Author: SA Otey

Software Engineer

Decoding Office Jargon: What Buzzwords Really Mean

~ SA Otey

Every office has a manager or co-worker who constantly spews office jargon or buzzwords. Here are a few that I’ve noticed and their real meanings.

C-level conversations – I used to think this meant having a discussion that everyone would understand. Think of a guru coming down from a high mountain sanctuary and coming down to “sea level“ so that they could explain it to the layman. Nope, it means “CEO type” conversations, the kind that get you promoted real quick if you promise them things

Inside Baseball – I’ve got all the knowledge and I will use it to my advantage while sharing none of it

Team Player – Does the work of everyone else

Play Catch-up/Touching base – I want to see what you’ve been doing while I was on vacation because I didn’t have the chance to micromanage you then.

Table the Issue/Take Offline – I don’t want to discuss this now because I don’t know what I’m discussing.

The Devil’s in the Details—I know you are wrong, but I don’t know how to prove it yet.

Play Devil’s Advocate – I want to rip your idea to shreds in front of everyone.

Putting Out Fires – Fixing the mistakes of others because of their incompetence

Low-Hanging Fruit – The easiest part of the job that others volunteer for first.

Win/Win – In any outcome, I will look good and take all the credit, and you will still go unrecognized.

Brainstorming – I’m out of ideas, and I need the group to give me one to steal

Circle Back – Similar to playing catch-up. You were caught flat-footed and need to do more research because you don’t know what you are talking about

Bandwidth – You are being stretched thin because you are overwhelmed with work or simply don’t want to do any work.

How to manage robocallers

~ SA Otey
Yeah, let me get that

Remember back in the days before Caller ID and *69 when you could call someone and say something offensive, then hang up without any recompense? Well, now telemarketers have an arsenal of war dial devices at the ready.

My favorite is the lady who’s having trouble with her headset. The call starts with a “Hello, hello?” Then, an apologizes that her headset isn’t working correctly and she asks for a confirmation that you can hear her. If you say yes, then it’s a go-ahead for her (the robot) to begin the sales pitch. The second time she called, I said, “Didn’t you call me an hour ago?”. The robot replied, “I’m sorry, I didn’t get that. Can you please say yes or no?”. Once I knew it was a voice-activated prompt, I began asking all sorts of questions that she couldn’t process. Finally, I talked so much that it disconnected me. However, I still get calls from time to time.

Typically, if I don’t recognize the number, I will just silence my phone or double-click the power button to send it to voicemail. If the caller is not in my contacts and it’s an important message, they will leave me a voicemail. However, these robots are now starting to leave voicemails. My call block list is growing exponentially.

How to keep your kids safe at the pool

~ SA Otey
abstract aqua blue clean
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

While at the pool, I had a great idea for a new smartphone app. It’s called iDrowned, the Anti-drowning smartphone app. The app works in tandem with a bracelet. Attach the bracelet to your toddler who doesn’t have swimmer’s wings on. The app will alert you when your child has fallen into the pool. As an upgrade, you can have a bracelet on yourself that sends out an electric shock once your kid begins to drown. This allows you to keep looking at your smartphone as long as possible while ignoring your child.

Enjoy this fun pool toy!

Top Annoying Golf Phrases You Should Avoid

~ SA Otey
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Get in the Hole

This is shouted from a par 5 tee shot. Maybe more appropriate when someone is on the green or chipping and the ball brushes past the hole. Nah, it’s never good to say this. It’s just annoying.

Drive for show, putt for dough

This is said as a passive-aggressive insult whenever you outdrive your playing partner. Works out well if you put your next shot near the pin and tap in for birdie or eagle. Hopefully, after they’ve 3 putted for double bogey they will shut up.

Beach reference

Whenever someone lands in the sand trap some will reference one of the following phrases. “Nice day for the beach”, “Did you bring your sunscreen?”

Water shot

“Get your snorkel” or “That one didn’t skip.”

When you hit a good shot

“That’s a golf shot right there”. But aren’t they all golf shots? Even the ones that skip across the green from a bladed chip shot that goes into the greenside bunker or lake filled with alligators and snapping turtles?

Mentioning your score

Don’t ever mention your score to someone after the round. For example when you say, “I shot an 85”, someone will chime in, “Well, what did you shoot on the back nine?” Hilarious every time.

