in many different languages and on multiple platforms. I do so much work, that I honestly can't even believe it myself. Today, on my day off, after already putting in 40 hours as of yesterday I ended up with two very last minute work mandates from the top of the org.

One involved a whole bunch of programming in order to add a new feature to a complex app to help a very important person and the other was graphic design. Its been so long since I had to promote something graphically and with text. I do graphic design stuff all the time, but not brochure/flyer stuff with text layout.

This tiny new system feature was a huge hit. Basically, we are trying to advertise a new system feature I created that allows users to unlock their account from anywhere so that there is no more "locked your account our at 3am typing the wrong password into webmail and need to call the helpdesk to get back in." type of situation. Really I pushed for the system because I am that guy with the overly complex password that I am typing into my phone at 3am but once we rolled it out there was so much positive feedback. It used to suck to have to call the helpdesk and wait to get unlocked, especially if they were busy and you were in the middle of something important, or they had to wake up to help you. It also sucked for them because they are busy with lots of other stuff.

I tried my best and ended up with this slide. I just got one slide so even though the system has all kinds of other cool features, I focused on the "cloud unlock" portion. Hope it works out.

Permalink: Work_Getting_Crazier_Everyday.html
Words: 397
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/11/13 10:27

Category: food

01/11/13 01:21 - ID#57129

Dinner at my mothers

The meal itself was delicious but the desserts were over the top. My moms cousins brought so many desserts and my mom already had a lot. I was so stuffed by the end.

Permalink: Dinner_at_my_mothers.html
Words: 45
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/11/13 01:21

Category: mike

01/11/13 01:17 - ID#57128

cant keep his clothes on - even back then

Permalink: cant_keep_his_clothes_on_even_back_then.html
Words: 1
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/11/13 01:17

Category: food

01/11/13 01:11 - ID#57127

Skyrocketing Lamb

Remember when $12.99 seemed expensive for rack of lamb?

Permalink: Skyrocketing_Lamb.html
Words: 9
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/11/13 01:11

Category: food

01/09/13 11:20 - ID#57123

Steamy Pea, french Onion, egg, king crab and bean noodle soup

I wish it would stop steaming so I could eat it.

Permalink: Steamy_Pea_french_Onion_egg_king_crab_and_bean_noodle_soup.html
Words: 12
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/09/13 11:20

Category: things i want but can't afford

01/05/13 06:41 - ID#57122

Danish Super Chair

I was searching for "normal" egg chairs which run like $1000 and which I thought were prohibitively expensive...

...when I found this.

This Arne Jacobsen Egg Chair

is ~$14,000. It blows my mind that any chair could cost that much. At the same time, if I was a millionaire I would want it.

Permalink: Danish_Super_Chair.html
Words: 70
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/05/13 06:41

Category: mobile

01/05/13 03:50 - ID#57121

AT&T 4G LTE

When 4G LTE first hit my phone it was so fast. I remember the first day because it was the day of my pseudo car jacking. Then after the iphone 5 came out it started to suck.

Its weird because the speed I am getting appears faster than ever but pages are starting to hang on load sometimes. Maybe its just the websites I visit but it seems like at that speed everything should load instantly at least as fast as they do on wifi.

Permalink: AT_T_4G_LTE.html
Words: 85
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/05/13 03:50

Category: driveway

01/05/13 01:41 - ID#57118

Church of the Ascension - In My Driveway Again

The other day (e:yesthatcasey) and I had to stop at my house to pick up some papers. As I came around the corner and tried to pull into my driveway I was stopped by a car parked in the skirt. The skirt that I shoveled the night before.

I got out and told the people that it was my driveway and that I needed to get in. I ended up just parking them in as I went to go get the stuff I needed. Same old story. In fact it seemed rather uneventful and I would have never even bothered writing about it until I got this letter. Apparently, me bring angry that I couldn't get in my own driveway came across as too rude for them.

Here is my response:
Dear Church,
0. The best neighbors possible would be ones that never park on my property.
1. I am but one secular human, free of miracle and I manage to shovel my driveway by hand. It doesn't require any special service contract being fulfilled. If anything with 20 people you should be able to shovel it infinitely faster.
2. My rudeness was minor and uneventful, I said, "Why are you parked in my driveway." To be honest I didn't even know they were church people. When the woman responded, 'because we are unloading for the church" - I said, "You could just shovel your side of the driveway, its not that crazy of a concept."
3. Normally, I just let it slide when people are parked in driveway for a few minutes unloading, it happens more than you think. However, this time I was in a rush and needed to get in my house. Why should I be inconvenienced and have to park a block away because you guys didn't have the foresight to clear your driveway. I spent the previous evening clearing mine so that I could get in and out during the day when I knew I would be in a rush.
4. I have no neighborly desire to extend any special privilege or access to my property just because you are a church with a small congregation. In fact I am less likely to do so because I am infinitely annoyed that you pay no tax on your huge property while it is barely used for spiritual activity.

