tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post7152130537184134390..comments2023-10-10T22:40:19.027-05:00Comments on Across the Blood-Brain Barrier: Interactive Formmetaspencerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12097953494469411691noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-3158516474537028402007-01-10T01:03:00.000-06:002007-01-10T01:03:00.000-06:00The culture of territoriality in academia is indee...The culture of territoriality in academia is indeed perplexing. ToT has a theory that it arises from the intense competition for the dearth of funds available for this or that, so when someone gains power, influence, or funding they hold onto it furiously (and fight furiously to take it from others).<br /><br />But why professional janitorial staff can't simply do their jobs in a university environment is bizarre. It's akin to secretaries having to post notices on mailboxes for permission to deliver departmental mail.<br /><br />As an aside, my cleaning lady has been in janitorial professionally for over 15 years. I use the term professionally quite intentionally: she is a complete pro. She knows the nuances of cleaning different surfaces and dirtinesses, what materials to use, what techniques work most efficiently. She knows how to wax a floor with a machine or by hand. She can make the faucets in my bathtub shine the way only she can make them. I have no idea how she does it. And it takes her 2 hours to make my house as clean as I couldn't quite in 8 hours. I marvel at her and pay her more per hour than I earn...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-72421847930691667272007-01-09T16:33:00.000-06:002007-01-09T16:33:00.000-06:00and following along w/ that, tt: why don't the flo...and following along w/ that, tt: why don't the floor waxers simply have the autonomy to do their job!? instead, they need to ask us if it's okay to wax the floors? what a sad sitchmetaspencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097953494469411691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-61206286524957827362007-01-09T16:31:00.000-06:002007-01-09T16:31:00.000-06:00I love (i.e. hate) how bureaucratized academic set...I love (i.e. hate) how bureaucratized academic settings are, even down to<br />the floor wax. I'm actually offended by it.<br /><br />The one thing that struck me about this very interesting note (printed in<br />Courier, or on a typewriter?) is that, in fact, this kind of document has no<br />equivalent outside academia. This genre is specific to that environment.<br /><br />In a business setting, by contrast, you would not have message posted to<br />your office or cubical, you would not receive an e-mail. Your floor would<br />simply get waxed. If something were in the way, they would work around it,<br />or skip your space entirely until next time. It's kind of like putting out<br />your garbage on the curb: either you accomodate, or your garbage doesn't get<br />picked up.<br /><br />I don't mean to defend the business world over the ivory tower (though at<br />times I do, though at times I do the converse), but this is in instance<br />where I have to wonder: How much money was wasted on paper, ink, and tape to<br />put these on x thousand doors? How much money was wasted on person-hours<br />used to have someone go around post these--and then keep track of the<br />results? People wonder why the price of education is going up. It's because<br />of the myriad little silliness like this.<br /><br />Of course, since I work at home, I have very little bureaucracy. But when<br />the cleaning lady comes, I get the hell out of her way! :-) ttAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-67776610649477535692007-01-09T13:34:00.000-06:002007-01-09T13:34:00.000-06:00Ha! :)Ha! :)metaspencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097953494469411691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-91279918142769156952007-01-09T12:39:00.000-06:002007-01-09T12:39:00.000-06:00There's something about a note stuck to the door t...There's something about a note stuck to the door that lends it gravitas. It worked for Luther, anyway.Lancehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14530215510224882172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-77106851123458160342007-01-09T06:29:00.000-06:002007-01-09T06:29:00.000-06:00you just made me dribble my coffeeyou just made me dribble my coffeedhawheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04587885481577365329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-33822570018215754522007-01-08T18:29:00.000-06:002007-01-08T18:29:00.000-06:00I made a new blank with handwritten text beside it...I made a new blank with handwritten text beside it reading "Help me! I'm trapped in my office!"metaspencerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12097953494469411691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6916114.post-3560901129536640282007-01-08T17:05:00.000-06:002007-01-08T17:05:00.000-06:00But the crucial question is this: you checking YES...But the crucial question is this: you checking YES or NO???dhawheehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04587885481577365329noreply@blogger.com