Blame nobody but yourself

I am working. Just doing my thing and keeping my head low. For a short background, let me explain what I do: I am a computer operator responsible for the overseeing of several large information packets during the backup process. Same packets everyday. Little variation. A guy, we will call him Dick, used to be the Lead Operator, but now is in charge of the backups, but has absolutely no authority over any of the operators. Why, you may ask? Because he is abrasive, rude, demeaning, and has a problem with feeling superior. In short, he is Dick.
Anyway... Dick is at his home and has the capability to enter the system and perform duties from his home, so he does. (Side note, if you are going to be screwing around with a function in this manner, at least email the person to give them a heads-up. It's just common courtesy.)
BUT... he made a mistake and launched the same application 3 times. This slowed down the entire system. I, still being relatively new (3 months) on the job, see it, but think that it is what Dick wanted. He knows what he is doing, right? He's been here for years. So many, in fact, that when all of the operators complained about his Dick-ness, he was removed from the Lead Operator position and had a job title created for him so that he may continue to perform the sterling work his reputation claims.
An hour goes by and then Dick calls. He asks:

"Did you notice that the system is running extremely slow?"
"Yes."
"Did you also notice that one of the applications is running three times concurrently?"
"Yes, I saw that."
"Didn't you think it was odd?"
"Yes, but I thought the person that kicked them off did it intetionally."
(I knew it was he that had kicked them off.)
"Why would that happen?!"
"I don't know. I thought whoever did it knew what they were doing."
"I'm so tired of you operators not paying attention. Whenever you see something odd or unusual, call me and tell me about it."
"Will do, Dick!"

When did his mistake become my responsibility? I rely on him to catch his own mistakes. He is so quick to catch any of ours. I am trying to learn this job, but I only work 3 days a week and am still getting the finer points down.
Moral: When you make a mistake, fix it and move on. Don't be a Dick and try to blame others for not catching your own mistake.

Self-Esteem

I glanced over my profile and realized that I should clarify a statement made there. I ask that everyone have their own opinion and the self-esteem to voice it. I do not have the confidence I am seeking in others. This blog is the only "public place" in which I give my grievances voice, so to speak. When my friends and I are talking, I will give my uncensored opinion on subjects, but I lack the self-confidence to voice my opinion to other people that do not know me. I was hoping that this blog would help me vent my anger and frustration regarding topics of stupidity while granting me an audience with others of like mind and similar ilk.
Finding these others, I would then have the opportunity to develop friendships or, at the very least acquaintances, with these people in hopes of allaying my own fears that I was alone in the world and forever resigned to observe the idiocy of the masses.
I really think I should find someone with whom I could actually discuss these feelings, as they are slipping one to another and very difficult to keep control of.

Also, I think I should not watch several episodes of Deadwood before blogging. It makes all of my thoughts here sound like a monologue from one of the characters. Not really me, but, as is evident by this posting, a trait that I could adopt. I have always said that an extensive vocabulary allows for the proper expression of any feeling.

I can't hold it back any longer.

OK. Immigration Reform. Hot topic. Everybody has an opinion. That's great. Just one thing, though: please, try and have an EDUCATED opinion.
My target tonight is a US Congressman from Virginia, I think. He made a statement that was broadcast across the nation that shows how incredibly pea-brained he really is. I do appologize that I do not have it word for word, but it was something like this:

I do not agree with deploying National Guard troops to the US-Mexican border. People live out there and that kind of military presense sends a very bad message. I certainly wouldn't like to have armed military troops patroling my neighborhood.

A. It is a federal issue as it is a US border.
B. You live in Virginia! You don't have the problems of a bordertown (crime, drugs, people entering the country through you backyard fence!) in a nice, cushy, upscale neighborhood such as yours. The worst you have to deal with are hillbillies coming in from the mountains!
And C. This is a genuine problem in this country. Eventually we are going to have to be mean about it.
Remeber 9/11? What if those terrorists had come in through the laxly guarded Mexican border? Yes, I know, they didn't. But what if? Don't you think that we should do everything in our power to protect ourselves? Maybe enforce the boundry between these two countries?

