A couple uplifting articles I just read:
Washington Post columnist Amy Joyce looks into just how closely that megacorp you work for is monitoring your calls, emails, web surfing, IMs, and even your tracks. In other words, if you think no one knows that you’re not really at your desk from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. like you’re supposed to be, or that no one’s noticed all those dirty emails you send your boyfriend from your Yahoo! account during office hours, you’re dead wrong. Although, Joyce does write, “This reporter could find only one company, in Ohio, that implanted chips in its employees’ arms.” Well, that’s a relief. (Published 10/1/06)
And if you think your bean-counting boss is a buzzkill, you’re in very good company. Slate columnist Daniel Gross serves up these Idiotic Examples of Corporate Cost-Cutting and More Idiotic Corporate Penny-Pinching Measures. Note to caffeine junkies: You may want to start bringing a thermos of coffee or an espresso maker to work. (Published 9/25/06 and 9/29/06)
October 1st, 2006
I read something earlier this week about how your first blog post is supposed to be slightly better than lame because it lays the groundwork for your entire blog. To that I say, whatever! I mean, look how ridiculous my first post is. I only keep it live because it contains my first blog comment ever, from the fabulous Ariel, and I want to save it for posterity. Either that, or I thrive on humiliation.
Speaking of blog critiques, I got some lovely feedback on my first few posts from my pal Traci, who I met at Hedgebrook. She does suggest, though, that I post more photos and use more graphics. I wholeheartedly agree. I have Greg, boyfriend extraordinaire, working on my static graphics. (Note the new header that riffs off my book cover. Cool, huh? Site design still in progress, so go easy on us.) As for photos, I suppose I first need a digital camera. But I sure would like to take pics of my freelancer’s office (which at the moment looks like a tornado tore through it) so you can see how we work-from-home types live, not to mention what we wear when we toil from our spare bedroom or couch or kitchen table. So now you all know what I want for Chrismukkah. A handy-dandy digicammy. (Mom, Dad, are you reading this?)
Till then, here’s a bone for you—some pics of my office manager.
Charming, isn’t he? Unfortunately, he’s not much for filing and he sucks at PowerPoint.
October 1st, 2006
