a Daniel Howell blog
Posted in Work on Jun 27th, 2009
So I work FOR Company X. They pay my salary, I fill out a time sheet for them, they provide me with benefits, etc. But I work AT Company Y. My boss is there, the projects are there, the computer lab is there, my coffee maker is there. When I was applying for this job, [...]
Posted in Work on Jun 24th, 2009
Top Ten Biggest Differences Between Working at NASA and in Orlando 10. The temperature feels much higher in Orlando. For the past eight years, I’ve only really “lived” in Orlando during the day on the weekends, and I’ve got a nice pool in which to dip if the feeling tempts me. Out on the coast [...]
Posted in Work on Jun 18th, 2009
“You don’t REALLY blow up rockets, do you?” Well as of Friday, no longer, no. But for the past eight years, you bet. BITFU: Blow it the {expletive deleted} up. And notice the little rocket in the gator’s mouth. Isn’t it cute! Share on Facebook
Today is my last day of actual Work at NASA. We’re launching a moon probe tonight, and with the bad luck we’ve had with the Shuttle, I really would like my last day of Work to be really cool. Perhaps you can help me figure out what actions I should take, and which I should [...]
If you follow the space program at all, you know that the latest Shuttle launch has been, frankly, a disaster. Imagine if you will trying to put gasoline into your car, and the hose spews fuel all over the car, the ground, your pants and shoes, etc. You complain, Maintenance comes out with some engineers [...]
Posted in Work on Jun 12th, 2009
10. Riding a Harley soft-tail to work, greedily revving the engine outside the main entrance, laying down a little rubber. 9. Showing off my new Space Shuttle tattoo. 8. Telling everyone that, “Khakis were meant to be worn commando-style, foshizzle.” 7. Asking if I can customize the case of my new company laptop with a [...]
10. Auctioning off Space Shuttle spare parts on eBay. 9. Using all my remaining sick time as a consequence of “FU Fever”. 8. Preparing to wear furry bear-feet slippers and a bathrobe to the moon-shot rocket launch next week. 7. Getting a vanity plate for my car that says, “NASAXKPEE” 6. Using my new job [...]
Posted in Work on Jun 3rd, 2009
Company A is probably, but not guaranteed, going to offer Employee X a job with a very, VERY large pay increase. Ca-ching! You know what I’m sayin’? Payday, foshizzle. Company B is very probably, almost guaranteed, going to offer Employee X a job with a large pay increase. Nothing to sneeze at, but it’s not [...]
Posted in Work on May 12th, 2009
Stage I: Happiness. I’m out of the office, I might get to drive somewhere, which is fun. Before stuff begins, I can make jokes and catch up with people I may not normally see daily. We’re building space-stuff, this is a cool collection of companies, I don’t mind working here. Meetings aren’t the end of [...]
Posted in Work on May 7th, 2009
So I’m job hunting, talking to recruiters, look at job boards. Lean Six Sigma, baby. Right? That should bring the HR-people to the yard. If you’re in the manufacturing or development business, you probably know what I’m talking about. It’s a quality and problem-solving “system” that companies have been implementing. I’ve been exposed to numerous [...]
