I have come to the sad realization that blog reading – and the reading of this blog in particular – may be bad for the country’s productivity. Server logs make it clear that the vast majority of inbound hits at these our humble digs come on Monday morning to mid-day, tapering off as the weekend comes and dropping with giddying velocity over the weekend and on holidays.
In fact, if it weren’t for the ETOH-inspired interjections of one occasional reader who shall remain unnamed (but whose initials are “JustThisGuy”) we wouldn’t have much in the way of any traffic here after quitting time.
I’m holding us back.
Is one way of looking at it. Another way to look at it is that we’re handicapping the global competition, keeping it fair. So in that light, and to help you, constant reader, keep your day job while keeping it fair, I stumbled across this site – workFriendly.net. What the clever monkeys over there have done is create a browser interface that strips away all those uniquely visual blog characteristics and reduces the output to more or less plain text (while maintaining the hyperlink structure) thus:
And perceptive readers (or cubicle rats) will recognize the “Boss” key at the top left of that MS Word-like interface:
Which will probably only work if your boss looks like this:
Hey, where’d you get that picture of my boss?
WELL! (Huffing) Just see if I check this place out again (for a couple of hours at least).
*I* don’t read blogs at work, but I do go in later than some, come home for lunch, and occasionally get off early and always stay up late! My boss is computer illiterate, so wouldn’t know what I was doing on the computer if I DID do anything other than my work.
Neener, neener, neener! Sitemeter doesn’t tell you everything.
If I didn’t read Lex while I was at work, I wouldn’t have anything to put down on my TPS reports.
The way I see it, this blog is a service provider.
Cap’n
1. Not all clueless supervisors look like that. Some even have hair and can talk like they know computers, just like my former supervisor who said ‘The customer’s perception is reality’ as he terminated my employment. While, my response was (and still is) not meant for polite company the dishonorable, gobsmackingly clueless S.O.B. got it with both barrels.
2. I work(ed) 12 hour days so a little ‘mental health break’ every few minutes does wonders for my emotional stability.
Well, then, this is probably the best time to post this to you. I saw this and thought of you immediately.
I want a job that I can abuse like that! Who finds the time?
Mozilla and Firefox got started the same way, with a ghost reader browser, if I remember correctly.
Meanwhile, kiddos, Alt+Tab is your friend and far faster than mousing around looking for a button to click when footsteps approach!
Are you advocating that we all drink heavily when reading your blog?
More wireless connections in bars please. “Drink beer, watch football, and read Lex!”
Privacy filters are your friend…and so are SCIFs
- SJS
I think I must work at the only place where the minions don’t surf the ‘net, but the boss does. I shake my head at times and think, “What in the world is his purpose?” Alas, he is afraid to retire. He hasn’t the guts to spend that much time with his wife. I am giving him daily pep talks on hobbies he should take up. Scary stuff.
Some of us are still waiting to START our jobs!
My boss woudn’t mind (I hope).
E.G., the sign on his office wall says, “In God we trust. All others bring data.”
Color him hard-nosed and incredibly demanding. As a team we work our collective @$$es off for him and the company. He (quietly and subtly) supports us and reciprocates by helping our kids in uniform and contributing to our cause.
Our manager, VP or not, is an absolute keeper. I’m glad he lets me do the stuff I do which sometimes cuts into the workday. He has been on a CG Cutter cruise, and I hope to upgrade him to something a little larger and Haze Grey in the near future.
Happy New Year!
SJBill
Hic – uh, I meant “Hey, I resemble that remark!” I’ll have you people know that it takes some earnest, honest industry to get that plastered on Bud Light!
Lex, I’ll let my record speak for itself — almost no posting times prior to 5pm CST and most after 11pm CST. I’m hitting that consulting gig after work, trying to lay in a little cash for the college fund and to replenish the coffers.
That said, if I worked in an office I’d read you prior to actually working. You lend a certain lightness of perspective to the workday.
– Max
Oh, Lex? I think that ethyl hydroxide has gotten an entirely (well, kinda-sorta) bad reputation lately, due to propaganda promulgated by the Health Nazis. As all of us sensible people know, the human liver needs to be exercised to bring out its full potential.
One must, of course, be careful not to exceed his liver’s potential capabilities.
Privacy screens indeed – SJS. Ah yes, they really are a heavenly invention.
That said – it’s Lex in the morning with my coffee, before I get my workday started. Of course, I am at my desk at that point and technically I am at work but…flexibility is the key people. I work until the work gets done – and if that leaves time enough for play then sobeit.
Well, I’m not sure it’s work-connected. I’ve been unemployed, but my visitations here have still been down this last week or so… too much stuff to do, and too many “real” peoples’ company to enjoy.
Being the master of your own domain ( no useless pecker-wood checking on your every move) certaintly cuts both ways …yes, as I’ve said before, I answer to no one except … my maker, the law and of course… The Big Boss (a/k/a She Who must Be Obeyed)… to which I’ll add today… and sometimes a good friend/client who absolutly positively, for reasons that have here-to-fore never been made known to me, needs to execute a Stockholders Agreement, with extensive ( read..mind numbing) revisions, by the end of the year … (that’s Monday Lex Babes) .
So here I sit on a Saturday PM ( positively no work on a Sunday…it’s the Lord’s day after all… and besides the skiing is great) grinding it out…because if I don’t do it …it ” prolly “( that’s Navy lingo… Lex Babes) not going to happen. This is not to complain… it’s what I do…it’s just how it is and probably always will be… none of us are the true masters of our own domain. Best
I miss having a beer or three whilst perusing this and many other sites. While previously being self employed like the esteemed SE,and master of my domain and all that implies, the current situation I find myself in does NOT lend itself to either Imbibing, nor Surfing while “at” work. Much to my dissapointment. Plus with the Time Zone difference of +11 hours PDT while working at night has me terribly confused.
It might not be good for the overall Economy, but mine is doing very well, Thankyou.
Snake and unka, I have been trying to convince my girls that even when all growed up, you still have someone telling you what to do. And that the repercussions are often worse than a time out when you don’t listen.
Frankly, from that point of view, I think its worse being self-employed. Not only do you have multiple “bosses” (your clients) to deal with, each of whom thinks they own all of your time, but if you don’t work, if you choose to screw around (or have a baby or something equally as foolish) …. you. do. not. get. paid. Period. Bah, humbug, says I.
I read Lex anytime I want. Productivity be damned. So there.
Michelle, I really love what I do…been doing it for the best part of thirty years now …that said… it helps immensly that The Big Boss is also gainfully employed. Best
I was curious if anyone knew anything about these professional sports ? I am considering signing up for this sports handicapping service. It looks pretty promising and its endorsed by a clickback guarantee which means your going to get your money back if you don’t like the system or it simply doesn’t work. Has anyone tried anything like this?