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A good idea gone bad. Happens often these days it seems. One of the big (little) things wrong with my job - the idiot box. A little box i wear on my belt that micromanages my work life. I call it idiot box for several reasons. It’s pretty stupid. The software for managing my work life is slow, buggy and depends on a cell phone network. When i work somewhere the phone network doesn’t reach, the box uses it’s battery power searching and searching and searching, so later when you need it, its dead . . . . idiot.

Now the idea of using a digital device to record work, to eliminate paper - a good one. And the information being digital, instantly recored, searchable - even better. All very good ideas, good uses of technology. But even though the box started with good ideas, ideas that could save or even make money, i believe the opposite has happened. In order to record our work we need to use a stylus on a virtual keyboard - tap, tap, , tap, oops, undo, tap, tap - REALLY efficient. What used to take 5-10 minutes with pen and paper, now takes 20-30 minutes. Multiply that by a few thousand technicians all over the country - how’s that for manpower wasted? P.S. - they are handsomely paid folks. Expensive time to waste. Highly skilled people, that don’t need an idiot to tell them how to do their job.

Oh wait - it gets better. The stuff we generate often needs to be corrected by someone else. That’s right - due to glitches, stress, typos, whatever, the info needs to be redone to a certain extent by someone later on their desktop pc. Hey, why don’t we have that person do all the typing and save the other time - oh wait, that would be common sense. Can’t do that.

But wait, there’s more! We get measured on how we use the I.B. Someone in upper management is so concerned that we stay micro managed, that they have tools to manage the management. Then they ride heard on the supervision to ride heard on us. I wouldn’t be silly to point out the even higher paid waste of time with that, would i?

Now the basic instructions in the box have been around for years. Our company has had an ongoing dream of having the instructions to take care of stuff recorded, so it’s always done right. Another good idea. One that has never fully been done. They don’t want to spend the time to make it right. Through four or five different software packages, incomplete and mis-applied information has been ported forward again, and again. At one time a few years ago it seemed like they were going to get it all the way up to ok. A friend of mine was responsible for some of the data, and found a way to add custom stuff. That way you can make what you wanted, then apply it and have good information. Oh wait, stop! That time spent does not generate REVENUE. Yeah i know, without making money, you can’t stay in business, blah blah blah. But look - We have lots of good ideas, and little follow through. Why waste any of our effort, our time, money, energy if it never gets finished.

Instead we spend a fortune on hardware, to put the poor instructions into an idiot box, then force good people to waste precious time, and yell at them to keep on using it or else.

Great for morale as well.

No wonder i’m looking for another job - this corporation may go bankrupt with management like this in charge.

I went back to work today. Just took 4 days off - last Thurs & Fri (Wed 7/4 Holiday!) and Mon & Tue. So lets see, that’s 7 days off in a row. So today was the first work day for me. After 7 off. back to work oh boy. As a bonus i had a really long day.
Enough whining.

Did i tell you i got paid for 2 long scenic drives? Through the lush green countryside. Just beautiful. Yesterday i went on a job interview. Could be promising. Today i told some of the people i work with that i interviewed yesterday. That was almost as much fun as the interview. What a joyous day it will be when i have landed another job and give my notice. But bittersweet. I have worked there a long time and it really aggravates me that things have gotten bad enough to quit.

OK, lets try for some laughs . . . . . Ok at least a pleasant thought: Green is good. I don’t mean ecology (well yes but not like that). I mean red leaves are good in the fall, before they fall, but green is a great color for most of the year. Pleasant, soothing. Combine it with a good blue sky - wow! Peace for your eyes, for your heart and soul.

Take time to look at green a few times a day. Just stare at it and clear your mind. If possible touch the cool grass. Yes, green is good.

A vacation day.  A good thing.  But the corporation has it’s hooks in me.  Even on my day off i had to spend some time doing their work.  This shouldn’t be.  Part of the reason i’m looking elsewhere.

My search is going, well, i’m not sure how.  It’s difficult to say.  Great jobs aren’t exactly hanging off trees.  Then again, there are some out there that sound like they could be ok or better.

I don’t want to take too much of a pay cut, just to find myself worse off than i am now.  The old “Out of the frying pan and into the fire” scenario.  So i proceed slowly, letting some people i trust keep their eyes open as well.

Humor.  Lets make some.  After all, this is a day off.

Why do elephants paint their toenails all different colors?  So they can hide in the M&Ms.  Have you ever seen an elephant in the M&Ms?  No? Pretty effective eh?

Sorry about that, i was forced to come up with something quick.

Had a great day yesterday.  Outdoor gathering at a friends, with all the traditional summer stuff.  Hope your weekend was good too.

Rain and Thunder.  This morning we had a thunderstorm in the early morning.  Rather unusual.  We will likely have more this afternoon.

Due to lack of funny stuff, i will close rather than continue to bore you.  Bye for now.

July 4th.  Hope you have a great one.  Especially i hope you reflect on what a gift we have to live in the US.  No it’s not a perfect place.  No the government isn’t perfect.  The people aren’t perfect either.

So what’s the big deal?  Well you should check out your news broadcasts, your Nat Geo programs.  If you have ever traveled  elsewhere, especially to places where food and shelter are a big deal - you will immediately have a better appreciation of your homeland.

What about Europe?  Well sure that’s fine.  But many places tax their people heavily, maybe 50%.  And yes i know they provide paid health care etc.

But my point:  read the title of this post  -  did you see Braveheart?  What did Wallace consider worth dying for?  FREEDOM!

We here are free to choose how to live.  Where to live.  What to do.  Unfortunately  once we have spent roughly one generation here, we get so used to what we have, appreciation is gone along with the ambition to take advantage of the precious freedom (bought with blood) that is our gift.

Are we all equal here?  In privilege no.  In freedom YES.  In ambition no.  In attitude no.  But you are in charge of those items.  You have been provided with freedom, so Use It.  If you think you deserve more, get up and make it so.

It may well take years of hard work to get there.  What way do you have to better spend your time?  Whining? Personally that is one of my favorites.  However i am here to go on record that it will do me little good to whine, unless there is some action attached.  Look here

I have the freedom to change my attitude, and my actions, and so change my circumstance.

YOU DO TOO.

Glory, Glory Hallelujah!

Freedom, it’s what the US of A is all about.  Celebrate! Then  get off your couch potato butt and make something happen.