Sunday, December 12, 2004
Friday, December 10, 2004
Changing Shifts
This past week was not a good week as far as work is concerned. After the "low performance" last Monday and Tuesday shift, it was decided that the Asia shift girl would be assisting on the US line, and I'd be doing the rest of the training on the Asia shift. That meant that the poor girl handling the Asia shift had to do two shifts on Wednesday, being onboard from 7:00am to 5:00pm (with one hour overtime) and then being onboard again for the Wednesday US shift from 9:00am to 6:00pm EST (1:00am to 10:00am Thursday, local time).
And to think that she had just simmered down after she handled the Monday shift without being informed to do two hours overtime! She came in Monday morning 6:00am, same time as last week's schedule. She was not advised that she will be alone for the whole shift, and the the Team Leader will be coming in after 6:00pm. The UK line starts 5:00pm. She was not advised to do overtime. And yet, if she left at 3:00pm, she would have been given a memo for "abandoning" the shift. Through no fault of hers, simply because the schedule was really defective. The schedule was created with the assumption that the TL would be handling the Asia line from 3:00 to 5:00pm, by simply informing callers to call back the next day. He does not have the technical competence to handle calls. He was hired for the TL post as a translator.
Crazy shift continues to next week. And I imagine to the week after that or until the first week of January.
--andoy.2004.12.10
And to think that she had just simmered down after she handled the Monday shift without being informed to do two hours overtime! She came in Monday morning 6:00am, same time as last week's schedule. She was not advised that she will be alone for the whole shift, and the the Team Leader will be coming in after 6:00pm. The UK line starts 5:00pm. She was not advised to do overtime. And yet, if she left at 3:00pm, she would have been given a memo for "abandoning" the shift. Through no fault of hers, simply because the schedule was really defective. The schedule was created with the assumption that the TL would be handling the Asia line from 3:00 to 5:00pm, by simply informing callers to call back the next day. He does not have the technical competence to handle calls. He was hired for the TL post as a translator.
Crazy shift continues to next week. And I imagine to the week after that or until the first week of January.
--andoy.2004.12.10
Buying Books,,, and reading them
I bought "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" two weeks back when I got my thirteenth month pay. I've read the book before although I don't have a copy myself. Anyway, I do have a copy of the four previous books in the "Harry Potter" series, with Kenneth just then having finished reading "...Goblet of Fire" and Darwi, somewhere in the middle of that same book.
When I showed the kids the book, they were so excited to read it. And even Lilia wanted to be the first to read it. Since we were at my in-laws place visiting, I curled up in bed beside the kids and started reading it to them. It isn't often that I read books to them nowadays. Although they do enjoy me trying to mimic English/Scot accents. We got to Chapter 2 before we were called to lunch.
My sentiments about the books have evolved since I started to read them, and understand the story. Mainly because of "Harry Potter", my kids have started reading books. I started reading novels when I was in second year high school, seeing as UPIS had a good library. Kenneth is now in first year high school, and Darwi in grade six, and they are a several magnitudes greater than me with regards the books that they are reading compared with the books I was reading when I was their age. In fact, Darwi may even be a faster reader than Kenneth. Also compared to Kenneth, I do know that she has better comprehension and memory work. I hope to be feeding their reading habits some more. Although for now, I am not sure what books they can read after they are through with "Order of the Phoenix." "Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew" are dated. And Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle are a little over their heads, I guess (but mainly because of the English used).
I hope to continue reading to them for some time to come.
--andoy.2004.12.10
When I showed the kids the book, they were so excited to read it. And even Lilia wanted to be the first to read it. Since we were at my in-laws place visiting, I curled up in bed beside the kids and started reading it to them. It isn't often that I read books to them nowadays. Although they do enjoy me trying to mimic English/Scot accents. We got to Chapter 2 before we were called to lunch.
