As I am sitting here happily musing over my weekend and supercon, I suddenly came back to a conversation where I was talking about job hunting, and how I had a friend who could get me a job but the location wasn't in the Twin Cities. The person I was talking to said "So it's still in Iowa?" My response was "Nope, Stillwater, Oklahoma." They responded "Oh, that's not so good." and gave me that look like who would want to live there. Fact, Oklahoma isn't populated wholly by hicks and backwards homophobes and Southern Baptists, no more than Minnesota is populated wholly by characters from Grumpy Old Men.

I am now wondering what led them to that conclusion that living in Minnesota is significantly better than living in Oklahoma, sure it is further from most of my new friends, but closer to many old ones. Toad doesn't want to go to Oklahoma, but if I said I was going she would come along. I also got that look like how could you want to live in such a repressive backwater culture. Well lets see, in the Cities, I can be more open about my sexual preference, but I can't talk about my politics, or most of my hobbies, aside of fannish activities, nobody there shares any of my other hobbies. As a matter of fact many of the people there are vehemently anti-gun, and almost as vehemently liberal. I am not. I listen to country music about half the time. I shoot. I own guns, several as a matter of fact. I like shooting I find it very soothing, sort of like meditation. But because it includes "nasty evil items" a.k.a. guns people look at me like I have grown horns. I have to sit quietly by and let people I know and like patter on stupidly about how evil guns are and how more gun laws would make the world better. If I voice an opnion I get the look, and the you are just parroting the NRA experience. Because while they can parrot whatever liberal crap they want, I am not allowed to form an opinion that happens to run at least in parts parallel with the NRA.

I am not sorry I grew up in a place where you say Sir and Ma'am, and that good manners make the differences of opinion tolerable. Tolerance isn't a part of my upbringing, at least not in the liberal sense of the word, but good manners, and allowing for everyone to have an opinion are. I am less likely to convince my friends to change their feelings on guns, than they are to change mine. Therefore I don't even try. But if I get up and walk out of a conversation with you someday, figure that you have gone too far left for me, and I am not going to try and argue you to my side.

I won't stop saying Sir, and Ma'am just because people tease me. Actually I am more likely to say it if I am more relaxed and crafting my sentences less carefully. I am also more likely to clip syllables off the ends of my words, and drawl a bit. I can't help it. That is the way I sound in my head. It is the way I have always sounded...but people here don't want to cope, they give me crap. They harbor suspicions that I am totally submissive and incapable of leadership. This isn't the case. I was just raised to believe that good manners are the grease that lets the gears of society work. I am sorry that confuses so many people. I am stronger and more twisted than many people will ever know. If you really want to find out, take on somebody I feel compelled to defend, you will see a whole different side of me. One that I have been conditioned to leave at home in a closet where it can't offend anyone.

Would I rather live in Minnesota than Oklahoma? well to me personally it is about the same, the weather is better in the south, I know more people in the north. I have to be quiet about my sexual preferences in the south, I have to be quiet about everything else in the north. Actually so long as I am not trying to date I don't see why living south isn't better. Will I move there? Probably not simply based on the fact that Toad wants to go north.

Well I am back from SuperCon, it was a lovely weekend. A bit weird, first convention I have attended without Toad, not that I particularly noticed except no one was nagging me to eat, I did eat incedentally. I spent part of Friday afternoon helping Don set up consuite, and hang his video screen. I loafed a lot, talked to some cool people, basically it was one each average convention, except I spent far less time working. I also came to a conclusion while talking to Betsy, that I bitch about my job too much. I am going to try and make 3 days without bitching about it. We shall see if I succeed. I have made it through 1, but was home alone all day yesterday so that wasn't too hard. I think it might be time to start looking at contracting agencies and headhunters. But I am recitent to move and buy a new house on a contract job that I might not be able to replace, when the time runs out. We shall see. Basically I had a near perfect weekend. Thanks to all the fine people involved in running supercon, like Betsy, Ish, Don, Becca, Greg, Charles and some other folks I am sure I am forgetting.