Paul

matthew writes at 10:22:23 01/07/13 - Comment #69104: Hmm, they pulled this year after year. They wait until mid winter then claim the can't find a plow service. I know for a fact that the Linwood Association compiles a list of local snow removal services for all type of driveways/parking lots at the end of fall, and sends that information through email to all of its members. They really have no excuse.

hodown writes at 02:35:38 01/06/13 - Comment #69103: This is amazing! Your reply is perfect.

metalpeter writes at 11:13:51 01/05/13 - Comment #69102: The thing is blocking a drive way is illegal and a ticket.. Even if only the bumper ... But by the time you got someone there it is to late... Now In court you can use photos to fight a ticket... But I don't know if you can take a picture showing the crime and the plate and submit it somehow... It use to be a crime even if it is your drive way.... In the fighting the ticket like if you can prove where you are and when vs. The sign .....

uncutsaniflush writes at 11:10:05 01/05/13 - Comment #69101: Oh yeah, in my opinion they "intentionally didn't plow the driveway." Because it ain't rocket science, your don't need a plowing service, you just need someone with a shovel. I'm sure they could have found somebody in the neighbourhood to do it. Several of our neighbours pay other neighbours (or their kids) to shovel their sidewalks and driveways for them.

uncutsaniflush writes at 11:04:25 01/05/13 - Comment #69100: I share your frustration with the driveway situation. I think it must be a Buffalo thing because I don't remember having this problem anywhere else. We have similar problems on the Westside.

I reckon the priest seems to think that trespassing is ok but complaining about trespassing is rude. I think that denying you access to your property is rude and tantamount to thievery.

Perhaps you need to put up signs about illegal parking and have violators towed.

Didn't you have plans to put up a fence all the way to the sidewalk?

metalpeter writes at 07:13:07 01/05/13 - Comment #69097: Not that this helps anything but if you had a truck with a plow it might solve a couple of problems... Plus :) you could take pictures and just tow cars:) and charge them for a tow and then let them know where they can get said car... That will learn them....... :)

Permalink: Church_of_the_Ascension_In_My_Driveway_Again.html
Words: 390
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/05/13 01:49

Category: food

01/05/13 01:37 - ID#57117

Bacon and Mussels

This was a very tasty lunch. I sauteed some onions in white ice wine and then added them to mussels and broth. Then some crispy bacon over the top of it all. I actually ended up eating a half pound of bacon.

Permalink: Bacon_and_Mussels.html
Words: 45
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/05/13 03:31

Category: web

01/02/13 11:12 - ID#57114

My Experience With Cardpool - Never Again?

So I was excited to find cardpool

yesterday when I was purchasing some shoes (e:paul,57112) from dsw.com

I purchased 2 $25 gift cards for $44 which I thought was a good deal. I purchased them around 5PM yesterday. The system said the cards were electronic and would be delivered in 24 hours.

Toward the end of the business day today I got a call from California to confirm my purchase info but wasn't near my phone. Strangely, the number they call from can't accept calls so I had to listen to the whole message to get the number to call from. When I called that one, the system said they had not enabled their voicemail.

Finally around 5 they call me back and say in 3-4 hours the gift card should be ready. I got two of them. One works, and the other one doesn't. It was so frustrating because I bought them under the assumption this would actually work out within 24 hours. I actually thought a full 24 hours was on the ridiculous end of the scale. By the time I received the gift cards and found out the one was bunk they were closed for the day.

At this point I just had to buy the shoes because they was a limited number remaining and I was afraid they would sell out.

In the end it turned out to be a pretty poor experience. I don't think I would ever use their service again. I guess it really depends how this gets resolved but mostly having such a large delay between purchasing an electronic item with electronic delivery and its actual fully functional arrival is not really an awesome experience. I wonder if they will refund me or fix the card.

Permalink: My_Experience_With_Cardpool_Never_Again_.html
Words: 295
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 01/02/13 11:12