The Waldo Chronicles Redux

The Beat Goes On.........

2009-10-27T11:13:00.000-07:00

So much for cries for help and change. What does it really matter anyway. Pretty soon we will be all gone leaving a once thriving department to a despot. We had high hopes that management would see what we see but we suppose it is better to be ignorant than responsible. In retrospect management will come to understand what it was we were shouting about. They will have a very expensive mess on their hands and no one available to bail them out. The city is going to spend a considerable sum to bring in professional IT and Business personnel to fix Waldo's "improvements". It is a given. Count on it as sure as the next sunrise.

Good luck to the silent majority and our condolences for those who spoke up.

As the Gambler once said "You have to know when to hold em, you have to know when to fold em, you have to know when to walk away and you have to know when to run."

Dancing on a "Thin Line"

2009-08-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

Well, with the city in KAOS, city management in FUBAR and Waldo in SNAFU, we just could not resist the temptation to comment on the latest developments. Well Waldo looks like your patron is no longer in service to the community, the Mayor is stepping down and your "friends" are on the chopping block while you attempt to keep a very low profile. Honestly Waldo do you think that by crawling back under your rock and closing the coffin door that you can evade the inevitable? You know what it is as well as the rest of us. I bet you have not been sleeping well these 2 weeks now have you. The same nightmare must plague you, being out on the street looking for a new job during the economic hard times. What did you expect? The city spent 40K to fix you and instead the entire department got dragged into the debacle while you blamed everyone. Did you think that went unnoticed? Most certainly not my very good friend Waldo.

Now that the city council has opened its collective eye on you what do you suppose fate has in store? You are a slippery sort of fellow so my bet is that you will evade being put out once again. How do you do it? You know if you could bottle this grease of yours you would make that fortune you have been seeking all your life.

I wonder if the council will finally look into your claims of being the inventor of the RISC chip. I wonder how embarrassing it will be to them when they find out that the claims you have made all along have been a fraud. A fraud perpetrated on the city!

They are watching you closely so I am told. Your time is very short there Waldo old friend. Best start looking for an exit strategy. Oh i forgot you cant do that, you have no place to go. Going to hold on trying to save your "career " and life as you know it. Again, my bet says once again you will slip through the grasp of truth and continue on.

Let's hope that all your screw ups finally catch up to you and I'm proven wrong!

Your one and only main squeeze, Lover Boy!! Gwennie Poo!

"So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish!"

2008-11-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

Title of the 4th book in the Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe.
It is what the dolphins said to their human trainers prior to leaving a doomed earth.

That is not to say I think IT is doomed. On the contrary, I think IT’s best days are ahead! I have been looking and moving forward since well before the blog started. I think most of us have. There were many reasons for the blog, a primary one was to get City Management to pay attention to the ‘issues’ personnel were encountering with our ‘director’. Now they are taking a hard look and if we are lucky a management study will ensue. I have my doubts that Waldo will survive it but, hey, who knows; stranger things have happened! Remember, if it was one person who had issues with Waldo, I would tend to believe it was the one person, not Waldo. If it were a few people, then I might think it would be both the few and Waldo, a misunderstanding. In our case, it was a majority of the department that had issues with Waldo. The same issues! So, I have to conclude the issues reside with Waldo, not the department. I will say on Waldo’s behalf that his personality has improved very much since Cindy has been mentoring him. Great job Cindy, you get three thumbs up and a big toe too! He is making a genuine effort to improve which has been noticed. Too bad you can’t fix a lack of business and IT skills. I still maintain that Waldo is in over his head in his current position and really only has a very basic knowledge of business and IT overall. He talks a good game, very articulate, but generally cannot deliver. Let’s try not to digress now, we must move forward!

There has been lots of speculation surrounding the blog. “It is this person!” or “It is that person!” or “It is a group of people!” and so on. But what does it matter now. We all heard from the HR Director that there was nothing that could be done about it, except if you were blogging at work, which no one was. There was that comment about “certain action” that might be taken, however having spoken to “certain friends” who professionally commented about the status of the blog, the risk level is very low. Essentially if the blog lied there could be a potential for action, however given that it clearly states, “Opinions and satire”, it is free speech. What the blog did was raise ugly truths making people very uncomfortable. It is not polite to air ‘dirty laundry’ but the blog was never meant to be polite. The blog questioned statements of reputation, professional actions and business knowledge. It even poked fun at Waldo but did not lie. When questioned about certain items they were verified, corrected or retracted. No, I am not justifying the actions of the blog, merely pointing out how it operated. Keep in mind, not one person was ever forced to read it. That was an individual choice of free will.

I thought all the measures to “catch Gwen” or “block the blog” were hilarious! It proves how deep inside Waldo’s head the blog really was and still is. Waldo was shamed and goaded into taking actions on some issues and changing his opinions on others. The blog served as a tool for employees to vent frustrations anonymously with no fear of reprisals. Of course Waldo read the blog every day. His actions on the various topics showed it. The blog also brought to light just who was actually making positive things happen for the department. As many times as Waldo tried to make the blog look as if it were attacking the entire department, I don’t think he ever succeeded. People made up their own minds about the issues and comments on the blog.

Like it, love it, hate it or despise it, the blog had an impact on morale within the department. For a few it was negative, for others it was hope; a hope that someone would pay attention. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself “Did the blog work?” I say it did its job. Maybe not in the fashion that was professionally or socially acceptable to all but it worked. Today, we had a department meeting with Waldo’s boss, the Assistant City Manager and the HR Director. They promised their full attention and to do whatever it takes to change the situation for the better within IT. Employees were very encouraged and are looking forward to change.

So I acquiesce to the “highly intellectual, slim, trim and youthful blonde bombshell” Ms Cindy Rohlf. The blog is now closed to further editorials and comments. It will be archived and left in place.

Gwen Parker.

Excuses, Excuses…

2008-11-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

It has been about 9 months now since we last saw our ‘wayward employee’. Not that any of us really cares, just the obvious observation. This boo boo and that ouchie have somehow prevented them from coming back to work. Not that anyone really misses them. The work continues to get done and it is painfully obvious that they are not needed to keep the department humming along. It is a realization that they are just there to ‘suck up’ the proverbial pay check. I am sure our ‘invisible employee’ is scamming the insurance industry and city by being on some sort of disability. Again, who really cares, as long as they don’t return.

Personally, I believe that this ‘vanished employee’ is too embarrassed to show themselves back at work. Everyone knows what is going on so I don’t think they can get away with the ‘drama’ they have been used to during their employment tenure. In my opinion, all this employee is looking for is the big payout from disability or a medical retirement. Their poor performance over the years and lack of presence at work during critical times along with being an ‘ambulance chaser’ clearly demonstrates this. Yup, they are scared to return to face the truth about their behavior.

I don’t know what this employee is really worried about. Nothing is going to happen to them. The city won’t take action. HR has excuse after excuse. Even this employee’s history is a non-issue. So come on back to work, we miss you… NOT! Tell us all about the drama in your life and attempt to convince us that you have been treated unjust, that how you are viewed is just wrong. I look forward to your return. The show ought to be a good one. I’ll bring the popcorn!!!

Waldo and Self Gratification

2008-11-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

Last week Waldo sent a memo to the entire department extolling the virtues of his appointment to head a voluntary state program which is looking into collaborative efforts as a means of cost savings. First off kudos to the state for being proactive in looking for effective and efficient methods of saving money for the citizens of this great state of ours. What really gets me is why the hell did they choose our Waldo to head this up? I know this is a rhetorical question. Waldo spends his days hiding in his office, never interacting with ordinary employees, looking for ways to promote himself and his personal agenda. Even that, I really don’t have a problem with. It keeps him from interfering with the departments business and things run a heck of a lot smoother with him out of the picture. So to that I say, keep it up Waldo! If it would make you feel better, we can wall you up in your office so you can spend all your time on self promotion and not have to interact with employees!

It does not take a rocket scientist to figure out Waldo once you have spent some time around him. It is easy to observe he is clueless when it comes to IT management or people skills. However he does excel at one thing, self promotion. I swear, he could sell sand in the desert and salt water on the ocean! He knows how to use the right buzz words and latest speak. The critical item he lacks is an understanding of just how to turn concepts into reality. Even his ideas lack a completeness of thought. Too many loose ends and holes in them; they are never completely thought through. So having said all this, I really have to wonder about the competence of the state people who chose Waldo. I am sure the state will quickly see the error of their ways and replace him. It won’t take long for them to realize his lack of substance. Hot air yes, substance no.

Of all this; the one thing that truly gets under my skin is that email he sent out stroking himself concerning the appointment. Does he realize how many people were actually disappointed that he was not offered a job? It was so disheartening to for him to say he would still be working for the city. Besides, who in the department really gives a damn about what Waldo does outside the department? I dare say not a soul. This was nothing more than Waldo’s need for mental masturbation, to stroke his ego, to be self gratified, that someone in the department would pat him on the back or say “Great Job!” All in all I don’t think he really matters unless it gets him another job, then I think we would all be happy to give him a rousing sendoff!

Dead End Waldo

2008-10-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

Once again Waldo’s “magnificent” vision for open source has failed. Although “HE” won two awards for his vision, ultimately it has been a failure. Now you might ask yourself how that can be. Let me tell you. Waldo selected an open source software package called “Plone” to develop rudimentary tools for him enact his “transparency” policy along with the city’s current website. (Transparency for the staff, secrecy for HIM). Anyway, as it turns out, the version of Plone, which the city has invested millions of dollars in development effort, is no longer supported. Normally this would not be a problem; an organization would simply upgrade to the next version and carry on. Not with Plone. This new version does not support the old code. From the Plone Creator and Developer himself, it was stated that it would be far easier to “Rewrite applications” than to try and convert them using the software tool! What kind of “leadership” is this when the department is lead down a dead end path having wasted millions in development effort using this product? This is typical of Waldo.

What would city management think about this? They don’t give a damn. From their “height” everything is great! Too bad they don’t look a bit closer to realize the funds wasted by the IT Director and his vision. Besides, what the hell is the city doing in the open source business anyway? Why are we attempting to market software to other localities and countries? This does not benefit the city or the tax payers who the city fathers are ultimately responsible too. Nope this only benefits Waldo. It is clear for all to see.

So, now what is Waldo going to do? Admit that he was wrong and use commercial tools or ignore HIS failure and continue to extend that dead end road? My money is on the dead end road. HIS enormous ego could never allow him to admit HE was the CAUSE of a FAILURE! A failure just like the rest of HIS initiatives. Bumble on Bumbler Man, Bumble on, after all that IS what you do BEST!

The Peter Principle

2008-09-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

"In a Hierarchy Every Employee Tends to Rise to His Level of Incompetence."

Its all a matter of perspective. In Waldo’s case this applies. Given his actions and performance (or lack thereof) over the past six years, I would have to say Waldo most certainly has reached his Highest Level of Incompetence. Some employees reach this level early on. Then you have employees that never reach this level and produce throughout a very fruitful career. I believe that most employees fall into this group.

As a manager, it is important to understand each employee and what they are capable of accomplishing. It takes knowledge of their skill sets, initiative and abilities along with work habits to form a complete picture. Then it is up to the manager to utilize the employee in such a way that best uses the employee’s overall skills and abilities. It is also incumbent upon the manager to grow employees to the next level by providing assignments just outside some of their abilities. With the proper assistance a manager can grow better employees and managers. There is nothing new here, this is Management 101.

So I have to ask, how can Waldo be an effective ‘manager’ if The Peter Principle applies to him? I guess that City Management is flying 8 Miles High and I mean HIGH!

On A Wing and a Curse

2008-09-28T17:58:00.000-07:00

“Why is Waldo still here?”
“How does Waldo manage to hold onto his job?”
“Can’t they see his incompetence?”
“Why don’t they fire Waldo?”
“Why won’t they get rid of Waldo?”

These are the questions that people ask me over and over. If I had an answer I would provide it. I have to hand it to ol’ Waldo however; he is the “ultimate” survivor man. You know the show where that idiot goes to the ends of the earth, to the most extreme environments to test whether or not he can survive for seven days on his wits only? Well you can think of Newport News as the extreme environment for Waldo. Not that Waldo has any wits, half wits maybe. No, Waldo is just damn lucky to be very articulate. He manages to sell a pile of shit to city management at lunch time and convinces them to chow down. Not only do they look forward to their daily ration of shit from Waldo, they enjoy every bite!

For six years now there has been nothing but complaints about Waldo, his half wit ideas and lack of any real skills, professional or not! All have fallen on deaf ears. More like deaf, dumb and blind! What does city management see in this excuse of a man that makes them believe he is doing a good job or that he is capable of leading a department? They must realize that no one in the department , not to mention many of his ‘peers’ have absolutely no confidence in the man to do anything right. They must know by now that his claims of being the inventor of RISC are false. They must realize by now that he is know among his MIX peers as “Open Source Andy”. Heck the guy can’t even cut his grass and lied about it on TV! Yet he still persists. He still there ‘acting’ as if he can lead the Information Technology department.

I have come to the conclusion that City Management must be full of morons only interested in themselves and hanging around to retire. They don’t want to rock the boat, status quo is what they know and want to keep it that way. So I hope they enjoy their daily “ration” from Waldo. God knows they must love it or they would have done something about him by now.

So to answer the questions above, don’t count on city management to get rid of Waldo any time soon. No, I imagine he will be with the city until he is in his early 60’s, probably another 10 years or so. Why? Because he is incapable of getting another job. This is the best job he has ever lied himself into. His ego always wanted to be in charge and he believes that because he is in charge he must be smart. He cannot afford to let go of this job so he will do whatever it takes to hang on. One more thing, as long as employees save him from himself and carry his responsibilities, he will continue to look good to city management.

Obsessive Compulsive Waldo

2008-09-28T08:55:00.000-07:00

It has been about four weeks now since the last major entry on the blog; yet, Waldo has to check every day. Sometimes, Waldo checks several times a day to see if “the bloggers” have left a love letter for him. I have found that I cannot even ask Waldo a question without him thinking I am fishing for information to blog about! I have heard from more than one source that Waldo is very paranoid and ‘jumpy’ concerning the blog or being questioned. In my opinion, someone that paranoid and obsessive about the opinion of others, either has very low self esteem or has something to hide. Myself, I tend to think it is both. Let’s face it, Waldo is a poor performer. His decisions are irrational to most of us and it is obvious the serve no one but himself. He is looking to be the ‘Hero’ riding in at the last moment with the ‘perfect’ solution to a problem knowing nothing about the circumstances that precipitated the issue in the first place. He still keeps his managers in the dark about departmental interaction with city management and decisions which directly affect the department. He is so paranoid that he cannot trust anyone around him.

How about the stealing of city intellectual property and attempting to sell such to anyone interested? Think anything will ever be done about that? Nope, never, nil, a goose egg. If it had been ‘other’ employees, I am very sure that Waldo would have been quick to take punitive action to get rid of them. Talk about a double standard!

It is that time of year again for Waldo to don his foil hat and antennae taking that trip once again down the extra terrestrial highway. Hopefully this time the aliens will keep him. If we are lucky they will take him back to their home world, extract some trump gas and keep him on display in their zoo of “alien” oddities. Ah, we could be so lucky. I am sure that along the way on his trip he will be spreading manure while spouting out that ‘bovine scatology’ in order to grow an ‘open source eco system’. I wonder what kind of weed this eco system will sprout. We already know the type of ‘farmer’ attempting to cultivate it! Good thing there are no open flames in the office otherwise we would have lost the fifth floor by now to a flash gas explosion!

Uncle “Waldo” Wants YOU!!

2008-09-02T17:45:00.000-07:00

….To VOLUNTEER for your JOB! That’s right folks, management by no management at all! Because Waldo fears being responsible for anything, he seeks employees to volunteer to do their jobs! Can you imagine, all we have to do now us just show up, and cherry pick the tasks we would like to participate in. OR, we could do nothing at all because Waldo won’t assign anyone anything with a real due date. So why worry. Oh, and what is this with WALDO deciding who is going to work on which task? That is way way down in the weeds for a department “Director” to be involved with. Know why he is that far down in the weeds? Because HE fraced up the department so bad he does not know how to fix it. He is totally desperate to get a handle on His job now. About freaking time, it only took him 6 years but hey, who’s counting.

No, one of the primary reasons is that he has to find something that the EGov team can do. Let’s be blunt. When EGov was put together 3 or so years ago, Waldo mostly got those employees, with a few notable exceptions; the other teams did not want or did not know what to do with. Some of the more talented people on the EGov team managed to escape early on to other high profile projects. Other EGov members quit and moved on to better careers. EGov is now left with two talented females and one male employee and I ain’t talking about management either folks. This issue has been skirted around for a couple of years now. How did it end up this way? Why not ask Waldo, he knows but is too chicken poo to face the issue.

So now Waldo is meddling with projects and inserting people where HE thinks they should go WITHOUT talking to the PROJECT MANAGERS….AS USUAL! Going to Frac this up too huh Waldo? Going to don your Waldo regalia and waive that magic turnip and make things worse than they are now! Get a clue Bumbler Man; you have obligated the department to too many projects, with not enough time or resources to accomplish them. Throwing untalented employees such as your countryman at other projects is more of a drain on that project than a help. Not to mention that you are undermining the current task load the Project Managers are carrying, dismissing their advice and how they are managing their project loads.

Waldo, if you are LUCKY enough to be around in 18 months you will experience the complete collapse of the IT Department and it will all be due to YOUR, Andy Stein’s, total lack of management, people skills and non-leadership abilities. YOU, Andy Stein, will have completely dismantled, torn apart and broke everything IT stood for because your G..Damn EGO demanded it! YOU have utterly failed to plan for the future replacement of corporate knowledge poised to retire and walk out the door! YOUR belief that everyone is interchangeable is naïve at best and totally moronic at worst.

Now because Waldo does not know how to deal with the issue, HE is sidestepping HIS DIRECTORIAL responsibility by “asking for volunteers”. Instead of analyzing task personnel requirements and skill sets, Waldo escapes any blame for things going wrong by asking for volunteers who take on all the risk. How about the right tools for the right job! How about managing and ASSIGNING people where their individual talents best serve the department! How about doing your damn job Waldork!

A shout out from Avenging Angel!!

2008-08-29T07:58:00.000-07:00

So how many people are you taking to Hollywood for another stupendous award. That award and is for the same thing on the great innovation of the web site. Only problem is it is not frinedly, not easy to navigate, a joke to internal staff, an embarrasment to management and employees whose friends bring up what a piece of crap it is and how thay can not find anything. Wait, I forgot, the egov stats say there are little to no complaints.

Thankfully the intranet site will be different. Not better, just different. Is is unstable, constantly changing. It's like the shell game, now you see it, now you don't. Look, its different than yesterday, any idea how to find anything. What you could do yesterday does not work today. I heard ERP used it for documentation and had to keep apologizing when it was not accessible. Yes, this is ready for awards too. Should be some kind of Darwin award for software. Thats what it deserves.

Oh yeah, Waldo is quiet because he is up to something, or in deep trouble. You figure it out. He let it slip the other day in a meeting, did you catch it. Does he remember what he said. It will be out for all real soon.

Plink It, Plunk It, Poop IT!!!

2008-08-26T17:15:00.000-07:00

Ok so it has been a while. I cannot believe that Waldo is still messing with open source solutions. What is with this man and his 'NEED' to prove that open source is a viable solution for the city! Old News, Get OVER IT Waldo, will ya?!? Of course you can't can you. You are desperate to prove you are valuable, that you know something, anything that the "10th floor" will buy off on. How desperate you must be to pass off a simple web portal as a fully functioning suite of products. Do you even know what you are talking about?????

Here is a simple one for you Wally, DO YOUR JOB!!! GET OFF the open source 'band wagon' and focus on the IT Department and it's needs! YOU still have to deal with "The Employee" xxxxx who is abusing the leave system and your two amigos Joszef and Dan K for selling city intellectual property (or attempting to). DO YOUR FREAKING JOB!!!!! STOP searching the Internet all day long looking for the big score in open source. YOU are a week late and hundreds short. YOU missed the boat on it and now it is no longer free! LET IT GO and attempt to be a department head or just GO AWAY!

If you were CAPABLE of DOING YOUR JOB, you would not have anything to worry about because employees would see that. BUT NOOOOO, all they see is you SCREWING with "free" software and IGNORING department issues. You really just tick us off!!!!! MAN UP!!! FINISH SOMETHING you start. START SOMETHING you can finish. TAKE OWNERSHIP of SOMETHING!!! Do you even realize you are about to fall flat on your face? It is going to happen very soon and you know what, it will be ALL YOUR OWN DOING! Bank on it!

