Dealing w/ students - it's always one thing or another.
There's this one student, who has been a pain since day one (asked how to get a semi-private office because he *could not* sit in cubicles with other students). When he asks for something to be done, he literally means right then and there, while he is still there and can make sure you do what he asked for.
He stopped by today to ask a few questions. One was where one of the researchers sits. I told him where said researcher's office is and he made a comment "how come she's not there?". I seriously wanted to say something to the effect of "you're not her supervisor, why does it matter if she's at her desk or not?" I think it's generally accepted that if you have a higher degree, and your job is of a technical nature, you may not necessarily be chained to your desk 24/7. But what do I know, I'm just a stupid secretary.
Him: Okay, second question - I wanted to print out some stuff, but I
don't want to use the lab printer. How can I print from the copy
machine?
Me: You mean, print *to* the copy machine?
Him: Yes.
Me: You just have to set it up. *about to pull up the IP address on my computer* What are you printing?
Him: Just some stuff. It's a lot of pages.
Me: For research, classwork...?
Him: Research.
Me: If it's for research, you should use the lab printer.
Him: Well...
Me: That's why we got the printer (believe me, I didn't think we should have one in there at all).
Him: For classwork.
Me: Your classwork?
Him: Yes... but I'm also a TA.
Me: Not this quarter.
Him: Well, yes.
Me: If it's for research, you should use the lab printer. The copy machine is for departmental use.
Him: But the lab printer doesn't work very well and sometimes is out of toner.
Me: It should still be under warranty so if it it's not working, you
have to tell me so we can get it fixed. If there's no toner, we can
order some.
Him: What's this printer [here]?
Me: This is *my color printer*.
Him: Oh. Come on, J, you can't just give me the IP address?
Me: I could, but I'm not going to. All you are doing is shifting the expense to the department. What's the point?
I just realized that on paper, it seems petty (or, more correctly, I seemed petty). I just don't like his attitude (it's not just with me - it's with every staffer he deals with) and if he were so smart (as he seems to think he is), he would figure out how to find the IP address himself. Heck, I did.
I can be quite difficult when I want to be. If you are going to debate
with me, you better have some good arguments. I almost never argue
with anyone and if it had been just about any other student, I probably would
have obliged. Then again, the other students (esp the ones that are nice and responsible) wouldn't have asked.
Day off from work today (univ's admin holiday before the start of Spring quarter), so I decided to pop by my neighborhood Starbucks. I've been to this Sbux only twice - both for free promotions (free iced coffee, when it debuted, and the free coffee on election day last year).
Decided to go for something a little different - an iced tall nonfat caramel macchiato with light ice and whip cream. Contemplated getting extra caramel sauce but I figured I was already being obnoxious with the "light ice". As I recited my order, the barista paused and said "oh, wow." Then she repeated my order as she picked up a cup and started marking it up. She asked "no whip cream?". If I wanted no whip cream, why would I bother saying it - it's not like whip cream is standard for caramel macchiatos.
There was a guy sitting at a table with his laptop and stacks of quarter. As I sat down at a chair near him to wait, he pulled his table closer to him - like I'm going to steal your quarters! As if!
Anyway, took a sip of the drink and was like "uh, what's this clumpy stuff?" I think it was the whip cream - it doesn't dissolve very well, since it's a cold drink... but it's not like frappuccinos, where it stays somewhat solid. Overall, it's a good drink - I'll skip the whip cream next time though - tastes like the tofu drinks that are popular in Asia...
I love hearing other people's drinks - I'm curious at what they get. One lady got a venti soy with whip hot chocolate. The guy in front of me got a caramel macchiato (what size?... he had to look at the cups and decide on a grande) and a cinnamon swirl. I think one day, I will just sit at Sbux and listen to people's orders.
So I bought a couple of cases for my iPod Touch (a silicone one and a hard plastic one) and it came with a screen protector. I had requested a pink silicone case and a blue plastic case, but they sent me clear cases, even though they confirmed that they received my email re: the colors. Grrr.
Anyway, the silicone case seems nice. I don't know if I'll use the plastic one, though - which makes me wonder why I even got it in the first place. I'm dumb, I guess. As for the screen protector - no problems getting it affixed, save for a tiny bubble in the corner. When I initially put it on, there was a few bubbles and not quite aligned, but I removed it and tried it again. Beautumous! The only problem is that the little sticker which helps you affix the screen protector left sticky goop on the screen protector! It's in the bottom right corner, kind of out of the way, but still - it bugs!
Off to ebay to look for another screen protector :) and maybe a colored case.
Initial thoughts (complaints) on iPod Touch:
Would sure like an owner's manual. Doesn't have to be an encyclopedia, but something more than just "plug iPod into computer and follow instructions on the screen". What a cop out.
Not really an issue for me, but why is a computer connected to the internet required? What if you don't have internet access? Should you not be able to use the iPod? After all, it is, first and foremost, a music player.
Back to the owner's manual thing - I'd like to know how to uninstall and/or exit apps. Or how to zoom in. Don't make me look everything up on the internet.
Scrolling takes a bit getting used to - unlike scrollbars on computers, where you scroll down to read further down the page, you have to scroll upwards - to essentially "push" the paper up (so you can read downwards). Once you get used to it, it works fine.
Switching from portrait to landscape mode - seems a bit haphazard. Is there a way to manually switch? I'm not sure - again, owner's manual...
