MichaelPorter

MichaelPorter, 47 minutes ago to random

I rant too much here, so let me share a moment of joy I had yesterday:

I phoned my teacher’s federation office to change an address.

No robot phone decision tree, a real person picked up after the first ring. 🙀

After hearing what I needed to do, they transferred me to someone else, who also picked up after the first ring. 🙀

Business was concluded, have a great day.

I had to pinch myself…

ottaross, 1 hour ago to random

lol - product features list:

"equipped with 48MP camera (front 24MP + rear 24MP)"

Well I guess we can just add them together, right?

Waitnwallflower, 5 hours ago to random

Omg
Our stupid work systems are adding to my stress level by sending me an email telling me if I don't complete past due trainings it will kick me out of the systems within now 6 days.
When I look at the trainings, it is for the introduction to a system that I've been working in since it's inception more than 6 years ago. It's a series of trainings that does not identify how long each block will take, cannot be at all skipped through, and must be physically manned to click "next" for each slide after a voice reads through the entirety of each slide. The 2nd one asks me if I want to pick up where I left off and when I say yes, it says 'congrats you completed'.
There is no contact information for me to say, "look, let's be practical here, I've literally been more than proficient in this system for more than 6 years, why am I being tapped to do exhaustive trainings that I clearly do not need, 6 years later?"

I'm so emotional right now, I want to shout "Lock me out of the systems. I dare you at this point. I actually dare you."

image/gif

grivettcarnac, 2 days ago to climate

This is not cheering for the pay workers get at Chinese EV manufacturing companies or the supply chains etc but the fact that North American car companies have made zero moves to make simple, low cost EVs is pathetic. “Flood the market” blah blah blah. There’s no free market anyway just protectionism, government subsidies and the gatekeeping to keep EVs at $50,000 a piece. Say nothing of the #climatechange song and dance about getting folks into EVs #canada #cdnpoli #ev

stephanie, 3 days ago to random

The peonies are coming!! So close!
(And they're already covered in ants! Go nature!)
#SKyard

MichaelPorter, 3 days ago to Ottawa

"The school bus driver wasn't hurt, police said.”

Such a stupid thing to say.

Aside from the obvious bus>>bike aspect, I am sure that the bus driver was, in fact, harmed by the incident.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/school-bus-struck-child-1.7203463

#Ottawa #OttBike #RoadSafety

stephaniewalter, 3 days ago to accessibility

Let’s talk about dark mode and accessibility! There’s a myth that dark mode is good for accessibility, because it improves text readability. It's not always true.

The full article and resources on my blog: https://stephaniewalter.design/blog/dark-mode-accessibility-myth-debunked/

#Accessibility #DarkMode #Astigmatism

grivettcarnac, 5 days ago to Canada

I was going to gripe a bit about the cool temps and rain but with thousands of people already evacuating (or on stand by like Fort McMurray again) I probably won’t. It’s not even mid-May… #canada #cdnpoli #wildfire

MichaelPorter, 5 days ago to random

I’m seeing this graphic making the rounds withouth attribution - many versions have the info at the bottom cut off. The creator is alienyrox2 on reddit (https://www.reddit.com/user/alienyrox2/).

https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/ic1g5o/colors_of_aurora_oc/

#Aurora #CreditYourSources #AltText

MichaelPorter, 6 days ago to random

After failing to see a total eclipse that swept right over my area, and missing out on the most spectacular auroral display of the decade, I’ve come to the realization that I am a minor cloud/rain deity.

My services are available, and for the good of all. All I ask is travel and accommodation.

I WILL BRING THE RAINS TO AFRICA

#Aurora #Eclipse #Sadness

mariellequinton, 6 days ago to random

Went out before 9 this morning to take the laundry off the line and it smelled like campfire out there. Why are people burning stuff? Have they forgotten last year so quickly? We all know it's going to be more of the same thing year.

TheBreadmonkey, 6 days ago to random

My youngest and friends are very much a nerd group. They are celebrating their sleepover with a million sweets and a competition to see who can name the most countries.

NEEEEEEEEEEEEERDS

MichaelPorter, 7 days ago to Catroventos

When did “necessaries of life” replace “necessities of life” in common parlance? Is it a legal term?

I know “necessaries” is technically correct, but it rankles every time.

#Vocabulary #English #Grumpy

MichaelPorter, 7 days ago to Astronomy

Holy, freakin’… words fail me. I’ve never seen the aurora forecast blanket the country like this. Keep your eyes on the skies this weekend!!

More info:
https://spaceweather.com

https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/products/aurora-viewline-tonight-and-tomorrow-night-experimental

#Astronomy #StarGazing #Aurora

MichaelPorter, 7 days ago to Teachers

Just visited the school I retired from four years ago to say hi and check out the new renovations.

Whiteboards everywhere!

(er, sorry, “vertical non-permanent surfaces“)

While I appreciate the philosophy of getting the kids up and working things out for themselves, I’m really wondering about the massive amounts of plastic waste in the form of depleted whiteboard markers. Personally, I hated whiteboards when it was mostly just me using one, because I was constantly running out of markers. I can’t imagine how they cope now that all the students are using them, as well.

This is clearly an “out of sight, out of mind” issue for most folks, and I’m sure the petroplastics industry is totally fine with finding new ways to make money. But it’s incredibly shortsighted.

I know all about the drawbacks of chalk, but those inconveniences seem pretty minimal compared to the waste generated by whiteboards.

Is there a third low-tech option out there that allows for fine detail (so no drawing in sand 😄) without the waste? Why did people stop using chalkboards? The dust?

#Teachers #EduTooters

stephanie, 8 days ago to random

A robin and a squirrel are both running around in the backyard in the rain. So cute. Eat well, my tiny friends

drahardja, 8 days ago to apple

I reflexively cringed when I saw this ad. Not only is it wasteful, the message sent across appears to be that Apple literally crushes all the things you like to make the new iPad.

Tone-deaf.

#apple #iPad #advertising

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntjkwIXWtrc

grivettcarnac, 8 days ago (edited 8 days ago) to Ottawa

Well update on the government side of the job hunt… did a horrid 3-hr exam on Monday in which the person who wrote the job description did not talk to the person who wrote the exam. So that was a fucking amazing stressful waste of time (probably).

Next Monday I get another 2-day exam at 8;30AM and… a 2-hr exam at 9 AM from a difference department the same day. So will get the 2-hr exam out of the way and do the 2-day exam after 😩 #ottawa #jobs