Blog Stats as of 15 Aug 2008

2008-08-15T15:38:00.000-07:00

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 15 Aug 2008

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Main Page (7 latest articles)

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A Frustrated Response by Gwen
dgo 2008 and Andy Andris Stein / The Blind Eye (tied)
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The Blind Eye

2008-08-11T04:40:00.000-07:00

Well with no punishment of any kind in sight for Jozsef or Dan K for attempting to sell city intellectual property one has to wonder if Andy Stein was involved. My nickel says he is. It also goes to show that Andy Stein plays favorites. You can bet had it been others involved that Andy Stein has a grudge against, he would have spared no effort to make sure they were punished or fired. Maybe Dan K or Jozsef might spill the beans on Andy Stein and he cannot afford that. You would think at the very least that their merit was revoked, or the got 20 demerits or put on 6 months probation. Not a thing.

So how about it. Everyone calls for change. Why don't they show some action instead of just feeding us more empty promises. Now is the time to show you have credibility. Fail to show it now, do you really think anyone will pay attention what you have to say in the future? Fail to at least minimally punish these individuals and do you expect people to participate with you to change? I don't think so.

I will say this, they fail to be punished, don't go after anyone else. Don't even think you will be able to punish anyone. Everyone should get a full merit and outstanding reviews. If Mr Stein even breathes in the wrong direction he is going to get slammed hard!

Lather That Soap!

2008-08-07T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sure, I will take this on. Not much to research though because the answers are all over both blogs. This is not a position I wanted to be in. I would have been very content to mind my own business and just do my job. Waldo had other plans so here we are today. When it comes right down to it, there are very few choices in life we actually have. You can let a bully push you around and take it in silence or you can push back. When going through proper channels failed because Senior City Management was not interested in what was happening in the IT Department other means had to be found to make management take notice of events in IT. The problem was that City Management wanted to ‘meet’ with ‘whistle blowers’ only to shoot the messenger so the message would go away. Having seen how the outgoing Deputy Director (30+ years with IT) was treated when she tried to raise issues about Waldo, no one was willing to step forward. Anonymity was and still is required for people to feel they could voice individual thoughts, insights and opinions concerning the department. There is a major distrust in dealing with Senior City Management for this reason. I, personally, don’t see this attitude changing until there has been a complete change over in City Management. I don’t see this happening any time soon so the real question becomes “How to successfully work with or around Senior City Management to have issues addressed and dealt with in a timely manner.” Your guess is as good as mine and I am open to suggestions.

Sure, you can borrow my ‘soap box’ to pose any questions you wish on this blog. I am fully aware this is a 2-way street. It is also a double edged sword, it cuts both ways. So just be forewarned, be careful about the questions you choose to ask, you might not get the answers that you wanted to.

One of the most powerful choices we have in life is the power to forgive. Forgiveness is the key to salvation, serenity of the soul and peace of mind. To forgive is also a learned trait. We are not born this way; we have to be taught how to forgive and why it is important to do so. To heal, as you put it, one must be able to forgive transgressions perpetrated against them. One must be able to let go of anger, rage and hate to forgive. One must forego vengeance of any sort, to forgive. Only then can true healing begin, can trust be restored and faith in ‘the system’ to do the right thing is renewed. These things provide us the ability to ‘move on’. Senior City Management let this debacle happen and only they can restore trust and faith in the system which in turn lets people forgive, heal and move forward. That is not to say that people cannot do these things on their own, but it won’t mean much unless Senior City Management rectifies the problem they created. Has the IT Director demonstrated this capability lately?

I would agree with you that there is ‘too much water under the bridge’ now to go back. To move forward now requires drastic change in the way business is conducted in the IT Department and in IT Senior Management. How many chances to you give someone who is inept in doing their job, who abuses the leave system or who steals intellectual property? How many slaps on the hand are there until action is taken? How blatant does the abuse or theft have to be to warrant punishment or dismissal?

Success is a matter of perspective. A trait of a true leader is to recognize those who contributed to the overall success and not bask in the ‘glory’ of the success alone. A true leader steps back from the ‘lime light’ and lets the accolades fall upon those who made the success happen. A true leader is humble yet does not under or over play their role in the success. Does IT have a true leader?

When was the last time you were in the IT Department? There is a saying, “perception is deadlier than reality”. What is your perception? Elitism, jealousy, anger, lack of communication and misunderstanding? Yeah, there is that, it is everywhere you go in life. They exist in every corporation, every business. The real question is “At what level are these emotions and misinterpretations at and how are they affecting the functioning of the department?” The reason I asked when you were last in the IT Department is because teamwork, forgiveness, understanding and compassion do exist and thrive there. They are just not shown to one individual because he does not know how to show them to his employees. We work around Waldo.

You are correct; respect is earned AND works both ways. Not only do you have to earn my respect, I have to earn yours as well. One cannot demand or expect respect from anyone. One must be willing to give respect in order to receive it. Has that happened between Waldo and his staff?

Finally, to your question of is all lost. I would answer by saying no, however, all your easy fixes and choices are now gone. What you have left are drastic changes in personnel and leadership. Nothing more will do. Everyone in IT knows it, including Waldo and we all know it is just a matter of time now before drastic change happens. So the question is “Does Senior City Management act now or wait until it is completely broken?” In my estimate, given the loss of a few key personnel (like 2 or 3) and retirements, IT probably has between 10 and 18 months remaining before total crisis. (depleted corporate knowledge).

On to the questions:

1. Can the rift between the Director and staff be repaired? If so, how? If not, why not?
Answer: No. Trust is gone. His vindictive petty nature is apparent. He was given several opportunities to change with very limited success. If it was just one staff member who had an issue with the Director I would say it was the staff member but when your ENTIRE staff has an issue with the Director, I would say it is the Director.

2. Can the divide between the eGov team and some of the rest of IT be bridged? If so, how? If not, why not?
Answer: Yes, but the team needs to be restructured, lead by a competent Project Manager and held accountable for stated goals and timelines. Vague goals and indefinite timelines breed mistrust and resentment.

3. Can the widening gulf between the ERP team and IT be undone? Should it be? If so, how? If not, why not?
Answer: No, it should not be. Reason: An ERP is a tremendous investment for any organization. With that said, this team has acquired a vast amount of corporate knowledge about city business rules and how the software functions. As the ERP enters into the maintenance stage of Life Cycle Management it is vital that employees with the corporate knowledge remain to support the product. The ERP is most likely looking at another 12 months or so to be fully implemented. Through normal attrition new team members can be brought in and replaced. It would be a mistake to remove this knowledge and attempt to rediscover it with reassigned personnel. This was a risk presented at the beginning of the project.

4. Is IT disintegrating before everybody's eyes? If so, can anything be done about it? If so, what?
Answer: Not even close. In most respects, IT is functioning very well. What is disintegrating before everyone’s eyes is the relationship, trust, respect and teamwork most employees should have but never had with the IT Director. It is non-existent now. People work with Waldo because THEY HAVE TO not because THEY WANT TO. To effect change in IT would be to replace the IT Director and work down where necessary. I would say an examination of the entire organizational structure is in order.

5. Is morale better than before? Same? Worse? How and why? Can anything be done? If so, what?
Answer: When you look at all the incidents within the past 3 months alone, in particular, Waldo’s failure to discipline the eGov team members involved with stealing city intellectual property, the complaints which went forward to his boss and his style of personalizing evaluations and the merit process, I would have to say morale within IT is worse. However again, it is a matter of perspective. From Waldo’s point of view, because people are afraid of his vindictive nature, things are great because everyone smiles at him and interacts with him. What he fails to understand is that it is not genuine; it is because THEY HAVE TO. If you took the IT Director out of the mix, morale would be average to moderately high. Why? Because most all the staff has a good working relationship with one another, trust is evident as well as mutual respect. Can anything be done? Why yes, yes something can be done. REPLACE THE IT DIRECTOR with someone competent.

So if you have been paying any attention at all, you should now realize that the crux of the matter is the failed working relationship which the IT Director has with the IT Staff. There is no trust or confidence in his ability to lead or perform. He has shown a habit of being vindictive and petty. What more needs to be said on the matter? Replace him and things will happen quickly. Don’t replace him and you will have more of the same spiral into the abyss.

Please Pass the Soap or Soap on a Rope!

2008-08-07T17:50:00.000-07:00

I've got something for you to research, Gwen. You have quite a position here, being able to supply a soapbox for all of us.

I'd like to temporarily borrow your soapbox and ask: can anything be fixed, keeping in mind that everything is a 2-way street?

Many people feel that there is too much water under the bridge now to reverse course on any of the bad things in IT. Others feel it's a choice people make and that people can choose to heal and move on.

Some people feel that success for one is success for all. Others have a more local view of their team, their group, themselves rather than the whole of IT or of the city.

There seems to more views towards elitism, jealousy, anger, lack of communication, and misunderstanding than teamwork, forgiveness, understanding, and compassion.

We all know that respect is earned, but forgiveness is a choice.

Is all truly lost or are there are practical solutions to be had?

1. Can the rift between the Director and staff be repaired. If so, how? If not, why not?

2. Can the divide between the eGov team and some of the rest of IT be bridged? If so, how? If not, why not?

3. Can the widening gulf between the ERP team and IT be undone? Should it be? If so, how? If not, why not?

4. Is IT disintegrating before everybody's eyes? If so, can anything be done about it? If so, what?

5. Is morale better than before? Same? Worse? How and why? Can anything be done? If so, what?

Burning Down the House

2008-08-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

Well what did we really expect to happen with respect to Jozsef and Dan K?!?!? Some of us wanted them to face some sort of justice for what they did. Hell, Dan K even lied about his involvement. I have to wonder if he was the one who Andy called when the site came down. Must have been, because Jozsef was not even in the office yet! I guess it does pay to be Andy's friend (minion is more like it) so you don't get into any trouble no matter what illegal act in which you engage. All one has to do is look around and you can see it for yourself.

Do you think that Andy ever documented anything? Did he even bother to do email counseling at the least? Most likely not. He does not have a clue how to properly counsel anyone. In the 6 years he has been the 'dictator' he has not, to my knowledge, documented even one incident. Oh he takes pleasure in messing with people's annual reviews and merits but document the cause; no way. If he did, then you would find out that it was all personal because you were not his friend. Just look at Jozsef and Dan K. Bet they got outstanding reviews with 5% increases for getting Andy his award.

So what kind of example does this set for everyone in the department?!? A bad demoralizing one, if you ask me. (And many have!) It is sad that it appears that City Management is going to let Andy handle it all. Just a slap on the hands that is all. If anything does come of it, do you think anyone will know? Probably not; Andy is the one that deals with all personnel matters. He treats them as personal issues. This is totally wrong. He does not even inform his deputy of what is going on. Employees have to keep him abreast of issues! How can an organization stand in an environment like this?

It cannot. It is one match away from burning down the house that Waldo built.

Too Personal?!?

2008-08-01T19:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, I have heard this for over a year now that “the blog is too personal” or “you should stick to professional matters only”. I would like to point out that Waldo has not played by this rule since he came to the city. All dealings with employees are on a ‘personal’ level, one on one and very secret. I know; I have had the pleasure of many of those conversations with him. How many of you were told that “you were the morale problem in the department”? I personally know of at least 6 individuals who were told the same thing. How many of you in the department have been intimidated into silence. I personally know of several including some very senior managers. How many IT employees work in fear, fear of losing their jobs, fear of making Waldo angry at them? Again, there are several.

I am not pointing this out to single people out or say that the reactions you are having with Waldo are wrong. We each deal with emotions and fears differently. It is a crying shame that Waldo has created this type of working environment. What I want you to think about is that in every case, Waldo made it personal. He personally attacked your knowledge of the situation, he personally attacked your perceived lack of support for his ideas, he personally attacked your credibility or he personally attacked your perceived lack of respect for him. I have been there and experienced it so there is no one that can tell me otherwise.

Before the blog even began, Waldo was systematically personally attacking senior management and those that did not support him or his ideas. Some people broke down, some gave in, some left and a few fought back. Waldo had not morals about attacking people on a personal level because he operates below the belt. SO the blog operates the same way. The blog gives it right back to him and HE CANNOT TAKE IT! Notice he never denies the RISC questioning. NEVER! He just goes silent because HE KNOWS if he is exposed with the RISC lie, HE is done, fired, out on his large hipped ass!

Yes, it is a dirty fight, one that cannot be waged behind closed doors trying to ‘reason’ with Waldork. It must be fought in public where Waldo’s hands are tied. Is this fair? Nope, but has Waldo fairly dealt with many of us? Nope. Many of us have tried and failed only to be personally attacked by him verbally or harassed. One thing in particular that Waldo hates (Besides being called Waldo) is to be made fun of, to be the butt of a joke or story. Another thing he hates is to be personally criticized. So we poke fun at his clothes. You may not like it but is it a lie? HAVE ANY of the insights, criticisms or observations about WALDO been LIES? I think anyone would be hard pressed to find any! Are the personal opinions of Waldo harsh? Yes they are. Have your reviews that WALDO has input to been harsh or contain inappropriate items? In most cases: yes. How about merits? Think about it.

Waldo wants to believe the blog is one person so he can focus all his rage and anger on one person. He wants a confrontation that will never happen. Waldo cannot admit to himself that some of the harshest, most stinging comments about him came from OTHERS and not Gwen. He cannot believe he is all the things the blog says he is. He will never believe it. I can tell you this. The blog and YOUR OPINIONS about WALDO occupy a CONSIDERABLE amount of his time; to the point where he is almost dysfunctional in his job and life. He now blames the blog for his inability to do his job or his lack of credibility. HA I say! He did that to himself. The blog just made it public!

You do not have to agree with how this blog is run or the fight is waged. This is America and we can agree to disagree. Everything has a price, paid by emotions, paid with reputation, or paid in cash but we ALL PAY. You can be bullied, rollover and take it. OR. You can push back and not take it. It is your choice. Play within the rules or make your own just like Waldo. Again: your choice. I just provide a forum for opinions, observations, satire and personal thoughts. The arena of the blog is level. You can say what you wish about me or Waldo. Anyone may participate of their own free will. If you don’t like it, don’t participate. If you do like it, post away.

Live free or die. I fully intend to live free!

A Frustrated Response from Gwen

2008-08-01T18:12:00.000-07:00

If it sounds like I am pissed off it is because I am. I know nothing will happen. I know city 'leadership' is weak and will turn a blind eye. The other two previous Assistant City Managers did NOTHING about Waldo and THEY KNEW what he was doing to the IT Dept. Waldo's current boss has not been around long enough to form an opinion on him. Let us just hope that SHE will make the difference we have all been seeking.

“I'm asking your readers the following questions:

1. Did those involved come forward on their own or were they caught in the act?

2. Did they lie when confronted or did they 'fess up immediately?”

What does it really matter if they came forward or were caught in the act? In either case they had to of known what they were doing was wrong. The only reason they did it was because they felt comfortable nothing was going to happen to them for doing it. After all they were given a “nod and wink” from Mr. Stein that it was ok. The only person who was “caught in the act” was Waldo!

Again, what bearing does it have on this issue if they were confronted or confessed? THEY WERE CAUGHT AND OUTED BY IT EMPLOYEE’S. With Waldo in charge of it all nothing and I DO MEAN NOTHING will happen to the eGov employee. NOT A DAMN THING! No demerits, No suspension and no 12 months of probation.

As for the “Personnel Manual” , how about Waldo’s advertising his dance studio in the Parks and Recreations flyer the city puts out in which he requests payments be made to the dance instructor which was HIM? How many of us remember him calling people many hours of the day about his dance business. Remember “ARMANDO”? OR How about the florist who CAME TO WALDO’S OFFICE to discuss a business transaction for his dance studio on CITY TIME! ON CITY TIME!!!!! ON CITY TIME!!!!!!!!!

This is more but you get the point. Do these qualify for a Level III or Level IV offense as you read the manual. I have read it and they do. Think anything will happen to “Randy’s Boy”? Not a chance. They love him. They think he is top shit! (Well they got the shit part right. Enjoying the shit pie Wally?) Waldo is a parasite who survives by sucking the accomplishments and work out of the people around him for his own benefit. Nothing has happened to him and NOTHING WILL!

The blog exists to point these inequities out!

The Citizen Avenger "Coming out of the Closet"

2008-08-01T17:44:00.000-07:00

This post was interesting and I felt worthy of an editorial of its own. Well are there any brave souls left in IT that are willing to come forward and speak? There is no shame in 'minding your own business" because we all know the VINDICTIVE nature of Waldo which has been proven. How about some anonymous comments then? That would liven things up. Let it all out! Let's "Stop the Madness"..... 3;-}

The below text is from Citizen Avenger

"So who do you think is pulling the strings on this? Andris Stein, but there is NO PROOF linking him to this unless people COME FORWARD and speak to his boss and tell her what they know. Do you think that will happen?"

Without proof, the only thing that can be proven at this time beyond a shadow of doubt is that there are some employees in the IT department are running their own business on company time and blatantly misusing city equipment to do so. This kind of activity can result in firing as shown in the personnel manual extracts below.

If this incident is allowed to pass without appropriate disciplinary action as indicated in the personnel manual, IT will establish a precedent that this behavior is acceptable. That's a very bad reflection on your director and a worse reflection on city management at a time when citizens would like nothing more than good reasons to get rid of city officials.

I'm asking your readers the following questions:

1. Did those involved come forward on their own or were they caught in the act?

2. Did they lie when confronted or did they 'fess up immediately?

====== Personnel Manual ========

Level III offense (DISMISSAL indicated unless employee has satisfactory job performance, in which case, 20 demerits, suspension, and 12 months probation):

5. Engaging in any work activities for personal gain while on City time without prior approval by the appropriate authority. This includes other work performed while on sick leave or Workers' Compensation leave unless authorized in advance by the appropriate City official.

Level IV offense (DISMISSAL indicated):

7. Any activity which is considered severe abuse, misuse or compromise of City employment or of the position held. Included in this category are activities such as USING THE POSITION FOR PERSONAL GAIN, knowingly engaging in activities prejudicial to the interest of the City,knowingly engaging in activities which conflict with the effective performance of duties or with the interests of the City of Newport News, knowingly releasing confidential or sensitive information which may jeopardize City operations or the reputation or effectiveness of others and other similar activities.

Quotes of the Day 31 July 2008

2008-07-31T17:53:00.000-07:00

These quotes were inspired by the events of the past few days! Are you listening Waldork!

“All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident" Arthur Schopenhauer (1788 - 1860)

“Ordinarily he was insane, but he had lucid moments when he was merely stupid. “Heinrich Heine (1797 - 1856)

“Do not seek evil gains; evil gains are the equivalent of disaster. “Hesiod (~800 BC)

“When a man tells you that he got rich through hard work, ask him: 'Whose?'“ Don Marquis(1878 - 1937)

Sold Out! Intellectual Property Theft by Waldo

2008-07-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

For 6 years now we have known about Waldo’s intentions. We warned everyone who would listen but no one took it seriously. Then like freakin’ magic a website shows up with city developed software and consulting services for sale to install it. Talk about a massive conflict of interest. It is really a no brainer that to utilize city time, city personnel and city equipment for personal gain is wrong. However, since Waldo is the IT Director the rules do not apply to him. Let’s not forget that!

It has always been Waldo’s intent to use open source software to develop a product which he could then fork and market as his own. That is the primary reason he has been pushing open source like a drug dealer for the past 6 years. At the cusp of being able to make this happen, he got caught and some else will have to take the fall for it. Really? No, Waldo will sweep it under the old IT rug if he has his way. There it will sleep along with all the other skeletons he is hiding just waiting to be found.

Waldo is walking a very thin line now. He validated what we have been preaching for these many years now. His employment with the city was never about the good of the city. It has always been and will remain for the good of Waldo. This event has to be the dumbest thing that Waldo has done in the past 6 years. I guess he is “Dumbest of the Dumb and Dumber brothers”!!

The "Sgt Schultz" Syndrome

2008-07-31T17:11:00.000-07:00

Waldo knew about the website the "eGov team member" set up BEFORE it became an issue throughout the city. Yet HE DID NOTHING about it until it became an issue and he was forced to deal with it.

The story goes something like this:

"The day before the website issue broke, the "eGov team member" left a meeting with the eGov team early and approached Mr. Stein about his intentions with the site. (Mr. Stein could have stopped it right there but did he??? NOOOOOO! ) The site showed up in the IT security logs the day or day before the "eGov team member" approached Mr. Stein. (Mr. Stein knew about this after his meeting with the "eGov team member") It was Mr. Stein who initially encouraged the "eGov team member" and others on the eGov team to consult and market the eGov software. (This is verifiable if you know where to look). "

If Mr Stein knew about it before anyone else did, why didn't he have it immediately taken down instead of letting evolve the way it did? The sentiment floating around the department is that nothing will happen to the "eGov team member" as a result of this. That is because the "eGov team member" is a close personal friend of Mr. Stein, they are countrymen from the same European country, and it is reported that the "eGov team member" has lived with Mr. Stein in the past.