Also, stop peeing in the woods, you might need one of these

Best Travel Snacks for Long Drives

~ SA Otey
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A tanker full of coffee? Grab a nozzle!

In this part of the country, I look out for Pilot or Flying J. I prefer those stores because they have relatively clean restrooms and various beverages and food selections. Flying J Pilot stores have coffee that will flap your eyelids to your forehead like the old vinyl window shades at your grandmother’s house. I mix Pilot Dark roast with their Intense blend and throw in a Stok espresso shot it’s enough to keep you awake far beyond your destination.

Back in the college days before I drank coffee, it was Pepsi Big Slams and No-Doze for the long road trips. As long as I can remember I would choose a Pepsi product, Slim Jims, and white cheddar popcorn. Maybe some Doritos now and again. One of the biggest problems with eating chips in the car is never enough roof clearance to tilt the bag and drink the crumbs. Well, maybe if you buy small bags.

Is Motherhood Harder Today Than in the Past?

~ SA Otey
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“Motherhood” is considered offensive in our fast-paced world of intolerance and sensitivity. Is it more difficult to be a Mom in this society than a few decades ago?

Well, no, a few decades ago, you had small children, now you have adults who are your children, and you can do what you want. But if you are a mother today with small children, it’s tough because small children are hard to manage sometimes. However, if your small children are large, then they’re strenuous to lift unless you are one of the weightlifter moms who gets your kids fat on purpose so you can build your muscles. That’s wrong. Maybe you should just stick to weights and put your baby on a healthy eating plan. If you want to, I’m not telling you how to mom your kids.

The Benefits of Reserved Theater Seating

~ SA Otey
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Don’t reserve the seats outside the theater

Why does something get compared to sliced bread whenever it’s considered the best new thing? With a good knife, bread is easy to slice.  However, if I had to pick something as the best thing since sliced bread then I’m going to go with reserved theater seating. I’m so glad that my local theater has deployed this method of sitting.  Using your smartphone to pick the seat you want as soon as tickets go on sale is super convenient. It allows for dinner time beforehand without the pressure of waiting in a line that snakes out the door. It also allows you to skip the 20 minutes of previews that you’ve already seen on Youtube. During that time people have polished off their trough of popcorn so you can skip the part where it sounds like everyone around you is eating wicker furniture.

So what happens when you get to your seat and someone is perched there? It hasn’t happened yet, but in our age of entitlement and equality, it’s only a matter of time before someone complains that it’s not fair that you got the best seat in the house. You know,  because you planned ahead.

Struggles with Biscuit Bags: Tips for Easy Opening

~ SA Otey

I don’t know if there is some insider secret but my success rate with opening biscuit bags is about 1%. It’s simple, right? Tear here and then pull apart the zip lock seal. Almost never happens to me. I tear, I rip, and I split. You might ask, why am I eating frozen biscuits and not farm-to-table ones? I eat frozen biscuits because I don’t eat them very often and they are easy. I can’t tell the difference between a fresh and a frozen biscuit and I don’t live near a Tudors so it’s not that big of a deal to me. I just hope they invent some better biscuit bag technology. Maybe I’m just too impatient when opening the bag?

How much would you pay for a soda?

~ SA Otey
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ATL airport in 2011, worse than Disney’s prices

Or how much would you pay for water? Airports have you right where they want you. You can beat the game by packing your water bottle and a few protein bars when hunger and thirst arrive before your already delayed flight.

That is, of course, unless you enjoy spending $100 on Doritos and a Coke Zero. I suggest you bring your empty Camelbak through TSA and then fill it with a sink, fountain, or filtered water. Even when I’m on a client’s per diem, I will not submit to this price gouging.  Remember, it’s not long until you get on board your plane and get an ice-filled cup with a quarter can of soda.

No light on at the checkout line…

~ SA Otey
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

When I notice a cashier ringing up customers and see the register number light is off I don’t get in their line. If they have a closed placard on the conveyor belt this is a sure signal that they are closing down. However, there are people who will put their groceries on the belt anyway. Even go as far as to move the placard. The cashier will say they are closing down the line but the people don’t budge. This is the equivalent of going into a steak restaurant and ordering a well-done rib eye five minutes before closing. It’s rude to enter a place of business so late. Also, who cooks their steak well? Savages that’s who.