Dog mess bins.
Seriously, there are none.
When I lived in Swansea, you had dog mess bins every couple of blocks plus there were places where you could get free bags along the beach so you could clean up after your hound. The streets were pleasant and the city looked cared for.
Newport.
Hmm.
I guess no one does care but still...
I once took my dog out for a walk and he performed about 10 minutes in to the adventure. I (obviously) cleaned up after him but there was no bin. I actually walked 3 miles before I found any bins and this was just a regular one at a bus stop, not a doggie one. No wonder the streets are filthy!
There are places I will not walk any more because it is just so dirty. In fact, the next street over from me is so piled high with crap that you can no longer walk on the pavements. People can't think this is acceptable!
The council need to invest in some bins and actually enforce the fines for people who do not clear up after their dogs. The revenue from that would easily finance the cost of the new bins. This little effort would create a city of responsible dog owners and make Newport look like someone believes the city is not going to die.
Come on, now.
I'll even sponsor a dozen bins if it helps.
Saturday, 11 February 2012
Sunday, 5 February 2012
Life in a call centre, Part 27
Been a long time, my dears!
The problem with this series is I lack inspiration now that I work in a totally different environment. The anger I felt at the call centre has diminished over time and I would not be true to the tell-all nature of this series if I tried to force it.
Today, however, I remembered one thing that haunts many companies these days.
Facebook.
On my first day at the call centre, I was warned to be very careful what I did on Facebook. As it happened, I was not actually on there at that time. I soon started hearing the stories, though...
Two newbies had joined the company in the induction before mine. End of day one, they both had a rather public discussion about how shit the company was. They were gone by day two.
Many long-term relationships were destroyed due to tagged photos from the staff Christmas party...
But that is all small and pretty standard for most companies.
The best involved one of the ladies from the finance department...
She was fucking rude. Plain and simple. That too. Hell, she had owned (and used) the same handbag since 1988. She would get on the phone and basically shout at you. She was also prone to making very serious mistakes but she had been there forever and no one seemed to want to do anything about her...
Until one day one smart guy decided to set up a Facebook tribute group for her. It was filled with all of her best quotes and a few unflattering photos. Oh how we laughed! But that is cyber-bullying and the company had to act. They were unable to find out who was behind it so they did the next best thing; any staff member that "liked" the group got presented with a stage one disciplinary. Yeah, that seems fair...
Eventually the group disappeared but only after a memo went out, stating that any further Facebook fun would get us fired...
Spoil sports, the lot of them...
The problem with this series is I lack inspiration now that I work in a totally different environment. The anger I felt at the call centre has diminished over time and I would not be true to the tell-all nature of this series if I tried to force it.
Today, however, I remembered one thing that haunts many companies these days.
Facebook.
On my first day at the call centre, I was warned to be very careful what I did on Facebook. As it happened, I was not actually on there at that time. I soon started hearing the stories, though...
Two newbies had joined the company in the induction before mine. End of day one, they both had a rather public discussion about how shit the company was. They were gone by day two.
Many long-term relationships were destroyed due to tagged photos from the staff Christmas party...
But that is all small and pretty standard for most companies.
The best involved one of the ladies from the finance department...
She was fucking rude. Plain and simple. That too. Hell, she had owned (and used) the same handbag since 1988. She would get on the phone and basically shout at you. She was also prone to making very serious mistakes but she had been there forever and no one seemed to want to do anything about her...
Until one day one smart guy decided to set up a Facebook tribute group for her. It was filled with all of her best quotes and a few unflattering photos. Oh how we laughed! But that is cyber-bullying and the company had to act. They were unable to find out who was behind it so they did the next best thing; any staff member that "liked" the group got presented with a stage one disciplinary. Yeah, that seems fair...
Eventually the group disappeared but only after a memo went out, stating that any further Facebook fun would get us fired...
Spoil sports, the lot of them...
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Facebook ads
I cannot be the only person who has noticed that the Facebook ads that appear down the right hand side of your screen are getting more and more invasive. I am sure you only used to get two or three but they seem to be multiplying at an alarming rate...
Today's selection include a Capital One credit card that demands I APPLY NOW because THE CLOCK IS TICKING. No. Then we have O2 suggesting we make a Facebook poll to help us decide what smartphone to get. I assume this is aimed at people too stupid to do independent research on Google... Ooh then there is eBookers with their "Only 1 days to go". One days until what? Until you can hire someone that understands basic English?
Moving on...
"A diet trick that has helped celebrities lose 1 stone per week". Wow. That sounds... healthy... There are also ads for BBC learn Spanish (I am listed as fluent on my profile), learn to sail in Greece, and hair dye.
What I don't get is that Google are able to tailor their ads to suit your profile in gmail. As Facebook evidently cannot survive without the revenue, why can they not do the same? I mean, I would still ignore the ads but I find unsafe diets and general vacuousness annoying...
The classic one was this, of course -
Umm... what? You insert it into your vagina. Why does it matter what colour it is? Are the dyes used even safe? Mooncup comes in one colour. You don't need more than that. It is not a fashion accessory, after-all.
I have never been one for adverts at the best of times but fuck me, Facebook, you can do better than this!