So the result will be a slap on the hand. You have some angry employee's watching this unfold.

The sad part is, those of us who know the "eGov team member" know he does not have the necessary knowledge or skills to develop the website by himself. He just ends up being the fall guy.

Avenging Angel "I" have something in my "I"!!

2008-07-29T16:21:00.000-07:00

Insights from Avenging Angel... "I" love it!

I have been pondering the Waldo phenomena, and have a few thoughts. Waldo is all about “I”. I invented the RISC chip, “I am the director”, “I am the boss”. It makes sense the more I thought about it. Since it is about “I”, I got to thinking about “I” words and “I” realized the following.He is also saying the following top 20 “I” statements, he just does not understand:

1) “I am incompetent”. From failure to develop a strategic plan (for 6 years) and disaster recovery, to just generally cluelessness, forgetting positions I gave up, not remembering commitments. This could be a chapter in a book.

2) “I am an icon”. The dictionary lists icon as an image. Seen the u-tube tango ? Seen the Andy Fox interview ? Seen him bumble through when you ask a question about his plans? Certainly leaves an image.

3) “I am an idea man”. With absolutely no idea on how to make it happen. Try the shotgun approach, something will eventually work (sort of). After all, it’s not his dime. If it cost the citizens of Newport News millions, so what, it will make him an “icon”.

4) “I am an ideologist”. Open source, open source, open source, open source. Heaven help those who question the “idea’s”.

5) Idiocy. Not that he is of subnormal intelligence(maybe), but the extreme folly (see #4) and foolish deeds(see # 2 and his TV and dance videos)

6) “I should be Idolized”. What with all his magnificent accomplishments (RISC inventor, Tango master, Open Source guru, blinding intelligence) why are we all not groveling at his feet for direction and enlightenment?

7) “I am ignoble”. Not having a noble character. Cross him, or not, feel the knife in your back or being pushed in front of the bus? Sacrifice all for failures that cannot be of his doing.

8) “I am immature”. When a director constantly uses “I am the boss”, “I must be respected”, “I am in charge”, “you didn’t understand”, tries to make you feel like a fourth grader on the playground and the whiny kid is not getting his way. Nanny nanny boo boo.

9) “I am impatient”. I want it done my way (the only way), I want it done now, no excuses, I don’t care if it works, “I want”, see #8.

10) “I am important”. I invented the RISC chip, I was “the” manager of importance at Capital One, I know everyones business better than they know theirs. I know what needs to be done. Follow me, I will show you. Sad to be so “insignificant” you must boast of your importance.

11) “I am impressive”. It is a good thing to have a positive view of one’s self, someone should.

12) “ I will improve IT”. That mantra from his hiring makes me want to hurl. I know I have seen so many improvements in IT. I have seen the morale change because if his “improvements”. I have seen the staff make leaps forward for the betterment of the City.

13) “I am impudent”. This one needs no further explanation.

14) “ I can talk incessantly about Open Source and the collaborative ecosystem created”. Do it Bumbler man, makes sleeping easy.

15) “ I am inconsistent”. I know I told you “a”, and 10 minutes later told Suzie “B”, and the boss “C”, but the idea evolved. Translation. I don’t care what you say, I am going to do what I want and I am just trying to placate you. You are an idiot, and I am important (see #10)

16) “I am indecisive”. Ever gotten Waldo to make a decision ? That is besides let’s form a committee to evaluate it. What happens to the recommendations the committee sends to him for approval. Seen any of those finalized ?

17) “I am ineffectual”. Since he has alienated the IT staff, the ITA’s, most directors, how is he going to accomplish anything. Wait, see #3, #4, #10, #12. He can do it all on his own, and will have to.

18) “I am inflexible”. How much time money and effort were wasted on Open Exchange ? On the Open source groups, on Plone/Zope content manager. Oh, that is paying off, we are getting $150 a month from a locality, with an estimated $2.5m implementation cost, we will recoup the investment around 3396. Good TCO and return on investment. The citizens and management of Newport News should be pleased. Now I hear the open source site is for sale, and not by the City!

19) “I am insecure”. Thus the repeating of “I am the boss”, “I must be respected”, the blog bothers me, I must find Gwen (and it is not me), I must be liked.

20) Finally, “I am insignificant”. The only accomplishments I have are others I lie about, or exaggerate accomplishments to #10, #11

Just for all to know, “I” came to these revelations as “I” sat in a meeting with him the other day and observed his actions and words. Then I started thinking, it’s all be “me”. “M”.

Time to Turn the Page?

2008-07-27T17:32:00.000-07:00

It amazes me at the number of readers this blog has around the world. Not just the sheer numbers but the volume of regular readers. Oh there are casual readers who pop on then off every now and then but there has been a trend for regular readership. I have to wonder why. I understand why the numbers of readers is very high in the local area but I really wonder what others find interesting in this blog. Is it just following the saga of employee’s verses a tyrannical manager? Is it the humorous stories that are written about the manager? Could it be the art work that has been posted? I want to understand the appeal of the blog to those of you who read from so far away.

I often wonder if some of the non-local readers are recruiters who are doing research on the manager. I have read that 85% of recruiters look on the internet for information about potential hires. I wonder if this has affected our manager in some way. I guess I will never really know…
So what is the attraction then? Is it curiosity, to see how the story turns out? I, personally, don’t know how this will all turn out. It started out as one thing and has morphed into another with a different purpose. One thing I never expected was that I enjoy writing. Funny, I try to avoid it; however, I have been told that I have a knack for it. Could it be because I am able to put into words what others are feeling about the situation; to clearly articulate emotions and thought? Hmmm? I don’t think it is that. I like the funny stories myself. The challenge of using my imagination to come up with something humorous yet is appropriate to the topic.

Well, for those of you that are not local to Hampton Roads Virginia, I would like to hear from you. What do you think? Do you think the blog should be taken into another direction altogether or should I just create another blog and abandon this one? I enjoy this blog but I do feel it has served its purpose. It will remain out on the net for future reference, for how long I do not know. What would you like for me to write about? Let me know.

Quote of the Day 27 July 2008

2008-07-27T14:16:00.000-07:00

Yet another truth in leadership!

"Underneath this flabby exterior is an enormous lack of character." Oscar Levant (1906 - 1972)

Such a picture of a caricature this paints for us all. What say you?

Rage Against the Machine

2008-07-26T16:26:00.000-07:00

Every cog and wheel in the machine has a purpose. Each one no more important than the other, yet vital to the well being of the machine. Carefully cared for, each component hums along in a symphony of organized production. Like clockwork precision, the gears of our machine engage producing that which makes our society run. On occasion maintenance is performed to replace those parts of our machine which have run their course. Most of the time, replacement parts smoothly fit in keeping the machine in perfect tune.

At this juncture however the master cog in our machine is out of sync with the smooth operation of the machine. It strains and pulls out of time with the other gears forcing the machine to strain and work against itself. Production suffers as our society is not replenished with the materials our machine provides. Stress fractures appear in the very heart of the machine and some gears are about to fail yet maintenance is not forthcoming. The master cog chips teeth off the other gears it must interface with causing a cascade effect within the entire machine. The warning lights are blinking as the machine is in failover mode. It strains to produce but the gears are slipping.

Do we tear the heart of the machine apart and rebuild it only to have it fail again because the master cog is out of sync and damaging gears or do we simply replace the master cog with one in time with the rest of the machine. In either event an overhaul is a must because of the out of sync master cog.

Quote of the Day 26 July 2008

2008-07-26T09:18:00.000-07:00

Anybody know of someone who subscribes to this philosophy? It didn't work for the former Soviet Union, do you think it would work now?

"A lie told often enough becomes the truth." by Lenin (1870 - 1924)

What say you, blog readers, any comments on this???

Quote of the day 25 July 2008

2008-07-26T09:08:00.000-07:00

Now this one speaks volumes!!

"The less their ability, the more their conceit." by Ahad HaAm

What say you all?? Know anybody like this??

Who’s Next?

2008-07-25T15:41:00.000-07:00

That’s the real question? Like a parasite consuming it’s host, one has to wonder who is next. Most have already suffered in one form or another. For some it has been emotional, for others it has been financial, for most it has been both. With little or no value placed on those who do not please, what incentive is there? There is a struggle going on to survive, to endure the storm that surrounds us all. Are we in the midst of a raging storm or in the eye with a moment of calm about to be tossed back into the fury? Has the worst passed us by so that we may begin to pick up the pieces and live again as we once did? No one really knows for sure.

Yet we do more than just survive and endure. We flourish in the midst of our storm. In spite of the personal dangers we continue to push forward, against the turbulent winds and the pelting rains. We ignore the storm’s wrath and do what must be done. Exposed to its fury we build a better society and take care of one another. With each block we set in motion events which will inevitably allow our society to succeed beyond what once was. Storms will come and no matter their fury, their rage, their wrath, they eventually wither and die as their power is spent. Beyond the storm there is sunshine, hope for a better future for our society and ourselves.

Quote of the Day 24 July 2008

2008-07-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

How about this quote? How do you think it applies?

"You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." by President Abraham Lincoln

Quote of the day 07/23/2008

2008-07-23T16:45:00.000-07:00

This is a quote which speaks about Waldo.

"Only the weak are cruel. Gentleness can only be expected from the strong." by Leo Buscaglia

What side of the quote do you think he falls on?

I would say on the left. What say you?

Waldo the Wise!!

2008-07-23T16:38:00.000-07:00

Waldo is such a wonderful person. If it were not for him I would have never known that all my beliefs in this world were completely wrong. I must thank you Waldo for pointing these things out to me and setting me straight. I must have been an utter mess before Waldo came into my life. Why before him I thought that the pride I felt for doing a good job was the right thing to feel. Waldo took it upon himself to show me that what I really felt was self righteousness which has no place at work. I also used to think that respect was a mutual thing and which someone earned through trust. Again, Waldo corrected my ignorance by showing me that true respect is the right of a person in his position and that he need not respect me. How stunned I was at this revelation but now I understand the error of my ways. I used to want to participate and share my ideas and insights so I could contribute to the success of the organization. Not any more though. Waldo shed some light on this topic when he demonstrated that the source of all ideas and success within an organization come from a person in his position. That, by virtue of his position alone, he is always right. So I figured I should just fall in line with his thinking and do as I am told, nothing more. How liberating this feels to just collect a paycheck now because what I brought to the table in talent, abilities, skills, ideas etcetera is no longer of value so why worry. Waldo has everything covered. I was always taught to take responsibility for my actions and look out for the welfare of others. Once again, Waldo came to my rescue. He educated me by demonstrating true responsibility does not rest with a person in his position. In fact, it is the fault of others when things go wrong but his doing alone when things go right. He also showed me that the number one person to look out for is you, no matter whom it hurt or how it may damage another’s career growth. Why it is their fault if they cannot get out of his way! Honesty was a trait that my mother taught to me but Waldo showed me how wrong she really was. Why tell the truth when a lie will do and when you are caught just shrug it off, ignore it, or give in to whatever demands are placed upon you in order to show penance and a willingness to correct that behavior. After awhile you get to lie again because it will be new and you get to start over. What a great way to live. All these things that Waldo has taught me are all valuable lessons to learn in climbing the corporate ladder. Thank you Waldo, your generosity for sharing your wisdom brings tears to my eyes. You are truly a person of many talents and skills to be emulated.

I hope you don’t mind though that I decided to just stay the way I am with my silly beliefs about honesty, confidence, pride in workmanship, responsibility, respect and so on. I may never climb the corporate ladder they way you have but at least I can look at myself in the mirror and like what I see.

Everybody Loves Waldo

2008-07-23T16:34:00.000-07:00

A sharp spoken fellow with pondering eyes
They look right inside you and tell no lies
Windows to the soul I have hear it said
His gaze can fill you with oh so much dread

Sitting behind his desk speaking at you
His memory of events often very askew
Dredging up the past as if it happened today
Wondering how much he will screw with your pay

Your senses tell you to go run and to hide
As he spews forth his wisdom and hurts your pride
Taken aback by the things he has said
Oh how his words fill you with such dread

Pounding his fist he demands your respect
Thoughts telling you no, not one little bit
As you node you head in polite compliance
Inside you are shaking with quiet defiance

His words are terse as he tries to convince you
But he holds you captive with a pen and review
The unfairness of it all screams in your head
How his bias for you, fills you with oh so much dread

Blog Stats as of 20 July 2008

2008-07-20T16:57:00.000-07:00

Well, it has been a few weeks since the last status update so here is an update! WOW, we are reaching more of the world than ever! Those crazy Europeans just love the blog as does most of the U.S. I noticed a trend where locations heavy into open source are reading the blog. Also, localities familiar with Waldo are interested as well. And then there is Florida, hmmmmm?? Waldo, I did you a favor, I made you famous just as you always wanted to be. Or just maybe I made you infamous.. Take your pick. Oh I also made a joke out of you. Oh there is just sooo much material to write about when it comes to you my dear friend Waldo! Hugs and Kisses your Gweniepoo!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 20 July 2008

Total Site Visits – 5148

Total Page Views – 11,233

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.19

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 28 Sec

Top 5 Pages past 3 weeks: (29 June 2008 - 20 July 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Cool Hand Waldo
Waldo's White Rabbit
Do You Hear What I Hear...... / The Singularity (tied)
Waldo and the Three Bears
Blame It on Waldo

Honorable Mentions: Now You See Her Now You Don't / Stepping into the Twilight Zone / Team Building - Not Waldo's Fault (tied)

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
Cool Hand Waldo
Waldo's Theme Song
Wald0 vs Fred Flintstone
No Record of This Person at IBM

Honorable Mentions: I Know Nothing Says Waldo / WAVY News 10 and Waldo (tied)

Number of Reader Countries - 30 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
Canada
India

Honorable Mention: Germany, United Kindom, Argentina (tied)

Number of Reader States - 41

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
California
Maryland
District of Columbia

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (40 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: Portsmouth

My Favorite Bumbler

2008-07-19T17:36:00.000-07:00

Several years ago, while traveling down the Extraterrestrial Highway past Roswell New Mexico, I came upon a sight that was to incredible to believe. Why I even hesitate to share this story for fear of being labeled “one of them”! But I must set the record straight so that we may all believe!

It was a dark and moonlit night. The stars where shining and the cacti were scurrying about the desert floor doing what cacti do. All of a sudden I hear this sputtering noise, sorta like a Studebaker backfiring before the engine dies. Then there was this wobbly reddish light falling from the sky. Kinda reminded me of a turnip, don’t ask me why. Suddenly my car died as this thing passed overhead and skidded to a stop about 50 meters away. Well being the “Curious George” that I am, I scampered over a small rise to see what I could see. AND THERE IT WAS!

Now, I have heard of a horse fly and I have heard of a house fly and I have even head of the occasional fly ball but who would have thunk that a turnip could fly! It was the biggest damn turnip I had ever seen. Musta been 30 feet around with a turnippy bulb at the top. As I rubbed my eyes in astonishment the doors open and this being bumbles down the gangway falling flat on its face (if you could call that a face). It was a bit over 2 meters tall, wore a blue and green uniform with a foil hat and what looked like tv rabbit hears on its head. It even had a dial for channel two! Talk about being slack jawed!

The side of the craft read, “Mars Astro Space Ship Incorporated Vehicle Expedition – Planetary Orbital Observer.” I scratched my head for a minute to soak that all in. I said to myself, “Self, it’s a M.A.S.S.I.V.E. P.O.O from outer space!” It sure stunk like one too! Frozen with fear, I watched as this being, bumbled around with a device that resembled a plunger and started to pump the side of its ship. The ship moaned and it groaned as he worked that thar thing! All of a sudden this goop started to pour out the other side of the ship and the engine rumbled back to life!

Scratching its behind (well I like to think it was its behind) it turned around and saw me all bug eyed and fearful. My mind said “Run you damned fool RUN!” but my legs said “Can’t move, puckered with fear!” So there I stood as it approached me. Each step it took towards me sounded like a “kuthumpity thump bump” And there I was, face to face with IT! I said to myself “Self, I thought these things were supposed to be little green men, not bulky, large hipped blue and green men from Mars!” Then it spoke.

“Excuse me sir, I am on my way to Portland Oregon to give a speech on open source collaborative eco systems but my turnip mobile ran out of juice. Could you spare a few bulbs?” Now how this feller knew I had a few turnips for a stew I was going to make I will never know. I just pointed to my car. So with a mighty “kuthumpity thump bump” it ambled over to my car and retrieved the bulbs from my grocery bag. Standing face to face again, it asked “Could you give me a jump?” It must have read the horrible expressions on my face as the many unthinkable thoughts ran through my head. It said “Never mind” and got the jumper cables from the trunk of my car, hooked to the battery placed a turnip in each ear and one in its mouth (at least I hope it was its mouth) and started my car.

Now that was the weirdest dance I ever saw. Reminded me of this ‘broke back tango’ I’d heard so much about from the east coast! When it finally stopped gyrating its massive hips around the turnips were glowing! I heard it exclaim “Ah dilithium turnips” and proceeded to happily “kuthumpity thump bump” back into its craft, power up and take off.

As I composed myself and walked back to my car, I sat there for a moment to contemplate all that had happened. I thought to myself as I started my car “Them poor people in Portland. Them poor poor people, about to be invaded by a M.A.S.S.I.V.E P.O.O.!”

Costs vs. Savings: A Waldo legacy

2008-07-19T15:44:00.000-07:00

As of September this year it will be 6 years under the direction of Waldo. WOW 6 whole years. If I was a betting woman I would have thought by now he would have been long gone along with his open source collaborative eco systems ideas! I would have lost that bet. If anything, I will have to admit that ol’ Waldo is a survivor. He clings onto his post like; well you know what I mean. :-)

I have often wondered what the outcome of this past 6 years would be. Would we have a net savings or a net cost under his direction? Well, the way I see it, I would have to lean toward a cost rather than a savings. Not that all his ideas were bad, his real problem is that he has no idea how to execute them or motivate people to his cause. So he bumbled on, defending his positions on his ideas with sayings such as “you don’t understand” or “I am right and you are wrong”.

So what has Waldo cost the department? Lost productivity due to a morale that he single handily killed. What kind of dollar figure could you put on that? I am sure it would be significant. A several year delay in moving to mainstream office products, network infrastructure and commercial software. How far ahead of the curve would we be now if we did not waste those years chasing the open source collaborative white rabbit? It was not that the department lacked opportunities to collaborate, there were nearby localities that were eager to do so. No, it was Waldo’s handling of the situation, it had to be his way or not at all so he got nothing. What kind of price tag to you put on that? Again, I would think that price would be high. How about the opportunity to grow replacements for the impending departure of those nearing retirement? How about a Disaster Recovery Plan? How about good will when working with other departments in the city? How about just being honest and objective instead of being deceitful and vindictive? What kind of price will the city have to pay in the end?

Whatever the price, I am sure it will be a large one. To repair the damage that has been done in these past 6 years will take many years indeed!

Nature of the Beast

2008-07-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Have you seen Waldo lately? He looks beat. He looks like a 'man' defeated. He skulks around the hallways of the 5th floor all hunched over, eyes averting peoples gazes and shuffles along like a sway backed horse. Guess the 'RESPONSIBILITY' of running a High Performance organization such as the Information Technology Department just ain't his cup of tea, or in Waldo's case his bowl of turnip! People around the city have come to the realization that the computer room AC fiasco was all WALDO's FAULT along with the rock bottom morale within the department. What do you expect from a fraud! No proof of his involvement with RISC. Not once in the last year has Waldo ever offered any PROOF of his involvement. In fact he dodges the issue whenever it comes up. No PROOF that he was an IT director with Capital One. Best we can determine he was a low level operations manager who was canned for POOR PERFORMANCE. Imagine that! Now that I think about it, there is no real PROOF that he ever accomplished anything of importance or merit. One just has to wonder about that. The Great Waldini, a career magic act! I wonder if he can even pull a rabbit out of a hat? Nah, I don't think so, it would be just a wad of hair that he has lost over the years! Most likely from worry that he will eventually be caught for his lies and pay a price, a HUGE PRICE! Remember Waldini, Karma!

Do You Hear What I Hear

2008-07-14T20:16:00.000-07:00

HEEYYYY MR. WALDO! I hear that your bosses are not very happy with you about your “performance” within “IT”! Rumor has it that you are on your last chance and that is slipping away fast! I wonder if you are even kept in the loop of what is going on anymore. I don’t think so. I think you are a vindictive petty has been now. You are a failure and everyone knows it now. I think your bosses have finally come around to see the light. Now they are faced with “How do we get rid of Waldo?” That was the question being bantered around lately. I wonder by whom? I even hear that they are referring to you as “Waldo” behind your back! Don’t ya just love it? I do!!!

