At work we have to log on to our computers with a smart card, which is like a credit card that sticks in the keyboard.  For security reasons, our computers are automatically locked after ten minutes of inactivity, at which point we need to log in again with our smart card, which is a small pain in the butt.  There's a guy who sits near me who doesn't like this feature, and he found that if his computer is playing music, it doesn't automatically lock.  But playing music is annoying for other people, so he hooked up some small speakers under his desk.  Apparently somebody must've complained, because there are also headphones connected to those speakers.  The volume is just loud enough for me to hear the occasional Carlos Santana guitar solo, which is mildly excruciating.  The headphones, of course, don't rest on my co-workers head.  They merely sit on his desk as the end result of a long chain of events meant to get around the simple problem of an overactive security system.  This is what's wrong with IT departments. #technology

When I need to travel for work and it's within driving distance, I'll usually rent a car from Enterprise because there's a location a few miles from my house.  The thing is, I haven't really been impressed with any of my experiences with them.  I drive to their location, park my car almost in the woods in the back of their crappy parking lot, then stand in line to get a car.  When it's my turn to talk to a person, I have to go through all these steps, present different forms of identification and payment, and sign papers saying I'm waiving insurance (which I'm never really sure is a good idea).  Then I go to the car, find out it has no keychain to unlock the doors, and it doesn't have cruise control, which means I get to press the gas pedal for the next four hours. 

What strikes me every time I go into this place is that they're bad at what they do.  Enterprise rents cars, and put simply, a three-legged dog could do a better job.  It seems like a pretty simple task:  A customer makes a reservation online, shows up at the store, and drives away in a car.  What happens after that second step to make it take so long, and why is it so complicated?  I understand the need for security and getting paid, but I feel like if you do one thing, you should probably do it pretty well since you spend all your time and effort doing that one thing. #business

Scott Adams on his experience trying to back up computer files: 

Likewise, I have never been able to back up the data on my computer. Ever. In concept, it's pretty simple. You buy the backup media, fire up the backup software, set some options, and off it goes. Over the years I have tried perhaps 20 different backup media, and half a dozen backup software solutions. So far, none have worked.

Isn't it ridiculous that such a simple process is so riddled with problems?  I've had some success in this area, but trying to explain it over the phone to family members who either don't own the right technology or can't get past Microsoft's disorganization and stupidity makes me ask the question, "Will computers ever just be easy?"  Will we ever be at a point where any person can simply do what they need to do and move on?  For example, most people have both a computer and a digital camera.  But not many people have any sort of contingency plan for when their hard drive inevitably, unexpectedly fails.  Maybe we should all switch to Macs.  I've heard they Just Work™. #technology

I don't know what it is with the people I work with, but it seems like there are endless possibilities for funny things to happen regarding names.  For example: 

1. A few years ago I mentioned that my co-worker called another co-worker on the phone and said, "Hey Curt, it's Ernie."  To take it one step further, that same Ernie later worked on a project with a guy named Bert.
2. Two Asian guys in my group both have the last name Wong.  One of my co-workers said something about inviting them to a meeting, at which point another co-worker said, "Two Wongs don't make a White."
3. Just recently I overheard someone making a phone call who said, "Hey Ben, is Jerry there?"

#sociology