Monday Evening

December 2, 2009

The placebo and the engineer

Filed under: Engineering, Tales — Marcel @ 12:17 pm

An engineer, updating one of his machines, replaced the old analog controls with a plc. In his haste to deliver the machine to the customer, he specified the old control panel faceplate. Rather than leave an unsightly hole where a knob had been, the shop foreman installed the old knob and potentiometer. Neatly taping the unattached wires, he pointed out his service, and told the engineer where the freshest doughnuts could be purchased.

Having delivered and tuned the machine, a technician locked all the settings, inviting the customer, if unsatisfied with the machine’s performance, to call for service. Weeks later the customer’s old, experienced operator told the technician the machine worked well, except the operator needed to adjust the knob once or twice during the shift. Wisely holding his tongue, the technician nodded and made a note. The manufacturing company’s old experienced engineer told the younger engineer to be content, and leave the switch on all models, as a placebo. And so that’s what they did, illustrating the difference between engineers, and smart engineers.

October 5, 2009

If only

Filed under: Teaching — Marcel @ 7:45 am

August 8, 2009

Mad man

Filed under: The World of Work — Marcel @ 10:04 am

Mad Marcel

Choose your Man Men character with Mad Men Yourself. I haven’t seen this show, but it sounds like it might be good.

July 29, 2009

If it sounds too good to be true…

Filed under: Economics, Politics, The World of Work — Marcel @ 1:05 pm

Maybe there are consequences to unrestricted commerce (at least on our side) with repressive totalitarians. That is, consequences beyond cheap DVD players, all kinds of poison stuff, and the destruction of American manufacturing. I wonder what the Chinese leaders hoped free trade would get them? Probably tenure as leaders, and a pile of money besides. On our side, some of us thought free trade would lead China to embrace capitalism and human rights. Instead, Fake Steve Jobs thinks we have all become complicit in the repression.

“We all know that there’s no … way in the world we should have microwave ovens and refrigerators and TV sets and everything else at the prices we’re paying for them. There’s no way we get all this stuff and everything is done fair and square and everyone gets treated right. No way.” — I’m really thinking maybe I shouldn’t have yelled at that Chinese guy so much (Caution; strong language)

July 7, 2009

Two short observations

Filed under: Math, Science & Technology, Teaching — Marcel @ 1:32 pm

May 27, 2009

It’s not my fault

Filed under: Teaching — Marcel @ 4:17 pm

May 6, 2009

Three from Wall Street, one from the beach

Filed under: Economics, Politics, The World of Work — Marcel @ 9:14 am

April 9, 2009

They’re on to me

Filed under: Exercise, Teaching — Marcel @ 4:53 pm

Speaking in public has always been easy for me, partly because my standards are so low; partly because of a lifelong commitment to hard cardio workouts. But now some changes may be necessary.

“There is one style that always stands out, no matter what. I like to call it the “Scatter-Drone.” That is the presentation that has 50 bullet points scattered on every slide with a long-winded drone of a voice wavering in the air saying something, but nobody really knows what because catatonia has already taken over.” — Doing a 15 Minute Presentation in 10 Easy Steps

That’s just how I do it, except without the PowerPoint.

See, if the audience says “that was boring,” I can dismiss it as uninformed opinion. If they knew anything about the subject, they’d be giving the talk. But now that they have a word for it – “another one of his scatter-drones” – I’ll have to shape up.

March 30, 2009

Over-reaching

Filed under: Politics, The World of Work — Marcel @ 6:57 am

GM chief Wagoner ousted by Obama: “The chief executive of struggling US car company General Motors has been ordered to step down by US President Barack Obama.”

The BBC goes on to report “Fritz Henderson, the GM president and chief operating officer, will replace Mr Wagoner.” Of course that’s an oversimplification, likely because the Brits don’t fully understand our constitution. The federal government has no power that isn’t explicitly granted to it. Over here, the president can’t just unilaterally appoint a new head of General Motors. He needs the approval of the Senate.

March 25, 2009

Business casual

Filed under: The World of Work — Marcel @ 8:16 am
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“People working in the City of London and in the Docklands financial districts have been advised to dress down — jeans and T-shirts instead of suit and tie and supermarket carrier bags instead of briefcases — to avoid becoming targets.” — Reviled London bankers the focus of demonstrations next week

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