Guess you can’t blame anyone anymore for YOUR FAILURES! I wonder where you are going to end up after you are booted from the city? I just cannot imagine you in charge of an Information Technology department again. Even with you fluffing out your resume with all “your supposed accomplishments” while at the city; the truth is others made those things happen and you have not a clue to do it yourself. I bet YOUR PERFORMANCE EVALUATION says you are below par. I bet it even says you lack basic people skills. So who do you blame for this one? Going to blame the big bad blog for all your problems at work?

You just cannot take it that someone can read you like a book. You are as transparent as you like to say about Gwen. You are only projecting your faults onto others as usual. You have been played like a worn deck of cards. We know your every move, your every though, your every reaction to most all situations. You are so easy to predict. I was walking by your office and heard you bitching about someone that was “trying to get into your head” or “playing with your mind”. Not that you said these things but that was the idea. Poor Waldo, if you had to say it that means we have been there for a while. So now that you are our puppet on a string, who ya going to get even with now? Remember, Karma.

Waldo and the Three Bears

2008-07-13T09:13:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time in a small start up internet company there worked three bears. The Owner of the business, Honey Inc, was Papa Bear. He had his own workstation running the latest in Windows software. The manager of Honey Inc, was Mama Bear, she also had the latest in personal computer and Microsoft Software. The worker was Baby Bear, who gathered the honey from bee hives and entered in the quantity and quality of the honey on his Laptop computer which ran, of course, the latest Windows OS and Microsoft Office suite. Together the Bears worked happily and productively selling their honey all over the world and enjoying a tidy profit allowing them to live the good life.

One day the Bears decided to take a day off and enjoy the local national park where they gorged themselves on tourist handouts and the occasional tourist! Unbeknownst to them a stranger had entered their humble establishment looking to sell his ideas on open source collaborative eco systems. Knowing that the Bears where an earth friendly Green business, Waldo took it upon himself to review the hardware and software the Bears had in place. To Waldo’s disgust and horror all he found was Microsoft everywhere he looked. Knowing the Bears would appreciate his help and probably honor him with the annual Bear Award for Excellence, Waldo decided to “upgrade” their computers with open source collaborative eco systems software.

Waldo first attempted to replace Papa Bear’s software with his Open Uni-Source User Collaborative Software (O.U. S.U.C). Being state of the art, Papa Bear’s workstation immediately recognized incompatibilities and shut down, preventing O.U.S.U.C. from even loading. Next, Waldo approached Mama Bear’s personal computer and attempted to load “his” software. Mama Bear’s PC, not as sophisticated as Papa Bear’s workstation, attempted to load O.U.S.U.C. however part way through the installation Windows aborted the install and auto recovered from a save point. Frustrated now Waldo found Baby Bear’s Laptop and proceeded to ‘upgrade’ it. Things were going just swell when the doors opened and lights came on.

And who should enter, why it was the Bears. Waldo, continued on with the smooth upgrade of the laptop, unnoticed by the Bears. First Papa Bear tried to sign on to his workstation but got a message stating “Corrupt Ridden Application Programs cleansed”. Papa Bear said “Someone’s been on my workstation but the C.R.A.P was cleansed.” Next Mama Bear tried to sign on to her PC and got a message stating “Corrupt Ridden Application Programs wiped”. Mama Bear said “Someone’s been on my PC but the C.R.A.P was wiped off.” Finally Baby Bear walked into his office and found Waldo finishing up his O.U.S.U.C installation. He said, “Someone has been on my laptop and is still here fiddling with it!” As the Bears gathered around Waldo, the laptop sprang to life, the screen fluttered for a moment when the blue screen of death appeared with the message “Corrupt Ridden Applications Programs requires Purge, Load, Upgrade, Network, Graphics, and Environment restore”. Baby Bear rolled his eyes and said “Oh great, now I have to P.L.U.N.G.E this C.R.A.P from my laptop!”

Angry the Bears growled at Waldo, who now realized he was not going to get an award. Baby Bear asked, “Can we eat him Mama?” to which she replied “Heavens no Baby Bear, you don’t know where he has been.” Papa Bear chimed in “I think he is one of those Transylvanian Transvestite Turnip Farmers based on his turnip shoes and the odor of methane soap!” “What should we do with him then?” asked Mama Bear. Papa Bear thought for a moment then said, “Just boot Mr. O.U.S.U.C. with his C.R.A.P. out the door and remember to wash your foot when you are done!” “Gladly!” stated Baby Bear who proceeded to grab Waldo and boot him out the door into the garbage where he and his C.R.A.P. belong.

The moral of this story is: Know what you are doing when developing and marketing software or you end up with C.R.A.P. and people refer to you as Mr. O.U.S.U.C.!

Blame it on Waldo!

2008-07-11T18:25:00.000-07:00

An editorial emailed to me from a 'friend'. Read on and enjoy!

While I was at work today I was reflecting on the many promises Waldo made about how he would improve life for the Information Technology Department. When you look back over the last 6 years he really has not accomplished a damn thing. All his supposed accomplishments were the sweat and hard work of others in the department. However we cannot forget that because he is the director he deserves all the credit. Hell, with as much input as Waldo really has provided into the success of any given project, he might as well not even show up. I personally think the department functions better when he is not there anyway. Heck even when he is there he is not there, know what I mean Vern! So if we cannot attribute any successes to Waldo that only leaves blame. And boy is there a lot to blame him for.

Let’s start off with department morale. I will have to admit Waldo has had the biggest impact on morale in years. All negative. He has united the entire department against him. As a matter of fact, he has united MANY departments against him. Why would this be? With his award winning personality and the people person he claims to be he should have everyone eating out of his hands (YUCK, wonder if the guy ever washes them!) No, it is his inability to connect with people and his constant need to feel superior and be right about everything! It really just goes to show the world how insecure and weak he really feels about himself. He never does anything really big to anyone, just nips at them, nickels and dimes them if you will. He is just petty and vindictive because he can be. He hides behind his title in order to get away with this. Oh how morale has suffered under his watch and his behavior towards employees. Such a wuss! If Turnip Boy had any guts he would face the bloggers instead of hiding anonymously and cowering in his office every day!!!

I think we can safely blame Waldo for the lack of direction the department has felt for the past 6 years. Even as the Strategic Plan is being finished and a good plan it is, Waldo had nothing to do with it. He did not even know how to put one together so he had to find people who could. Also, he did not want to take the off chance that he could be ridiculed for it so he had no real input. Living off the thoughts and dreams of others huh Waldo?!? What about the lack of a Disaster Recovery plan? Waldo disavowed having one 5 years ago. Now you would think that would be an important issue living in a hurricane prone area. Not Waldo. He did not move on that because he felt it was not his responsibility to do so. He was to wrapped up in open source collaborative eco systems (whatever the hell those are) to make a difference. Luckily for him “the Coordinator” was on the job and ensured things were handled.

I would go as far as to blame Waldo for holding back the eGov team from achieving even greater success because of his looney ideas imposed upon them. Gee just have to be the center of attention. I think I laughed too seeing you accepting the award Waldo! You sure did not hide your glee!!! I could see the contempt on people’s faces because they know the truth about you and your real involvement. Such a fake you are. It sure did not take you long to add this to your resume. Let’s hope it finds you another job somewhere else!

I think the biggest thing to blame Waldo for is the degradation and denigration of the relationship that IT has with the rest of the city departments. It is through Waldo’s total and complete inability to accept any sort of responsibility that we nearly lost the data center because of failed air conditioning equipment. What was Waldo’s solution for 5 years; blame Public Works for infrastructure they are not responsible for. Oh by the way Wally, have you fixed the toilets on the 5th floor yet?? I have not been to one department, NOT ONE, where they have anything good to say about Waldo. It is Waldo’s POOR PERFORMANCE and POOR DECISIONS that makes IT look bad. He is just damn lucky there are good people in the department that CARRY is dead weight ass through the business day! Waldo, you sure know how to suck the life out of an otherwise actively productive work environment! You are beyond your skill level and know it Waldo. Just admit your mistake and tender your resignation before you are fired. No scratch that, hang on for dear life like you are now. I want to see them kick your fat ass out of the city!

Oh and don’t forget to check the blog multiple times during the work day, as normal Waldo! After all, you personally took over the software which blocks internet sites so you could control access to information about you!

Waldo’s “Gray” Vegetable Matter

2008-07-10T18:23:00.001-07:00

Ever wonder what’s in that bag of Waldo’s he sneaks into his office every day? I have wondered that for years now until one day I saw him from a window going into the back of his car. Low and behold it was FULL of turnips? Now I said to myself, self what would I need all them thar turnips for? I just knew Waldo was a genius but I had no idea that he was a “Turnip Genius”! Why those are the rarest of rare in the whole wide world or at least in East Transylvania. SO, I followed him around for days until I uncovered the “mystery of the turnips”. I never knew that a turnip had so many uses! This is where Waldo’s real “Turnip Genius” shines! Here is a list of Waldo’s top 10 “inventions” for the turnip, patent pending of course….

10. Clothing. If you hammer a turnip flat and mix the paste with crayons you can make rather durable clothing. Just make it into the desired shape of the article and let dry in the sun. Thus the source of the “Waldo Regalia”.

9. Footwear. With the biggest of turnips one can hollow them out and wear them as very stylish footwear. I think he stole this idea from the Dutch Wooden shoes, however using a turnip is rather innovative don’t ya think?

8. Articles of affection. Believe it or not, it is an old Transylvanian custom to give loved ones bouquets of turnips on special occasions. Especially on the highest of holidays such as the Transylvanian Dog Poo Stomping Festival or the Wind Breaking Horn Blowing Contest.

7. Fuel. Since the stone age, man has dried turnips to use as fuel for fire. In the latter half of the 16th century it was discovered that if the juices of the turnip are collected during a full moon you can produce a liquid which burns. Waldo invented a means of mechanically extracting the juices by crushing it between two rocks to produce a bio fuel for his car. Mixed with gasoline it burns rather efficiently.

6. Building Material. With a shortage of wood in Transylvania (all them wooden stakes you know), people turned to the turnip as the primary source of building material. Great monuments have been constructed with the turnip. Waldo discovered that if you roll a turnip in mud they will stick together. Thus the wonderful abode he built on the river for himself.

5. RISC Chips..In an attempt to break into the Information Technology arena, Waldo came up with a way of running electricity through wafers of turnip which powered PC’s. Unfortunately for Waldo, this was a half failure. The half success (working with a team) were Recyclable Indigo Scalp Clips. (RISC). The fad was a passing one and explains his “golden locks” of today.

4. Soap. This was an accidental discovery for Waldo. One day while working in his underground lab there was an explosion. No one is really sure if it was turnip gas extraction or methane, both of which are deadly. However mixed with soot, dirt, and methane, the turnip turned into a bubbly substance which cleanses the skin nicely. It even makes a good shave cream.

3. Communication Devices. Waldo is the proud inventor of the Transylvanian Cell phone. All he had to do was hollow out two turnips and link them with string. The only drawback is finding enough string for the 3 people that can afford such a luxury item.

2. Paper. Like clothing, if you make a fine paste with turnip goo and dry it in thin layers on a screen, in moonlight on the first day of Octember, you make a delicate paper which can be used as stationary or rolling paper for tobacco products.

AND THE NUMBER ONE USE IS: Hallucinogenic Drugs..So on the day I saw Waldo at the back of his car, he was rolling dried Turnip in his turnip paper and smoking up a storm. This explains the odd smell that follows him around and his scatter brained thought processes. (Can we say open source collaborative eco systems?) That must be some powerful stuff thar Waldo.

Most people in the world just cut up the humble turnip and eat them in a stew. Leave it to Waldo to elevate the turnip into a critical component of civilization!

Now You See Her, Now You Don't!

2008-07-09T10:40:00.000-07:00

Everywhere Waldo turns he sees "Gwen" looking back at him. He goes to his staff meetings on Tuesdays and there she is. He goes to his monthly department meeting and there she is. Waldo has meetings in his office and who should be there but "Gwen Parker". Waldo rides the elevator up to the 10th floor and "Gwen" rides along. I would even bet that when HE goes to the local grocery store to stock up on turnips, why "Gwen" is the check out girl!

Then there is the issue if "Gwen" is a she or if she is a he. Only Waldo thinks HE knows for sure, but with his gender identification crisis no one is really sure anymore. What Waldo cannot stand is that a WOMAN has gotten the better of HIM. That a WOMAN has uncovered the TRUTH about his inflated accomplishments. That it was a WOMAN who made him lose his mind over this itsy bitsy blog! Now Waldo's boss is a WOMAN and HE just cannot stand it! I have seen him cringe when HE has to go see her. Poor little Waldo, being told what to do by a WOMAN who is far more intelligent than he, and is pushed around by a girl with a blog!

Team Building, NOT Waldo’s Fault

2008-07-08T18:55:00.000-07:00

I received this email a few days ago and had to do some thinking about whether or not to publish this. Once I did some digging I decided this issue is related to Waldo being a tightwad so decided to publish it.

“Gwen,

I would like for you to explore this topic on the blog. Hopefully all topics in the blog do not need to be all about Andy but can be about other frustrations within the I.T. department. I would like to know why the employees in I.T must buy their own t-shirts but the department brought t-shirts for the AD team which some are not even in the I.T. department and some are not even on the AD team. Please leave my name out of the blog.”

This is a bit of a departure from the regular editorials on Waldo, but then again maybe not. After poking around a bit and speaking to a few people on the QT, I understand why this is so. To answer your question about the shirts, everyone who was presented with a shirt (they each got two shirts) is a major contributor to the entire conversion process and team members. Additionally, I was told (and believe) that the shirts add a level of professionalism and credibility to the team when the enter a department. Simply put, the team asked for shirts to foster a sense of team, management supported the idea and the shirts were ordered. Waldo was not involved with this from what I understand.

Waldo’s new administrative assistant was asked by other employees to find out if shirts could be ordered for the entire department. The answer came back from Waldo that yes but HE would not pay for it. I think this is wrong. It would not only provide a sense of immediate credibility whenever IT is out and about the city, it would foster a sense of team spirit within the department. OF COURSE not knowing anything about this subject, Waldo missed another opportunity to look good!

Avenging Angel on Creativity

2008-07-08T18:02:00.000-07:00

I gotta say, I just love that Avenging Angel! Just sticking it to Wally! GO A.A. You GO!!!

Waldo thinks his staff has no imagination and no creativity. From Spiderman, Alice in Wonderland, Starwars, Twighlight Zone, and more analogies and creative takeoffs on all. Even Waldo must admire the creative talents at work. Think seriously Waldo. Really think this is just one person doing all this ? How many contributors are there really ? You know (and fear) there is more than one. Thats kills your theory of only one antoagonist. Who do you go after ? Are you really sure who it is? Might surprise you who some of the contributors are. Remember the old saying, keep your friends close and your enimies closer, since you have no "real friends", who is supplying the information? What friends are contributing to this?Who smiles at you, laughs with you, and then writes about it? Can you figure it out? Need a clue? Just this one time, its 895.. FIgure out the rest, you are a genius, just like inventing the RISC, childs play to a mind of your caliber.
Are you ready for the next big publishing ? Hope so, it's a godd one. Stay tuned.

Stepping into the Twilight Zone

2008-07-06T15:03:00.000-07:00

Imagine for a moment, if you will, a “man” tormented by a life of inadequacies. He feels slighted by an inability to connect with people and make them understand his true genius. Seeking a life of greatness; he convinces himself that if he thinks he is great, greatness will come to him. He shows little regard for others, only concerned with self and how the world will perceive him. He leads a life struggling with a desire for self recognition and a desire to be liked by all who serve him. Desperate, he exaggerates, imagines and steals the accomplishments of others to land himself a job as a City IT Director.

Now imagine a department filled with hard working men and women. People who work together in harmony. People who help one another and together manage to achieve a sense of purpose, satisfaction and well being serving the community which employs them. These are people who wish to be recognized for the work that they do. Now they are workers who toil in the darkness of a dictatorship, where the director sees himself as “king” and the employees as his “subjects”. An evil empire where accomplishments, ideas and “pats on the back” belong to the “king” and workers suffer his indignities.

It’s 2am and the fear is gone. You're traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That's the signpost up ahead - your next stop, the IT Zone!

The Singularity

2008-07-05T08:42:00.000-07:00

A singularity is a point of infinite depth, infinite focus, and the center of a black hole where gravity is so strong the very fabric of space is warped and light cannot even escape its grasp. This is Waldo’s obsession with the blog. HE is not interested in how many people post or what they write about him. Waldo is interested in just one person. Whether or not that person is “Gwen” is of no consequence to Waldo. He feels that he must get rid of this individual at any cost. So, Waldo has made this person into “Gwen” and is intent upon convicting this person in the court of ‘Waldo Opinion’. It shows in HIS persistence that “Gwen” is the only one posting on the blog. Anyone reading the blog can tell the posts are the thoughts and styles of ‘MANY’ different individuals. Anyone except Waldo, whose singular focus on a certain individual has warped HIS black mind and twisted HIS perception to the truth.

Why does Waldo ‘FEAR’ this individual so much? Why does Waldo ‘DISRESPECT’ this individual? Why does Waldo ‘HATE’ this individual with such intensity? It is obvious to the readers of the blog in the types of posts HE leaves. There is no proof the individual Waldo is focusing on has had anything to do with the blog. Anonymous posts are just that, anonymous so who knows. The only exception to the anonymity rule is when Waldo posts. HE supports HIMSELF and is the only one to do so! So what is it with Waldo and his very ‘PERSONAL GRUDGE’ against this individual? I have to wonder what Waldo has done to this individual already. How has Waldo used HIS position to keep this individual down? How has Waldo abused HIS authority to enact HIS ‘REVENGE’ on this individual? What affect have Waldo’s attempts at ‘INTIMIDATION’ on this individual?

Waldo’s real problem is with the blog. This is because the blog as removed ‘THE ROCKS’ HE used to hide under and HE must face the truth about the “lies and exaggerated accomplishments” HE has made about HIMSELF! Knowing this, Waldo’s singularity becomes apparent, to make an ‘example’ of an individual so that HE can silence the ‘rest’ of his detractors. However, I believe that Waldo has misjudged HIMSELF and the individual HE has targeted. The fact that this individual is ‘still’ with the city after all they have had to endure because of WALDO says a lot about their ‘presence of mind’ and ability to successfully perform under ‘extreme pressure’. I would have to say that whatever ‘affect’ Waldo may have on this individual it is either well hidden or well controlled. Finally, I believe, Waldo actually ‘FEARS’ this individual because this individual is everything Waldo is not but pretends to be.

Waldo’s “White Rabbit”

2008-07-04T15:07:00.000-07:00

One “pat” makes “Waldo” larger and one “slap” makes “Waldo” small

And the ones that “Waldo” gives you don’t do anything at all

Go ask “Gwen” when she’s ten feet tall,

And if "Waldo" goes chasing “bloggers” and you know "HE'S" going to fall,

Tell’em “The Blog”, anonymously, has given you the call

Recall “Gwen” when she was just small

When “city management” gets up and tells "Waldo" where to go

And "Waldo" just had some kind of “Turnip” and "HIS" mind is sinking low

Go ask “Gwen” I think she’ll know

When "Waldo’s" logic and proportion have fallen like moldy bread

And the “White Knight” is talking backwards

And “Think Again” is off with "Waldo's" head

Remember what “Avenging Angel” said “We’re in your head”!

“WE’RE IN YOUR HEAD”!

Avenging Angel on WALDO's AC Failure

2008-07-01T04:33:00.000-07:00

Wlado, Wlado, Waldo

Stop blaming everyone else. Was the repairing of the AC system ever made a priority? Was it in the ITSC funding plan? Sounds kind of critical. How can you even consider moving all servers to a single room under the circumstances "you knew existed". Blame aside, the request for funding should have been made "by you" every year to replace the old AC with new equipment and protect the city from potential disaster. It is Public Works responsibility to fix / replace, etc the AC systems. But, they have to be made aware of the problem, and the seriousness of it. Instead of placing blame and trying to play the "its not my fault" game, just be "proactive" and fix the problem before you end up in the news again. Oh, I forgot, you love to be in the news, see your name in print, be talked about, you even secretly love the Blog. When Andy Fox comes by this time, please have a better answer than "I was unaware of that". Be prepared now for the interview, please have answers and don't bumble through the questions. Although if you do, it will be more watched that your last interview. Sergeant Schultz would be proud.