My sentiments about the books have evolved since I started to read them, and understand the story. Mainly because of "Harry Potter", my kids have started reading books. I started reading novels when I was in second year high school, seeing as UPIS had a good library. Kenneth is now in first year high school, and Darwi in grade six, and they are a several magnitudes greater than me with regards the books that they are reading compared with the books I was reading when I was their age. In fact, Darwi may even be a faster reader than Kenneth. Also compared to Kenneth, I do know that she has better comprehension and memory work. I hope to be feeding their reading habits some more. Although for now, I am not sure what books they can read after they are through with "Order of the Phoenix." "Hardy Boys" and "Nancy Drew" are dated. And Agatha Christie, and Arthur Conan Doyle are a little over their heads, I guess (but mainly because of the English used).
I hope to continue reading to them for some time to come.
--andoy.2004.12.10
Gigapixel Images
Gigapixel Images
The final image is 40,784 x 26,800 pixels in size, and contains about 1.09 billion pixels. It consists of 196 separate photographs taken with a 6 megapixel digital camera, and then stitched together into one seamless composite. To create the image, additional software had to be created from scratch.
--andoy.2004.12.10
The final image is 40,784 x 26,800 pixels in size, and contains about 1.09 billion pixels. It consists of 196 separate photographs taken with a 6 megapixel digital camera, and then stitched together into one seamless composite. To create the image, additional software had to be created from scratch.
--andoy.2004.12.10
Tom Swift's new camera, ready for space and spies | CNET News.com
Tom Swift's new camera, ready for space and spies | CNET News.com
High resolution (non-digital) camera which is able to produce negatives containing 100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera.
Really great detail!
--andoy.2004.12.10
High resolution (non-digital) camera which is able to produce negatives containing 100 times as much data as the average professional digital camera.
Really great detail!
--andoy.2004.12.10
High-Tech Peeping Toms Illegal If Caught Within US Federal Property
News
High-Tech peeping toms who use cell phones for voyeur purposes may face severe penalties if they were caught doing it within US Federal premises. This will soon be the norm for most of the world. And most jeepneys too.
--andoy
High-Tech peeping toms who use cell phones for voyeur purposes may face severe penalties if they were caught doing it within US Federal premises. This will soon be the norm for most of the world. And most jeepneys too.
--andoy
Stories from the APE (Annual Physical Examinations)
The company had its Annual Physical Exams (APE), and it was held within premises these past three days. I was on the day shift so I had mine two hours after lunch. There was the usual dental exam where the dentist mentioned I needed to have a prophylaxis.
They checked my blood pressure. Seems they were not content with 130/100 so I waited another few minutes before they did a recount. This time it turned out 130/90. Before I worked in a Call Center my BP was anywhere from 100/70 to 110/80. Having elevated blood pressure is just one of the health problems I had during the past year. Funny thing is that I was agitated at the start of the day, and it was past lunch time and my BP was still elevated. My nape hurts. I purposely did not mention that one of my teammates had a heart attack recently.
The doctor later asked me questions about my BP, and other health problems I've had. Vertigo? I had 2 or 3 attacks these past two years. Can't remember the medication. Migraine? About once every two or three months. I take mefenamic acid before it gets worse. I forgot to tell him about my insomnia (which got cured by working in a Call Center). I also forgot to tell him about body pain. Nowadays, I can now feel parts of my body which I never felt before.
The doctor also asked about coffee. I answered, two cups if I'm lucky, three to five if not. I also forgot to tell him that I was drinking five cups a day before in my former job. I also forgot to tell him that our team have had four instances of palpitations from coffee drinking.
Eye examination. I confirmed that I need new glasses.
Stool and urine samples. Submitted. I did have to go to the comfort room to get samples.
X-ray van at the parking lot.
All in all a productive time.
--andoy
They checked my blood pressure. Seems they were not content with 130/100 so I waited another few minutes before they did a recount. This time it turned out 130/90. Before I worked in a Call Center my BP was anywhere from 100/70 to 110/80. Having elevated blood pressure is just one of the health problems I had during the past year. Funny thing is that I was agitated at the start of the day, and it was past lunch time and my BP was still elevated. My nape hurts. I purposely did not mention that one of my teammates had a heart attack recently.
The doctor later asked me questions about my BP, and other health problems I've had. Vertigo? I had 2 or 3 attacks these past two years. Can't remember the medication. Migraine? About once every two or three months. I take mefenamic acid before it gets worse. I forgot to tell him about my insomnia (which got cured by working in a Call Center). I also forgot to tell him about body pain. Nowadays, I can now feel parts of my body which I never felt before.
