Today's the meeting where we officially shed ourselves of half of my favorite people in my store. I might not be much longer for this.
45 thoughts on “April 5, 2014: The Meeting”
If it makes you feel better, I had to report my direct supervisor to the head of HR yesterday for creating an abusive work environment. We've been slammed by a combination of scheduled projects, new shows, favors, and a couple of emergency (if there is such a thing at a museum) situations that have been compounded by a lack of leadership, poor scheduling, and an inability to communicate effectively either in writing or verbally. My boss has always been quick to anger, but in the last month he has screamed at me for not completing tasks that were assigned to my other colleagues while simultaneously reminding me that I am not in the position to delegate responsibilities. He has created a tense and stressful working environment because he learned how to 'manage' from and even more vain and petty man. I'm sick about the whole thing, and, even worse, I'm now having that unique brand of midwestern anxiety that suggests I've done something wrong by reporting his behavior to HR.
Ugh. You have my wishes for a good HR.
Ugh, shit like that is tough. My wife was involved in a hostile work environment a few years ago and her bringing it to the director ended with her fired, which I know is probably not exactly reassuring for you. But, in that situation, the director was bat shit crazy and it sounds like those higher up in the food chain in your situation are much more reasonable, so I think you'll be just fine.
My current job is my first one with an HR department. My last one was hostile, and it was because of the administrator. I suppose I could have gone to the board and gotten fired.
And people wonder why it is so difficult to root out things like sexual harassment in the work place. Getting employees to complain formally about a supervisor is really hard because of all these institutional reasons.
Aye. I didn't get fired when I complained, but I did get put on an "improvement plan".
Wild Playoff Watch
Phoenix drops another point in a shootout loss, while Nashville holds on by their fingertips to their place in the race with a win.
Games tonight:
Pittsburgh @ Minnesota
Dallas @ Tampa Bay
Vancouver and Nashville both play as well, if Dallas and Phoenix keep losing, those games are going to get more and more relevant.
Rumors are flying that Stephen Colbert is the leading candidate to take over the Letterman show. He would be a worthy replacement.
The 19 year old me could not get enough of young Letterman's irreverent, ground-breaking show. Back then, his show wasn't shown until midnight in Fargo. I had to sit through a re-run of Laugh-In before it came on. But, man, was that show great. Larry "Bud" Melman, Chris Elliot, the lean band on the original show. Double breasted suits and tennis shoes. Loved it.
I would worry that Colbert would be too constrained by the talk show format. If he could continue doing the "Reporrr" in a bigger venue, great. Otherwise, someone like Kilborn might be better.
As smart as that dude is, I think he could pull of just about any format.
For those too young to remember Letterman on NBC, check out this interview.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtyxIfwoEns
And the next day:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDrBbreIpLU
That is truly amazing. I've seen it before, but I forgot about how contentious it was.
While Ferguson could probably adapt to a 10:30 slot, the weirdness of his 11:30 show would probably have to be toned down.
Also, I get the feeling Ferguson doesnt want to spend the next 15-20 years behind a desk sucking up to celebs. He has a couple of projects going including a syndicated game show slated to air in the fall
Just thinking about Gorgui Dieng. At the beginning of the season, he was a clumsy foul machine with almost no offensive game. He's not the greatest offensive player in the world now, but he moves without the ball so much better and he's a pretty good finisher. Rubio seems to find him all the time.
I remember when Pek was a clumsy foul machine who turned into this dynamic offensive force who absolutely cleaned up his foul tendencies.
Hmmm. Anyone else thinking that maybe the big fella sitting on the bench (Jack Sikma) might have something to do with both their transformations?
I can't wait until this year is over -- I'm really tired of all the "Derek Jeter and the Yankees" and want to go back to being really tired of all the "Yankees"
Dido. I can't find MLB highlights that are Jeter-free. He isn't even retiring for another six months. C'mon!
But all of the "last time Jeeetahhh will play in ___ in April!!!111one111!!!"
Fulham just took a 1-0 lead over Villa. Lovely buildup and nice finish by Richardson. It actually looked like they knew what they were doing.
