Monday, September 6, 2010
TPS Reports
When I was offered my first teaching position I had to leave behind a company, job, and most importantly an awesome boss in a technology company. This was no ordinary VP. He was very hands off with management. As long as he knew you were doing your job, well, he gave you your space to do the work. I loved this boss. On the day I had to tell him I was offered a position teaching (a degree that was underutilized for 2 years) he was of course upset yet very happy for me as well.
During the course of our half hour meeting we chatted about work and making sure all bases were covered. He was a very big fan of "Office Space". We would often quote lines from the movie. The topic rested on "Office Space" and TPS reports. I jokingly told him he should send out a memo about TPS reports. He then showed me a pdf of a TPS report on his pc. He modified it to reflect the company name then wrote a very business-like e-mail to the entire department stating that effective the following week TPS reports would be mandatory for all work submitted.
I haven't laughed so hard with a boss. I sure miss that job, boss and company.
Your turn: Describe your most humorous experience with a boss.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Did they fight, or like fight fight?
I took my son's aunt to a university class with me years ago. She was all of 15 and excited to sit in a university classroom and listen to a lecture. The class was an east Asian history course. As the professor did an excellent job of explaining the clashes of the Mongols and Chinese this young lady in my class raised her hand and asked, "Did they fight or like fight fight?" The professor, slightly taken off guard by the question had to pause for a moment before answering, "They fought" and continued the lecture.
I have been writing about language and lack of usage. This was an example I would use in my own classroom. My son's aunt was a little shocked at the level of questioning. I was embarrassed that she had to see that. I only hope for the girl in the class, her language improved. This reminded me so much of the Bill Hicks monologue about his adventures in a Waffle House. Where the waitress asked him "What are you reading for?" Now what are you reading, but what are you reading for? Bill's response, "So I don't end up as a waitress in a Waffle House."
Your turn, what have you heard someone say that makes you go, "Did I just hear that?"
Saturday, September 4, 2010
Quote of the day: 9/04/2010
"Everybody wants to be a cat. Because a cats the only Cat who knows where it's at."-The Aristcats
Ya wanna sack fur it?
"Ya wanna sack fur it?"-Being from Chicago I had no idea what this Bagger was talking about. A sack is:
"a large bag of strong, coarsely woven material, as for grain, potatoes, or coal". (per dictionary.com)
Where as a bag is:
"a container or receptacle of leather, plastic, cloth, paper, etc., capable of being closed at the mouth; pouch." (Also courtesy of dictionary.com)
I had to ask repeatedly what the person bagging my purchase said because I honestly had no clue. This is an Oklahoma expression I believe. What ran through my head as I left was, Are they called sackers? Is that an official job title? If so, wouldn't they be confused with people who fire other people?
What is a unique term you have heard in travels?
Friday, September 3, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
What words set your teeth to chattering? Where has our language gone?
I know that language is always evolving. New words are created. Old words seem to fade away. Maybe it is because I am getting older but sometimes hearing the misuse of a word can really irritate me. The one phrase that use to drive me crazy when I taught was "You is a lame". I would make my teeth chatter. I found myself correcting the word use of a slang term. "It's, you ARE lame." I wonder if it looked as silly to someone watching as it did while played out in my head.
Your turn. What words set your teeth to chattering?
Your turn. What words set your teeth to chattering?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger". It is not a good idea to say that when......
Happy September All!
"That which does not kill us makes us stronger"-I know most of us have heard this expression at one time or another. It is often said to someone who is either going through something traumatic or has just ended something traumatic. Though the expression can be true most of the time there are times when you should never say this. It will only leave the person it is said to irritated, angry, or confused.
When not to say it
Example: When your fiance of 3 years is breaking up with you. Following it up with the quote from a few posts earlier "It is better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all." Talk about sending someone over the edge.
Your turn:
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