I'm not saying that people shouldn't be allowed to come here, even make this their home, but do it legally. Illegal immigrants are not always the kind gardeners in Beverly Hills. Not all of them come here to work hard to better themselves and their lives. If we grant amnesty to ANY illegal immigrants, we do a great disservice to all of the citizens of this country, especially the ones that came here from another country LEGALLY.
When an illegal immigrant is caught, send him home. Spend the extra money to make the US-Mexican border real, not an international joke and not a potential entry point for future terrorists.
And they are hurting somebody, they are hurting every immigrant that followed the law and came here for a new life.
In parting: The US-Mexican border is only laxly guarded (as I referred to it earlier) because of financial constraints. I applaude the dedicated officers that work that lonely, thankless job. We need more officers, more fencing, more diligence and less red tape in dealing with those who break the law!
That is the long and short of it, after all: Illegal immigrants broke the law. Hence the "illegal" part of the term.

Participate or Shut Up!

As someone that has always been politically active, I find it absurd that people who do not vote feel compelled to tell anyone that is in earshot what is wrong with this country. I vote each and every election. I may not like any of the candidates, but my greatest power is my vote. I wish that I had better choices than "bad" and "worse", but of the choices given, I choose the individual I feel will do the best job.
What brought this on, you ask?
I am minding my own business when a co-worker decides to open up about the war in Iraq. As always when a political subject comes up from someone wishing ill about the current state of things, I asked if she voted.
Shocked and appalled that I would ask, she replied, "No. I didn't like my party's candidates."
Can you see the two separate issues I am about to launch into here?
First: Aligning yourself with a political party of ANY kind is a big bowl of doom. Why not, say, examine the issues you feel strongly about and look for a person that will best suit your needs? Both of my parents were republican, and I just can't limit myself to one set of idiots (any party) making my decisions for me. I research ALL of the candidates and find out where they stand on fundamental issues and current "hot" issues. That is my process of elimination for the candidates. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a single candidate that I can agree with 100%. But, I cast my vote and hope my voice makes a difference.
Second: Shut the hell up about the current state of affairs if you didn't even TRY to make a difference! You people that whine and complain about how horrible life is in this country, yet can't be bothered to use the system we currently have to attempt to better it (you know who you are!) can go suck an egg! I wish I could use a more descriptive vocabulary, but I am limited to my own code of honor and decency.
Lastly: When the candidates that I vote for win, I am happy. When they don't, I deal with it. I will support what my government does because I had a hand in creating it. I do feel at liberty to voice my opinions about the members of our government, but in the end, they are what the majority of people WHO TOOK THE TIME TO VOICE THEIR DESIRES chose. My right is to vote for people whom I think will be the best governing body. My duty is to support my governments' actions as a whole. I will not be a sheep and follow blindly, though. I have the right as a participant to complain. If you didn't participate, you don't get to say a damn thing!
Basically, if you are given a free meal and you couldn't be bothered to help cook it, don't bitch about the food!

A Moment to Gaze at the Decent Side of Humanity

You know, I was all ready to open up regarding immigration reform and that pile of steaming idiocy, but I stumbled across a blog, WanderingScribe (look for it, I don't know how to set it up here as a link, but I will try in my links area) and realized that, while I feel that I am right in my opinion (who doesn't feel that they are right in their opinion??), there are bright spots in the world. Before you jump the gun and say how horrible I am for finding this eloquent woman's plight a "bright spot", allow me to elaborate.

This woman, who requested to remain anonymous, has used this forum in the same fashion that I have: as a cathardic device. A place to open and share without having to be singled out. One can blog and never have to hear another word from anyone else that breaks them down or makes them feel ashamed. A way of releasing long-suppressed emotions in a public forum to get feedback (if you are so inclined), but in a private way. Public/private/personal therapy.

Anyway...she is at rock bottom and has quite a following of supporters from around the world. These supporters encourage and, thanks to PayPal, aid in financial areas. She never asked for donations. She was told about the PayPal Donations button and encouraged to put it on her blog. She thanks each and every person for their donation via email.