The doctor also asked about coffee. I answered, two cups if I'm lucky, three to five if not. I also forgot to tell him that I was drinking five cups a day before in my former job. I also forgot to tell him that our team have had four instances of palpitations from coffee drinking.
Eye examination. I confirmed that I need new glasses.
Stool and urine samples. Submitted. I did have to go to the comfort room to get samples.
X-ray van at the parking lot.
All in all a productive time.
--andoy
CNN.com - Students fight for right to bare all - Dec 9, 2004
There should be no problem in this scenario. Since nudity has been tolerated on campus the sudden about-face or policing is the part of the story which is shocking. Decency is a matter of time and place. If nudity is acceptable behavior, then it would be hard to prohibit such behavior.
--andoy
Thursday, December 09, 2004
Trainings
I'm currently training another agent again. And continuing the training of the earlier one, or rather, a sort of re-training. The first agent has not passed his verbal exams yet. He is still getting lost in the problems solving and he still has lapses in grammar. The QA thinks it can be attributed to the overwhelming amount of data he has to learn. A matter of sheer volume he has to know before he should be taking any calls. A lady CSA opines frankly that the trainee is a little slow. Plus he has a problem with complying with the break schedules; almost always goes over break or forgets about logging in or logging his breaks.
So far, he has been given three final verbal exams, and in all these instances he has flunked them, because he gets lost in the shuffle, not immediately getting the caller's real problem and, hence, takes too much time trying to find a solution. He dances to the solution instead of going straight and giving the caller the solution. He has been given the opportunity to receive calls to get his feet wet. But even if the problems cited are almost always the same, he has not yet gotten to the point where he can answer these questions and get solid scores from the QA.
After three training days the new trainee is still groping. I know he is overwhelmed, although he has not admitted it yet. What worries me is that he practically has no hands-on experience trouble shooting on the PC. His work experience is on the Mac.
Both of them are not really hardware kind of guys so work needs to be done there. They need all the practical experience they can get. I cannot be faulted for not supporting these two guys. However, the question remains, are these the right type of agents for the job at hand?
--andoy
So far, he has been given three final verbal exams, and in all these instances he has flunked them, because he gets lost in the shuffle, not immediately getting the caller's real problem and, hence, takes too much time trying to find a solution. He dances to the solution instead of going straight and giving the caller the solution. He has been given the opportunity to receive calls to get his feet wet. But even if the problems cited are almost always the same, he has not yet gotten to the point where he can answer these questions and get solid scores from the QA.
After three training days the new trainee is still groping. I know he is overwhelmed, although he has not admitted it yet. What worries me is that he practically has no hands-on experience trouble shooting on the PC. His work experience is on the Mac.
Both of them are not really hardware kind of guys so work needs to be done there. They need all the practical experience they can get. I cannot be faulted for not supporting these two guys. However, the question remains, are these the right type of agents for the job at hand?
--andoy
Sunday, December 05, 2004
After Yoyong
This time, we had no flooding in our neighborhood. It was very windy though. Good thing the storm came into the country on my day off. I was at home, sleeping it through. My brother got caught in the office during the storm and did double shift because the succeeding shift was not at full strength (due to storm induced absences).
I just hope that that's the last storm for the year. It was kind of weird that three typhoons came into the country one after the other this late in the year. Normally, any storms coming in would be "solitary storms." Or, like the first in the series, just stop in its tracks and dissipate.
--andoy, 5 December 2004
I just hope that that's the last storm for the year. It was kind of weird that three typhoons came into the country one after the other this late in the year. Normally, any storms coming in would be "solitary storms." Or, like the first in the series, just stop in its tracks and dissipate.
--andoy, 5 December 2004
Thursday, December 02, 2004
Another Typhoon
We've got another typhoon coming in. It's a late comer being the 20th for the year, and just fits the average number of storms for any given year. But this would be the strongest for the year. Good thing it's coming in during December with the prevailing winds being from the Northwest. If it came in during the regular rainy season monsoon, it would have been a stronger storm.
