A schizoid personality

A word on one of my « coworkers ». He is the database administrator at work, in fact the best damn DBA I had the pleasure to work with. He is self taught in this field, changed career several times.

He is also pretty handy with systems (Windows / Linux) not just Databases, does some neat programming too. Hard worker, reliable, efficient, dependable. On a personal side, he is married, traveled quite a bit in Australia, has four and half daughters (two + twins + a newly discovered pre marriage older one…) Two years ago he decided to shape it up a bit, and he is now a marathon man (already 3 marathons done). Redid pretty much everything in his house, got a few websites, etc…

Yes, I like him. He is an “individual”, which be my standards is a pretty high status already. He has also earned my respect both professionally and personally, which is pretty much the top of my pyramid before sleeping with me…

Last year, he came in my office (good times, no shared office then, I was acting director while my boss was working for the ministry of education for a year) and told me he was just diagnosed a mild bipolar with Tourette traits. Of course I already knew he was an unusual guy, this, just like for me, was just putting a label, a name, on his personality.

Bipolars do have some pretty definite med treatments, which he adapted to very well, keeping the strengths while shoving away the bad sides of bipolar (harsh decisions, destructive behaviors and such…). It’s normal, I do believe there is little he could not achieve, he’s “the man” after all (private joke).

See, another proof than extraordinary individuals can’t be “normal” peoples, by definition. Sure he is on the extrovert scale, sure I won’t discuss Kafka or geopolitics with him, sure I won’t hit bars with him either, but none the less, he is one of those that are standing out of the mass (in a good way, not in a mass-murderer clown politician kind of way [not targeting anyone in particular here]).

And if I deal with a particularly hard project with impossible goals and tight schedule, guess who I’ll turn towards to? I’ll choose an extrovert friend over any sheep, anytime!

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Oh, I never told you, but I work for a CATHOLIC school board, see how open minded I can be? Plus I can use the occasional fun of it like today:

We are pretty much a full DELL Computers shop here (servers and workstations, over 2500 PCs). But during the last tender, voices have raised that Dell manufactures in the US, and we should look at local economy, like HP (they built Canadian computers in Canada). Personally I can’t care less I know perfectly Chinese children  are building both brands, HP just put them in their box in Canada, and Dell “assemble” the Chinese peaces in Texas, whatever… Today the following email arrives in my mailbox, reminder of the HP / Dell war in our ranks:

“Subject: DELL does not support the Canadian economy…

Very bad news from Dell

The Dell multinational corporation deceived a lot of people last week while canceling a hiring project of 1 200 to 1 300 workers at Kanata, near Ottawa.

The PC manufacturer decided it will not occupy the space added to its capital’s centre, a project announced during autumn 2006.

Dell also announced the suppression of jobs in its actual staff, on top of closing its Edmonton’s call center in Alberta, which will lead to a total of 900 jobs lost. Last year, Dell was announcing its intention to reduce its total work force by 10%.”

Never mind all this is tie to global reducing (the 10% are worldwide, and 900 jobs is just the Canadian’s part of it). I could not resist by answering:

“Sure, but they help develop India and Sri-Lanka’s economy by moving their call centers there. Isn’t it the values of the Board to push towards equity? Canada is a very rich country compared to those two, sharing your wealth with the poor, isn’t it what you are all about? Don’t you want to help those poor people?”

Got an answer:

“Not sure I’d like to see my 4 years old daughter building Dell computers though.”

Which I answered back:

“It’s better than dying from hunger… But the PCs are assembled in Texas anyway, it’s more the call centers that are moved in India and Sri-Lanka. The parts though are manufactured in China where 8 years olds can legally work. Does not stop us from organizing the JO there to satisfy our occidental sports ego…”

Can’t just pick your values guys, I’ve read your book, does not state anywhere “One shall focus on own economy and wealth, and discard the rest of the world in the process”.
Me I don’t care, we are overpopulated, and I prefer the South side to die rather than the side I live in, but at least I am not ashamed or hiding behind false values, I can assume mine openly…

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(Names have been changed to protect the stupidity of people)

Context: We have installed an “Adobe Connect” server to be able to produce remote trainings and virtual meeting rooms across the school board. Departments and people that will be using it have been fully trained on its usage.

A true work story:

January 31^st Norbert emailed the IT DIRECTOR in order to have an account for him and his colleague to access to the server, CC his own ALTERNATIVE PROGRAMS DIRECTOR (in charge of teachers training).
My boss answered the same day, CC the helpdesk that is the entity where all requests should be made, CC our own IT trainer (the only one to actually use the server), and CC me (well I guess because when something needs to be done, it’s usually me…)

February 1^st I answered to Norbert, CC his boss so that they know for next time, and CC the helpdesk to refresh their memory:

“Hello,

Access to the Adobe Connect server is managed by security groups, in the case people need specific access, here is how to proceed:

1. Make a request to the helpdesk (link to the email address) providing the names of the users and their will to use the Adobe Connect server.
2. Put those users in the correct group called “ConnectAuthors”.
3. Tell the users to connect to the server (link to the server) and click the “request password” button. They will have to enter their email address in the corresponding box, then they will receive their username and password in their mailbox. They can now go back on the server and connect using the newly received information.

Norbert and Mary have been added in the proper group already.“ Read the rest of this entry »

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Today is the definition of a Snow Storm in Toronto (15 cm in the whole day)… Seriously, no School bus, the afternoon off to get home early for those that actually came to work in the morning, the whole shabbam…

Well right now I am in the office, I look outside, it’s not snowing anymore, there is maybe 10cm in the parking lot, and if all those bad drivers with their 4*4 are gone early, I know I will be home much faster than any other day of the week… come on admit it, its FRIDAY, that as nothing to do with “Snow” guys, it’s just laziness…

Well thanks anyway, I had a wonderful afternoon alone in the office.

My point exactly:

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Let me tell you about one of my coworkers; A profound devout, every Sundays church goer and proud catholic family mother of three.

This story begin 4 years ago, when her younger son (around 6 at the time) was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). A wonderful news followed by the lay off of her husband from his job, then a few months after, by the death of her father, followed quickly by the suicide of her brother (or sister, can’t remember).

That’s when her older son had behavioral issues and was interned for a time. So 2 years ago she fell into depression and stopped working while, I presume, adjusting to things…

Read the rest of this entry »

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Is it me or incompetent people are everywhere now days?Just this morning I had a striking example. As I burst in my office reasonably late (it’s winter, it’s Canada, what do you expect, I was stuck in the snow) I see a guy staring at my desk. I haven’t finish putting my backpack down, ignoring the intrusion in my own space, that the guy asks me to move my desk…

It’s not usually what I do when I start my day so I have to wonder:

- “for?”

- “Gotta check the panel behind your desk to fix the heating system”

Apparently it has been cold in our offices for the past two days. I would not know since I was in a new school to install the network (very good, a big school pretty much empty, just me, three hub rooms, 12 fibers, 760 cables and a few data equipments).

Read the rest of this entry »

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