I needed to explain to people at work the differences between:
5:30 as in 5 hours and 30 minutes.
and
5.5 as in 5 hours and 1/2 of an hour.
An inability to distinguish between the two has led to a serious documentation error.
As in, they would take 5:14 (5 hours 14 minutes) and subtract a half hour of time by doing the following. 5.14 - .5 ending up with 4.64 which is not correct.
An inability on my part to adequately explain to them the difference between the two has left them with blank stares and me with a head that's going to explode.
We'll try again tomorrow.
Janelle's Journal
My Podcast Link
05/06/2009 17:03 #48604
Math fun at work05/03/2009 17:27 #48586
Free flowersI have three lonely snapdragon flowers that didn't make it into my hanging flower baskets and nowhere else I really want to plant them. Three isn't many, but if you want them, e-mail me.
05/02/2009 15:38 #48573
Running racesI'm hooked.
I've only run three 5ks.
I'm not exceptional at it.
But I can't wait for the next run.
There's an internal drive to do the next race to get the faster time or to run a longer race and to keep physically pushing myself.
Somehow, improving my race times or running longer routes by myself isn't a legitimate feat unless I do it with a mass of sweaty people on a Saturday morning.
The free meal and beer is a motivating factor, too, I suppose.
Props to (e:James) who ran a spectacular 23 minute 5k today in the race!
I've only run three 5ks.
I'm not exceptional at it.
But I can't wait for the next run.
There's an internal drive to do the next race to get the faster time or to run a longer race and to keep physically pushing myself.
Somehow, improving my race times or running longer routes by myself isn't a legitimate feat unless I do it with a mass of sweaty people on a Saturday morning.
The free meal and beer is a motivating factor, too, I suppose.
Props to (e:James) who ran a spectacular 23 minute 5k today in the race!
james - 05/02/09 19:14
Janelle, do you and Drew want to run the Elephant Run next week as part of Team LoCurto or otherwise?
ANd you did awesome as well. You set a goal and you beat it. ^_^
Janelle, do you and Drew want to run the Elephant Run next week as part of Team LoCurto or otherwise?
ANd you did awesome as well. You set a goal and you beat it. ^_^
04/20/2009 13:06 #48452
School BoardI've had some minimal exposure to the Buffalo public schools and those exposures have caused me concern.
I've been wondering how to get more involved or follow more closely the situation of schools in Buffalo. An opportunity became apparent when (e:Drew) and I found out that someone we know, Rebekah Williams, is running for school board. She told us that generally only 5% of eligible voters vote in the school board election!!
So I'm going to take the first steps in getting involved by 1) educating myself on the candidates and 2) voting in the election.
The election is Tuesday May 5th. And at the bottom of this article
is some information on upcoming debates so you can meet the candidates.
I'm probably going to the debate on the 27th. If anyone wants to come along, give me a holler!
I've been wondering how to get more involved or follow more closely the situation of schools in Buffalo. An opportunity became apparent when (e:Drew) and I found out that someone we know, Rebekah Williams, is running for school board. She told us that generally only 5% of eligible voters vote in the school board election!!
So I'm going to take the first steps in getting involved by 1) educating myself on the candidates and 2) voting in the election.
The election is Tuesday May 5th. And at the bottom of this article
is some information on upcoming debates so you can meet the candidates.
I'm probably going to the debate on the 27th. If anyone wants to come along, give me a holler!
libertad - 05/05/09 19:13
Thanks James. I figured it out. I was number 45 at about 3:30. We have the same polling place Janelle.
Thanks James. I figured it out. I was number 45 at about 3:30. We have the same polling place Janelle.
janelle - 05/05/09 17:03
I voted. At 4:45pm. And I was number 57. Now, I know that this is a neighborhood with families with children. How is it that I am number 57? Seriously.
I voted. At 4:45pm. And I was number 57. Now, I know that this is a neighborhood with families with children. How is it that I am number 57? Seriously.
james - 05/05/09 15:08
You can vote for a max of three people. There are eight columns and one row. You just click three people and pull the leaver.
You can vote for a max of three people. There are eight columns and one row. You just click three people and pull the leaver.
libertad - 05/05/09 14:55
I am so confused. I wish I could see what the ballot will look like. I'm not even sure how many people to vote for? Oh well I am going now so I guess I will figure it out.