I talked to some old friends, met some new people. I am still left wondering if people talk to me because they feel sorry for me or not, and if they really like me or just put up with me because I keep showing up and haven't done anything stupid enough to get myself banned, or blacklisted. Oddly I hardly talked to some folks I usually spend lots of time with at all. Worked on three or four puzzles with various people, including Andy, who I had no idea could be so much fun. I normally see him when he is totally stressed, so I normally think of him that way. He is a hoot.

I have a friend who might just be the most considerate person on earth. This morning I mentioned via IM that I had a headache, this afternoon she remembered this detail and asked if it was better. Nope sure enough it wasn't, but that is more or less beside the point. I see her once maybe twice a year, I live in Iowa, she in North Carolina. But we have a gaming group that meets online. Today she decides since I feel like dog doo that I should cancel and rest so that I get better and don't get sick again. Not only does she do this nice thing for me (I am the DM so I have to be there) but she then agrees to be online at the appropriate time to make my excuses for me to the rest of the group. WOW. That is really swell. In a world where almost nobody thinks about anybody else excepting how the other person makes their life worse consideration like hers stands out even further.

Somebody just walked into my closet and said "If its ok with you you can just take my computer home."
I looked up and went "uh---why?"
"Well Sean looked at it and he can't make it work and he said maybe you could."
"What isn't it doing" I asked getting myself into more trouble since this of course means that not only am I going to take the computer I am going to fix it.
"it doesn't see any of the ports or something I got a 680 error"
"oh"
"And it won't dial and my neighbor gave us a new modem that we plugged in the other side and that still didn't work, it says no carrier or dial tone sometimes but I know that is wrong cause I took it into my kitchen and put it on the counter and took the phone off the wall and pluged it in there."

This continues in this vein until I discover that we are talking about an older toshiba laptop (the first clue it was a laptop was that she plugged a modem in the other side) ARRGHH
I didn't even get asked if I would fix it, just told that I COULD did you notice, like I am honored to be working on this project, oh please let me!

She goes off returns with my time sheet, and the laptop. UGH. This feeling right now is why I NEVER ask doctors about things unless I am seeing them professionally.

I understand that not everyone is computer literate. Heck even my own mother, who is very bright is terrified of the things, and has never found a good enough reason to want to learn much about them. She can however boot the computer, write a document in a word processor, print it, save it. Basic skills. She learned exactly as much as she needed to, so she could get her college degree, something she wanted. Swell. Now she has a laptop, a very nice one, and is learning to use it to control her embroidery machine, she finally found something she wanted to do with a computer, so she is learning. Good for her.

What I can't understand is why the place I work hires people who are wholly computer illiterate. When there are other choices. Why would you hire someone who can't use his computer to write CBT (computer based training). Granted it isn't like he has to actually code the web pages, or make the images for them. But if you can't use a computer comfortably how in the heck are you supposed to use it as a tool to train others? If you can't figure out how to use Instant Messenger, when you have been shown 3 times, and you don't even know what a window is called, you can't talk about what you see on your screen, and you don't listen to people who are trying to explain it for the 300th time, what are your chances of success?

We hire the computer illiterate all the time her, sad but true, usually retired Army folks, who have allegedly been using a computer in their jobs for decades, but not really doing it, instead some sub functionary is doing it. Many of these retired gents pick stuff up pretty quickly, they are not so bad, sure they don't know how to boot a computer, they have no idea what to do if something goes wrong. However once the computer is on they can read their emails, and run their word processor without significant troubles, and they learn. When I come look at something and go "Oh, ok...once you get one of these sorts of errors where it says "General Protection Fault" you have to reboot or you will just keep getting them all day long." They learn to reboot, and if the error happens again then call me over, they learn how to print, how to map network drives, how to be more or less self-sufficient. Others can't find their asses with both hands tied behind their backs, or print a document without sending it 11 times, and leaving the 10 extra copies laying on the printer.

