Random stupid

Apparently you can pass a bill in Congress without actually voting on the bill by using some legislative "trick"

Under this tactic, the House could simultaneously approve the Senate version of the bill while voting on the package of changes. This would "deem" the Senate bill passed, though not directly show members voting in favor of passage.

Full Article: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/03/16/pelosi-plan-pass-health-care-traditional-vote-riles-critics/

Yeah, I know.  It's Fox and some don't like it.  You can find it elsewhere too.

Apparently you cannot take a wireless mouse on an airplane anymore:  http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Staff Caller: "I'm sending email to this distribution list and no one is getting the email"
Help Desk Guy "Are you sure you are sending to the correct list name?"
Staff Caller: "Absolutely"  Gives list name, Help Desk Guy looks into it.  3 members of the given list name
Staff Caller: "That's not right, there should be about 80 members"
Help Desk Guy: "You are sure you have the right list?"
Staff Caller: "Yes"
Help Desk Guy checks with Applications Guy who maintains the lists.  
Apps Guy "She's sending to the wrong list"

I have no response to that...

There was a power outage in the one of the buildings over a recent weekend.  When that happens we normally expect some power supplies to fail, particularly with one model of computer we have (mostly phased out now, thankfully) The early Monday morning Help Desk Guy is now prepared for "my computer will not turn on" calls, so there's no surprise that the first call of the day starts with...

Faculty Caller: "My computer is not working"
Help Desk Guy: "What's it doing?"
Faculty Caller: "Nothing the screen is black"
Help Desk Guy: "Did you try turning it back on after the power outage?"
Faculty Caller: "There was a power outage?"
Help Desk Guy: "Yes, it was planned, Facilities sent out several emails about it last week"
Faculty Caller: "Why do I have to turn it back on?"
Help Desk Guy: uh... buh... *brain lock*

Why...

Faculty Caller: " I have a Gateway2000 computer at home, running Windows 2000. It takes a long time to boot up. Any idea why?"
Help Desk Guy: "..."

Caller has a PhD in Physics...

Failure to plan...

Failure to plan ahead on your part does NOT constitute and emergency on our part.  DO NOT call 10 minutes before your project is due (that you have known about for 6 weeks) and throw a fit because the one piece of software that you need is not installed on the computer you normally use.  DO NOT wait until the last minute to start your project and find the license has expired for the software that you need. And if a piece of software is not working on any computer in the room, re-installing it elsewhere is not likely to solve your problem.

Faculty Caller:"My computer is not working (goes on to list symptoms thankfully), it has to be fixed today though."
Help Desk Guy:"How long has it been doing this?"
Faculty Caller:"About 3 weeks, but I never called.  It has to be done today though, I have this very important thing that has to get done today"
Help Desk Guy *looks at his watch* 345 on a Friday afternoon Not bloody likely "I'll see what I can do"

Quickies

Student Caller: "Hey man, there's like smoke coming out the back of my computer is that bad?"
Two things make this more humorous.  I checked the student's user ID, and found that he was an Electrical Engineering major.  Junior.  When he brought his machine to our walk-in repair location, it smelled so bad that they had to leave it outside for a few days to air out.

Student Caller:"Hello, I'm stuck in the elevator in this building" 
IT Guy: "And you called IT for that?"
Student Caller:"I couldn't think of the Police Department's number"
It Guy:"Do you see the panel of buttons where you select what floor you want to go to?"
Student Caller:"Yes"
IT Guy:"If you will look directly above those buttons, you will see a poster for the Police Department.  Their number about 4 inches tall on that poster.  Also, you might look on the other side of the door from the buttons, and use the emergency phone, instead of your cell phone"
The police probably can't take the call anyway.  Their computer monitor is not working.

Faculty Caller: "My laptop won't turn on. When I press the button, nothing happens"
IT Guy: "Sounds like the battery may be dead or is defective.  Do you have the power cable plugged in?"
Faculty Caller: "It's wireless.  Why do I have to plug it in."
He was probably Mr Smoke's professor...

Did you really just say that?

I realize not everyone is technical, or even computer literate.  And I get that some who are very good at very technical things, don't really know much about the computer they use to do whatever fascinating thing they do.  I get it.  I really do get it.  BUT  If you want help, please try and be somewhat intelligent about asking for help, please?  Calling and saying "My computer is broken, fix it" doesn't work.  EVER.  We need a few details, like what is it doing or not doing.  Please don't be offended if we ask if it's plugged in or turned on.  Please check to see that the computer hasn't been moved before you call in a panic that your monitor isn't working.  (Yes, dear reader, that happened.  To make it even better, the call came from the POLICE DEPARTMENT on one of their own computers.  It was discovered by the technician that went to see what was wrong with the monitor.) 

Look at it this way.  If you take your car to the repair shop, can you really just hand the mechanic the key and say "Fix it" or do you have to spend a few minutes describing some symptoms?  Do you yell at the mechanic when he asks if that noise happens only when you turn or does it do it all the time?  If you do, you have other problems, and I understand better why you yelled at me when I asked a question about your computer.  The reason is fairly simple actually.  You are a jerk. 

Please don't expect me to be clairvoyant.  I have no idea what mailbox you used to be a delegate of if you don't have any clue what the name of it was.  If you can remember part of the name, I might be able to get close, but saying "I used to have access, I have no idea what it was called, but you can fix it, right?" doesn't cut.  Neither does getting huffy when I ask you what the mailbox was called. 

That's all I got for today.  If I gave it all to ya at once, you'd not come back would ya?

Hiya

Several people have suggested that I start this, if nothing else for the personal therapy. I work at an IT Help Desk at a technical university. The emphasis on "technical" is important here. These are supposed to be technical people that my coworkers and I talk to on a regular basis. This is important to remember as this blog progresses, assuming that it does progress. The basic point here is something along the lines of "I can't believe you just said that" and I hope you as readers will at least find amusement, if not enlighenment. Thanks for stopping by.