Cool Hand Waldo

2008-06-30T12:25:00.000-07:00

Two years ago, Waldo was told the cooling units in the computer room were well past their useful lifespan and needed replacing. What was Waldo's solution? To get into a tiff with Public Works over whose responsibility it was to repair, maintain and replace these units. Well, two years go by and critical applications go live starting on July 1 2008 and on June 30 2008 the cooling unit fails and has to be immediately replaced. Talk about being reactionary. This is a typical Waldo action to events he could have avoided. Instead he waited until it became an emergency to act. How many more emergencies can the city handle with this "man" at the helm of IT? Will it take a complete failure of hardware with vital data and enterprise software for City Management to wake up to his ineptitude? Will it take a fire in the computer room where people are hurt for them to finally understand his incompetence? What specific event must take place for everyone to realize this "man" is a Poor Performer and should be replaced? Beats me, but with Waldo at the helm it is just a matter of time before events spiral out of control to the point where it will cost the city millions to repair the situation.

So "wonder boy" what other problems with infrastructure are you hiding from your boss and City Management? What other issues within the IT Department are you stonewalling on? Oh I get it, you have your head buried in this blog plotting your revenge that will NEVER happen! Such a dork!

Waldo’s Dream

2008-06-29T17:57:00.001-07:00

Waldo salivates at the chance to face all his detractors. He wants to be in HIS office with each of us, one on one, so HE has the opportunity to convince each of us how wrong we are about HIM. If that fails, then HE will attempt to intimidate us with HIS position (I am the “director” you will respect my position!) and the various actions HE thinks he can take against us. Failing that, HE will shout you down because HE does not want to hear what you have to say about HIM to HIM. This is the dream HE dreams every night, every time HE closes HIS eyes, every time HE encounters staff that HE believes is responsible for the blog or its postings. HIS desire is akin to a rabid starving dog that is tossed a slab of meat, where the dog tears into it with such viciousness that little specks of meat fly in all directions! This is what Waldo wants most of all, to rip HIS detractors apart as HE feels HE falsely has been!

Waldo has tried everything HE can think of (which is very little) in an attempt to get bloggers to identify themselves to HIM. Why is this? Why ask people to “confess” to him? Why threaten people with “exposure”? Why take this tact at all? Simple, he is powerless to anything about the blog. There are a million blogs about how people feel about products, services, employers or bosses. I am sure HE talked to City Management and HR about what actions HE could take against employees HE “felt” were blogging and was told he could do nothing. HE now realizes that ‘hear say’ and suppositions about who the bloggers are does nothing for HIM. So HE hopes HE can appeal to that sense of intimidation in each of us and trigger a response favorable to HIM. HE hopes that HIS implied “forgiveness” will lure someone into his office so they will “confess” and try to work things out with him. Waldo wants a blogger to incriminate themselves so HE can THEN take the actions HE wants against them.

This is Waldo’s “vindictive” nature. This tact only works if an individual is ruled by fear. Fear will make one think that the promises of “forgiveness” will somehow negate or eliminate punishment. This is not so, especially with Waldo. This tack does not work with the bloggers because they understood from the beginning the many possible outcomes both good and bad. Fear never entered into this process. So the “bait” of “forgiveness through confession” is ineffective on the bloggers. The other element that Waldo fails to understand is the sense of “self preservation” people feel. This sense comes from the most primitive part of the human brain which governs survival. The amygdala tells us when to “fight” or “take flight”. In either case, particularly where the blog is concerned, anonymity is key to survival. Thus whether a blogger is actively posting or not, they will NEVER give themselves away to you, Waldo. Bloggers fully understand your vindictive nature and will professionally survive you.

Blog Stats as of 28 June 2008

2008-06-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

Well folks the blog has been busy these past four weeks! Just oodles and oodles of posts from everyone! See how Waldo, waffles from one extreme to another! See how Waldo does the backstroke on his involvement with RISC! Waldo threatens, Waldo pleas, Waldo reasons and Waldo lost his mind! Enjoy!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 28 June 2008

Total Site Visits – 4654

Total Page Views – 10,023

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.16

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 22 Sec

Top 5 Pages past 4 weeks: (2 June 2008 - 28 June 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

A Plea for Mercy from Waldo
Waldo RePukes Praise
At the tone, Please leave a message...
Coming out of the "Wood Work"
Waldo's Supporter(s) speak at last?

Honorable Mentions: Waldo's Paranoia

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
Waldo's Theme Song
Wald vs Fred Flintstone
I Know Nothing Says Waldo / No Record of This Person at IBM (Tied)
WAVY News 10 and Waldo

Honorable Mentions: The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo

Number of Reader Countries - 28 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
Canada
India

Honorable Mention: Germany

Number of Reader States - 41

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (35 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: Portsmouth

Avenging Angel speaks on GOSCON 2008 Bio

2008-06-28T07:39:00.000-07:00

Like all of Waldo's stories, the truth is blurred and changes on a daily basis. Depending who asks, and what lie he is covering. The closest he can come to the truth is "Andy designed and implemented the RISC chip on the team". "He" is still the prominent character. That is a major back peddling. Not the truth though, we can not go that far, the psyche could not handle it.

What would Waldo be without the lies and exaggerations of accomplishments. RISC Inventor, tango master, open source guru, collaborative champion, project manager supreme ? The need to boast of factious accomplishments is sad and pathetic. What will tomorrows bio be ? Maybe he mentored Grace Hopper and it was really his work that led to Univac I. (so what if he was only 4-5, can not hide genius). I can hardly wait to see the next version of the truth. Anyone remember how many open source groups Waldo joined ? The latest greatest solutions, (really just to get Waldo's name published). Are any of them still operating ? Didn't he offer to take one over and host it (on Newport News dime), just to keep his name in print.

Riddle me this, riddle me that Waldo:
1) What localities are using our ZOPE / Plone / Python web site ?
2) How many have installed it ?
3) Why when you search employment sites for skill set of ZOPE Plone (because it is so popular) no one is looking for that ? .net, betcha the last dance that is sought after.
4) How many awards did we apply for for the web site before we got this one? I know, we did not apply, they sought us out because of the demand. If you build it they will come.
5) What collaborative software development are we doing (recent bio says so ..)
6) What shared projects are we involved in, with what localities (recent bio)?
7) What strategy to replace legacy applications through a collaborative ecosystem with public entities and through public-private partnerships. Where is the strategy (recent bio)? Where can it be read ? What localities ? I know several were rejected by Waldo because they would not use the wonderful Zope /Plone platform. Imagine that.

Are these true Waldo ? Or just different lies ? Still trying to get to the truth. Here is another opportunity for you to set the record straight. Answer the questions and enlighten us.

I won't hold my breath waiting (need to live to serve my time)

Before you go off, no where did this attack you, so spare me the cyber gestapo threats. It does ask serious questions. Which anyone can do. The is America Waldoboy. It is not your private dictatorship and you can not silence questions, except by answering them. Dare you take the challenge, or phsycobabble around it.

Anyone care to place a bet on if we get any answers ? Odds are 95 - 1 against.

GOSCON 2008 Bio for Andy Stein

2008-06-27T18:05:00.000-07:00

Amazing how the blog has made such an impact on Waldo. Read the bio carefully and note that he now implies he designed and implemented the RISC chip while on a team at IBM in the mid 1980’s. Now what do you think about that?

ALSO:
He has fails to indicate which localities the city is sharing what projects with.
I thought the current strategy was to purchase COTS such as Munis Tyler ERP?
Didn’t Waldo claim to be Directory of IT at Capital One?
Application Development??? ROTFLMAO!!! Since when?
Is Waldo ashamed of the award he won because he does not mention it!
Oh and Andy was not part of ANY team which did ANY work on RISC. A list of names of who were members of teams for RISC development is published on the internet. Andy Stein is nowhere to be found. The only truth is that he was at IBM in the mid 80’s. The only RISC projects going on at that time were the Cheetah / Panther projects which are considered failures and NEVER implemented! These projects were used as a spring board to develop the RISC 6000 family of processors in the 1990’s AFTER Andy was let go from IBM.

"Andy Stein
City of Newport News, Virginia
Director of Information Technology - City of Newport News, Virginia

Andy Stein is Director of Information Technology at the City of Newport News, Virginia. Using Open Source as a best practice model for collaborative software development, the City of Newport News is engaged in shared projects with other localities. The City of Newport News has developed a strategy to replace legacy applications through a collaborative ecosystem with public entities and through public-private partnerships.

In addition to his current work in Government, Andy’s professional background includes management and operation of large scaleable computing environments at Capital One, as well as work in application development, relational database and systems architecture in IBM’s consulting practice. Andy designed and implemented the RISC chip on the IBM team in the mid 1980’s.

Most recently, the city's Open eGov application suite won a prestigious innovation award for local government."

Looks like Waldo is BACKPEDDLING on RISC now? I wonder why!!!!!

Waldo “The Secret Drag Queen”

2008-06-27T15:01:00.000-07:00

Waldo, imitation is the HIGHEST form of praise and flattery! Thanks big guy! However I just cannot picture you in a size 4 dress, the thought sends shudders down my spine. You are completely out of your element Waldo, and are reduced to trying to discredit the blog by impersonating Gwen. Is that your secret ambition, to be a drag queen? I said it before and will say it again, Boy you would make for one UGLY woman! The following posts in quoted italic are from Waldo.

“Andy isn't posting anything here. This is all part your ploy to keep this blog alive. You post things and then you answer them and then you take both sides as if you are different people and then you feature the posts you just made as if Andy or someone else posted them so you can tear into them.

Pathetic, Gwen, just pathetic - and weird, very weird.”

The blog lives Wally and YOU make it so! The weird and pathetic thing is that you continue to return and walk away with your ass handed to you time and time again.

“Now I'm losing it! I'm answering my own post with comments I'll answer again. sorry people, but this blog is causing me to implode.
Gwen”

Finally the TRUTH from Waldo! He admits to losing his mind and imploding over the blog!

“I'll come clean and since confession is good for the soul, here goes.
I'm sorry Andy to you and the IT department as well as the city and her citizens for being a schmuck.
I'll do better now. I promise.
Gwen”

Yes Waldo you are a schmuck. You come clean? Ok my first question: tell us about your involvement with RISC technology. Oh and how about what your REAL job was with Capital One.

“>hmmm... have you seen
>Waldo "dance" Gwen? It's not a
>pretty sight.

Please stop talking about my friend. I've seen the error of my ways and would like you to publicly retract that comment. Don't do it and I'll reveal your email address to everybody.
Gwen”

Friends?? LOLOL!! Only in your dreams and my nightmares! Yes, I have seen you dance on YouTube and it is pretty ugly! Gwen did not make that post. Only YOU would try to stoop to blackmail Wally. Not to worry YOU have no idea who posts and never will. If you would like to see the YouTube video go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdKvx_GeepQ

“Everybody listen up! They got me. Nailed me perfectly. I am a sham. My postings here against Andy have ben the result of my own ignorance and anger. I'm taking my meds now and have had a change of heart. Please everybody stop posting bad things. Say good things or I will reveal your identities.
Gwen”

Wally, obviously you did not realize the blog is MODERATED. Such outlandish claims Vampire boy and you should lay off smoking turnip. It gives you delusions of womanhood! Yes Waldo, we got you, nailed you to the wall long ago and YOU are a SHAM (RISC anyone??)! Thank God you are taking your flatulence medication again. The stench was making eyes water! Only a lowlife piece of poo would resort to trying blackmail. Of course you would have to KNOW something which you don’t.

“I am ashamed of my actions here over the last year posting bad things about Andy. I feel terrible. Please note that I've had lots of problems to deal with but that's no excuse. I am so sorry for starting this blog and realize what a schmuck I've been. I'm an absolute putz and everybody knows it. I'm not very smart and although I said I study astronomy as a hobby, I actually look at porn all day long. I thought I saw stars when doing it, but now I know that wasn't the sky. Like I said, I'm sorry and now I'll apologize. I've been caught for being what I am - a sham of a blogger.
Gwen”

Oh Waldo, you are not even very good at sarcasm are you? So what in the world ARE you half way decent at?? In almost 6 years, we have yet to see anything other than POOR PERFORMANCE. You should be ashamed and everyone does know how much of a schmuck and putz you are. As for the blog, I don’t think ANYONE is sorry that YOU inspired it! We also know you are not very bright, it is about time you admitted that one too! So you make ‘duck butter’ all day long in your office? Yuckie!!! You couldn’t catch a cold if you tried. You are a SHAM and FRAUD (RISC????)

The Haunting of Waldo.....

2008-06-26T18:18:00.000-07:00

The blog is soo deep in Waldo's brain now he is obsessed with it! Now Waldo is making the claim that if it were not for HIM, eGov would not have succeeded. Now how many of you out there really believe that one! If you do, I know someone with plot land in Transylvania to sell to you!

>It is not the eGov team you want
>recognition for because everyone
>recognizes the tremendous job
>they have done, rather it is YOU
>who seeks a pat on the back and
>are jealous because you feel you
>are OWED it!

Truth hurts huh Waldo!?!

“Gwen, Gwen, Gwen. Posting anonymously now are we? Thinking that will somehow lessen the impact of your negative words towards your fellow co-workers? “

Gee talk about pointing fingers Mr. “I post as anonymous but everyone knows who I am”! LOLOL!!! The only negative words are towards you and you alone Wally. We know it, The Mayor knows it, The City Manager knows it, your boss knows it, and the IT staff knows it. How is it that YOU don’t know it? Are your really that dense? Smoking turnips again for their hallucinogenic effects??? Bet you were really upset when the CITY mowed down your turnips last year.

“You don't want the egov team to be successful because if they are, Andy is and you certainly can't have that! “

EGov is successful and will continue to be successful. Just look at the award THEY won for Innovative Thinking! By the way, rumor has it that you demanded and got the eGov’s team manager to relinquish the trophy THEY WON so that YOU could have it in YOUR OFFICE? Say it ain’t so oh egotistical one! Once again YOU are trying to ride the coat tails of others, to enjoy THEIR success as YOUR own. How shameful Waldo. How low will you stoop to hide your POOR PERFORMANCE as a manager?

“So you hand out a compliment to the egov team with one hand and snatch it away 10 times more.”

Only in YOUR hallucinogenic world did that happen. In the reality the REST of us live in, it never did. If the trophy truly is in your office, I think YOU are the one who SNATCHED victory away from the eGov team to stroke YOUR OWN EGO!

“You display contempt for the egov team because if you supported them, you'd be supporting Andy and you can't do that, so you lash out even more and backpedal like a little kid when we call you on it!”

Poor delusional Waldo, OD’s on turnip once again. The only one showing contempt for eGov is you because YOU are jealous THEY won an award that YOU are attempting to abscond with. Again YOUR POOR PERFORMANCE as a manager is showing. You must be seeing things too because the only one doing the backstroke is you.

“Your are so transparent, Gwen, so transparent.”

Is that because I am the ghost that haunts your dreams and waking moments! BOOO!!!! BOOOO!!!! Could it really be your CONSCIENCE that is bothering YOU!?! DANCE for me WALDO, DANCE!!!!!!

Waldo “The Benevolent”

2008-06-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

Oh “Father” Waldo, please forgive me for I have sinned. Yes ‘tis true “Father” Waldo; I have sinned because I dared to tell the truth about you. I dared to proclaim to the world all your faults and weaknesses. I dared to ask the tough questions about your accountability, your honesty, your trustworthiness, your true involvement with RISC Technology! I dared to hold you accountable for the things you do and don’t do. I have humiliated you into taking action for the good of the department when you otherwise would not have. I have goaded you into revealing your true feelings for the department you run and the employees who serve you. I have shamed you by exposing your lies particularly those you crafted about you “inventing the first RISC chip”! Oh “Father” Waldo, how I have sinned against you and you alone!

I believe this is the third time, Oh “Father” Waldo, which you have offered amnesty to those who come to your office confessional and proclaim their sins to you. I can still hear you say “Come forth my children, confess your involvement in the heretical Waldo blog so that I may save your soul from the fires of damnation.” “Come to me children so that I may know who among you has cast stones at me and I shall forgive you.” “Come to me little ones so that I may enlighten you on proper respect for my position!” Oh “Father” Waldo, shall you really forgive me? Will we be able to walk hand in hand down the hallowed hallways of the 5th floor IT Department into the promised land of your office? Oh “Father” Waldo, whatsoever shall my penance be for my sins against you? Shall you bless me with one hand and damn me to the unemployment lines for my own good? Will you shed a tear for me as I find enlightenment at your feet while enduring your professional wrath? Will you save my professional soul by setting me upon the path of salvation at the same time plotting your revenge?

I must decline your kind and benevolent offer Oh “Father” Waldo! For you have proclaimed me too far gone to save! ‘tis a heavy burden you have placed upon me Oh “Father” Waldo, yet I shall carry on with all the strength I can muster, to fight the twisted lies, the vindictive nature, the belittling of staff and all the untruths that are you, Oh “Father” Waldo.

Waldo's Desperation is showing!

2008-06-25T18:26:00.000-07:00

Waldo, you are really reaching now and you have certainly lost it! You believe you have latched on to something that cannot be defended. Oh how wrong you are Vampire Thug. It is not about eGov, it is about YOUR management of the project and your POOR PERFORMANCE. Egov took orders from YOU, we all saw it. In spite of YOUR interference, eGov did a great job with the tools they had! Imagine what they could have done with mainstream software and proper support! The award would have come to THEM instead of YOU having to SHOP around for personal recognition!

“Gwen peeing freely and happily on the egov team as shown by the evidence of his posts.”

Who keeps bringing eGov up as a negative? Must be your subconscious peeing through Waldo! Still having problems with gender I see. Tsk. Tsk Tsk.

“Give them a compliment with one hand:

>First off, let me congratulate
>the entire eGov team on a job
>well done!”

A legitimate complement for the team.

“Snatch it away with the next:

>An award for a site, free (not
>counting staff time and effort),
>that is used by no one else, and
>is difficult to navigate. “

No, this points out that YOU touted the site as free but never came clean on total cost of ownership, that YOU have not come clean on who is using it (provide a web site and show us who is using it), and it was initially difficult to navigate. As the team continues work on it, the site has become cleaner and easier to use, not thanks to YOU. (And no Waldo, this is not backtracking, it is true).

“Snatch it further away with this smart-ass comment:

>I have to say with the product
>Waldo picked, you certainly had
>to be INNOVATIVE to make this
>entire thing work! “

Poor Waldo just cannot take the criticism directed at YOU. This snippet is a complement to the team for INNOVATIVE THINKING (isn’t that what the award was for?) pertaining to YOUR POOR product selection, that the team was successful in making the site work in spite of your interference and POOR PERFORMANCE.

“Knock it out of the ballpark with this one:

>it only took, what 3.5 years,
>between 8 and 12 full time city
>employees at an estimated cost of
>$2.2 Million Dollars in city
>resources for your 'free'
>solution!”

Again, Waldo trying to blame others for YOUR POOR PERFORMANCE as a project manager. YOU told City Management that the site was free but NEVER came clean on TOTAL COST OF OWNERSHIP! Face it Vampire Thug, this snippet is solely about YOU!

“Another stab at the egov team:

>How Waldo saved the city from
>going under using “FREE” open
>source products! “

LOLOLOL! Wally why are you so desperate? This is a comment about YOUR direction for the department using open source tools. You have SPENT quite a bit of MONEY on supposedly “FREE TOOLS”. Remember, YOU chose the software and rejected mainstream software! Trying to rewrite history again???

“Yet another stab:
>will Waldo make a 3 day trip to
>Canada to pontifocate about
>accomplishments he has yet to
>make or ever made?”

Well, what have YOU accomplished? No one seems to know what YOU have done? What have you succeeded at in nearly 6 years? WHAT WHAT WHAT!!! You travel around the country and Canada proclaiming what YOU have done! Have you ever taken anyone with you?? NOPE! Again, this is about YOU Waldo and YOU stroking YOUR own Ego! Need a tissue?

“So, let me get this straight. You have said that the web site is not used by anybody and it's difficult to use, the product is so bad that Andy's accomplishments do not exist, and it took years and millions of dollars and your department is still unsuccessful.”

Other than our city, who else uses it, you never said, yes it was difficult to use but getting better, SO you admit that ANDY sees this award as HIS? Your own words Waldo “the product is so bad that Andy's accomplishments do not exist”! Yes it did take over 3 years and counting along with millions of dollars when you consider staff salaries and consultants. Never once did the blog say the department was unsuccessful. Now it has said that WALDO is UNSUCCESSFUL but has always maintained the department is very successful IN SPITE OF WALDO’S overall POOR PERFORMANCE as a manager.

“And you are above that kind of thing Gwen? Your month long posts about that other employee taking FMLA certainly proves you are willing to step on others to get to Andy not to mention City Management and elected leaders you have already singled out.”

No, not step on Andy but FORCE Andy through humiliation to take action. Thus it worked! YOU ensured “the employee” did not get paid! Kudos. Do you realize that you can get rid of this employee because excessive leave has impacted the department adversely? The ‘Manual’ says that even if the leave is legitimate you are NOT required to hold their job open. So why not grow a pair and take further action. Oh do the doctor’s notes have their license number with a header? This employee is a habitual leave abuser and people got tired of it so they hit the blog. City Management and elected leaders have been criticized for keeping YOU around and that YOU have them snowed. We wonder why they cannot see your POOR PERFORMANCE. That is it, your reaching again.

