~sighs~

edited slightly to take my name out:

We've now received feedback from the faculty panel charged with the task of deciding which ahrc applications the university will be sending off in the week of April 21st. The reviewers' consensus on yours seems to be that it is good but definitely needs improving. Some of this is a matter of technicalities in the institutional statement, which I will deal with if you tell me you want to press on with the application. But they have comments on your own statement. Basically their view (and they are the ones who'll decide which of the many applications they see will be forwarded) is you need to rewrite it so that:

1) it gives more sense of the originality of your thesis
2) the style is a bit more rigorous (I think they mean give more sense of an overall argument), including critical reference to other philosophers in addition to Rawls.
3) give more detail of progress with the thesis made since you arrived - what conference papers and pieces of work ('draft chapters') you have written

Can you do this ? It is my duty to point out that, even if you do, you may well not get past this internal hurdle (it is likely that the panel will end up making their final decisions in a fairly mechanical way on the basis of BA & MA degree results and there will be plenty of applications for the doctoral award from people with firsts and MA distinctions). On the other hand, it is also my duty to emphasise that you are in with a chance (I can't state it precisely other than to say that, although below 50/50, it is a real chance). It's your call. I will support you if you wish to continue. If you do can you send me a new personal statement by the end of next week? Please don't send it in docx! I suggest you give a brief statement of the overall topic and then provide what is in effect a draft thesis plan (a useful exercise in itself!) which will serve as an overall argument, indicating what you have written so far (draft chapters and conference papers) and preliminary conclusions. You have made progress since writing the statement they have seen, so I think this should be do-able. Let me know what you think.

*pissed*

Three months ago, my boss asked me to identify a project that I could present a paper at a conference in London this October. It would be a great experience for me and help me network in the oilfield and gas industry.

I found a good project, got testing started so I'll have data early enough to pull things together. Today I received an e-mail that my paper was accepted for the conference. Since we're 70% automotive and American Axle is on strike, we've been on severe travel restrictions (among other assinine cutbacks). I forward the acceptance letter to my boss and ask if it's likely I'll be approved to travel to this in October. His response: No. Sorry. I don't agree with it, but you know what we're dealing with.

It's not like I was fishing for a vacation to Europe. He fucking asked me to attend. Improve my presentation skills. Allow me to form some networks.

I don't even know if I'm allowed to continue my masters program this fall. $3000 and they are questioning it? Fuck you. You're not developing talent. I'm in the wrong industry.

*hugs Matt*

And now I get to question the integrity of a data report of an outside testing lab that is doing for us. Bring the lawyers in and tell them we're not paying you $50,000 for your work because of gross incompetence.

Can this day get any better?

*beats Matt Cable's bosses to a bloody pulp*

*hugs matt*

I am using the 666th reply to say:

Keep your personal lives out of your jobs, you dumb fucks. I don't really care who you're screwing here, just don't let it interfere with your work.

Don't you DARE accuse me of not putting enough effort into my job! Anyone who knows me KNOWS how dedicated I am to these kids and how the kids have been the sole reason on MANY occasions that I haven't just walked out and not looked back. If you feel I'm not putting enough effort into one particular student, maybe that's because there are OVER A HUNDRED that I am trying to help and I am at my limit. So go to hell and take your fucking "sent a copy to the boss too" email with you.

okay, lay all the blame for your skipping work on your daughter who is sick and in pain. you do that.

but I know that your daughter's only sick because you wouldn't make her go to the doctor after she was raped. and I know that your other (adult) daughter is home with nothing to do and could have taken care of your sick daughter.

I also know that all of a sudden you just had to miss work...right when I'm back on first shift and you don't have to be here for the place to be covered anymore. and I know that all this just managed to take place when ginormous changes were being instituted around here that made for complete and total chaos during the two days you were absent.

on top of that, I know that you have a new boyfriend and that your weekend was really spent in sexcapades, not in caring for your sick daughter (and I know that thanks to your loud-mouthed best friend).

and lastly, I know that you think you're entitled to these two unscheduled days off because you worked overtime for the past two months and did extra work. but you worked three hours of overtime a day because you didn't want to share it (and thus came in early when I could've stayed late) and because you wanted the money (and thus didn't leave after eight work hours when you could have). and the only extra work you did was a measly half hour's worth that I could not do on third shift; I did all the rest of the work.

so stuff it up your ass.

SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

(I know this is a tiny thing compared to some of the other workplace rants here, but I have to let off some steam.)

I've been telling you for a freaking MONTH that we need receipt tape for the credit card machine. Have you gotten any yet? Of course not! Now, I'm halfway through running credit cards for the month's tuition and I'm out of receipt tape!!! Now what the fuck do you want me to do??

Not good, not good at all.

quote:

Originally posted by Matt Cable:
SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS

Sounds like someone I used to work with. (Two people, now that I think of it).

My condolences, and do your best to remember they're probably not worth the push. (On the other hand, document enough stuff and maybe the jury would let you off in sympathy ).

Gr.

I work here. I am not the personal message service for every dance and music parent that walks in the door. If you have a message for another parent, you need to call them and tell them yourself. There are 530 students here. I don't know each and every parent individually to give them a message. And I have my own work to do, thank you very much.

Actually, this is funny, not ranty.

My boss just wrote us an email: "would anyone like to step in for me and moderate a discussion of HR-Professionals on Wednesday, 6.30 pm? Topic: I forgot."

I think I like your boss, BtB.

Not quite a rant either, but: I wish I hadn't accepted the kind-of-promotion-but-not-quite.

oh dear, why not?

and it's good to see you, even if it's a not-quite-rant.
*hug!*

No need to rant for me.

I turned in my resignation!

Only 2 1/2 weeks left.

How come, Fashpo?

My boss gave me the lamest reasons for not giving me a raise in December - basically all of them directly related to me having young children, and none of them having to do with my results or qualifications.

I immediately started looking for a new job after that day. When I started getting a little depressed after not getting called in for an interview for a job I really wanted, my husband suggested that I just quit. And it was a great piece of advice.

Although he was highly entertained by my tales of their complete and utter lack of leadership, the mediocracy of my colleauges, etc., he could tell that I just wasn't happy there.

So after I quit, I'm using all of my vacation pay at once while I decide if I want to go back to school in the fall or start applying for new jobs.