December 9, 2010

Dear Microsoft, you just have issues

Yes, geniuses, I do know that IE8 requires Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2.

However:

They should mention that up front somewhere, not in itsy bitsy letters at the bottom
The error message should say so - you need to upgrade to SP2 for example. To me, this reads like Server 2003 is not supported period, which is just infuriating
Finally, having to download this install using Google Chrome is just absolutely beyond me. (IE 6 on this machine, and IE7 on another one just kept crashing if I attempted to download IE7 and IE8 respectively).

So yea, I consider that a fail.

Finally, people should stop building IE only applications so I wouldn't have to go through this at all.

April 30, 2010

Microsoft Education Competencies: Humor

Microsoft Education Competencies: Humor

Humor

Has a positive and constructive sense of humor. Can laugh at him/herself and with others. Is appropriately funny and can use humor to ease tension.

Proficiency Level

Level 1: Basic Level 2: Intermediate Level 3: Advanced Level 4: Expert

Generally uses humor in a positive way

Uses humor to bring people together

Knows exactly when and where a joke or story will be effective

Can see humor in almost everything

Is conscientious about timing and setting for humor

Uses humor to boost morale or decrease tension

Has a great sense of timing

Sought out by others for guidance in this area

Tries to diffuse tense situations with appropriate humor

Uses humor to make for a more relaxed and productive atmosphere

Realizes when and where humor will backfire, and withholds

Uses humor as a uniting dynamic across a range of situations

Can laugh at self and others

Allows others to be funny

Understands that laughter makes a more comfortable meeting, classroom, etc

Recognizing and appreciates a great sense of humor in others

Overdoing Humor

•
May disrupt group process with untimely or inappropriate humor

•
May use humor to deflect real issues and problems

•
May use humor to criticize others and veil an attack

•
May use humor to deliver sarcasm or cynicism

•
May be perceived as immature or lacking in appropriate seriousness

•
His/her humor may be misinterpreted

Read the rest of this post »

Level 1: Basic	Level 2: Intermediate	Level 3: Advanced	Level 4: Expert
Generally uses humor in a positive way	Uses humor to bring people together	Knows exactly when and where a joke or story will be effective	Can see humor in almost everything
Is conscientious about timing and setting for humor	Uses humor to boost morale or decrease tension	Has a great sense of timing	Sought out by others for guidance in this area
Tries to diffuse tense situations with appropriate humor	Uses humor to make for a more relaxed and productive atmosphere	Realizes when and where humor will backfire, and withholds	Uses humor as a uniting dynamic across a range of situations
Can laugh at self and others	Allows others to be funny	Understands that laughter makes a more comfortable meeting, classroom, etc	Recognizing and appreciates a great sense of humor in others

•	May disrupt group process with untimely or inappropriate humor
•	May use humor to deflect real issues and problems
•	May use humor to criticize others and veil an attack
•	May use humor to deliver sarcasm or cynicism
•	May be perceived as immature or lacking in appropriate seriousness
•	His/her humor may be misinterpreted