ZingIT

Why Technology Can’t Fulfill

By Elph · In: Review

29 Jun 2009

I really like this post by Kevin Kelly titled Why Technology Can’t Fulfill. Kevin muses on what role technology has in personal fulfillment when contemporary dominant culture is contrasted with that of the Old Order Amish. I particularly like the age old question regarding the necessity of modern industry to support the simpler ways, such as the Amish, and the role of choice.

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Tags: Amish

IT Site Presence

By Elph · In: Improvements

29 Jun 2009

IT Site Presence – New Game for 2009-10

We believe that getting the IT staff out into the businesses is really helpful – we have been measuring this ‘onsite presence’ for a few years now and regularly adjusting the rules to make it more effective. It’s time for another change!

Compelling Reasons for Onsite presence addresses three major issues
- surfacing tickets that folks ‘remember’ when we are on site
- perceived value to each business of IT Service
- gaining insights into how to improve the success of each business

Rules of the Game
- Each person puts in 5 hours in one business each week
- Dept hits all businesses over two weeks instead of one
- Rotate businesses in some meaningful way – may be different in holidays
- Measure onsite completion by counting how many of the 5 staff completed 5 hours in one business (plan 5)
- Expect insights from each person each week on how we can make improvements reported in staff meeting
- Measure insight completion by count of how many insights documented (plan 3)

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Zingerman’s Warehouse Sale for June 26

By Billie · In: Food

25 Jun 2009

Parmigiano-Reggiano…1/2 lb wedge…was $14, now $10
Manchego Dehesa los Llanos…1/2 lb wedge…was $17, now $10
Great Hill Blue Cheese…1/2 lb wedge…was $13.50, now $8
Mandelbread…$8 each or 2 for $12
Bluefin Tuna…$6 or 2 for $10
Spicy Horseradish Mustard…$2
Hot Cocoa Coffeecake…was $50, now $20 or 2 for $30
Olave Olive Oil…was $25, now $15
Bagnetto Rosso…was $15, now $8
Licorice Jam…was $17, now $6
Portuguese Fine Sea Salt…1 pint tub…$5
Sweet Riot Chocolate Covered Nibs …2 for $5
Bonne Maman Shortbread Cookies…$3
Semi Dried Cherry Tomatoes…was $25, now $12 or 2 for $20/a>
Varied Coffees…Varied Prices
Wild Chicory in Olive Oil…$8
Cherry Berry Spoonfruit…was $11, now $7
La Casetta Vinegar…was $48, now $21
Dill Pickles…2 for $1
Broadbent Hickory Smoked Bacon…was $12, now $8
Pastrami…1 lb package…was $20, now $15

Where: 610 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48108

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Tags: ware

Newly Crowned US Texting Champion!

By Brian · In: Random Stuff

24 Jun 2009

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A 15 year old named Kate Moore took home the $50,000 1st place prize in the 2009 LG US Texting Championship. Evidently it’s normal for her to pump out almost 500 text messages a day!

“In the final showdown, she outtexted 14-year-old Morgan Dynda, of Savannah, Ga. Both girls had to text three lengthy phrases without making any mistakes on the required abbreviations, capitalization or punctuation. Moore squeaked through by a few seconds on the tiebreaking text, getting the best two out of three. As she anxiously waited for confirmation of her win, tears streamed down her face”
-AP Link

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IT Cedar Point Trip

By Brian · In: Random Stuff

24 Jun 2009

Last week’s IT Cedar Point trip was a blast, the rides were really top notch outstanding. On the other hand, the rest of the park looked a little tired and run-down. Berenstain Bear Country never looked so dated I wonder if amusement parks are just becoming less and less popular. And why would this be? I mean there really isn’t anything that came along to improve upon or replaced them. These places have certainly endured rough economies before. What’s really changed?

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New Chin-up Bar in the IT Office.

By Brian · In: Random Stuff

22 Jun 2009

The metal studs posed a bit of a challenge but our resident carpenter/accountant Jeff Willard helped us create a solid foundation. Feel free to stop by and do some chin ups.. Thanks again Jeff!

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Zingerman’s Warehouse Sale for June 19

By Billie · In: Food

19 Jun 2009

Caprotto Goat Cheese…1/2 lb wedge…was $23, now $9
Appenzeller…1/2 lb wedge…$9
Mezzo Secco…1/2 lb wedge…$7
Mini Chocolate Chess Pies…$4
Mini Olive Oil Coffeecake…$4

Alfajores…6 pack…$5
Hot Cocoa Coffeecake…was $50, now $20 or 2 for $30
Chocolate Cigars…was $23, now $12 or 2 for $21

Biscotti…was $14, now $6 or 2 for $10
Oil Packed Anchovies…was $14, now $6 or 2 for $10
Gobino Cacao Cream…was $35, now $10
Italian High Mountain Honey…was $22, now $12

Crushed Wild Oregano…$6
Travel Olive Oil…was $16, now $8
Vosges Exotic Caramel Collection…was $40, now $20
Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans…$5 <– grabbing some for my grad school buddies
Apple Mostarda…was $20, now $5
Fig Mostarda…was $20, now $5
Al Dente Land & Sea Pasta…was $9, now $5

Brad’s favorite Artichokes…was $30, now $15
Koeze Crunchy Peanut Butter…was $8, now $5
Agrimontana Cherries in syrup…was $45, now $21 <– so tempted to get a jar after our friend Elnian in ZingTrain made cocktails with them
They have applewood smoked bacon for $5/half pound! Best bacon in the world.

Where: 610 Phoenix Drive, Ann Arbor MI 48108

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Tags: ware

Lego Cello

By JoeG · In: Random Stuff

16 Jun 2009

I’ll speak for the whole department when I say that we like Legos. I’ll go so far as to say it’s the best toy ever made. We’ve had lots of Lego posts so what’s one more? The Lego Cello (via) is a full-size hollow-body cello, complete with bow & strings, made by Nathan Sawaya. The link above includes a video of the construction & performance of the Lego Cello.

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Tags: lego, music

Google Docs Uploader

By Elph · In: Geek Finds

13 Jun 2009

In the category of software that does what it needs to do simply and reliably…

I ran across GDocsUploader earlier in the week and gave it a try today. This is a nice Mac application that ties in to your Google or Google Apps for Domains account and provides a drag and drop icon to move files to your Google Docs. Worked great for .xls, .doc, .ppt, .rtf but no for .pdf – the developer explains that the Google API hasn’t opened that up yet. Also, bonus, the app allows multiple file drag and drop for batch uploading. I don’t know what the limit might be but I dropped a handful on and it had no issues. No folders though.

I find myself more often using my Google Docs as my cardinal location for useful documents in progress and having an easy method of transporting files up from my desktop is a bonus.

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Cornman Recon

By JoeG · In: Work updates

12 Jun 2009

Elph and I went out to Corman Farms today to talk to Mark and check out some possible spots for a webcam. Elph took photos form the potential posts; I took notes and petted the Shetlands. You can see all of today’s photos in our gallery.