Re: Cobol Opportunity Available

From: Robert Wagner (robert.deletethis_at_wagner.net)
Date: 07/09/04 

Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 03:07:21 GMT

docdwarf@panix.com wrote:

>In article <40ec9540.379069523@news.optonline.net>,
>Robert Wagner <robert.deletethis@wagner.net> wrote:

>>Yuppies have
>>lost that flexibility. If _either_ partner cannot work, they're in failure
mode.
>>That's why bankruptcies are up every year .. to well over 1M.
>
>Really? I thought bankruptcies were up because they were easier to obtain
>legally... no, wait, that can't be, then the responsibility for more
>bankruptcies might be found in the simple laws of supply and demand than
>in moralising about Yuppies. Let me try again...
>
>Really? I thought bankruptcies were up because the overall social stigma
>surrounding them decreased; in 'It's a Wonderful Life' George Bailey
>screams as ol', drunk Uncle Billy 'Do you realise what this means? It
>means baknruptcy and scandal and prison!' and now... well, one of the
>things The Economist mentioned as a Good Thing was how considering
>bankruptcy as more of a 'duelling scar' (as in the US) and less of a
>Scarlet Letter (as in England) allows productive people who have made
>errors another chance... no, wait, that's no good either, there's no
>moralising about Yuppies in that.

Your response was well written and entertaining, but it doesn't deal with the
real issue -- yuppies are going broke in record numbers.

>>Apparently, you worked at places where quality of management was subnormal.
>
>No, Mr Wagner... if most places I worked at were like that then - at least
>according to my experience - management practises which caused a
>consultant to waste a week waiting for a log-on ID were *normal*... at
>least for me they are.

They're not 'normal' for me. How hard is it to anticipate a new worker and
assign him a userid? It shouldn't take longer than an hour.

>Situations like that cause me little perspiring as well, Mr Wagner... but
>since I have seen projects cancelled (or have been told they were
>cancelled) before they started I've developed a simple guideline,
>something like 'The best way to facilitate my performing in an action
>which agrees with your desires is to pay me.'
>
>Want me to code? No problem, just make sure your checks don't bounce.
>
>Want me to stop looking for another job while you make up your mind about
>something? No problem, just make sure your checks don't bounce.

They could still cancel the project on a day's notice. I've not encountered that
but I know it happens.

A check is no protection from management indecision.