“And all this just gets us back to April 2008! Go back further and you'll overwhelm the blog with Gwennie's little backhanded "compliments" for the gov team.”

Not of the eGov team, of YOU WALLY! YOU know that, but are trying to LINK yourself to something successful because YOU are NOT because of POOR decision making and POOR PERFORMANCE.

“You are owned.”

Yeah, right and I have been pulling your strings like a puppet. From changing your clothes to your favorite employee to being counseled about your availability to being told directors don’t flex. Yup, you certainly own me. So DANCE for me Waldo DANCE!

“ROTFLMAO!!!!!”

Yup, I am rolling on the floor laughing my ass off at YOU!

Waldo BLAMES eGOV for "THEIR CHOICES" in Open Source

2008-06-23T04:31:00.000-07:00

Waldo is now blaming everyone else for his "poor performance" and "poor choices". He must be really feeling the heat now! To be as low as to blame others for YOUR mistakes Waldo is the LOWEST of the LOW! Typical for you huh Vampire Thug?

“You're pissing all over the egov team to get to Andy”

Nice try Vampire Thug but only in YOUR WORLD did this happen. It never happened in reality. All comments about this subject were directed at you, and you know it.

“you say their software is hard to use, nobody else uses it, it's a crappy choice, it took 10 people 3 years, and so on.”

So, you go from ownership of open source software (remember those meetings where YOU set the direction for the department) to BLAMING the eGov team for THEIR CHOICE of open source software. Your Freudian slip is showing Vampire Thug. So that is how you subconsciously feel about the team you put together huh Vampire Thug? All those decisions were YOURS no getting out of that one Vampire Thug.

YOU are the one that owes them an apology for implying and saying those nasty things about the team. YOU are also hiding behind them and attempting to draw more people into the mix when the blog has been ONLY about you and YOUR POOR PERFORMANCE.

So “MAN UP” wussy ‘boy’ and take RESPONSIBILITY for YOUR actions. Go to each of them and thank them for the job they did and apologize for hiding behind them like a scared little girl hides behind her mother’s skirt!

A Plea for Mercy from Waldo!

2008-06-22T09:03:00.000-07:00

This is a bit long winded but worth the read! Waldo’s comments are italicized and the blogs are not.

“>which affects the employee's
>credibility... may be subject to
>discipline

This blog very much affects your credibility, which goes to your trustworthiness and honesty. Split hairs if you can, Gwen, but "credibility" is defined as:

* the quality of being believable or trustworthy

* the factors that determine whether or not a person or a statement is believed or trusted”

Yes it has affected my credibility. You see, what is posted in this blog are opinions, suppositions, criticisms and satire about Waldo. Mixed in with all that are truths about Waldo’s character, behavior, past (as far as we can verify) and historical references to professional claims he has made. Because we were willing to make corrections to statements and retract inaccuracies, the blog has gained quite a bit of credibility. As far as my personal credibility, from what I can tell, it is far superior to yours in the work place! That is all that really matters isn’t it!

Besides, what are you so worried about my credibility for anyway? You have harped on credibility from the blog’s inception! I think it is you who are worried about your own credibility, after all isn’t that what the blog has questioned? Could it be that the blog has nailed you down and you know that people take it seriously and that you realize it holds truths about you which you are desperate to hide? In my opinion, I think so.

As for “the quality of being believable or trustworthy” no one accuses me of being a liar or a fraud as they do you. Pertaining to “the factors that determine whether or not a person or a statement is believed or trusted”, well again you are the one with amnesia, changes history, denies statements you have made and twists facts to suite you. This is what people say about you Waldo. No one says these things about me. Think about it.

“When you are found out, do you think the City can trust you as an employee who will promote the organization? Someone who is loyal to the ideals of service to the citizens of Newport News? Someone who puts the needs of the community before his own?”

Absolutely!! Don’t you get it? It was not the blog that ruined you in the city; you did that all on your own. You were the one, with your double speak, amnesia, lies and bulling that made this happen. Don’t you realize that most people in the IT Dept don’t like you, people you have interacted with in other departments don’t like you, your peers don’t like you and the one question they all ask is “How can Andy still be working for the city?” or “Why is he still here?”. I must have heard that question a thousand times already and I still cannot answer it! Things are not made up about you, rather these are observations and digging that people have done on you. The blog echoes peoples’ opinions of you.

“No, you're simply a check collector living off the teat of the taxpayers in Newport News, while gleefully undermining the staff and service organization.”

You are too funny Waldo; take a look in the mirror! Part of the grumblings within the department is that you DO NOT PRODUCE ANYTHING OF VALUE! You won’t make critical decisions; you push them off to others even to the point where IT employees feel that your ITSC group runs IT! Talk about simply collecting a paycheck, LOLOLOL! Oh and quit trying to link the criticisms of you to the STAFF and ORGANIZATION as a whole. It doesn’t work, people see through it and it makes you look even smaller than your already are!

“You go after Andy. You go after the eGov team, handing them a compliment with one hand and snatching it away with the other. You go after the top level management, specifically Randy Hildebrandt who gets it from every side as it is and with you, he gets it from the in-side. I think you've even referenced the mayor a time or two.”

True the blog is critical of Andy. As for going after the eGov team, there you go again trying to link yourself to something and say the criticism applies to them also! Give it up, it simply is not true. Once again, the eGov team did ON HELL OF A JOB INSPITE OF THE TOOLS YOU FORCE UPON THEM. How many times do we have to say that! As for going after Mr. Hildebrandt or the Mayor they have been criticized for keeping you on staff and that’s it! Face it Waldo, the blog is all about you and only you!

“No, your beef isn't just with Andy. It's with the whole organization from top to bottom. You act as if you are owed something. That perhaps your service to the organization is so great that you must be heard... you WILL be heard.”

Once again you attempt to deflect criticism of YOU onto IT as an organization. It doesn’t wash Waldo! IT is a great place to work INSPITE of your presence there! We get things done for the city INSPITE of you stonewalling on many projects and needs! You know what we are talking about too! The blog has only been critical of you and your actions!

“You sound very egostistical to me; way more than you say Andy is.”

The differences between you and I are many. People have come up to me and criticized what I have done and offered suggestions for improvement which I have taken to heart. Where as you cannot take criticism and therefore learn and grow from it. Now who is the egotistical one here?

“The City of Newport News does not revolve around you and your "concerns", Gwen. “

Never thought it did, whereas you are making a vain attempt to link yourself to the definition of the city’s core. The position you hold is part of the city infrastructure just like mine, but the man behind the position is the entity in question. So who thinks the city revolves around them?

“We've got a job to do and for most of us it's simple: do the best we can to improve the lives of the citizens of Newport News.”

I agree whole heartedly! So in spite of your stonewalling, indecisions and interference IT manages to carry out business in a very professional, efficient and effective manner.

“Get off the bus so the rest of us can move forward without all the negative inertia you delight in generating. “

No, the negative inertia emanates from your poor performance, I just happen to voice what others including myself think of the entire situation.

“I'm not telling you to quit your blog, but why not quit your job? That way, we can get the right, service-minded people onboard.”

Oh you want the blog to back to the ether where I came from and stop focusing on you like a bug in a microscope. I agree, you should quit your job so we can get the right leadership in place to move the organization and city forward.

I thought about the statement “why not quit your job” for a long time. You know what it tells me? It tells me you are completely powerless to do anything to anybody associated with the blog. That this is a plea from you to go away. No, I will stay on. I like my job; I just think you don’t have what it takes to move a ‘high performance organization’ such as IT into the future.

Need a shot of Penicillin?

2008-06-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

Once again Waldo is attempting to make the link that because he holds a position within the city, he in fact is the city and therefore immune from personal criticism, opinions or satire. This is not so. It is the person that makes the title, not the title that makes the person!

“No, that story was pointed at the man and the fact that he was a department director. Your blog is pointed not only at the man, but precislely his job as IT Director.”

The blog is venting at a man who is not qualified to do the job he is in. The blog has highlighted his poor performance doing his job and his lack of people skills and that he uses his position and title to bully people. The fact that he is IT Director is irrelevant although ironic that a person in such a position could be so inept as to not cut his own lawn and live off the charity of others to cut his grass.

It is the very height of arrogance to think that the blog is critical, opinionated and satirical about a person because of their title! What does a title have to do with person’s ability or inability to do their job or interact with people fairly? The person behind the title is not immune to criticism, opinions or satire especially if their actions warrant it. The title itself does not protect the person who it is bestowed upon. The title is nothing more than a position with certain responsibilities and authorities. What has been questioned is how the person behind the title wields this responsibility and authority.

Waldo believes he is immune to criticism, opinions and satire. He believes his title alone shields him from such. He believes it is because of his title that he endures this. When in fact it is the opinions of others concerning his poor performance, lack of interpersonal skills and vindictive behavior along with how poorly he has represented the city while holding that title which spawned the blog in the first place. Waldo embodied these characteristics long before he was given his current title. The title does not transfer these characteristics to the individuals who hold it.

This is the entire point of the blog. It is Waldo's overall poor performance and personal interactions which are in question, not the fact that he holds a title. If Waldo had the skills, talent and responsibility of ownership while doing his current job, the blog would not exist at all! It is Waldo the person who begat the blog, not the title IT Director.

Waldo Makes Threats....Once Again!!!!

2008-06-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

Another threat from Waldo. Waldo's comments are italicized and mine are bold.

“I'm a fairly disinterested party, but when I saw this post that you think you're saved harmless, I just had to respond. I don't think you are considering everything that you should consider.”

No you’re Waldo, your idiosyncrasies are showing!

“From your Personnel manual:”

What the rules don’t apply to you Waldo? You have certainly acted that way your entire tenure!

“Discharge – Misconduct/Violation of Rules of ConductA department head may discharge an employee for violation of the Standards of Conduct andfor other misconduct. Reference Section 1000 for disciplinary procedures.”

So true, however you need to prove Misconduct or Violation of Rules of Conduct. As I see things everyone’s conduct has been exemplary on the job. Now yours is questionable, how about cursing, threatening, belittling, bullying and yelling? How about trying to force supervisors to change evaluations for your benefit? There is more but you get the point. I think those items would be considered misconduct or a violation of the rules of conduct in any court.

“From Section 100113. OUTSIDE ACTIVITIESThe City does not prescribe employee conduct off the job. However, any conduct on or off the job which affects the employee's credibility, effectiveness, performance or ability to fully carry out the responsibilities of City employment and any conduct which is prejudicial to the interests,reputation or operations of the City of Newport News are subject to disciplinary action.”

Translation: The city admits to not holding an employee responsible for individual actions OFF THE JOB. The exceptions to this are actions which affects THE EMPLOYEE’S credibility, effectiveness, performance or ability TO fully carry out THEIR JOB RESPONSIBILITIES as defined by the city. Further, conduct which is against the interests, reputation or operations OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT NEWS are subject to disciplinary action.

So: The blog has not affected ANYBODY’S ABILITY to do their job. Nor has the blog done anything to tarnish the image of the CITY in any way.

The blog has questioned the city manager’s decision to keep Waldo on staff and has been critical, opinionated and satirical of Waldo however, Waldo is not the city.

“You are very efficient. Your blog reads like a court transcript, convicting you with your own words.”

Yup I am very efficient and effective too! As for a court transcript for convicting anyone, only wishful thinking on your part Waldo.

“Remember, your blog can cut both ways. It just depends on the circumstances under which it is viewed and read.”

So true, like everything else, opinions, criticism and satire are subject to interpretation. Just like this response to your post.

“Hey man, it's your choice and you'll do what you want, but just know that you could face consequences with your employer if you are found out, not to mention whatever legal case Andy brings against you outside of your employment.”

As far as employment, I don’t think so because the blog does not fit the explanations you provided. It would be a stretch to do so. As for a legal case DUH, however it opens up Andy like a can of worms. He will have to prove that the blog was knowingly and intentionally lying about him. Remember the core question of blog; Andy says HE alone invented RISC technology. History shows he did not. Not only would the revelation of this in a court of law hurt his reputation, it would cost him his job for fraudulently promoting this in association with HIS employment with the City of Newport News and possibly hurt HIS chances of working in this field ever again!

“And you just don't know what actions are already underway. I don't either, but it's not hard to guess what could be going on behind the scenes with court orders, subpeonas, and investigations. Law enforcement folks are a very patient and wily bunch.”

True, we don’t know what is already underway. If Andy could / would have started any actions, he would have done so by now. The blog has been in existence for over a year. So you tell me….

“As smart as you think you are at covering your tracks, nobody ever outsmarts these guys. They've got deep pockets, endless resources, and the patience of Job.”

Yeah but you are ASSUMING that law enforcement is hot on the trail of the bloggers. They are not and you know it. The blog is a very minor or non issue with city management, more like an annoyance and nothing more to them. I personally think they have more to lose when it becomes public knowledge that Waldo did not invent RISC as he claims. Then the whole vetting process of hiring executive staff will hit the papers and be questioned.

“Post away. It's your life and your career.”

I will as it suits me. It is your life and career also!

Truth, Opinion and Sarcasm

2008-06-20T17:23:00.000-07:00

What’s in a blog, in particular, what is in this blog? Some people say it is mean spirited and others think it is provocative. Many say that what is written here is very funny and others shy away from it all together. Whatever it may be this blog is many things to many people. The one thing it does have in common are people who feel they have been pushed around and wronged by Waldo or find him to be offensive in some way.

The one thing that is not in this blog is out and out lies about Waldo. Items of character or issues that involve Waldo are based on the experiences of the posters or verified first hand by those in the know. There are also lots of opinions about Waldo mixed with a dash of sarcasm. However the bottom line is that most of the posts are based on a truth that Waldo is very desperate to hide. Why else would he be so obsessed about banishing the blog to the ether from which it came. Truth hurts especially when you have spent a career twisting, bending and shaping it into something it is not.

Some of the comments I have heard over and over from a variety of people is that the blog is very well written, intellectually crafted, very funny and on the money in its description of Waldo’s character and issues he is involved in. Of course Waldo would differ in opinion and that is just fine. He is entitled to his opinion just as the blog and its posters are entitled to theirs.

Lastly, what Waldo never expected was to encounter a group of people that pushed back. He was so used to bullying and belittling people that those who have met previous employees of Waldo’s find they will not comment on him, even years later out of fear. Now why is that? What possible reach could this “man” possibly have? From my point of view very little. Waldo is used to exploiting weakness in others. Now the shoe is on the other foot, we are exploiting his weaknesses. Truth, Ego and insecurity.

ANDY Reveals Himself to the WORLD!

2008-06-20T04:54:00.000-07:00

“Precisely the point people are trying to make. These supposed positive posts are contrived and are tongue-in-cheek just as the post above by Gwen as the avenging angel. It's just a way of keeping this blog going.”

Bob, YOU keep the blog going! This is OUR forum to vent about YOU. Venting is good for the soul! Go away if you don’t like what is said here. You can’t control it, you don’t own it, therefore you can’t stop it. Freedom of speech, Bobaldo!

”When Andy isn't making any waves, you start up a campaign of pro-Andy posts but you can't bring yourself to call him Andy. That would show a hint of respect, so you refer to him as "your Waldo", Waldo, etc.”

I was bored and needed you to cheer me up and by God you did a bang up job at doing so! Now I am all smiles and happy, the world is all roses! The blue birds are singing and rainbows all around! Big SIGH!

“You're a joke, Gwen as are your many personas. You and your pompous display of psuedo-intelligence and high and mighty hobbies only to back down when somebody calls you on it.”

When did I back down? Never happened. You need to take a look in the mirror and say those words to yourself because your actions and decisions of late show how much you have backed down, done the proverbial 180 degree twist!

“All anybody in IT has to do to find who you are is answer the following questions:

1. who is combative with Andy and has an ax to grind?
2. who is a pompous and thinks more of themselves than they should?
3. who fancies themselves a writer
4. who thinks they should be speaking for everybody else in IT?
5. who has spoken of high and mighty hobbies they have?
6. who has abosolutely zero, even negative, respect for Andy?”

OOOO OOOO, Let me answer them for you,,

1. ANDY - because he has alianated everyone around him.
2. ANDY – quote “I am the director, respect my position.”
3. ANDY - All those internet bios about his invention of the RISC chip.
4. ANDY – You take the work of others and present it as your own to city management.
5. ANDY – after all you did invent the Newport News BrokeBack Tango with Armando.
6. Everyone - need we explore this any more?

“The more you write Gwen, the more you reveal who you are although I'll bet many people have put 2 and 2 together already.”

Oh pooh, the secret is out! We always figured you were doing this to drum up sympathy for yourself. This is your way to blame others for your failures. Think it is working? We don’t. Remember ANDY, you get what you give in this world. When you force others to eat your shit, sooner or later a shit pie is delivered and you are forced to take a huge bite! Enjoying the confection of your own making.

Stop the Madness....Please!!!

2008-06-18T16:57:00.000-07:00

Well, we have got a plea from a Waldo supporter to leave him alone so I thought I would pass this along. I suppose I wrote this too huh?

"Gwen, I am so tired of you picking on this great man! What has he done to you or any of you that post to this blog? He deserves much better than you all are showing him. Can't you see how upset this is making him? He tries so hard to carry the weight of the department upon his shoulders and all you do is kick him down! Why..Why..WHY!!! With all he alone has accomplished at the city and within the IT Department, you should be thankful that he is here to mentor and guide you! Every day he takes charge of project after project, providing his wisdom, experience and insights so you can all do a better job. Why can't you appreciate just how much he has mentored all of you. By the way, where is all the support from City Management. I just know they are behind him 100%! Andy has guided them through some of the toughest IT decisions the city has ever faced. He transformed how information technology works now and in the future! Randy should be very thankful that Andy decided to work for him.

So you must stop all this madness at once and leave this wonderful man alone. I just know if you all come clean he will forgive each and every one of you!"

Blah Blah B.L.A.H.!!!!!!!!

2008-06-17T17:15:00.000-07:00

My, we are certainly having such intellectually stimulating conversations with Waldo these days! Personally I think he blew another gasket holding what’s left of that gray matter he calls a brain together. How childish to come someplace and engage people in conversation and when the topic does not go his way to act like a baby! Blah Blah Blah!

Even when people come out to support him he still cannot take it. We all saw how Wally was so happy last week. People were wondering why this was so. Well, it was because Wally finally had supporters! His puzzler was puzzling on who his new friends were. I guess the praise was too lavish for him to stand. I guess he could not stomach his own lies. These were all praises of Wally’s performance that Wally did indicate was so throughout the blog. He realized his lies caught up to him and he was being made fun of in a backhanded manner. Only took him two weeks to come around to the old Jedi Mind Trick! The funny thing is that he got sucked right into it, hook, line, and sinker! He bought the whole thing and what did he have to say for it, Blah, Blah, Blah!

So what is it with this arrogant excuse of a “man” that makes people so afraid of him? He is a nobody. Without a title or position of authority he is an empty shell of a human being. Even with his ‘title’ and ‘authority’ he cannot do much to anybody without genuine cause. What he does do is be vindictive and take small swipes at people on a personal level. Because of this a blog was born: for every action has an opposite and equal reaction. What is Wally’s response to this ….Blah Blah Blah!

The “man” is exceptionally gullible especially where it comes to his ego! Stroke him a little and he is beside himself with joy! Praise him and he is your friend for life! He is so hungry for a pat on the back. Good job Wally, for uniting the department…against you! To all this and more, the “man” who “prides” himself as being an “intellectual”, a “leader”, a “man of letters”, a “visionary” and so on, all he can say is Blah Blah Blah.

And what does Blah stand for? In Wally’s case Balding Laughable Arrogant Has-been! BLAH on Boy Blunder, BLAH on!

At the tone, Please leave a message.....

2008-06-16T15:34:00.000-07:00

I suppose I am Avenging Angel too Waldo? You are such the dork! Anyway, Avenging Angel left you a message Waldo! Read and heed my lover boy!!! Gwennie Poo....

"There is no Gwen Parker, there is no White Knight, no Waldo, no other personas. It not OCD, or multiple attackers. It's all really Waldo, battling with his conscience. (What little he has). He knows he has lied, abused, tormented and bullied everyone. It is a fight with himself. His feeble attempt to justify all his actions, and get sympathy for himself. Poor poor Waldo, everyone picks on me. Tells lies about me. Nobody likes me, everyone hates me, I'm going to eat some worms. GwenWaldoKnight, carry on. See you again tomorrow. Fight those demons, and the new ones coming soon. Guess who else is on to your antics and watching you !!! I told them all about you. You are under super secret probation, with the end in sight. "

Waldo’s Paranoia

2008-06-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

I would say that poor Waldo is totally obsessed with the blog. The numbers indicate that where ever he goes he cannot help but read about himself. Once again the blog has gotten the better of him and all he can say for himself is “blah blah blah”. How articulate, how quaint, how turnip farmer, how batty! Waldo keeps trying to convince the readers the blog is dead, no one reads it. But you know what, there is one faithful reader: Waldo. The blog has made him a laughing stock around the world! Sometime in the near future expect to see a song on YouTube based on Waldo’s Theme song. The darn thing gets tons of reads and downloads!