Again, anyway...she is still able to see beauty in the world around her and the London skyline. She is working her way back into society with class. But the amazing part is that she was completely alone and found dozens of people touched in one way or another by her story. Now, she has a global network. She puts a face to a plague in every country and allows one to see that we are all susceptible to the position she is in. I know at this moment I am one paycheck away from living in my car. If you think that you are too rich to be concerned with hitting that stage of rock-bottom, allow me to remind you of a crisp day in October, the year was 1929. Yes, living historical proof that the tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut down by the lawnmower!

Anyway...she was able, in her blog as well as in the comments made by readers, to reaffirm a fading belief - hope, even - in the goodness of mankind.
In parting, please let me sway you to say hello to a stranger, genuinely smile at an enemy, hug a friend, and give a deep, passionate kiss to you true love at least once a day.
And WanderingScribe, if you are reading this, all my hope and prayers are with you, with my eternal thanks. You may have just saved my life, if not my soul.

Are you a MAN?

My wife and I were cleaning on Saturday and it hit me like a ton of bricks: Men and Women are different. Not so impressive and rather obvious, but the brick part was how different we really are. Define "clean". Women actually CLEAN things. Men simply arrange things to the point of not impeding movement. Men will find cubby holes, drawers, shelves, etc. to stash things. It is out of the way, therefore clean. My closet has three laundry baskets, all of which are empty because the clothes are on the closet floor. I can clean the kitchen in under half an hour. I put the dishes in the dishwasher (who rinses?), use a damp sponge to wipe down the counters and take the trash out.....once in a while. Quick, easy, done!
My wife can get it done in just over half an hour. And she uses miricles of cleansing power that she sprays on the counters, stovetop and sink that makes them sparkle and smell vaguely of lemons. She rinses the dishes before putting them ito the dishwasher. She actually moves things off the counter, like the blender, can opener, etc., and wipes them down, too! Did any of you guys know that there is an item called a "hood" over you stovetop? It holds the light and smoke-sucking fan. It gets dirty and should be cleaned as well. Women know about these things! They spend jus a tiny few minutes longer and do an exponentially better job of cleaning. If a man needs a fork and there are none in the drawer, we get one out of the dishwasher and wipe it off with our shirt tail or an our jeans. Presto! It's clean!
Laundry: Apparently, there are more than just "whites" and "everything else". There are delicates, red tones (NEVER EVER wash these with the whites. Trust me!), cold water items, hot water items, all kinds of things that I never knew about, and I bet 90% of the general male population are also ignorant about. It doesn't take her long to do her chores, and I seem to be taking forever.
I know why. I use the broom as a microphone and sing with the radio for a while. I might actually use it to sweep, too! Most men do this, so be warned! Men, admit it!! I try and work methodically, but end up making things harder for me and just get exhausted. When we are done cleaning, I look exhausted, too. Not my wife! Women can clean the entire house in 1/3 the time it takes us men, do a better job and finish looking fresh and beautiful.
Next time you see a male walking down the street, ask him if his shirt is clean. If he has to smell it before answering, then he is a real man.

Responsibility

I had my power turned off yesterday. It sucked. The power company claims they sent a ten day notice, but I never received it. I believe them, I just have crappy mail service here. I have had many items late or never delivered, so it doesn't surprize me. But I thought about it and asked the power company why they could not turn it back on and I would pay them Friday (payday). They said once a notice or letter or bill leaves their offices, it is no longer their responsibility. So I asked the question, what if I sent you out a check and you never received it? Who would be responsible? They replied that I would. "So you mean to tell me," I responded, "that if I do not get your letter to me, it is I that faces consequences ?" "Yes," they said. "And if you do not receive the check I sent you, it is ALSO I that faces the consequences?" "Yes," they said. "Well that doesn't seem fair, does it?"
Long silence.
Now, I will take full responsibility for not paying my bill. Other things came up and it was delayed. I will pay the late fees, surcharges, reconnect fees, etc., but I feel that if an error is made, responsibility must be accepted. Why does it sem that I am the only one accepting responsibility?
On a slight tangent:
If a government agency has the authority to take an action, does it not also seem that they should have the responsibility to ensure that the action taken is warrented? Isn't that what the Constitution is saying when it says that the PEOPLE of the U.S. have the right, nay DUTY, to hold it's governmet body responsible or to replace the officials, or the entire government, with one that operates fairly? Justly? In the interests of the spoken majority???
Common sense isn't so common after all, huh?