Kitchen Sink

Nerves of noodle

Nothing new here today. I’m going to self examine again. There’s a guy I work with that I disagree with all the time. We talk politics, sports… all kinds of stuff that normal people discuss, and argue. The thing is, talking to him is safe. We’re friends, and I know that whatever I say we’ll still be friends. I can toss out irreverent cracks and he can return service…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

My frustration, presented in vague context

Just so you know, I’m kind of grumpy today. Imagine this exchange (fill in the variables with whatever relatively simple task suits you): “Excuse me, could you tell me how to do X? It doesn’t come up often here, and I don’t know how.” “I don’t see how it’s my problem. And by the way, what you’ve got is clearly Z.” “I’m sorry…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

I seem to have misplaced my sympathy

washingtonpost.com: Employers would get more authority to check on the reasons workers give for excused absences, under proposed changes to the U.S. family and medical leave regulations, a rule-tightening sure to trigger a political firestorm… One major change would allow employers to contact health-care providers who authorize the leave, access they don’t have now… Some…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

Error in judgement (updated below)

The new headache script is a caffeine/acetaminophen/barbiturate cocktail. While it’s not perfect, it seems to round off the sharp edges. However, knowing it’s got caffeine in it, and having taken one this morning (when I woke up with the warning signs of a long day), I’m beginning to wonder if it was wise to drink coffee too. Can you say: “Up-up and away?” I…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

Report claims 16.4% of all Xbox 360 consoles will fail

I’m not a big gamer, but I’m also not a big fan of Microsoft (which I think is akin to being a Yankees fan, or rooting for the wolf in fairy tales… “Hasta la vista RED… Muah ha haa!”) However, even I was a bit surprised by this article from Macworld: A new report from independent warranty provider SquareTrade has found that the failure rate of an Xbox 360 is not…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

Classic Onion

This one stands on it’s own (and does it admirably). The Onion – 1/17/2001: WASHINGTON, DC–Mere days from assuming the presidency and closing the door on eight years of Bill Clinton, president-elect George W. Bush assured the nation in a televised address Tuesday that “our long national nightmare of peace and prosperity is finally over.” “My fellow…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

Surely they don't mean it

“I’d rather burn in hell than pay her any money.” A guy said that to me the other day. It’s nothing new. People say it all the time. It doesn’t come from all the folks we deal with; not even a majority of them. Still, despite our lofty goals, the harsh truth of my job is that you can’t always turn bad people into good people. There are some folks who seem to be…
Read more
Kitchen Sink

The Liar's Diary

The Liar’s Diary is a book by Patry Francis, a New England author with cancer. In her case the disease has been particularly cruel; it threw her a curve at a time when most authors are out promoting their book – right now. Since she can’t get out to promote the book on her own, one of her friends organized a group of bloggers to do it for her. And so far it’s apparently…
Read more