I am so confused. I wish I could see what the ballot will look like. I'm not even sure how many people to vote for? Oh well I am going now so I guess I will figure it out.
james - 05/05/09 10:16
If it helps the last guy, Fred Yellen, is no longer on the ballot.
If it helps the last guy, Fred Yellen, is no longer on the ballot.
libertad - 05/05/09 09:14
Not sure if you voted yet but I found this candidate questionnaire. I spent the AM going through whatever I can find on them and still am quite unsure. Licata definitely is a yes but I haven't decided on others. The time is ticking!
:::link:::
If anyone has any other last minute resources, I can check the site again before I go to vote.
Not sure if you voted yet but I found this candidate questionnaire. I spent the AM going through whatever I can find on them and still am quite unsure. Licata definitely is a yes but I haven't decided on others. The time is ticking!
:::link:::
If anyone has any other last minute resources, I can check the site again before I go to vote.
james - 04/21/09 00:04
I neglected to mention that John Licata, Byron Macintire, and Ros Hampton are all great candidates as well.
I neglected to mention that John Licata, Byron Macintire, and Ros Hampton are all great candidates as well.
james - 04/20/09 17:18
It is tough to see the difference though Jim when things are done by committee and not from the top down. ^_^
It is tough to see the difference though Jim when things are done by committee and not from the top down. ^_^
jim - 04/20/09 16:21
My mistake!
My mistake!
james - 04/20/09 15:35
I am not her quasi-campaign manager. I just do a lot of stuff for her.
I am not her quasi-campaign manager. I just do a lot of stuff for her.
janelle - 04/20/09 14:02
Wah, Buffalo is so fricking small. I had no idea James was her quasi campaign manager! Will he be at the debates?
Wah, Buffalo is so fricking small. I had no idea James was her quasi campaign manager! Will he be at the debates?
04/16/2009 08:59 #48398
Relief from pain through painMy sensitivity to smoke has drastically increased over the past year. It only takes small exposures to smoke now to convince my sinuses to produce gallons of mucus to stuff up my nose and drip down the back of my throat producing that lovely scratchy, throat clearing, coughing sensation known as post nasal drip. When my sinuses are stuffed and my head full of pressure, I walk through my days in a sort of fugue. It will take a solid week before I clean it out of my system through cup after cup of hot tea, hot showers, and lots of nasal irrigation.
The only real life from the condition, I discovered, is running. The 20 minutes I ran yesterday, my body was so absorbed by the good pains of running that the bad pains of post nasal drip faded away.
If only I can run 24-7 through the next week until it clears out.
The only real life from the condition, I discovered, is running. The 20 minutes I ran yesterday, my body was so absorbed by the good pains of running that the bad pains of post nasal drip faded away.
If only I can run 24-7 through the next week until it clears out.
paul - 04/16/09 09:59
I totally agree with you. When I used to have the crohn's flare up I found that exercise really made a huge difference. People underestimate how exercising makes you feel good.
I totally agree with you. When I used to have the crohn's flare up I found that exercise really made a huge difference. People underestimate how exercising makes you feel good.
(e:theecarey) makes a good point. I think that is why a lot of places only pay you in 15 minute time periods or also known as a quarter of an Hour. I don't know what is going on there or a good way to explain it but maybe the 5:30 is confusing people it looks like is it AM or PM. The only thing that I can think of is to tell people that there are 60 minutes in an Hour, in any event I wish you luck
I remember my employees being confused by this as well. For billing etc, using this method of keeping track of "time" was essential.
Once they understood that a whole hour = 1.0, a half an hour = .50 and that 15 minutes =.25
(and to have the number written out like that 5.50 vs 5.5). It seemed to sink in easily after a few tries.
Usually anything more or less was rounded off anyways, so there wasn't much issue with determining smaller fractions of those whole numbers.
Good luck :)
As someone who helps companies with such details as setting up timekeeping systems, I find it's much easier to just have workers write what time they got there, what time they left for lunch, what time they got back from lunch and when they left for the day. Do not make people do math - they will fail. My friend Kelly, office manager for a daycare/preschool and a roofing company, will have 1 or 2 in 8 with accurate timesheets if they have to figure out their hours.
Good luck with that!