Waldo is a paranoid wreck. He sees his Gwennie Poo every time he turns around. With every laugh in the department he cringes thinking it is about him. When people whisper he thinks it is about him. Well he is right, it is about him! And now the blog has angered Waldo to the point where he is just a blabbering idiot “Blah blah blah”! Guess those synapses of his are misfiring again as usual!

Nobody’s arm is being twisted to participate in this blog. People are free to leave posts pro and con about it. People are free to read it or not read it. People are free to consider its content or dismiss it all together. It is just the musings and venting of individuals fed up with Waldo’s presence in the city. Who can blame them?

Waldo’s problem with it is there is truth buried in the blog about him. There are opinions about every aspect of him that ring true to readers. Waldo knows this. Waldo is so desperate for this to die a quiet death and go away. Some day it will but not today.

Look over your shoulder Waldo, can you see your past and present catching up to you? We can and it is very entertaining! What goes around comes around Waldo. When you treat people bad expect to be treated badly. When you cheat people, expect to be cheated. You get what you give in this world Waldo, so have a big helping of shit pie Waldo, God knows you have been dishing out to others for a long time. It is about time you take a huge bite yourself.

Waldo RePukes Praise

2008-06-15T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well, Waldo finally gets some postitive posts and what does he do – in typical fashion he shits on them! Imagine that will you, and he wonders why people dispise him! Oh well, yet another “persona” from the deep dark recesses of Waldo’s wittle twisted mind (a.k.a Waldo, Bob, Bobaldo, GIADB)

“Hey Gwen, White Knight and your aliases, everybody knows these supposedly "positive" posts about Andy are contrived by you. Why? Because you can't bring yourself to say anything nice about Andy except that which can be more easily taken negative. And you just can't bring yourself to call him "Andy" either.

It doesn't take an Einstein to see through your charade.

Furthermore, you post with your multiple aliases to drive up the comment numbers. Pathetic, even to the point I wonder if you suffer from OCD that you must maintain all these e-personas AND post these non-sensical, pathetically "postive" posts about Andy AND then answer them as if they were genuine.

I wasn't sure before, but it's pretty obvious you have something going on in your head that drives you to do this even if you have to contrive conversations with yourself to do it!

Come on, has it gotten that bad that nobody comments anymore? You and I both know, it's time to hang it up with this idiotic blog.

And the truly sad thing? This post will drive you forward with renewed vigor to continue with your e-stalking now that someone other than yourself is answering back.

Still, it looks pretty pathetic from where we stand... almost like a crazy person with voices in their head carrying on conversations with themselves.

Well, carry on my wayward son...

The Anonymous Persona”

Coming out of the "Wood work"

2008-06-12T04:39:00.000-07:00

Where have all these supporter(s) been? What finally prompted them to have the guts to speak on the behalf of their leader? Beats the heck out of me but here is another letter of support if you can believe it!

"I really don’t understand what all you people have against Andy. He is a great man! He took on the herculean task of move the IT Department into the future! If it was not for his leadership and patience with the IT staff, you would not be where you are at today. You people just don’t get it do you? His insights on technology and where the industry is headed are mainstream and his potential is well above those around him. I think his peers and staff are jealous of his obvious genius. Despite what this blog says and the rumors in the city, Andy commands great respect from almost everyone he meets. Why else would he be invited to speak on the future of technology? Answer that one if you can! You people forgot about all the interpersonal problems that plagued the department before Andy arrived. He has managed to ‘fix and repair’ not only the interpersonal problems; he is solely responsible for polishing the ‘tarnished reputation’ of the department. Andy is so thoughtful and concerned about his staff and takes pains to ensure they have career growth. He recognizes the talent in the department and is doing is best to promote the ‘best and brightest’ to positions of responsibility. I am sure he is grooming certain personnel for positions of leadership in the future as a mentor and a friend. You people need to give him a break and the benefit of the doubt. After all, he deserves the utmost respect for the job he has done within the department!"

Waldo's Supporter(s) speak at last?

2008-06-04T15:05:00.001-07:00

Another letter from a Waldo supporter! Who would have thunk it!?!

"Gwen, you obviously just don't understand Andy's personality and leadership abilities. To me he is the nicest man you could ever meet! He is highly intelligent, very educated and kind to a fault. How could you doubt this man and his many accomplishments? From my stand point he appears to be a person of many qualities. Having known and trusted Andy this long, I am positive he is the absolute BEST Director the has at the moment! I am sure he could teach the other Directors and City Managers a thing or two about corporate leadership and financial responsibility. After all it was his skills at Capital One that made the company what it is in the IT world today! I see no reason for him to "lie", as you put it, about his past accomplishments. Just look at the wonderful job he has done with IT. I think it speaks for it self! If Andy says he 'Invented the RISC chip' then I believe him. He has never lied to me. Just because YOU can not find anything does not mean it is not there! Shame on you Gwen! You should mind your own business!"

Waldo Rumors

2008-06-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that Waldo told his boss that he would do something for her only to burn her by not doing it! I wonder if this is true? Probably so given Waldo's track record of misogyny and lack of follow through! One has to wonder how he manages to work with a female for a boss. I bet he talks to her as if she was a child or treats her as an intellectual inferior. Standard practice for Waldo.

Rumor has it that Waldo is taking his entire EGov team with him to accept the award he 'won' for innovative thinking. I just bet he wanted to go all by himself but knows that if he did people would point and say "See we knew he would do that!" So in order to squelch any rumors he will surround himself with his team to accept the award. I am sure he will find a way to steal the lime light for himself. He always does!

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2008-06-01T12:30:00.000-07:00

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No Record of this Person at IBM
WAVY News 10 and Waldo / Waldo vs Fred Flinstone (Tied)

Honorable Mentions: The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo

Number of Reader Countries - 24 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
Canada
India

Honorable Mention: Germany

Number of Reader States - 40

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (34 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: Portsmouth

The Vanishing Employee

2008-05-31T09:20:00.000-07:00

How many exact weeks: nobody really knows. It could be 15 weeks or less than 10, no one is really sure. The one thing we are all sure about is that an employee has vanished….again. Maybe we have a Bermuda Triangle wandering around the 5th floor zapping people into another dimension. I think it came to rest in a certain employee’s office. Perhaps a micro black hole opened up in that office space and sucked that employee into infinity. There have been sighting of a Sasquatch roaming the floors from time to time. It very well could be the beast carried off the employee to the mountains for its nefarious purposes. Who really knows?

There is one thing that is perfectly clear: the work the employee left behind has been absorbed by others. It really proves that this employee is not needed by the Information Technology Department. So the question remains, why is this employee with the city to begin with? The employee is not missed and the organization has not skipped a beat since they disappeared. Waldo could use the salary savings to the benefit of the department. I have it on good authority that Waldo has all the documentation and history needed to get rid of this employee. I also believe that Waldo is just waiting for this employee to mess up one more time so he can proceed with dismissal. I think it will eventually happen. This employee cannot help themselves. They are always looking for a way to get over rather than do work or take responsibility for their actions.

In the end, who does this employee thing they are fooling? Everyone in the department knows about this employee and how they try to get over. This employee needs to realize that there is no easy way in life. It takes work and commitment to attain what we desire. This employee continually is looking for sympathy and portrays this hypocritical attitude about self righteous religion beliefs. It really annoys fellow employees with how this employee ends emails or pushes their religious beliefs on us. I do hope that Waldo does the right thing for the department and the city and eventually works with Human Resources to discontinue this employee’s tenure with the city! That would benefit us all!

Share the Wealth – Waldo’s Genius

2008-05-30T13:16:00.000-07:00

I recently received a letter of support for Waldo and was asked to publish it so here you go!

Recently, we heard that upper city management just thinks Waldo is the best thing that ever happened to the city. In fact the quote was “The City Manager and his group just love Waldo.” To them, it was Waldo’s “inspired” leadership that has effected change within the Information Technology Department. I can honestly say this is a TRUE statement! They also believe that it has been Waldo’s idea to make all these projects come to fruition and the recent award He and his team won is proof enough he is doing a fantastic job running the department. Waldo’s words, insights and beliefs about where the future of information technology is headed and about the high morale within the department must be true also, for the City Manager hangs on his every syllable. Waldo’s claims that the ‘disturbances’ within the Information Technology Department are merely one or two disgruntled employees venting, and he has a handle on that, must be right on the money. Yes, without His skillful leadership and people skills IT employees would be directionless and at each other’s throats. Waldo has certainly affected big changes in the way department employees think and interact with one another. I would go as far as to say that it was Waldo’s presence that banded the employees into a very cohesive group!

Having lavished such praise about Waldo’s abilities is no small feat! There are so many qualities and accomplishments to mention that we just do not have enough room for them all. His is a man of vision and insights that are far beyond the comprehension of the average person. Yet he communicates his thoughts and actions on the simplest of levels clearly guiding this ‘high performance organization’.

We think it is time the City Manager and his associates consider sharing the wealth and experience that Waldo possesses with the rest of the city. We think it would be a fantastic idea to have Waldo to exchange leadership responsibilities with another department director within the city so he can affect the types of changes in organizational cohesiveness, morale and drive which he has done in Information Technology. The City Manager can use this as a career enhancement for directors so they will have a better understanding of how the rest of the city operates thereby providing greater cooperation among departments and career development for the most senior of staff. We suggest that this only be a temporary assignment of say 90 days because after all, Information Technology cannot function as smoothly as it currently does without Waldo at the helm!

Since Waldo provided leadership to Capital One, we suggest that Waldo be moved to Public Utilities where the City can take advantage of his vast knowledge of public sector management to improve the cash flow for the city. How about it City Manager, are you game?

Gwen Parker vs. Waldo Stein

2008-05-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Gwen is a people person
Waldo repulses people
Gwen is a woman of letters
Waldo is a “man” of warrants
Gwen is loved by all
Waldo loves himself
Gwen has a great sense of humor
Waldo is the source of great humor
Gwen is important to other
Waldo is impotent to all
Gwen is a woman of intellect
Waldo is a “man” of reject
Gwen is respected by all
Waldo is detested by all
Gwen bathes
Waldo bathed
Gwen understands business enterprises
Waldo is clueless of business
Gwen outwits Waldo
Waldo is a halfwit to all
Gwen is very successful in her own right
Waldo steals credit as if it is his right
Gwen is smarter than Waldo
Waldo just smarts from Gwen
Gwen looks out for others
Waldo looks out for himself
Gwen looks Waldo in the eyes
Waldo turns to look away
Gwen connects with people
Waldo is disconnected from reality

Waldo and his “BlackBerry”

2008-05-22T17:33:00.000-07:00

I used to think that all that texting Waldo was doing with his blackberry device was insulting enough in meetings. However now I have discovered that was not what he was doing at all! In fact I believe he was playing games that came with the device. I also believe he was surfing the web, probably looking for a good deal on hair tonic or something like that! Another school of thought is that Waldo is so clueless that he just pushes buttons on the device so people will think he is important and knows what he is doing. Well we already know he really does not have a clue to what he is doing so it must be a ploy to make us believe he is important. Now remember, he is the ‘director’ as he likes to remind us all from time to time, so it must be to reinforce to the masses that he is impotent.

Either employees are avoiding him or ignoring him. Some out of fear, most out of contempt for the ‘man’. I myself enjoy talking to him on a regular basis. I like to see the expressions on his face change, that twitch he has when he is lying, the veins on his head pulsating when he gets ‘animated’, the fluster looks, the talking with his hands in wild gestures. Yup, pure entertainment. I always go off and do what is right. I just enjoy the show when talking with Waldo! I cannot wait until he gets back to ask him how his trip was! I cannot wait to hear all the little buzz words he learned while in Canadia. I bet he played with his blackberry most of the time while at the conference he was attending. Not interested in what others have to say, just that he was there and people were listening to him. Just like COVITS I bet! Open Source Andy, clueless and useless as most of his ‘peer’s say. His only real peers at the city are the bums. No that is wrong to say. That would be insulting the bums thinking Waldo could rise to that level!

Canadian Readership Up!

2008-05-22T17:28:00.000-07:00

Waldo goes to Canada to speak and readership from Canadians in Quebec goes through the roof! Is there a correlation to this? One just has to wonder. Do a Google search on Andy Stein and see what comes up. You get the violinist and Waldo. Refine the search to “Andy Stein Newport News” and see what you get. About 10 pages of Waldo bloviating about himself and one or two references about the Waldo Chronicles and the Waldo Files. Hmm, now do a search on “The Waldo Files” or “The Waldo Chronicles”. Lo and behold you get every article published! Amazing that this little blog has gotten so much attention from Google! Boggles the mind to think about all the people reading about the “RISC inventor of Newport News”! How Waldo saved the city from going under using “FREE” open source products! How he went to Canada to speak about his “Innovation Award” and ecosystems of some sort! All ideas he has cobbled together from the Internet and passed off as his own! Go figure!

Maybe readership was up because Waldo’s paranoia about the blog causes him to read it every day! That’s right folks nearly every day Waldo reads about himself in the blog. Some articles he reads over and over! Perhaps he knows he has been caught in lie after lie and is trying to figure out a way to get out of them or squash the blog. Not to worry, Waldo is just a fight end little excuse of a “man” who cannot even take care of an “employee” with a history of leave abuses. Instead he comes down on other people, who by the way have large amounts of leave, for not planning events months in advance. Waldo I got a message for you, life happens, sometimes at the last minute numb nuts!

Waldo has completely abdicated his control of IT to the ITSC committee. Why, because he does not want to be held RESPONSIBLE for making a wrong decision. So he tells people in IT he supports our initiatives while undermining them within the ITSC so when things get turned down he can blame the committee and suggest an open source solution he wanted all along. Total manipulation of the situation instead of working for the common good of the city. Typical Waldo, self-serving, so easy to figure out.

Waldo must have been told to stay off the big bad blog. Oh he used to post very often but was always figured out by the readers. He never had any supporters although he tried very hard to make people believe he did. Personally, I think he is afraid and lives in fear of what will be published next! Poor little Waldo, gutless to face his detractors. Oh well, this is what you expect from a coward and a fraud! He is even back in full Waldo regalia. It is such a nice feeling tp know some things never change, literally speaking!

Blog Stats of of 18 May 2008

2008-05-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

Waldo, have fun at your 'conference' in Canada this week. Be sure to answer the question when it is asked. You know the one. Did you invent the RISC chip as you claim? I can answer that, NO. John Cocke and Victoria Markstein DID and are recognized by IBM and the US Patent Office as the inventors of the technology! Not you!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 18 May 2008

Total Site Visits – 3898

Total Page Views – 8183

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.10

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 20 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (04 May 2008 - 18 May 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Dear 10 on your side
The Final Word on RISC and Waldo AKA Andris Stein
Blog stats as of 4 May 2008
Waldo's Award
A Link to the Past

Honorable Mentions: Waldo vs Fred Flintstone

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
Waldo's Theme Song
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
WAVY News 10 and Waldo

Honorable Mentions: Waldo vs Fred Flintstone

Number of Reader Countries - 23 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Canada

Honorable Mention: Germany

Number of Reader States - 40

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (34 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: Portsmouth

Waldo's Award!

2008-05-16T16:30:00.000-07:00

First off, let me congratulate the entire eGov team on a job well done! You have expended a lot of time and effort to do a make over on the City's web site. You deserve many kudos and you should be justly proud of the job you have done.

However as Waldo pointed out (with smug pride I might add) that the award was for Innovative Ideas and Thinking. I have to say with the product Waldo picked, you certainly had to be INNOVATIVE to make this entire thing work! No thanks to Waldo. Rest assured that this award will sit proudly in Waldo's updated resume. Let us hope it lands him a job some where else! Remember the entire IDEA was Waldo's!

I have to congratulate you Waldo, it only took, what 3.5 years, between 8 and 12 full time city employees at an estimated cost of $2.2 Million Dollars in city resources for your 'free' solution! Yep, this is most certainly the best award money could buy you Waldo! I am sure you spared the city's taxpayers no expense providing your solution.

One Year and Counting!

2008-05-10T18:17:00.000-07:00

In honor of this week’s one year anniversary of the Waldo Files / Waldo Chronicles, I have dug out an oldie but a goodie. The one that started it all! The one that got Waldo called into his bosses office for one of many ‘ass chewing’s’! You would think that after a year of Waldo watching, newspaper articles, Fox News, long grass and blogging, Waldo would have changed!?! However folks, the more we ask for change, the more he stays the same… Where was he on the last few Fridays? Did he take leave? Was he sick? Did he let anyone know where he was? Is he flexing again, even though City Directors do not flex. (According to the City Manager) So here it is, back by popular demand because we cannot find him…

Where's Waldo?

(Originally posted in the Waldo Files on 14 May 2007)

“I never really understood what my children found so fascinating about locating a bespectacled teenager wearing a beanie and a red & white striped shirt from among a cast of similar characters. They would spend hours pouring over each page in a vain attempt to locate him. From time to time they would yell with joy having solved the mystery of where Waldo was hiding. I have to admit, after a while I was hooked and began searching the pages of those picture books to test my ability to find Waldo! What does this have to do with the IT Department? You could ask yourself this: "Where's Waldo?". On any given day that is a very good question! Most 'executives' publish as calendar or at the very least inform the senior staff of their whereabouts in case they are needed. He either feels he is not needed or does not deem it important to inform his senior staff of his plans. The funny thing is, the department runs so much smoother without him. In fact, the moral is highest when no one knows where he is! I guess he is a character no one is too eager to find!”

I have to hand it to you Waldo; you have an art for surviving! Now please, go find a deserted island in the south Pacific and practice your art! Happy Anniversary WALDO! Hugs’ and Kisses! Your Gwenie Poo!

Blog Stats as of 4 May 2008

2008-05-04T12:58:00.000-07:00

Someone really loves that theme song of your Waldo! Bumbler Man, Bumbler Man, bumbles on as fast as he can..... LOLOL ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 4 May 2008

Total Site Visits – 3677

Total Page Views – 7825

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.13

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 26 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (28 April - 04 May 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Waldo's Theme Song
Changing the Subject
"My Hands are Tied" or Working the System
How Not to work for the City of Newport News AND get PAID
Blog stats as of 27 April 2008

Honorable Mentions: Did you know....

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
Waldo's Theme Song
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
WAVY News 10 and Waldo

Honorable Mentions: Waldo vs Fred Flintstone / The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo (tied)

Number of Reader Countries - 22 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Honorable Mention: United Kingdom / Canada (tied)

Number of Reader States - 39

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (33 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: Portsmouth

How NOT to work for the City of Newport News AND get PAID!

2008-05-03T16:45:00.000-07:00

Waldo is not the only fraud working for the city! The IT Department has a very special employee that is Waldo's pet! That is right folks, well taken care of to do as they please while Waldo looks the other way as this employee for the past 5 years of Waldo's tenure abused the leave system! Let us look at the current scenario:

Employee gets in car accident (one of many this employee has been in since employed by the city)

Employee admits to getting out of vehicle to berate the other driver.

Employee is seen for at least several days walking and talking around the office, admitting they were fine and demonstrating so

Employee angry that insurance company wont give them what they think vehicle is worth. Instead insurance company pays off loan.

Employee comes up with another angle to get $$$$$$$, greenbacks, denaro, cash from insurance company by alleging injury.

Employee is out with arthroscopic knee procedure for 6 weeks when the average return time from this type of surgery is 5 work days!

Employee will be out for another 6 weeks for more 'exploratory' surgery. Guess they could not find anything wrong with knee.

Since employee has no leave, must take FMLA only after working from home failed.

CITY STILL PAYING EMPLOYEE! Pay report records show disbursement!

To top it all off, EMPLOYEE will not be here during critical time to support their assigned applications! OTHERS MUST PICK UP THEIR WORK!

dg.0 2008 and Andy "Andris" Stein

2008-05-03T16:29:00.000-07:00

The 9th Annual International Conference on Digital Government Research

May 18-21 Montreal, Canada

Andy Stein is Director of Information Technology at the City of Newport News, Virginia.