Today's selection include a Capital One credit card that demands I APPLY NOW because THE CLOCK IS TICKING. No. Then we have O2 suggesting we make a Facebook poll to help us decide what smartphone to get. I assume this is aimed at people too stupid to do independent research on Google... Ooh then there is eBookers with their "Only 1 days to go". One days until what? Until you can hire someone that understands basic English?
Moving on...
"A diet trick that has helped celebrities lose 1 stone per week". Wow. That sounds... healthy... There are also ads for BBC learn Spanish (I am listed as fluent on my profile), learn to sail in Greece, and hair dye.
What I don't get is that Google are able to tailor their ads to suit your profile in gmail. As Facebook evidently cannot survive without the revenue, why can they not do the same? I mean, I would still ignore the ads but I find unsafe diets and general vacuousness annoying...
The classic one was this, of course -
Discover Fleurcup!
Discover the many advantages of the menstrual cup Flerucup for only 14,99 (around £13). Available in 6 colours and 2 sizes".
Umm... what? You insert it into your vagina. Why does it matter what colour it is? Are the dyes used even safe? Mooncup comes in one colour. You don't need more than that. It is not a fashion accessory, after-all.
I have never been one for adverts at the best of times but fuck me, Facebook, you can do better than this!
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
So I'm in love
It is completely irrational - he's not my type, I am too busy/too independent to have a man in my life, we both have too many issues - but it cannot be suppressed.
I haven't been in love that often; I have only actually ever loved two of the men I have dated. Most of my relationships were based on casual shared interests and a desire to have fun.
Mike was different. I would have had his children, moved half way across the world, given up my education... It was not meant to be in the end, though. We realised it was not the right time for us and we both moved on. I still hold him in my heart but we could never be more than friends.
Tony... not so much... We shared a passionate, obsessional love. It was so intense that it nearly destroyed us both. We were both so broken by the end of the relationship that it completely changed our outlook on life, love, acceptable social behaviour... We now hate each other. I rebounded with a lovely guy but then realised I had to be alone. I consider myself healed but I am a changed person.
As for this new guy?
I haven't told him. Unsure if I ever will. If it develops naturally, then great. I wont force anything, though. He is injured too.
I am really quite difficult though; I maintain my own income and expenditure and am rather set in my ways - I can compromise but only if I see distinct benefits for myself. I will not have children and I doubt I will ever want to marry. I expect almost a level of servitude from my partner in return for absolute devotion.
I want to protect him and love him completely.
I don't know if he will let me.
We'll see.
I haven't been in love that often; I have only actually ever loved two of the men I have dated. Most of my relationships were based on casual shared interests and a desire to have fun.
Mike was different. I would have had his children, moved half way across the world, given up my education... It was not meant to be in the end, though. We realised it was not the right time for us and we both moved on. I still hold him in my heart but we could never be more than friends.
Tony... not so much... We shared a passionate, obsessional love. It was so intense that it nearly destroyed us both. We were both so broken by the end of the relationship that it completely changed our outlook on life, love, acceptable social behaviour... We now hate each other. I rebounded with a lovely guy but then realised I had to be alone. I consider myself healed but I am a changed person.
As for this new guy?
I haven't told him. Unsure if I ever will. If it develops naturally, then great. I wont force anything, though. He is injured too.
I am really quite difficult though; I maintain my own income and expenditure and am rather set in my ways - I can compromise but only if I see distinct benefits for myself. I will not have children and I doubt I will ever want to marry. I expect almost a level of servitude from my partner in return for absolute devotion.
I want to protect him and love him completely.
I don't know if he will let me.
We'll see.
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Well what a week...
I have been kinda busy... just kinda...
I worked last Sunday and the TM mentioned we'd had a few cases come in that needed to be dealt with.
Fine, I thought. I am very efficient and we have a large team.
First thing Monday, the girl I did not get on with was unceremoniously let go. Two other people had the week off. That reduced our numbers significantly. We had literally thousands of cases to get through.
So what did I do?
I worked a 75 hour week.
Not much else I could do, really. It was incredibly stressful and I ended up crying more than a few times but the work got done. There is still more outstanding so I have committed to another 75 hour week.
The pay next month is going to be fucking great!
It is incredibly frustrating at times, though, as others clearly do not feel they need to be doing work and fuck about instead of getting on with it. It puts more pressure on me and I end up getting very angry which in turn makes people think I am being unreasonable. All I can do is my own work, though, so I will keep my head down and keep going.
People that matter can see what is going on...
I worked last Sunday and the TM mentioned we'd had a few cases come in that needed to be dealt with.
Fine, I thought. I am very efficient and we have a large team.
First thing Monday, the girl I did not get on with was unceremoniously let go. Two other people had the week off. That reduced our numbers significantly. We had literally thousands of cases to get through.
So what did I do?
I worked a 75 hour week.
Not much else I could do, really. It was incredibly stressful and I ended up crying more than a few times but the work got done. There is still more outstanding so I have committed to another 75 hour week.
The pay next month is going to be fucking great!
It is incredibly frustrating at times, though, as others clearly do not feel they need to be doing work and fuck about instead of getting on with it. It puts more pressure on me and I end up getting very angry which in turn makes people think I am being unreasonable. All I can do is my own work, though, so I will keep my head down and keep going.
People that matter can see what is going on...
Monday, 9 January 2012
Saturday, 31 December 2011
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