Connecting to app store - I had difficulty connecting to wi-fi (we were trying to use the wrong WEP password), but my sister got it to work. However, even though I'm connected to a wireless network and vpn (the internet and apps which require network connections all work) - I can't access the app store. It tells me that I need wi-fi connectivity. What do you mean? I am connected!
It may seem like I have a ton of gripes about this gadget, but it is a pretty nice gadget. It's just not quite as easy to setup/use as apple fanboys want you to believe (having used an Apple Powerbook for 4 years - I can attest that Apple products aren't necessarily plug and play).
I would like phone capabilities, so I don't have to carry two devices, but I'm not shelling out $$$ for an iPhone that is locked to the AT&T network. Maybe eventually the price on the HTC Fuze will go down (and yes, I would consider switching from iPod touch to the fuze). I don't need the music capabilities (I have an old-school shuffle for that).
oh, forgot something - fingerprints. The iPod Touch is a fingerprint magnet (expected) but it is absolutely horrendously extreme. The back of the iPod looks like someone wiped their boogers on it (when it truly is just fingerprints). So glad I'm getting a silicone case for this.
I've given my notice, 2.5 months in advance. It's a bit much, and honestly, I'd like to just disappear into the night, but I had to give sufficient time for the owner to find replacements.
I'm not sure what kind of reaction I was expecting. Her response was just a 1 line email (note - she responded via her mobile phone so it's not like she could type an essay, even if she wanted to, which she's not the type to do).
Anyway, we'll see how it all goes. I was planning on telling her next Tuesday (because I wouldn't have to take class from her until the following Sunday) but once I have an idea in my head, it's difficult to focus on anything else. So even when I plan on something in the future, I end up doing it ahead of schedule. The anticipation kills me.
Note - I love the phrase "disappear into the night". I don't know why...
I hate arranging events at work. I am not an event planner - I should be planning at most 1 event per year (such as a project review or something).
Anyway - part of it is because I hate making decisions, esp for other people. A group is visiting from an Asian country next month and I have to arrange for lunch. There are like 40 different entrees to choose from. I ruled out pasta-only and chicken w/ meat, which leaves me with chicken or fish. They're from Asia so fish shouldn't be a problem. However, would they want salmon or trout? Definitely no to the fish that still has bones. And salmon - there's like 3 different entrees. Can I order the almond-crusted salmon? Some people are allergic to nuts. Oh, wait - they're from Asia, Asians aren't allergic to a million and a half things, like Americans are.
And for dessert - apple pie is definitely out. Cheesecake? Asians aren't big fans of cheese (I think). How about a fruit tart? But I've had the fruit tarts there and it's difficult to cut with a fork. How about strawberry shortcake?
Too many choices, too many decisions. It's not part of my job!
So I've decided not to get a smartphone... at this time. None of the phones on the market these days have most or all of what I want in a smartphone, so what's the point?
Here's what I was looking for:
1. Wi-fi. I don't want to be forced to pay for a data plan. I have Wi-Fi at work and home. That's good enough.
2. Large screen resolution - the Sony Mylo 2 (not a phone, though) has a 800 x 400 screen. That's crazy amazing. I don't want to have to scroll constantly - especially not sideways.
3. Ability to edit (completely) documents such as Word, Excel and Powerpoint. None of this limited editing stuff (what is Excel without the formulas?).
4. Ability to use LogMeIn or similar remote desktop application (though my work computer only works with LogMeIn, for whatever reason). LogMeIn requires a touch screen device, though.
5. Qwerty keyboard, most preferably a slider (landscape) type keyboard. Just seems like it would be more comfortable to use and also, since the keyboard slides in when not in use - the device wouldn't be too bulky.
Since there doesn't seem to be any devices like that (possibly ever) - I've decided to just go with adding the internet plan onto my cellphone. Not forever, just for the week or so that I would be out of town. Don't know if they have wi-fi where I'm going and I can't be without email access. Can't believe we're heading back into '05/'06 territory where I had to access email on my phone, couldn't connect through free wi-fi. Unbelievable!
Stopped by SBux this morning for my twice-a-week treat. Decided to try something different so I ordered a tall nonfat caffe mocha w/ caramel sauce (I do realize that I should said "tall nonfat w/ caramel sauce mocha", in the order of the cup markings but I think it sounds odd). You can tell which baristas are new (aside from the fact that I've never seen them before) because they tend to do things like write out "CR sauce" under Syrup, when it should actually belong under Custom.
Anyway, BaristaGirl making the drinks (a regular - not newbie) asked if I wanted the caramel sauce on the sides of the cup or just on top. I opted for on the sides, though the drink probably tastes the same either way (it all melts together anyway).
So I ended up with a tall nonfat caramel sauce on the sides, with whip (cream) and caramel sauce on top mocha. I have no idea why BaristaGirl put whip cream and the extra caramel sauce on top (as it wasn't marked on the cup) but I didn't mind. Although I'm not a fan of mochas - tastes like I'm drinking a fudge bar.
I think I'll stick with caramel drinks and skip the chocolate.
In other news, I spied two young girls (maybe ages 7 and 9) with their mother, getting tall extra extra extra something vanilla bean frappucinos with whip cream (plus caramel sauce on top for the older girl). A tall frap each? At 8am?
Maybe these girls are the type to take a couple of sips and then toss out the drink (how wasteful) but still. The mom even made a comment about how they would be off to school shortly.
