Settling in to work

I now have a desk, a computer account, a telephone number, and a photo ID. The desk is on a different floor than most of the people in the group I'm working with ("social studies ancillaries"), so I need the photo ID/badge: without it, I have to get someone to open the doors for me every time I go up to return one stack of paper and get another. Yes, they're over-cautious about physical security.

But only physical security. One guess as to what the initial password on my computer account was. Better, I'm fairly sure that if I hadn't suggested changing it, the MIS person who told me it wouldn't have made me do so.

That said, it's plausible if not terribly exciting work, I like the people, and the location and layout are basically good. It would be better with fewer televisions: I've already seen more TV this year than last, just from waiting in the reception area on Wednesday, going to get cups of tea, and riding the elevators. Yes, riding the elevators. The TVs are mostly tuned to a local cable news channel (NY1), and the only good thing about it is that they display the current outdoor temperature in one corner of the screen whenever they're not showing commercials.

Instead of filling out a four-layer carbonless form, and worrying about getting it mailed on time (as I did through the previous temp agency), I put my hours in through the Web. Verily we are living in the future.

Settling in to work

I now have a desk, a computer account, a telephone number, and a photo ID. The desk is on a different floor than most of the people in the group I'm working with ("social studies ancillaries"), so I need the photo ID/badge: without it, I have to get someone to open the doors for me every time I go up to return one stack of paper and get another. Yes, they're over-cautious about physical security.

But only physical security. One guess as to what the initial password on my computer account was. Better, I'm fairly sure that if I hadn't suggested changing it, the MIS person who told me it wouldn't have made me do so.

That said, it's plausible if not terribly exciting work, I like the people, and the location and layout are basically good. It would be better with fewer televisions: I've already seen more TV this year than last, just from waiting in the reception area on Wednesday, going to get cups of tea, and riding the elevators. Yes, riding the elevators. The TVs are mostly tuned to a local cable news channel (NY1), and the only good thing about it is that they display the current outdoor temperature in one corner of the screen whenever they're not showing commercials.

Instead of filling out a four-layer carbonless form, and worrying about getting it mailed on time (as I did through the previous temp agency), I put my hours in through the Web. Verily we are living in the future.