What makes me the most angry though is that they don't appear to be good writers or trainers. I could overlook technological incompetence, and get them to the functional level where they can work, if they could communicate. I could do this if they could understand. I have tried changing vocabulary, I have tried using less technical language, more technical language, speaking more slowly, drawing pictures, moving them out of the chair and showing them, refusing to show them instead talking them through every mouse click, showing them how to find the help text that explains the process so they can read it. Some of them just don't seem to communicate or learn through any known methods. I can't imagine what their writing must be like. They are essentially technical writers in this job. Take this fat manual make it into fun or at least interactive web based training. This requires that they Read, Understand, and be able to Make Others Understand. I fear for this company. One cannot hire based solely on old friendships and owed debts. You end up with employees who can't do their jobs, and no way to fire them. So now they make a lot of money, they acomplish nothing and drag back the productive members of their teams by asking questions over and over.

Don't get me wrong. I don't dislike all these retrired Army guys, they aren't all worthless unlearning slugs. My favorite bar none came in knowing next to nothing, had never really had to use a computer before, he could run a mouse, open and close applications, but that was about it. What he did have was an interest in learning. He did ask the same question more than once, but on the second occasion he always had a notecard and a pencil in hand. He still has a big stack of note cards in his desk and when he gets to a problem he has seen before he tries what is on the card first. Sometimes it doesn't work (like when we changed the network printers to using JetDirect, and he had instructions from when they were shared off the server) but usually it does. I think he is the greatest guy on earth. He still doesn't understand when I tell him some ofthe things he writes aren't sentances, because they don't have verbs, but he always trusts me when I restructure them for him, and he never askes me the same question needlessly.

The Google Effect This is an interesting idea, that the developent of good search engines is reducing the need for easily guessed domain names. I had noticed myself searching for companies on google more than just typing in names. Mind you I type in the ones I know.. but when I don't I always go to google. I started using google as my primary search engine about the same time Yahoo started putting ads on its search results pages (two years or more ago). I was a google fan long before google was cool, back when it was still a little project. I liked the clean results pages, I still do. I like the low graphics nature of the site, it loads fast. I like that the ads which didn't used to be there are there (which I liked better, but good things don't come free) are clearly marked as such. I even click on them when they are applicable.

Good search engines will save the web, I once stated that the web would be like CB radio of the 90's. It would flurish, be popular for a while and then die because it wasn't really useful. Good search engines make that untrue. I am always on the lookout for a good new search engine. I want fast, uncluttered results with no annoying "features." Now that yahoo's search engine is backed by google the results are as good there, but the interface isn't as fast. I am not a slave to google though, if I find a better search engine I will drop it as fast as I dropped alta vista when its results went to crap. Competition rules in this arena. Search engines are the unregulated utility of the internet. But unlike utilities in the physical world it is easy to switch, you aren't bound by civic contracts, or infrastructure problems.

OK.. I don't think I really like this template all that well..but it does work.. and it isn't that bad... I think I might mess with the colors and such a bit more.. see if I can make it look some better...anyhow I think we can get back to our irregularly scheduled ranting. Not that anybody is reading along anyhow.

I just had a user come in here and tell me that when he clicked on his mouse there was a distinct metalic click sound coming from his computer. It goes away when he turns his speakers off. DUH!?!?!? What next.. you notice your windows sounds? What the heck is this? Same guy who asked me how long it took for mail to get into his sent items folder after he sent it. WHO HIRES THESE IDIOTS? I think a basic computer literacy test should be required before you can get hired to write computer based training.

messed up my template.. had to start from scratch.. stilll working out the details on this one. I think I might like it better though.

the new iMac is it sexy or is it a desk lamp?

I don't know how many of you folks know this, but I drive a diesel. Yep that cute little white Jetta of mine is really an oil-burning monster! Well not monster...but it does burn diesel not gasoline. What does this have to do with the price of tea in China? You ask... Nothing.

However I get 48MPG average over the last 25000 miles. So I guess the 650 miles between fill-ups and cheap fuel prices should make me ecstatic. And they do! I love it. I love everything about my little car except its colors I would prefer blue with a tan interior, but when buying a car in February in a big rush you don't get so many choices. I do have one gripe. It isn't about the car exactly. It is about buying fuel for my car.

