Wednesday, July 30, 2008

a New job, a New office, a New 10-Key

So here I am in my new office, I started in my new position officially on Monday. This position is rolling out as a beta for the company. I am really looking forward to taking on some different responsibilities and see what kind of an impact I can make. So far I have spent a good deal of time just getting settled, and trying to figure out what kinds of things I can do that would be useful to the department. My new assignment is as Project Controller for Outside Plant. Basically I am responsible for making sure jobs get done on budget and on schedule. I have spent the first few days working on the budget aspect and I want to get to some training to help me better figure out the scheduling side of things.
So far I like the opportunity; it has been a good transition for the most part. My former boss seems a little overly tight on the “security” she wants to grant me. I am not sure if she took away my security clearance because I am suddenly a different person or what, it was in the name of internal controls but it seems more to me like an exercise of power than anything else.
I am now working for Randy and he seems to have a good amount of faith in me and what I can do to help his department. I also had a meeting with the owner where he basically said it was up to me to step up and take control, the authority is in place. I really like the idea of having the corresponding authority and responsibility, one reason I really like Americom; the owners seem to be very aware of that balance.
I just want to say a little bit, or maybe a lot, about Politics. Mostly my comments revolve around the idea that a Bi-Partisan system in no way serves the greatest number of people. I think the only president ever elected that wasn’t just the lesser of two evils was George Washington. But my real concern revolves around the idea of sensationalism. Before I go bashing the liberals I should probably preface my remarks with the fact that I don’t find either candidate appealing, at least not at this point. I think Obama is a pro when it comes to being sensational. He has the media wrapped around his little finger (I am coughing in Letterman’s general direction, can’t even watch that show anymore). Not to mention the ridiculous “endorsements” he has received. I get a little tired of hearing about endorsements; I think they are a bunch of crap. Should I even care who the governor of Florida is voting for? I find some of it rather amusing, especially when candidates try to back-peddle out of endorsements that may have at one time served them well but have since turned very sour. How will people act? I think most all people change how they act when given a new level of authority, not even I am exempt from that one. So how would either candidate act if they were elected to be president? Would they act based on their voting record? Maybe. Would they act based on their values? Maybe. Would they act based on what their spouse told them to do? Probably. The problem is we really don’t know how people will act, surely a longer voting record may provide some level of trust that their actions would follow the pattern but it certainly isn’t a guarantee. What if they don’t have a voting record? Should we just believe what they say? I don’t believe a single one, the first one that starts voting for lower wages for politicians is the first one I would consider believing, don’t worry that will never happen. Our political system is so dirty it makes me sick; laws get passed based on the size of a pocketbook or in many cases black book. What ever happened to the idea of putting a bill up, and if it doesn’t get voted in, it goes away, instead of pulling the bill back (add a whole bunch more crap to it, like a fund for sickly Africanized spiders) then resubmitting it at twice it’s original size with the caption that it will only get bigger if it gets rejected again.
I don’t know if it is possible for politicians to be ethical, unless they work pro bono including rejecting all those little perks, like NBA season tickets, golf club memberships, etc.
Maybe lobbyist should be illegal, if people want a voice they should try using their own rather than purchasing one.
My last line is traffic sucks, I can’t wait until the teleport technology is perfected.

2 comments:

Sabrina said...

Congratulations on the new position. I hope it treats you well. Amen on your political rant. I can't stand how politics work. I am voting for Chuck Baldwin this go round, but I know he won't win, just gotta appease that conscience, ya know.

HILL HESS said...

Spence- you are the best- thanks for all the tips! :)