Typhoon Yoyong
The last typhoon had me waking up in bed with the waters seeping in from the walls. I had to go to work early in short pants, waded the flooded streets and changed clothing at the office. This time around, I'm on my day off. That storm practically ended the Christmas season for a lot of tiangge shops at the Riverside Christmas Tiangge. At it's highest level, the Marikina river covered the tops of the shop tents.
--andoy, 2 December 2004
Typhoon Yoyong
The last typhoon had me waking up in bed with the waters seeping in from the walls. I had to go to work early in short pants, waded the flooded streets and changed clothing at the office. This time around, I'm on my day off. That storm practically ended the Christmas season for a lot of tiangge shops at the Riverside Christmas Tiangge. At it's highest level, the Marikina river covered the tops of the shop tents.
--andoy, 2 December 2004
"Despair"
My friend is going to attend a Comics Convention as "Despair" (from Neil Gaiman’s “Sandman”). As she described the character, Despair is a fat naked lady with tattoos who has mirrors, and when somebody despondent or feeling low is looking at the mirror that person would see Despair instead looking back. Since the costume guidelines are strict about nudity, she’d most probably be wearing a bodysuit with tattoos.
In my experience, Despair can be considered a funny character. Someone who appears only if the person is in a funk. Definitely not a fair-weather friend, but maybe not even a real friend.
In a way, I was like Despair to some of my friends. When they are at an emotional low, I have been known to suddenly appear. Not that they see me only when they are despondent. But maybe, I was just lucky and was there when they needed somebody to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on. Or maybe I was always there and they just remembered I was there only when they needed me. Like Despair, there have been a lot of times I was the person “they saw in the mirror.”
I have not been in that situation for a long time. That job is for young people with time on their hands. I have not had the opportunity to be with my friends for a long, long time. Although I have been making some sort of effort lately to touch base with them.
I can understand Despair. I don’t feed on such emotions. I do not exist because friends need me when they are emotionally low. I am not a battery charger who listens and recharges the speaker. Neither am I a handkerchief wiping away tears, although they are sometimes prompted to cry when I am beside them. Maybe I caused the tears the fall. Maybe they feel brave enough to trust me with their tears. I am not a mirror echoing their needs and their wants. Nor am I a mirror showing who they are at their lowest point. I am not a repository of lost longings.
I have been a friend as I still am a friend who was there when my friends needed to cry and not be ashamed of crying. Whether in a crowded restaurant, an empty donut shop, a coffee bar, under a tree past midnight, commuting in a jeep or hugging and crying on the sidewalk of EDSA, or in the middle of a corridor of a busy office, I have seen friends cry. It is not something I particularly like, but it happens that I was there when they needed to cry. I have learned through the years to be stoic about this and their needs. I may not have always been sympathetic to their issues, but I have been empathic. Admittedly, it is tiring. There were days when I feel diminished because I could not help. Neither could I give any advice. I can only listen. I could only appear as a presence. And maybe, I would be remembered as “someone who was there when needed.”
For a long time, none of these happened to me. I was alone. I was happy because my friends were happy. Life still had its ups and downs, for them as for me. But I was happy because there was no need to “be there.” Nobody sought me out. And I did not need to seek out anyone.
I think the cycle is complete. It has run its course, and I am back as Despair. The listener “who was there.” I am not complaining. Just part of being a friend, I guess.
--andoy, 2 December 2004
In my experience, Despair can be considered a funny character. Someone who appears only if the person is in a funk. Definitely not a fair-weather friend, but maybe not even a real friend.
In a way, I was like Despair to some of my friends. When they are at an emotional low, I have been known to suddenly appear. Not that they see me only when they are despondent. But maybe, I was just lucky and was there when they needed somebody to talk to, or a shoulder to cry on. Or maybe I was always there and they just remembered I was there only when they needed me. Like Despair, there have been a lot of times I was the person “they saw in the mirror.”
I have not been in that situation for a long time. That job is for young people with time on their hands. I have not had the opportunity to be with my friends for a long, long time. Although I have been making some sort of effort lately to touch base with them.
