What's going on, in easy numbered sections
#1 - No more wireless at work. Though our wireless network was never impressive (a few scattered Airport base stations around the office), it was darn handy and allowed us to make some network connections that otherwise would have been a hassle. Everyone loves wi-fi, especially when at a strange hotel or coffee shop, or when visiting a colleague's office building. There hasn't been a single laptop (and darn few desktops) purchased here in the last two years that hasn't had a wireless card in it. It's part of the standard "bulk buy" computer package. So of course, the Department of the Interior has to ruin the party by outlawing wi-fi connections to government computers wholesale. Not only are we not allowed to set up wi-fi networks in the office (even on non-secure networks, like the business-class RoadRunner service we have that is completely separate from our internal government network), but we are forbidden from using them on our computers in any situation. At home, in a hotel, at another office -- it's all outlawed.
Way to go, guys. Rather than try to apply stricter security practices to an already wildly popular service, thereby controlling some of the damage, you've elected to ignore the problem by creating a rule that will a) piss people off at work and b) get totally ignored when those same users are elsewhere. There's no way to enforce this rule, so it's the policy by which no one will abide.
#2 - I'm switching offices. It's not that big a deal and the reasons for the switch are too involved to go into here, but when all is said and done I'll have a new office mate (who will need to be educated about the evils of fluorescent lighting) and I'll be sitting where Tim sat back in the "good old days." It won't happen until after we get back from Europe, thankfully.
#3 - Christina ends her stint with the elementary school today, which means she also ends one of her two part-time jobs. The other one ends in September (supposedly), so we're looking down the barrel of some decisions. Nothing is set in stone, but it's looking like a choice between Austin TX and Seattle, both of which are too far West for my comfort. Other possibilities exist in D.C. and New Jersey, but as I understand it they are for less desirable positions.
I've already done the math with some cost-of-living calculators. See if you can figure out which one I'm leaning towards. Christina knows this already and I've done my best not to put a bunch of pressure on her, but her advisor really wants her to take the more prestigious position in Seattle (should she be offered it) so she's being pulled in two directions.
This is probably more than I should have written about this in a (semi-) public forum, but things are coming to a head. It's like being pregnant (or so I have been led to believe): we don't really plan on talking about what offers are actually on the table and what we're going to do about them (especially not on the net) until that decision is made. So the next you hear about it will likely be the actual announcement of where we're going to end up.
#4: The Switzerland/Italy trip is just about a week away, and I feel like I haven't prepared for it. Certainly I don't know any phrases in German or Italian (except maybe "Gesundheit" and "Ciao, bella!"), and I know absolutely nothing about what I might like to do in either of those countries. I'm letting my travel-mates (Christina, her dad John, and stepmom Mary) make the decisions. I do, however, have a kickass pair of hiking boots that I've been breaking in for a couple of months and some even better luggage, so I guess there's that.
Way to go, guys. Rather than try to apply stricter security practices to an already wildly popular service, thereby controlling some of the damage, you've elected to ignore the problem by creating a rule that will a) piss people off at work and b) get totally ignored when those same users are elsewhere. There's no way to enforce this rule, so it's the policy by which no one will abide.
#2 - I'm switching offices. It's not that big a deal and the reasons for the switch are too involved to go into here, but when all is said and done I'll have a new office mate (who will need to be educated about the evils of fluorescent lighting) and I'll be sitting where Tim sat back in the "good old days." It won't happen until after we get back from Europe, thankfully.
#3 - Christina ends her stint with the elementary school today, which means she also ends one of her two part-time jobs. The other one ends in September (supposedly), so we're looking down the barrel of some decisions. Nothing is set in stone, but it's looking like a choice between Austin TX and Seattle, both of which are too far West for my comfort. Other possibilities exist in D.C. and New Jersey, but as I understand it they are for less desirable positions.
I've already done the math with some cost-of-living calculators. See if you can figure out which one I'm leaning towards. Christina knows this already and I've done my best not to put a bunch of pressure on her, but her advisor really wants her to take the more prestigious position in Seattle (should she be offered it) so she's being pulled in two directions.
This is probably more than I should have written about this in a (semi-) public forum, but things are coming to a head. It's like being pregnant (or so I have been led to believe): we don't really plan on talking about what offers are actually on the table and what we're going to do about them (especially not on the net) until that decision is made. So the next you hear about it will likely be the actual announcement of where we're going to end up.
#4: The Switzerland/Italy trip is just about a week away, and I feel like I haven't prepared for it. Certainly I don't know any phrases in German or Italian (except maybe "Gesundheit" and "Ciao, bella!"), and I know absolutely nothing about what I might like to do in either of those countries. I'm letting my travel-mates (Christina, her dad John, and stepmom Mary) make the decisions. I do, however, have a kickass pair of hiking boots that I've been breaking in for a couple of months and some even better luggage, so I guess there's that.
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