Villa has drawn level. Terrible defending on the corner
That was heartbreaking. I don't know how Fulham didn't score. Great ball movement and an even better clearance off the line by Villa. Brad Guzan owes that dude all the beers.
The goal review system just showed about 99.98% of the ball over the line. Just twisting the knife.
GOAL! 2-1 Fulham
Please hang on for these last 5+.
WE WON! ON THE ROAD!
Sweet, sweet three points. Probably just enough to let a little hope back in, to make the eventual downfall all the more crushing.
David Thorpe, on what Gorgui means to the Wolves $:
It may sound blasphemous, but if OKC fails to get to the Finals this year with a healthy Russell Westbrook, is it too crazy to think about a Pekovic-for-Westbrook deal? A team with Pekovic surrounded by Serge Ibaka and Kevin Durant is a scary thought, and so is pairing Westbrook with Love and Dieng. With Pekovic's $12 million salary, Minnesota would have the room to bring in a star or some talented players.
What's Love got to do with it?
So now think about the Timberwolves and their franchise player, Kevin Love. He is on a team that, despite being at .500, has played like a 50-win team this season -- and that's while having the worst bench in the league and losing many players to injury.
If management could move Pekovic for a star, perhaps even through a sign-and-trade with a free agent (Luol Deng, for example), or for a few players who would significantly upgrade their bench, then those additions plus the expected improvement of both Dieng and Rubio could mean Minnesota ends up as this year's Portland. They'd have a real shot at winning 55 games next season.
Remember, this is a team that has outscored its opponents by 3.2 points per game this season -- a mark that ranks ninth in the league. The Wolves also have a lottery pick in a very deep and talented draft. In other words, they could be a strong playoff team next season with a bright future.
If ever a small-market team hoped to keep a talent like Love, they'd want to be in Minnesota's current situation. It would not be easy, or likely, for Love to leave that situation. But even without him, the Wolves would be in position to reboot -- they have plenty of good players who would bring draft picks and young talent in trades.
This is why Dieng is now the single most pivotal rookie in this class. His play may have literally given life to this franchise.
So, trading down to get Bazz and Dieng might just have turned out to be a stroke of genius.
At the end of this really disappointing season, I was really jazzed about last night's win over the Heat. And I'm really jazzed about Gorgui. I was literally yelling last night down the stretch: "Why don't they have Gorgui in there?" I realized that Miami was playing small and that having him out there would have created matchup problems for the Wolves, but man, I wanted to see the Wolves punish Miami on the offensive end by running PnR with Rickey and Gorgui.
I need help, folks. I am a Wolves addict.
Lots of nonsense from Henry Abbott here, but Thorpe is positively giddy about Gorgui.
If you trade for westbrook, what do you do with rickey? Westbrook needs the ball in his hands.
Interesting ideas, but not very workable, methinks.
You move Rickey for a shooter.
Seriously? OKC would consider trading Westbrook for Pek?
I doubt it, but if they did, the Wolves should absolutely make that happen. Westbrook is Love's buddy and he's a top ten player.
Definitely. I think i would do Pek and Rubio for Westbrook.
Yeah, that "top ten player" part is a big deal.
Which college team from the past ten years would make the best NBA team now? UCLA with Love & Westbrook ? Kentucky with Wall & Cousins? Texas with Durant, Augustin, and Abrams?
Florida with Al Horford, Noah, and Brewer in 2006, and Marreese Speights in 2007, can stake a claim.
UNC with Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Hansbrough, and Ty Lawson (lots of depth there) in 2010 and Ed Davis drafted in 2011.
UCLA with Love, Westbrook, and Mbah a Moute in 2007 and Darren Collison in 2008.
UK 2012: the Unibrow, Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller and Marquis Teague. That's a budding superstar and two starters.
But I'd go with UK 2010: Wall, Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, and Patrick Patterson.
It begins.....
Phil Miller @MillerStrib
6-man pen hard to get used to, Gardy said. Misses being able to plug Pressly into inning-eating situations. Couple 7-inn starts would help.
Or let relievers go longer than an inning.
I wonder if Joe Posnanski still thinks that Gardy is the best manager in the game.