I can understand Despair. I don’t feed on such emotions. I do not exist because friends need me when they are emotionally low. I am not a battery charger who listens and recharges the speaker. Neither am I a handkerchief wiping away tears, although they are sometimes prompted to cry when I am beside them. Maybe I caused the tears the fall. Maybe they feel brave enough to trust me with their tears. I am not a mirror echoing their needs and their wants. Nor am I a mirror showing who they are at their lowest point. I am not a repository of lost longings.
I have been a friend as I still am a friend who was there when my friends needed to cry and not be ashamed of crying. Whether in a crowded restaurant, an empty donut shop, a coffee bar, under a tree past midnight, commuting in a jeep or hugging and crying on the sidewalk of EDSA, or in the middle of a corridor of a busy office, I have seen friends cry. It is not something I particularly like, but it happens that I was there when they needed to cry. I have learned through the years to be stoic about this and their needs. I may not have always been sympathetic to their issues, but I have been empathic. Admittedly, it is tiring. There were days when I feel diminished because I could not help. Neither could I give any advice. I can only listen. I could only appear as a presence. And maybe, I would be remembered as “someone who was there when needed.”
For a long time, none of these happened to me. I was alone. I was happy because my friends were happy. Life still had its ups and downs, for them as for me. But I was happy because there was no need to “be there.” Nobody sought me out. And I did not need to seek out anyone.
I think the cycle is complete. It has run its course, and I am back as Despair. The listener “who was there.” I am not complaining. Just part of being a friend, I guess.
--andoy, 2 December 2004
Halik Sa Noo
Halik Sa Noo
Papa-alis na ako nang kita’y hinalikan sa noo
Tanging alay sa ating bagong pagkakakilala
Halik na nagpaparatig ng pag-iingat sa paghihiwalay
Labi na haplos sa saloobing basà ng magkaka-dugo
Magka-dugong turing nga
Hindi lamang magkaibigang noon lang nagkakilala
Ngunit magkapatid, mag-anak
At kasama sa salinlahi ng adhikain
Nakikita kita na lumalabay-labay sa aking noon ay pasyalan
Wari ko ay napag-iwanan at napaglakihan ko na itong kapirasong mundong ito
Aaminin ko na hija
Hindi pala
Lagi at lagi na lang na nanunumbalik sa akin
Ang landas na ito na aking natahak na
At natatago ng malalim nitong matagal na panahon
Pareho tayo ng tulak ng puso
Ukol sa malawak na pirasong lupang ito
Itong sangkalawakan ng mga kataga at salita
Na ngayon mo pa lamang natutuktok
Habang ako naman ay nagpapanumbalik
Sa pagdaplis sa iyong noo
Aking pag-sang ayon sa iyong
Isip maglayag at kumawala ng walang takot
Sa mundo ng pahiwatig kuro at himig
Ang pagdampi ng labi ko sa noo mo
Pagsang-ayon ng pareho nating ibig
--andoy.2004.12.02
Papa-alis na ako nang kita’y hinalikan sa noo
Tanging alay sa ating bagong pagkakakilala
Halik na nagpaparatig ng pag-iingat sa paghihiwalay
Labi na haplos sa saloobing basà ng magkaka-dugo
Magka-dugong turing nga
Hindi lamang magkaibigang noon lang nagkakilala
Ngunit magkapatid, mag-anak
At kasama sa salinlahi ng adhikain
Nakikita kita na lumalabay-labay sa aking noon ay pasyalan
Wari ko ay napag-iwanan at napaglakihan ko na itong kapirasong mundong ito
Aaminin ko na hija
Hindi pala
Lagi at lagi na lang na nanunumbalik sa akin
Ang landas na ito na aking natahak na
At natatago ng malalim nitong matagal na panahon
Pareho tayo ng tulak ng puso
Ukol sa malawak na pirasong lupang ito
Itong sangkalawakan ng mga kataga at salita
Na ngayon mo pa lamang natutuktok
Habang ako naman ay nagpapanumbalik
Sa pagdaplis sa iyong noo
Aking pag-sang ayon sa iyong
Isip maglayag at kumawala ng walang takot
Sa mundo ng pahiwatig kuro at himig
Ang pagdampi ng labi ko sa noo mo
Pagsang-ayon ng pareho nating ibig
--andoy.2004.12.02
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