Reflections

Christmas is for the dogs…around here, anyway.

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I’ve been working from home with my dog for too long, apparently. We’ve become bonded in a way that may not be normal, as we have developed close communication. She is demanding, and I give in to her needs. I really noticed it this Christmas season when Coco started asking for solo evening drives to see the local Christmas lights.

Coco always loves driving in town - as it means we go for a walk and she gets to see people - my damned extroverted puppy. I installed a semi-permanent raised seat in the back of my Jeep for her - she can sit safely and look out to see the world going by, which she loves.

Our first trip involved a shopping trip into town, choosing the dog-friendly stores to spend my money in. On the way home, I asked the dog if she wanted to go and see the lights in town. She got really excited and enjoyed the drive. However, I’m not sure if Coco prefers the lights or the many inflatable Christmas lawn decorations.

Coco watching the Christmas lights

A few days later, I had to pick up a few things in town, and I told Coco we would go for a ride. My lovely wife picked up what I needed as she drove through town on the way home, so I didn’t have to go there. A couple of hours later, Coco was sulking and staring at the front door. I asked her if she still wanted to go for a car ride, and she jumped up on me immediately.

The Christmas train

I bundled her in her seat, and we drove out to see the Christmas-lit Kettle Valley Railway train. It was beautiful, and Coco absolutely loved watching it. I can tell, as we came home, that she was delighted. Demanding dog.

Finally, a use for AI...

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Finally, a use for AI...

I've got a lot of mixed feelings about AI. It's the hottest thing since the last one - Bitcoin - which I still don't "get" the hype about. Perhaps it's a professional critique - as an accountant, numbers are pretty black and white. AI isn't a shade of grey - it's a hot pink. It makes stuff up and can't be blindly trusted.

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A Better Work-From-Home Zoom Setup

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We are two-and-a-half years into the pandemic. While many people are heading back into offices, work-from-home and hybrid arrangements are likely here to stay. Zoom calls, Microsoft Teams, FaceTime, Skype, or your other favourite application of the moment, will continue to be used. The days of in-person meetings, with the high cost and inefficiency of travel, won't come back the same way.

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No masks, no manners.

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Last Friday, Covid-19 mask mandates were lifted. Where I live, these were previously enacted by the Provincial Government. Masks are optional anywhere in British Columbia. Where I live, masks now are worn by less than half of the population when out and about. I hope that the virus got the memo.

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A Special Place In Hell….For Call Centres

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As business services increasingly go online and become subscriptions, more and more businesses must have call centres. I'm sure managing a call centre isn't easy, particularly with a pandemic and work-from-home regulations. However, I doubt anyone who sets up, runs and manages a call centre has ever had to use it from an outside line. There is a special place in hell, with scarce exceptions, for call centres.

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