Best part is that Arcia is out with a "sore hand" so he'll likely be unable to play for 9 days before he gets on the DL and Gardy will have a short-handed bench yet be clamoring for more relievers instead.
So let's make sure starters don't go more than 4 innings in spring training. Don't want to wear them down.
I forgot Harold Reynolds is back in the broadcast booth. yaaaaaaaay.
On as related note, it doesn't matter how crappy the game, I could listen to Vin Scully for days at a time. A 6-1 game, and I'm still hooked.
Not a good day on the farm for the Twins so far. New Britain loses 13-3 and Cedar Rapids loses the first game of a doubleheader 4-1. Rochester was rained out again. Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids Game Two are just starting. We'll cover it all in Minor Details tomorrow.
If it makes you feel better, I had to report my direct supervisor to the head of HR yesterday for creating an abusive work environment. We've been slammed by a combination of scheduled projects, new shows, favors, and a couple of emergency (if there is such a thing at a museum) situations that have been compounded by a lack of leadership, poor scheduling, and an inability to communicate effectively either in writing or verbally. My boss has always been quick to anger, but in the last month he has screamed at me for not completing tasks that were assigned to my other colleagues while simultaneously reminding me that I am not in the position to delegate responsibilities. He has created a tense and stressful working environment because he learned how to 'manage' from and even more vain and petty man. I'm sick about the whole thing, and, even worse, I'm now having that unique brand of midwestern anxiety that suggests I've done something wrong by reporting his behavior to HR.
Ugh. You have my wishes for a good HR.
Ugh, shit like that is tough. My wife was involved in a hostile work environment a few years ago and her bringing it to the director ended with her fired, which I know is probably not exactly reassuring for you. But, in that situation, the director was bat shit crazy and it sounds like those higher up in the food chain in your situation are much more reasonable, so I think you'll be just fine.
My current job is my first one with an HR department. My last one was hostile, and it was because of the administrator. I suppose I could have gone to the board and gotten fired.
And people wonder why it is so difficult to root out things like sexual harassment in the work place. Getting employees to complain formally about a supervisor is really hard because of all these institutional reasons.
Aye. I didn't get fired when I complained, but I did get put on an "improvement plan".
Wild Playoff Watch
Phoenix drops another point in a shootout loss, while Nashville holds on by their fingertips to their place in the race with a win.
MIN - 90 pts
PHX - 86 pts (WMN = 5)
-----------------
DAL - 85 pts (WMN = 8)
VAN - 79 pts (WMN = 0)
NSH - 79 pts (WMN = 0)
Games tonight:
Pittsburgh @ Minnesota
Dallas @ Tampa Bay
Vancouver and Nashville both play as well, if Dallas and Phoenix keep losing, those games are going to get more and more relevant.
Rumors are flying that Stephen Colbert is the leading candidate to take over the Letterman show. He would be a worthy replacement.
The 19 year old me could not get enough of young Letterman's irreverent, ground-breaking show. Back then, his show wasn't shown until midnight in Fargo. I had to sit through a re-run of Laugh-In before it came on. But, man, was that show great. Larry "Bud" Melman, Chris Elliot, the lean band on the original show. Double breasted suits and tennis shoes. Loved it.
I would worry that Colbert would be too constrained by the talk show format. If he could continue doing the "Reporrr" in a bigger venue, great. Otherwise, someone like Kilborn might be better.
As smart as that dude is, I think he could pull of just about any format.
For those too young to remember Letterman on NBC, check out this interview.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtyxIfwoEns
And the next day:
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDrBbreIpLU
That is truly amazing. I've seen it before, but I forgot about how contentious it was.
I loved the Letterman NBC theme
I'd love to see Craig Ferguson get the chance.
While Ferguson could probably adapt to a 10:30 slot, the weirdness of his 11:30 show would probably have to be toned down.
Also, I get the feeling Ferguson doesnt want to spend the next 15-20 years behind a desk sucking up to celebs. He has a couple of projects going including a syndicated game show slated to air in the fall
Just thinking about Gorgui Dieng. At the beginning of the season, he was a clumsy foul machine with almost no offensive game. He's not the greatest offensive player in the world now, but he moves without the ball so much better and he's a pretty good finisher. Rubio seems to find him all the time.
