Simon: The decision saved your life. Zoe: Won't happen again, sir. Mal: Good. And thanks. I'm grateful. Zoe: It was my pleasure, sir.

'Out Of Gas'


Natter 74: Ready or Not  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, butt kicking, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Zenkitty - Nov 05, 2015 9:02:43 am PST #8559 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

They recently concluded that the fake stuff does literally nothing for congestion.

I could have told them that.

amyth, congrats on your new car, and the ease with which you acquired it! That's fantastic. Local CUs rock IME.

Steph, once again, we are as one. I used to send my authors detailed instructions that I wrote myself along with their proof, because they never followed the instructions they were getting otherwise, and like you, I didn't even know exactly what those instructions were. The authors proved more likely to read and follow an email that came directly from me at the same time as their proof arrived. The whole process is bizarre.

It's 75 degrees F in November. I want Fall back.


msbelle - Nov 05, 2015 9:11:20 am PST #8560 of 30003
I remember the crazy days. 500 posts an hour. Nubmer! Natgbsb

I hate open enrollment period. Just did my annual uncomfortable reading of health questions to our almost illiterate employee. Now having to help many others go through wellness stuff they refuse to read and navigate on their own. Giving up on trying to convince people that a blood draw is worth $600 in savings.


Steph L. - Nov 05, 2015 9:29:35 am PST #8561 of 30003
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine

Steph, once again, we are as one.

And when we insert queries in the manuscript, the authors invariably don't answer at least 2 or 3 (sometimes fully half are unanswered). They are not optional, which they find out when I email them a very detailed list of the shit they didn't answer. I end every item with "Please provide ALL information requested" -- i.e., "Page 3, query 4: Per journal style, the dates you conducted the analysis must be included. Please provide ALL information requested."

They get annoyed at all the follow-up emails, but DAMN. If they'd just READ and answer the questions the first time, they wouldn't get follow-up emails.

The worst are the authors who reply "Those dates are unimportant." And then I have to reply "It is journal style to include the dates of data analysis. If ALL queries are not answered the article will NOT move forward in the publication process. Please provide ALL information requested RIGHT AWAY."

For god's sake.


Steph L. - Nov 05, 2015 9:34:15 am PST #8562 of 30003
this mess was yours / now your mess is mine

Man, I am HONKED OFF at authors today. I need to go take a walk.


amyth - Nov 05, 2015 9:52:17 am PST #8563 of 30003
And none of us deserving the cruelty or the grace -- Leonard Cohen

Don't ever lose this guy's number.

Seriously! He just texted me and said he would take care of the bill at the garage where I took the Ford, if there is one, because he works there part-time. !!!

I just recommended him to my co-worker who is looking for a car. I want to recommend him to ALL THE CAR-SEEKERS.

THINGS WILL BE OK.

I BELIEVE.


Zenkitty - Nov 05, 2015 9:58:08 am PST #8564 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

The worst are the authors who reply "Those dates are unimportant." And then I have to reply "It is journal style to include the dates of data analysis. If ALL queries are not answered the article will NOT move forward in the publication process. Please provide ALL information requested RIGHT AWAY."

Sometimes I wish I could just be totally honest with them. "Dear Dr. BusyMan, I know this is annoying to you; it is annoying to me also. Personally, I don't give a ripe crap about the data. Unfortunately, telling me it's irrelevant doesn't make it go away. I'm being paid to do a job that specifically includes hounding you for specific information, and since I care more about keeping my paycheck and not getting yelled at by my boss than I care about your comfort and good regard, I will keep pestering the living daylights out of you for this irrelevant piece of data until you freaking give it to me. I am the unmoving object between you and finally getting this damned paper published; I am the Sphinx on your path; solve my simple riddle and you may pass. Just do the thing so we can move this along and never have to deal with it, or each other, again. Best Regards, The Editor"


tommyrot - Nov 05, 2015 10:01:35 am PST #8565 of 30003
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Zen, you should tell them that.

Of course, some writers would be offended...


Zenkitty - Nov 05, 2015 10:08:57 am PST #8566 of 30003
Every now and then, I think I might actually be a little odd.

I wish.


Burrell - Nov 05, 2015 10:14:22 am PST #8567 of 30003
Why did Darth Vader cross the road? To get to the Dark Side!

So I just took Frances to a book signing to meet Lisa McMann. It was kind of a PITA because I had to pull her out of school for it and I was worried it would feel like a waste, but no! She was super nice and it was awesome, and because it was a school event all the students but Franny went back to class so she actually got to talk to Lisa McMann for a bit. She, meaning Franny, was stoked!


Jesse - Nov 05, 2015 10:16:58 am PST #8568 of 30003
Sometimes I trip on how happy we could be.

Aw, that's so great!