(no subject)

May 21, 2008 22:32

I attended a 3-hour class sponsored by a bunch of federal and state agencies on the finer points of duck analysis. Duck analysis requires that you identify all the ducks, past, present and reasonably foreseeable future ones, and figure out the totals. Yeah, ok, but do you honestly have to go back as far as pre-European occupation? Or even as far as the industrial revolution? or perhaps as far as the big American railroad land grab? Seriously, these people are overzealous (ie nuts). The present is what it is. Now the future, you can do something with. It's not too late to change things, but the past? It's over and you can't go back. Sure, you CAN do some research and recreate the setting of Washington state in 1600, but why would you want to? My advice is, save your money and time and start with today.

Then I presented a topic on an esoteric subset of the duck assessment, focusing on the future. Not too bad, but my graphics sucked. But at least it's over. Damocles and his sword had nothing on me and this presentation. and TG I won't have to deal with this again......at least that's the hope.

Then a call from my distractable and fuzzy client, with comments on the OMG footnotes: "please change them so they're not in italics. It looks like we're trying to hide something." And and and similar tedious and meaningless corrections. And she needs to have the thing by noon tomorrow, but fortunately my PA is available to take care of it for me.

Head of IT came into my office and said he can't do what I need, it'd be too expensive if it's even possible. I swear these people go to the same school that medical insurance clerks do, where they are all taught how to say NO is 10 different ways. WTF, why can't they show some interest and enthusiasm about solving a problem instead of saying it can't be done? Where is America's sense of innovation and entrepreneurial spirit? Not here!

Finally a long call with the author of the report I've just QC'd where he explained at excruciating length why he did not respond to this that or the other of my comment gems. What part of "required by regulations" does he not understand?

I felt like banging my head against the desk. Can I not work with people who can grasp the topic quickly? It all seems so plodding, today. Must find the joy, tomorrow.
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