I remember when Pek was a clumsy foul machine who turned into this dynamic offensive force who absolutely cleaned up his foul tendencies.
Hmmm. Anyone else thinking that maybe the big fella sitting on the bench (Jack Sikma) might have something to do with both their transformations?
I can't wait until this year is over -- I'm really tired of all the "Derek Jeter and the Yankees" and want to go back to being really tired of all the "Yankees"
Dido. I can't find MLB highlights that are Jeter-free. He isn't even retiring for another six months. C'mon!
But all of the "last time Jeeetahhh will play in ___ in April!!!111one111!!!"
Fulham just took a 1-0 lead over Villa. Lovely buildup and nice finish by Richardson. It actually looked like they knew what they were doing.
Villa has drawn level. Terrible defending on the corner
That was heartbreaking. I don't know how Fulham didn't score. Great ball movement and an even better clearance off the line by Villa. Brad Guzan owes that dude all the beers.
The goal review system just showed about 99.98% of the ball over the line. Just twisting the knife.
GOAL! 2-1 Fulham
Please hang on for these last 5+.
WE WON! ON THE ROAD!
Sweet, sweet three points. Probably just enough to let a little hope back in, to make the eventual downfall all the more crushing.
David Thorpe, on what Gorgui means to the Wolves $:
So, trading down to get Bazz and Dieng might just have turned out to be a stroke of genius.
At the end of this really disappointing season, I was really jazzed about last night's win over the Heat. And I'm really jazzed about Gorgui. I was literally yelling last night down the stretch: "Why don't they have Gorgui in there?" I realized that Miami was playing small and that having him out there would have created matchup problems for the Wolves, but man, I wanted to see the Wolves punish Miami on the offensive end by running PnR with Rickey and Gorgui.
I need help, folks. I am a Wolves addict.
Lots of nonsense from Henry Abbott here, but Thorpe is positively giddy about Gorgui.
http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:10729606
If you trade for westbrook, what do you do with rickey? Westbrook needs the ball in his hands.
Interesting ideas, but not very workable, methinks.
You move Rickey for a shooter.
Seriously? OKC would consider trading Westbrook for Pek?
I doubt it, but if they did, the Wolves should absolutely make that happen. Westbrook is Love's buddy and he's a top ten player.
Definitely. I think i would do Pek and Rubio for Westbrook.
Yeah, that "top ten player" part is a big deal.
Which college team from the past ten years would make the best NBA team now? UCLA with Love & Westbrook ? Kentucky with Wall & Cousins? Texas with Durant, Augustin, and Abrams?
Florida with Al Horford, Noah, and Brewer in 2006, and Marreese Speights in 2007, can stake a claim.
UNC with Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, Hansbrough, and Ty Lawson (lots of depth there) in 2010 and Ed Davis drafted in 2011.
UCLA with Love, Westbrook, and Mbah a Moute in 2007 and Darren Collison in 2008.
UK 2012: the Unibrow, Terrence Jones, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Doron Lamb, Darius Miller and Marquis Teague. That's a budding superstar and two starters.
But I'd go with UK 2010: Wall, Cousins, Eric Bledsoe, and Patrick Patterson.
It begins.....
Or let relievers go longer than an inning.
I wonder if Joe Posnanski still thinks that Gardy is the best manager in the game.
Best part is that Arcia is out with a "sore hand" so he'll likely be unable to play for 9 days before he gets on the DL and Gardy will have a short-handed bench yet be clamoring for more relievers instead.
So let's make sure starters don't go more than 4 innings in spring training. Don't want to wear them down.
I forgot Harold Reynolds is back in the broadcast booth. yaaaaaaaay.
On as related note, it doesn't matter how crappy the game, I could listen to Vin Scully for days at a time. A 6-1 game, and I'm still hooked.
Not a good day on the farm for the Twins so far. New Britain loses 13-3 and Cedar Rapids loses the first game of a doubleheader 4-1. Rochester was rained out again. Fort Myers and Cedar Rapids Game Two are just starting. We'll cover it all in Minor Details tomorrow.