D+iz+a+n+k+Meister's Journal: On the Existence of the PHB. . .

Does the PHB really exist?

I worked 3rd shift for almost exactly 2 years, quality controlling the data for a major weather graphics provider. During that time, while also quality controlling the data, I wrote scripts that watch directories. . .basically reporting the health/status of all the ingest/dissemination processes running.

I was so good, that they created a new position just for me to focus more in general on the health of the computers running the aforementioned processes. I was moved off nights(and quality controlling, for the most part), and I felt like my hard work actually resulted in some reward and recognition, opposite of what I expected when I entered this capitalist game.

Obviously, when I worked at night, I did not have much face to face contact with my boss(es). Mainly just email. I was very, very diligent in responding to all emails sent my way. I read them carefully, and thoughtfully composed responses, ans assumed that everyone I was corresponding with was doing the same.

Lately, it seems like I am the only person who can remember anything, mentioned in any email, or anyting even remotely related to the operation here. And I smoke lots and lots of ganj.

My boss(there is the guy that hired me, my boss, and there is the guy that "supervises" me) sent me an email one day, asking for things I may want considered for a budget. He had been asking for this list from the "Lead Programmer" of our little department, which is different from the RND dept, where all the real programmers have offices(I share a hallway with the lead programmer). Lead programmer never got back to him, crunch time comes, he asks me for a quick writeup, which I provided.

One of the things we really needed was a KVM switch, one with more than 4 ports. I asked for such a switch in the writeup I gave my boss. Severaly weeks later, I inquired about the status of the switch. He forwarded my email to the purchasing "guy" who replied back that he was waiting for more to order, since our switch was only like $5. $5! I was like, wow, I'll buy four of those for my basement. Turns out that the switch the purchaser was refering to was a 2-way DB-9 switch we ordered for something completely different. And there was no KVM switch ordered.

Is that common place? Should I get used to it? Is it true that most people are promoted to their level of incompetency, and really I should just get over it, being one of the few competent ones?

I mean, it's quite clear now that my boss had absolutely no idea what I was talking about when I asked about the KVM switch I asked for for budget(at his fucking request).