The Nerd's Eye View

In reference to my previous post - it all changes and it changes quickly at that. My business unit had it's final hurrah party yesterday ("Doing the impossible for 25 years!") and many of us planned to attend with the sort of irony usually reserved by hipsters. It was to be a day of goodbyes and cheesy music when suddenly -

I got an email telling me that those of us who had gotten jobs with NewCo were to skip the first hour and show up at the cafeteria for a special guest and an announcement. The special guest turned out to be the chairman of the Faceless Corporation board who told us in a very roundabout way that the factory was not closing -

cue Kool and the Gang's "Celebrate" -

Apparently at the literal 11th hour, the nameless bean counters who only rival our lawyers for control of the direction of the company discovered a massive demand for one of our old products. Guess who gets to stay open to satisfy that demand ... that's right! So the factory stays open minus its star technicians (who got poached so fast it gave them whiplash), most of it's engineers, and some of the equipment which has already been dismantled. 10 points for giving hope to those who hadn't got new positions, subtract 9000 for timing and any kind of foresight.

Unfortunately for me, Fat'n'Happy is still leaving, as is Biggles, Hatchet Face, and many more for whom this is the last day. Against that backdrop I'm packing up my cubicle to move to another one on the third floor. This is like the season finale of The Office.

Posted by Lo Fat Mo at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's been a tough couple of weeks for me, leading up to this week. Things are changing pretty fast at NewCo which is no less inscrutable than it has been in the past. Most of the changes are minor like moving cubicles or some talk of new projects etc, but there are more concerning ones. For example there was a recent email about tightening our belts. Mainly it involved not traveling unless entirely necessary, and of course doing so in "economy or economy premium" where possible. I'm surprised that anyone was allowed to travel at a higher level than that initially considering the company was created with an inbuilt cost consciousness. Two days later we got an email that there was a problem with the payroll system that would lead to our pay getting in on time but our pay stubs being delayed. I'm glad that they let us know, but it is worrying on the heels of the "cheapness initiative" as I like to call it.

Outside of NewCo, there's the issue of the impending end of our old business unit. There's a feeling like a mixture of last day of high school and the funeral of a close friend haunting the halls. Every day, it seems, there is a luncheon to say goodbye to someone, who's moving on to a new job or something. It's been toughest with Becklesworth (who is still around) and Fat'n'Happy and his little family to whom I've grown quite attached. I had dinner with them on Monday and when I was dropped off at the train station had to fight against a surprising wave of emotion. Curse this all too human heart that beats in my breast!

Still got some more time with Becklesworth, who underscored his overall value to the team by organizing a brewery tour at the Anchor Steam brewery. It was a nice way to spend the afternoon, plus the company was good (Dr Germ, The Married Guy [hey, you said they called you that!], Flanders and one other for whom I have no current nickname) so it all worked out. For such a small operation it was amazing to see how much they could make and distribute! I looked for Oompa Loompa's but couldn't really find any - must be part of the development plan though.

Posted by Lo Fat Mo at 2:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I was on the train this morning, heading to work in a somewhat morose mood. As I stared out the window of the moving train I noticed something peculiar. I could see sunlight passing between the train cars as we rolled along. The sun must have been exactly perpendicular to the path of the train, and so the light skimmed along the ground, mirroring the velocity of the train. As the train sped along, the light flowed over the brush that lines the ground beside the train tracks, and as it did so the leaves and branches were gilded for the briefest of moments. The effect was like tiny green and yellow fireworks by the side of the train celebrating our passing through. I smiled in spite of myself.

Posted by Lo Fat Mo at 10:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)

Having worked in corporate America for a couple of years, I have determined that Office Space is not a film, it's a documentary film. In that grand tradition - I think - is the Two-Hour Rule. It's a scathing expose of the efficiencies of the modern American workplace and I encourage you to read it. It, of course, does not describe me at all.

link courtesy of Ben

Posted by Lo Fat Mo at 11:24 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)