First the facts:
• not all gas stations have diesel
• not all stations that have diesel sell much leading to several issues
• the fuel might not be fresh, important when changing from summer to winter fuel
• the pumps are often neglected
• the places that sell the most diesel are truck stops
• Semis and other large trucks have MUCH bigger fuel tanks than does my Jetta (300gal vs. 14gal)
• the fuel filler neck on a VW Jetta will take a high flow fuel nozzle
• the price of diesel is less volatile than the price of gasoline

What does all this mean, well I have to be a bit more careful when getting close to the bottom of a tank that there is a station where I can buy fuel, not a big deal when you can go 650miles on a single tank easy. But it does require a bit of planning and fussing about in strange towns. This is made worse by the strange desire not to get stagnant fuel, the solution is to fill up at a truck stop before entering the aforementioned strange city/town because if I go 650 miles in a strange city or town it won't be so strange anymore and odds are I can now find fuel.

I know why there is only one diesel pump at most stations that have it, it requires duplication of equipment because unlike the 3 grades of gas diesel can't be run through the same lines with them. But why is it the dork with 5 kids in her minivan or the asshole flirting with the desk clerk inside, always park at the one pump with diesel, it takes them FOREVER to get in and out of the gas station, meanwhile I am sitting there waiting, while there are empty gasoline pump stands on both sides of me... sometimes all the way down, the only one occupied is the one I need. So if you are going to flirt with the fuel desk girl, park in a space, or use the pump stand that doesn't have diesel, PLEASE?

Truck stops are an adventure, not all of them have diesel available up in the car area. This means heading back into big truck land.. now I am not easily intimidated but driving a 3000lb car in an area filled with semis is a bit intimidating, worse is getting in line with them while they fuel, with a high flow pump or two even it still takes them a LONG time to fill up. When presented with this option and the option of driving on I usually drive on. The other problem with using the truck pumps is because they are very high flow (for those who haven't seen them the diameter of the nozzle is probably between 2x and 2.5x the size of the one you are used to) it is easy to make a mess, and truck drivers don't much care if they spill a quart or three of fuel, which means the ground is wet, and stinky the pumps are covered in slowly drying fuel oil and black and grimy. Not too pleasant. Oh and filling a little tank with one of these buggers is a hoot because you have to run it really slow or your tank won't vent and the pump keeps shutting off thinking the tank is full, once you get the angle perfect if you really open that pump up you are done so fast fuel sprays back out at a distance of 2 feet or so.. if you are poorly positioned you could get soaked (I have missed this experience thus far). Fuel runs all down the side of your car too.. not real pretty.

My big gripe though has to do with smaller stations, not truck stops. At a truck stop I realize that I am in their environment, they are out to fuel big things and that's what you get. But what is wrong with the rest of the stations on earth? Why are diesel drivers second class citizens? Look around some time...see the grungy pump sitting over near the air compressor? It looks like a 1970s reject, no roof over it, no pay at the pump option? that is probably the diesel pump, or possibly K-1 the only less fortunate fuel buyers on earth. Why can't diesel pumps be under cover with the rest of them? Why can't we have pay at the pump? Why are they always nasty and grimy? Well actually they aren't always there is this lovely BP/Amoco Swift Stop in Ames, where I get all these things, and a decent enough turnover of fuel too because the UPS and FedEx trucks fill there. Even there at my haven of fueling I look at the gasoline pump handle right next to the diesel one, it is clean and freshly wiped and nice... the diesel one looks like it was dipped in used motor oil, then oil dry then left to spread its grimy oiliness to the customer. Do the instructions for employees read "Clean Gasoline Pumps" and they take it literally. I know the stuff is pervasive and sticky and all but it can't be that hard to clean. I wouldn't come in and get the gas station sink all nasty and dirty if my hands didn't get that way from their pumps.

Flying J has a truck stop in Des Moines, it is sort of a hybrid situation, they have good fuel, good turnover, a twisted sort of pay at the pump (not as convenient as at their gasoline island) and they have an RV/Diesel/Propane Island away from the Truck pumps and from the gasoline pumps. The problem it isn't under cover, now when it is warm and dry this doesn't matter so much, but in a pouring rain, or sleet or snow I don't really dig standing out in the elements to fill my tank. Their pump handle is always clean though.. so I know it must be possible to get all of the elements of a nominal filling experience in one place but nobody has done it yet. I am not looking for the ultimate fueling experience, just the same nominal forgettable adventureless filling experience I had when I drove a gasoline powered vehicle.