Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
A new leaf
I am an ass.
Last year, I moved from being a consultant and technology analyst to being the infrastructure manager for a company. I quickly turned into an ass, discounting everyone's opinions as to what could be done to improve processes and increase the stability of the infrastructure. I would give only lip service to listening to their suggestions.
I was very afraid of the economic situation gripping the country and feared losing this good job I had recently found. My fear bred suspicion in every comment heard and the source of every suggestion made. If I lent credence to anyone else's opinion or idea, then my value would be diminished and there would be no reason to keep me. I was so afraid of losing my job that I forgot to do my job.
I have managed to alienate most of the people in my department. When my peer drew me into the conference room and unloaded on me that I was doing a very bad job, that no one liked working with me, whether on my team, other teams, or in the company at large, I refused to take responsibility for what they were telling me. Instead, I blamed them for exaggerating, further fueling my paranoia.
Recently, I realized that I was out of control and instead of launching a scathing eMail back in response to what I felt was an attack on my power and position, I asked someone else to look over the eMail and asked their opinion.
I was fortunate that we were able to sit down with me and talk in a way that broke through. I realized that my paranoia was, indeed, true - and I was to blame for pushing people to that point. They really did not like me, respect me, nor wanted to work with me.
I have begun having conversations with my coworkers; Conversations that begin with my heartfelt apology. I have been an ass and now I know it. I have asked people to let me know if I should slip into my ass suit again.
I like my team and the department. I really like my job and the company. I, sincerely, hope that I have not damaged my relationships with these people beyond reconciliation. I hope to, someday, regain their trust and respect.
I was told recently, "Do the very best job you can, every day."
This is my new mantra.
Last year, I moved from being a consultant and technology analyst to being the infrastructure manager for a company. I quickly turned into an ass, discounting everyone's opinions as to what could be done to improve processes and increase the stability of the infrastructure. I would give only lip service to listening to their suggestions.
I was very afraid of the economic situation gripping the country and feared losing this good job I had recently found. My fear bred suspicion in every comment heard and the source of every suggestion made. If I lent credence to anyone else's opinion or idea, then my value would be diminished and there would be no reason to keep me. I was so afraid of losing my job that I forgot to do my job.
I have managed to alienate most of the people in my department. When my peer drew me into the conference room and unloaded on me that I was doing a very bad job, that no one liked working with me, whether on my team, other teams, or in the company at large, I refused to take responsibility for what they were telling me. Instead, I blamed them for exaggerating, further fueling my paranoia.
Recently, I realized that I was out of control and instead of launching a scathing eMail back in response to what I felt was an attack on my power and position, I asked someone else to look over the eMail and asked their opinion.
I was fortunate that we were able to sit down with me and talk in a way that broke through. I realized that my paranoia was, indeed, true - and I was to blame for pushing people to that point. They really did not like me, respect me, nor wanted to work with me.
I have begun having conversations with my coworkers; Conversations that begin with my heartfelt apology. I have been an ass and now I know it. I have asked people to let me know if I should slip into my ass suit again.
I like my team and the department. I really like my job and the company. I, sincerely, hope that I have not damaged my relationships with these people beyond reconciliation. I hope to, someday, regain their trust and respect.
I was told recently, "Do the very best job you can, every day."
This is my new mantra.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
COLLIDING SATELLITES
Experts are calling it an "unprecedented event." Two large satellites have collided in Earth orbit. Kosmos 2251 crashed into Iridium 33 on Tuesday, Feb. 10th, approximately 800 km over northern Siberia; both were destroyed. The resulting clouds of debris contain more than 500 fragments, significantly increasing the orbital debris population at altitudes where the collision occurred. The Air Force Space Surveillance Radar is monitoring the clouds as they pass over the radar facility in Texas. We, in turn, are monitoring signals from the radar and you may be able to hear debris "pings" by tuning in to our live audio feed. This is a story that will unfold in the days ahead as researchers study the evolution of the debris clouds and piece together the details of the collision.
Check http://spaceweather.com for full coverage.
Check http://spaceweather.com for full coverage.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Taurid Meteor Shower 2008
The annual Taurid meteor shower is underway and
it could be a good show. 2008 is a "swarm year" for the Taurids.
Between Nov. 5th and 12th, Earth is due to pass through an unusually
dense swarm of gritty debris from parent comet 2P/Encke. When a similar
encounter happened in 2005, sky watchers observed a slow drizzle of
midnight fireballs for nearly two weeks. Whether 2008 will be as good
as 2005, however, remains to be seen. In 2005, the swarm encounter was
more central; Earth passed through the middle of the cloud. In 2008,
forecasters believe we are closer to the outskirts. How much this will
affect the shower, no one knows. The best time to look is during the
hours around midnight when the constellation Taurus is high in the sky.
Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos of the ongoing shower.
it could be a good show. 2008 is a "swarm year" for the Taurids.
Between Nov. 5th and 12th, Earth is due to pass through an unusually
dense swarm of gritty debris from parent comet 2P/Encke. When a similar
encounter happened in 2005, sky watchers observed a slow drizzle of
midnight fireballs for nearly two weeks. Whether 2008 will be as good
as 2005, however, remains to be seen. In 2005, the swarm encounter was
more central; Earth passed through the middle of the cloud. In 2008,
forecasters believe we are closer to the outskirts. How much this will
affect the shower, no one knows. The best time to look is during the
hours around midnight when the constellation Taurus is high in the sky.
Visit http://spaceweather.com for sky maps and photos of the ongoing shower.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Orionid Meteor Shower
If you wake up before sunrise on Tuesday, Oct.
21st, set aside 15 minutes or so to watch the sky around Orion. You
might see some meteors. The annual Orionid meteor shower, caused by dusty debris from Halley's Comet, is peaking today and tomorrow.
Little was expected of this year's display because a bright Moon is
hanging in the pre-dawn sky, causing an interfering glare.
Surprisingly, however, sky watchers on Oct. 20th witnessed 15 or more
Orionids per hour, many of them brighter than first magnitude stars.
If this stronger-than-expected display spills into Tuesday, you might
be glad to wake up early.
Check http://spaceweather.com for updates and a sky map.
21st, set aside 15 minutes or so to watch the sky around Orion. You
might see some meteors. The annual Orionid meteor shower, caused by dusty debris from Halley's Comet, is peaking today and tomorrow.
Little was expected of this year's display because a bright Moon is
hanging in the pre-dawn sky, causing an interfering glare.
Surprisingly, however, sky watchers on Oct. 20th witnessed 15 or more
Orionids per hour, many of them brighter than first magnitude stars.
If this stronger-than-expected display spills into Tuesday, you might
be glad to wake up early.
Check http://spaceweather.com for updates and a sky map.
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Save Energy, Save the world (and your computer)
If you’re not going to use your computer for more than 20 minutes, turn off just the monitor. If your computer will stand idle for more than 2 hours, turn both it and the monitor off. Ensuring your computer is powered down, either manually with a power strip or by setting your computer’s power management features, saves money and cuts your greenhouse gas emissions.
How this helps
Powering computers requires a substantial amount of energy. Yet most computers are only used a fraction of the time they are on. Adjusting your computer’s power settings to save energy means the computer and monitor will switch into sleep mode when standing idle. This energy saving change will cut your computer’s electricity use by up to 80 percent and put $25 to $75 in yearly power costs back in your pocket.Read this tip in full at GreenYour.com.
More information
- Energy Star: how to save $25 to $75 annually through power management
- UC Berkeley’s guide to power management in PCs and monitors
Related tips
- Recycle old computers, or donate them to charity
- Use a smart power strip
- Make sure your next computer is an Energy Star computer
Quote of the Week: The Financial Crash
"Confident
men took leave of common sense and bet on the idea of perpetual profit
in the real state market and crashed. But it wasn't their money. It
was your money they were messing with. And that's why we need
government regulators. Gimlet-eyed men with steel-rim glasses and
crepe-soled shoes who check the numbers and have the power to say,
'This is a scam and a hustle and either you cease and desist or you
spend a few years in a minimum-security federal facility playing
backgammon.' "
men took leave of common sense and bet on the idea of perpetual profit
in the real state market and crashed. But it wasn't their money. It
was your money they were messing with. And that's why we need
government regulators. Gimlet-eyed men with steel-rim glasses and
crepe-soled shoes who check the numbers and have the power to say,
'This is a scam and a hustle and either you cease and desist or you
spend a few years in a minimum-security federal facility playing
backgammon.' "
Garrison Keillor, Alternet, October 6, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Sunspot alert
A "new-cycle" sunspot belonging to Solar Cycle 24 is emerging near the
sun's northeastern limb. This is the third time in as many weeks that a
new-cycle sunspot has interrupted the year's remarkable run of blank
suns. The accelerating pace of new-cycle sunspot production is an
encouraging sign that, while solar activity remains very low, the
sunspot cycle is unfolding more or less normally. We are not stuck in
a permanent solar minimum. Readers with solar telescopes should train
them on the sun this weekend to observe sunspot genesis in action.
Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
sun's northeastern limb. This is the third time in as many weeks that a
new-cycle sunspot has interrupted the year's remarkable run of blank
suns. The accelerating pace of new-cycle sunspot production is an
encouraging sign that, while solar activity remains very low, the
sunspot cycle is unfolding more or less normally. We are not stuck in
a permanent solar minimum. Readers with solar telescopes should train
them on the sun this weekend to observe sunspot genesis in action.
Visit http://spaceweather.com for images and updates.
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