"Using Open Source as a best practice model for collaborative software development, the City of Newport News is engaged in shared projects with other localities. The City of Newport News has developed a strategy to replace legacy applications through a collaborative ecosystem with public entities and through public-private partnerships.In addition to his current work in Government, Andy's professional background includes management and operation of large scalable computing environments at Capital One, as well as work in application development, relational database and systems architecture in IBM's consulting practice. Andy designed and implemented the RISC chip for IBM in the mid 1980's. "

What open source and best practice model for collaborative software development has the City of Newport News engaged in with other localities. Collaborations means "worked together" not "we gave to". Waldo, name one, just one, application that was developed using this model. No, a web page is not an application. What localities or public / private partnerships has the city entered into based on your model?? Well Waldo, name one? Word has it that you were fired from Capital One based on poor performance, care to explain that one?? You worked in application development? LOLOLOLOLOL! You are so clueless about what constitutes application development it is too sad to be funny! Oh of course you, the late John Cocke and Victoria Markstein developed the RISC processor family. Uh huh, right, and pigs fly! What a fraud. You are the only 'person' that I have known that can make a living off of being a complete fake!

Blog status as of 27 April 2008

2008-04-27T17:04:00.000-07:00

Waldo, the pressure must be getting to you because your hair turned white! I cannot imagine why you are still going to Canada in a couple of weeks to speak about things you have not accomplished as if you had! Your fraudulent activities make the city look bad but since the city manager is gutless, who am I to argue! Maybe someone there will offer you a job and you will leave the city. We can only hope!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 27 April 2008

Total Site Visits – 3568

Total Page Views – 7603

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.14

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 28 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (21 - 27 April 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

"My Hands are Tied" or Working the System
Did you know...
Getting over on FMLA
For Corrections see the back page
A Kinder Gentler Waldo / Waldo "pays" his Favorites (Tied)

Honorable Mentions: Waldo's Theme Song

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
Waldo's Theme Song
No Record of this Person at IBM
The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo

Honorable Mentions: Rewriting History or "I never said that"! / Waldo vs Fred Flintstone (tied)

Number of Reader Countries - 20 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Honorable Mention: United Kingdom / Canada (tied)

Number of Reader States - 39 Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusetts

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (32 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: York County

Changing the subject……

2008-04-22T17:13:00.001-07:00

OK Waldo, let’s change the subject for a bit. How can you accumulate just over 600 hours of leave during your tenure, yet be absent from work as often as you had been in the past? There were weeks at a time you were gone from the office yet in the local area. Conservatively you should have only around 500 hours. Realistically you should have around 400 hours. And these figures are being generous to you. Care to explain this? In almost 6 years you have not taken one sick day. You don’t look all that healthy to me and with all the personal issues you have had over the past two years, seems awfully peculiar that you could manage all that, a side business and run a ‘high performance’ organization such as the City’s IT Department. Sounds like Norfolk’s questionable leave practices are happening here in Newport News. What do you, the reader think?

Did you know….

2008-04-22T16:56:00.000-07:00

That there were 39 working days between Feb 28 2008 and April 22 2008.

That of those 39 working days Waldo’s favorite employee worked 6.25 days.

That of those 39 working days Waldo’s favorite employee was absent from work 32.75 days

That of those 39 working days Waldo’s favorite employee was on FMLA for the last 16 work days (given benefit of the doubt from last reported partial work day on March 31st 2008)

Now since this employee had no leave to speak of, how does Waldo account for the 16.75 work days his favorite employee took during the month of March 2008?

Inquiring minds would like to know? Care to explain this Waldo?

Now you may be wondering how I know this. Easy, IT employees have been keeping track of this employee on their own. I wonder why?!?

"My hands are tied" or "Working the System"

2008-04-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

I don't get it. If this employee is not violating City policy with excessive absences and has been doing the same thing for decades, why worry about it?

If the City is OK with it, what's a director going to do? He can't trump City policy and make up a violation when there is none. He can document each occurrence, but if it's been going on for decades and City policy doesn't prevent it, why should any of us care?

In the interest of business and the absence of policy violation, what can you legally do?
Make their professional life a living hell? Do that and you risk a harassment lawsuit.
Strip them of critical responsibility? Do that and you risk rewarding them not to mention that with the severe lack of staff resources in IT, you force more work on overburdened staff.

Attempt to have them fired? Find the policy violation that allows that and isn't trumped by FMLA.

Keep blogging about it? Why? FMLA is a legal job protection device.

Without a policy violation, this issue is a non-issue. And to add fuel to the fire, it's been going on for decades so the precedent has been set by the City that this behavior is OK and when you couple it to FMLA, it is!

There is nothing that can be done. Time to move on to a new topic.

"Waldo you are pathetic. You were made aware of this employee’s leave abuses and their unreliability 6 months into your job as ‘director’. So you have known about it for at least 5.5 years and done nothing. Wait, that is not quite true. You removed the employee from the department they supported for lack of support and complaints from the department. You had the employee’s supervisor document the employee’s lack of performance. You could have encouraged the department the employee left to work with IT to document and put this employee on probation, then on the road to removal. What harassment can there be in the TRUTH! Do you know what a morale drain this employee is on the department? Everyone knows what is going on and it disgusts them! I know; most talk to me. Pathetic are you Waldo!"

Blog stats as of 20 April 2008

2008-04-20T13:57:00.001-07:00

Waldo, the "man" that looks out only for himself, cuts his nose off to spite an employee! Way to Go Chump! We can all see that you have the departments interests at heart, NOT! What a "Bumbler Man"! Now someone really enjoys that theme song of yours Waldo! Oh how it fits!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 20 April 2008

Total Site Visits – 3418

Total Page Views – 7268

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.13

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 29 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (14 - 20 April 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Waldo "pays" his favorites!
Getting over on FMLA
Wavy News 10 and Waldo
Accountability - Not for Waldo and Friends
A Kinder Gentler Waldo

Honorable Mentions: Waldo's Theme Song

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
Waldo's Theme Song
Waldo VS Fred Flintstone /The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo (tied)

Honorable Mentions: Rewritting History or "I never said that"! / Waldo Blames his staff for his failures (tied)

Number of Reader Countries - 19 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Honorable Mention: United Kingdom / Canada (tied)

Number of Reader States - 38

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Honorable Mention: Massachusettes

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (32 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: York County

Getting over on the FMLA!

2008-04-18T09:46:00.000-07:00

U.S. Department of Labor
Employment Standards Administration Wage and Hour Division

www.dol.gov/esa

Compliance Assistance —Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Synopsis of Law
Covered employers must grant an eligible employee up to a total of 12 workweeks of unpaid leave during any 12-month period for one or more of the following reasons:
· for the birth and care of the newborn child of the employee;
· for placement with the employee of a son or daughter for adoption or foster care;
· to care for an immediate family member (spouse, child, or parent) with a serious health condition; or
· to take medical leave when the employee is unable to work because of a serious health condition.

The President signed into law H.R. 4986, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2008 (NDAA). Among other things, section 585 of the NDAA amends the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) to permit a "spouse, son, daughter, parent, or next of kin" to take up to 26 workweeks of leave to care for a "member of the Armed Forces, including a member of the National Guard or Reserves, who is undergoing medical treatment, recuperation, or therapy, is otherwise in outpatient status, or is otherwise on the temporary disability retired list, for a serious injury or illness." Additional information and a copy of Title I of the FMLA, as amended, are available on the website. (January 28, 2008)

“Now we all know this employee and how they abuse the city system and who has helped them to do it over the years. The above was taken from the US Dept of Labor website. The reader must make up their own mind as to how this employee is taking advantage of the system today. At least, in any event, it is all leave without pay! That is something. Of course we all know a critical period is coming up (elections) and as usual this employee will be out “sick”. Awwwwwww.”

Waldo "Pays" his Favorites!

2008-04-16T16:20:00.000-07:00

Does Waldo play favorites? He most certainly does! Take the employee he is allowing to stay home when this employee has no leave what so ever. I bet this employee got paid yesterday for the two weeks they have been off! I bet Waldo did nothing to ensure this did not happen. I bet this employee even accrued leave and benefits! Correct me if I am wrong but I was under the impression, after looking at the PAM, that the city was NOT obligated to hold open a job for an employee who chooses to go on extended leave without pay. So if this is the fact, why doesn’t Waldo do ANYTHING about this? Lack of backbone perhaps? Maybe he is afraid of this employee because they might play their ‘old tired card’ again? In this case, I don’t think Waldo has anything to worry about. I think if Waldo acted on this he could rid the city of ‘dead weight’ and be the HERO to many within the department! I know I would change my opinion of him (or at least seriously revise it)!

I also have to wonder with the two positions that Waldo has held open now for 5 months if he really intends on filling them. Will he make the obvious choices? I don’t think so myself. Waldo has a personal grudge against one of the applicants; so I am told. What a shame too. This employee could really make a difference if Waldo let them but because of the ‘rivalry’ between the two this won’t happen. Maybe both of them should grow up, settle their differences and move on. I wonder which one will offer the proverbial ‘olive branch’ first? They remind me of two titanic EGO’s clashing it out as if massive bull elephants charging at one another in the parking lot! To Waldo I would say, take a closer look at this employee from a non-biased eye and see them for what they truly can do for you. To the Employee I would say, pull your head out of your ‘butt’ and perform up to your potential, the potential you have shown us all!

A Kinder / Gentler Waldo?

2008-04-13T08:55:00.000-07:00

OK, since an "anonymous" poster thinks Waldo is kinder and gentler, I would like to know what you, the read thinks? So where are all the Waldo supporters?

Blog Stats as of 13 April 2008

2008-04-13T08:26:00.000-07:00

Waldo, even though you had the blog blocked, people are still reading it from home and supplying information about you! I wonder why? Think, just maybe, that they want you to move on as much as the rest of us do?

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 13 April 2008

Total Site Visits – 3296

Total Page Views – 7029

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.14

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 35 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (7 - 13 April 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Accountability - Not for Waldo and Friends
Understanding a Megalomaniac
Blog Stats as of 06 April 2008
Mine! Look What I Did!
Dear 10 on your side

Honorable Mentions: Cha Cha Cha Cha Changes

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
Waldo's Theme Song
Waldo VS Fred Flintstone / Waldo Blames His Staff for His Failures! /The Great Circus Act of Bobaldo (tied)

Honorable Mentions: Rewritting History or "I never said that"!

Number of Reader Countries - 18 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Honorable Mention: United Kingdom / Canada (tied)

Number of Reader States - 38

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California /Massachusettes (tied)

Honorable Mention: New York

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (32 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Honorable Mention: York County

CHA CHA CHA CHA CHANGES

2008-04-11T17:23:00.000-07:00

(Apologies to David Bowie)

While sitting around the old IT camp fire next to the 3270 controllers in the wilderness of operations, a story was told that Waldo has been once again instructed to change his evil ways or else. Like ghost stories of old I shuddered and wonder how this man could possibly change or more to the point change into what! Waldo is like a chameleon; he changes color to suit his audience, but only plays the game with his superiors. To the rest of us, he is the same old Waldo, arrogant and smug about his position of power. As was told in the story, as he spoke at this week’s meeting at City Center, someone tried to interrupt him with a question, only to be shouted over by Waldo’s babbling. This was noticed with scorn by everyone in the room or so I am told. I wonder what Waldo’s boss thought as she watched this entire episode develop! Most IT employees think Waldo’s attempt at a “kinder and gentler” Waldo is a bunch of hoo haa to begin with.

Fundamental change of one’s personality takes a concerted effort and years to accomplish; especially in Waldo’s case. Not because he is who he is but that he has passed a milestone in life where change comes easy. Statistically change of this kind becomes harder as one grows older. That is not to say it is impossible but let’s face it, old habits die hard. Waldo has never faced a situation where this type of change has been demanded of him. Oh he can fake it for a while but always reverts back to the habits of arrogance and autocracy that define him. In my opinion, the changes being asked of him are basically impossible for him to make. Why? That is easy, because he does not believe he is the one that needs to change. For almost the past 6 years, we have heard from Waldo how everyone around him must change. That he is right and we are wrong. Change of this sort requires deep introspection of one’s very core. Something Waldo will never do.

It would be better to cut him loose now than suffer though to the inevitable parting of ways.

Blog stats as of 06 April 2008

2008-04-06T12:39:00.000-07:00

Waldo's EGO says:

"Stroke Me! Stroke Me! I need to feed my EGO so I can move your career!
Stroke Me! Stroke Me! My EGO is hungry and YOU need to feed me!
Stroke Me! Stroke Me! I need to feel good because YOU are better than me!
Stroke Me! Stroke Me! I am inferior and YOU all Know IT!"

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 06 April 2008

Total Site Visits – 3172

Total Page Views – 6775

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.14

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 34Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (31 March - 06 April 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

Accountability - Not for Waldo and Friends
Dear 10 on your Side
Mine! Look What I Did!
Understanding a Megalomaniac
For Corrections, See the Back Page

Honorable Mentions: Fear, Revenge and Waldo / Waldo's Theme Song!

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
Waldo's Theme Song
Waldo VS Fred Flintstone

Honorable Mentions: Waldo Blames His Staff for His Failures!

Number of Reader Countries - 17 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Number of Reader States - 38

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (31 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg

Understanding a Megalomaniac

2008-04-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

What makes Waldo tick? I have been asking myself that very question since he came to the city almost 6 years ago now. I am really not sure what drives this ‘man’ but I have been able to make certain observations that appear to repeat themselves in his behavior. Waldo is an individual full of fears and contradictions. He sees himself as something more that he is or ever capable of being. He is an individual more worried about his title and position in life rather than trying to make a positive difference in the environment he inhabits.

Let us start by examining his fears. It is apparent to most observers that Waldo fears competition and views everyone as such. Waldo also fears employees with superior skills and intellect to his own. He attempts to push them to the fringes of the organization and refuses to seek help or advice from such employees. For example, an employee with superior skills, intellect and experience to Waldo’s worked with the budget office to revise the department charging model. Because this employee made Waldo look bad at last year’s budget hearings he removed him from the budget process and gave it to employees with no background in budget processes. For 5 months Waldo did not implement the new department charging model. When the budget department inquired about this, instead of going to the superior employee who would have gladly helped Waldo, he went to the employee who last had the budget 3 years ago for help. When Waldo was reminded of this and told who to go to, he locked himself in his office and tired to understand the dynamics of the charging model himself. Unable to do so, he reluctantly went to the superior employee, asking only the barest of questions then leaving. Instead of using this employee to his advantage, Waldo would rather push him away so that he won’t make him look bad. This is a contradiction to best business practices and essential managerial skills for utilizing resources to their fullest potential.

About contradictions, Waldo is full of them. Just ask any of the Project Managers and they each have stories of being tasked with work only to either have Waldo task someone else with the same work or doing it himself. One of the most recent examples is where Waldo tasked an employee in a meeting to develop a power point presentation based on a needs analysis only to have Waldo reinvent the same presentation for a city council meeting. I am sure he took credit for it.

Time and again we have all heard Waldo tell us that “I am the Director, you must respect my position”! I have heard this so many times I have lost count. Only someone so insecure with themselves would be compelled to remind employees over and over of their position within the organization. One thing I have noticed is that Waldo does not take advice or insights from anyone of a lesser position or title. He will spend lots of energy and time trying to get employees to see things his way, even when it is obvious to all he is wrong. Waldo should take note that everyone has something to offer the organization which is irrelevant to their current grade or position. Again, a failure to take advantage of the resources which surround him.

So how does one manipulate Waldo and get things done. Well there are really two ways. The first way is to agree with him always. Don’t fight his ideas or plans. Simply go along with what he wants to do whether or not it works. Fix his mistakes without him knowing it and move forward. Let him take credit for your work and don’t worry about it. Waldo fully believes that since he is the Dictator of IT all credit goes to him first. The second and easiest way is to stroke his ego! Waldo his hungry for people to tell him how great he is. Simply go to him and seek out his advice on any topic. This will feed his ego, like tossing raw meat to a hungry lion! Tell him how wonderful his plans are and fully support his ideas with gusto! Your best bet is to complement his intelligence. Waldo will bend over backwards to ensure you are taken care of.

MINE!!!! Look what I did!

2008-04-02T17:43:00.000-07:00

Recently Waldo gave a power point presentation about a particular budget item at a recent city council meeting. Waldo came in early one day and worked feverishly all day behind closed doors to get this done. Not a word was spoken to anyone about this. Why is the blog worthy you might ask? Well, if you must know, Waldo in typical fashion was reinventing the work others had already done and provided to him. That’s right. He even went so far as to task the senior team member with creating a power point presentation on the very subject he himself created one on. It must be his selective amnesia.

More to the point it is a sense of inferiority and jealously that drives Waldo to do this. He would go as far as letting things fail before asking certain people for input or help. Even if those people have the skills, knowledge or information he needs, Waldo would look elsewhere rather than feel dependent upon individuals which are superior in skill to him. What a fool he is. His has missed a golden opportunity to use the talents of the people around him to make himself look good and pat people on the back, if you will, for a job well done. See, Waldo does not think it important to morale to recognize the work IT employees do. To him, the bottom line is all about him. Recognition of Waldo comes first and foremost. Such a sad little man.

All he would have had to do was ask the team leader for the power point presentation which had been completed on the very subject weeks prior and it would have been provided. Waldo would not have had to waste time reinventing the wheel. It would have even been better if he had taken the team leader with him to the council meeting to answer any questions that might have come up. However, in true Waldo fashion, knowing nothing about the project or the dependencies which the paper then power point presentation was based on, he bluffed his way through it. Way to go Waldo!

Accountability – Not for Waldo and Friends

2008-04-01T16:38:00.000-07:00

Rumor has it that Waldo recently sent home his ‘favorite’ employee because of ‘the controversy’ surrounding this employee’s excessive leave of absence from the workplace. Never mind that Waldo himself has never really taken any leave or a sick day in 5.5 years. This employee seems to always disappear at critical times when they are needed to perform only to return after the job was completed by fellow employees who are already strapped! Allegedly this employee has no leave or very little leave and was allowed to ‘work from home’ by Waldo. (A doctor’s note faxed from this employee to the dept requested such)

How is this fair to the rest of us that have to use our sick leave and personal leave when we are ill? If this employee is ill, then they should use what leave they have first. This is also why the city offers short and long term disability as an option to subscribe to. The “work from home” scam is an abuse of the city’s human resource policies. There is a precedent within the IT Dept to allow some employees to save their leave for buy back purposes and allow them to ‘work from home’. This is just not right. Where is the accountability? If this employee is as unreliable as is rumored to be, how can Waldo justify allowing them to ‘work from home’? What process did he put in place to show that this employee is even productive?

We cannot change the past abuses of the leave policy but we can certainly highlight and stop the current and future abuses of it by making all aware of what is actually going on. Oh and for those of you that will ask, there is a distinct difference between telecommuting once or twice a week with goals and objectives to meet and taking several weeks off from the work place in the guise of ‘working from home’.

Fear, Revenge and Waldo

2008-03-30T18:50:00.000-07:00

After all this time it has finally dawned on me that Waldo really confuses fear with respect. Waldo's idea of respect is actually that employees cower in his presence. That allows Waldo to feel superior. When you don't fear him or cower in his presence he loses that sense of superiority and it angers him. Thus revenge. How does Waldo do this? Why by withholding promotions and cheating hard working employees out of fair merits. It really does not matter what your supervisor says because Waldo has his own ideas (revenge) and will change things accordingly! My advice to you who will "suffer" his wrath is to make him justify himself. Grieve it if possible and keep your own documentation on your interactions with Waldo. You never know when it will come in handy. In the end the choice is yours. Live in fear of Waldo or demand the proper respect due an employee of this city!

Blogs stats as of 30 March 2008

2008-03-30T18:31:00.000-07:00

How many "Vampires" does it take to change a light bulb? None, because turnips don't light!

Blog stats from 11 Nov 2007 - 30 March 2008

Total Site Visits – 3047

Total Page Views – 6490

Average Number of Pages Viewed – 2.14

Average Time Spent on Site - 3 min 35 Sec

Top 5 Pages this week: (24 -30 March 2008)

Main Page (7 latest articles)

New Boss and Back to the same old Waldo
RISC Truth or Consequences
Waldo's True Colors
Simple Math and Waldo
Who Watches the Watcher

Honorable Mention: Rewriting History or "I never Said that!"

Top 5 All Time Favorites:

Dear 10 on your Side
I Know Nothing Says Waldo
No Record of this Person at IBM
The Great "Circus Act" of Bobaldo
Rewriting History or "I never Said that""

Honorable Mentions: Waldo VS Fred Flintstone / Waldo’s Theme Song!

Number of Reader Countries - 17 (5 continents)

Top 5 Countries

United States
Israel
Australia
India
Germany

Number of Reader States - 38

Top 5 States:

Virginia
Florida
Maryland
District of Columbia
California

Top 5 Cities in Virginia (31 Cities total includes all of Hampton Roads!)

Newport News
Norfolk
Fort Monroe
Hampton
Williamsburg