mobility required

Ever since I first saw "packed file corrupt" on my Dad's 386 MS-DOS machine (used for his business) I've had a strange relationship with computers and software. And now, some 20 years later, it feels like that continues to resonate with my struggle with these (this?) technological time burglars: broken monitors, sketchy disc burners, failing hard-disks, "out of memory", and numerous minutes spent "...loading"


Oh to be a Luddite.

blurb about Bank of America ATM deposits

You don't even need an envelop to deposit into a Bank of America ATM. I just used this today and it was simple as possible. You login, feed your check into the deposit slot, the machine grabs it, scans it, asks you to verify the amount (it reads the check. Hit a button or two, get a receipt with a scan of your deposits on it, and your gone. I'm probably never going into the bank again for any normal teller services. (They used to be frequently out of envelopes) Nice innovation. I don't know who came up with that, but thanks.

money and mouths

With all the recent blibbing and blabbing on financial news media I find something interesting: How far can you really stand behind what you say? You could think of it like a derivative from calculus, using "why" as the differentiator. From that analogy I suppose the integral would be the thoughts you say. I mean I'm always hearing about how "this will do that, and if this then the end of the world." Much of the time it's to one extreme or another. When I argue with someone (as I often do) I find myself answering why after why after why question until it ends up that I don't know after a while. A lot of the time when I give the why I'll get some damn illogical reference to some fringe "study" or "evidence". Frustrating, but I guess that's why successful people are those who can cut through bullshit like that. But even successful people don't know everything...

Socialism for the Rich

Though it may actually be a good thing, it should still be noted that the nationalisation of Fannie and Freddie means all the higher-ups of those companies are going to get off with all the money they line out to themselves via salaries and bonuses and now handing the bill to the Fed. Nice...whatever.

This country has two economic platforms: Capitalism & Corruption (read: socialism for the rich) Bailouts at the top of society and the bottom. Though I'm sure the bottom still sucks. Female, poor, and need sympathy...just get pregnant; need some paid time off...just get fired and go get your check; old and out of shape?...ah whatever...

Work: Something you do?

Wah? Work is, of course and by very definition, something you do. However, for me and may others it's also, maybe even more so given my low-ass-class stature, a place you go...go everyday...5,6,12 or more days a week. (trust me, there are no 7 day work weeks. There's just 6, then it's at least a 12 day week.) Though I'm not inclined to work in their industry, Best Buy has implemented a plan to help some of it's employees remember that work is only worth it if you get things done. Their plan is called ROWE, Results-Only Work Environment, and is being used by about 3,000 workers at the company’s main offices in Richfield, Minn. It was tested at two divisions of Best Buy in 2003 and then spread to other units. There's no work schedules, but you'd better get things done.

Individual team managers have developed goals for each worker that are intended to serve as the sole basis for deciding whether that employee is delivering the necessary results. About 80% of Best Buy’s headquarters staff have switched to ROWE.
ROWE’s developers say a main goal is to get managers to abandon the widespread but misguided notion that “Time + Physical Presence = Results.”

I don't know, I bet there's heavy politics involved. Though, absolutely right on the concept.