DON'T EVEN ASK....

Last Sunday, the folks in Birmingham hadn't gotten our survey up in time, so we were 15 minutes late. Because we weren't on TPG2, I asked Nancy if we would be paid for these 15 minutes and she said she didn't know. I then asked her if she could ask Birmingham the next time she spoke with them and she said that Barbara wouldn't know anything about it. I then said OK.

On Monday, John came over and asked me if I "had a problem." At first, I had no idea what he was talking about but he provided more information: he was upset that I had even asked Nancy if we would get paid! I reminded John that we once waited for 45 minutes without being paid. I'm unsure what Nancy told him but it was clear to me that Nancy had no idea about whether or not we would be paid. John said that as long as it was in the log book, we would be paid.

This Thursday, there was another problem with Birmingham and this time, everyone was put on TPG2 as we waited for the poll to be readied.

AN EXPLANATION

I was sick almost every day of the 1st Quarter of this year and I have a possible explanation.

Flu wave lightens up after prolonged season of severe symptoms
By Carla McClain
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona Published: 04.12.2008

After an unusually intense attack, this winter's nasty flu is easing its stranglehold on Arizona, finally allowing our frantic ERs to take a deep breath.

But it's leaving behind the highest number of confirmed flu cases in Pima County — at least 782 — since we began counting them.

"This was a very long flu season. It hit its peak in February and stayed there for almost eight weeks — that's very unusual," said Lisa Hulette, epidemiologist at the Pima County Health Department.

"In most years, flu peaks for a much shorter period, maybe two to three weeks. But this was sustained, with a high number of cases. It was a struggle for our entire health-care system, especially the emergency departments."

JOHN IS WEIRD TOO

Tonight, we were let out of work after just a little more than 2 hours. John Dollinger, our manager, said it was because Tony Parker, the owner, felt we were talking to much to each other. That may or may not be true but what I found odd was the smile on John's face and the obvious tone of enjoyment as he told us this. Maybe he was glad to get off early?

LEE IS BIZARRE

I went to the LTI office this PM to meet with Lee and get my key card to the building, or so I thought. Lee was very curious about what I meant when I requested "unrestricted access" to the PC I would be using and I tried to explain that I might need to install some software and I wanted to make sure I could do that. What Lee was really concerned about was getting another visit from the Secret Service.

Here's what happened. I had been posting on AOL the phrase "impeach or assassinate: the only real choice." That's from an ANn Coulter book about Clinton and I was trying to ensnare BushBots into expressing outrage and then ask whether they were also outraged about Coulter. Two years ago this March I got a visit from 2 Secret Service agents who wanted to know about me because of those posts. (Details here, here, here and here) The agents did interview people who knew me, including Lee.

Lee apparently is VERY concerned that I will damage LTI if I post something inflammatory although when he first mentioned this to me, I didn't pick up on how concerned he was. Today he changed his position on my access to the PC and told me that I couldn't be in the programming room by myself! When we first spoke, he said I could come and go as I please and this week he wrote that he would get me a building key card so I could take cigarette breaks after 5 PM.

I'm puzzled by the abrupt change in attitude.

PERHAPS MARX WAS RIGHT...

Well, at least about the attitudes of our capitalist overseers. The manager came in today and said if we didn't clean up our acts, he would never again go to bat for us by trying to straighten out our paycheck problems. Of course, that's his job but he seems to begrudge us even the little pay we do get.

I JUST SPOILED MY CIGARETTE BREAK

I ran into Jerry outside the main library at the UofA and he hasn't changed a bit. I was the unwilling recipient of another one of Jerry's monologues about how terrible most people are, especially Americans. He hopes that democracy will be ended here and from my point of view, a vicious dictatorship installed. Presumably, the new rulers will kill all the Jews.

JOBS

I learned today that I didn't get the trainee job with Pima County and yesterday I learned that the higher-paying telephone polling company wasn't hiring just yet. Last week, about Tuesday evening, I think I emotionally quit my current job. I was hoping to take Wednesday off but I felt that I couldn't because I never know how many hours are available. I worked the rest of the week and by Monday, I was determined to take Tuesday off and I did. Today, I feel emotionally better but I know that I've had my fill of telephone polling and the only thing I can do is hang on until another job comes along.

PAUL

At least, I think his name is Paul. Over 2 years ago, I would attend a Wednesday AA meeting at the Mojave House (again, I think this is the name) and I eventually came to lead one of the meetings. I met Paul there and he had drunk so heavily that part of his his started to degenerate. He lived in a nearby subsidized housing complex, along with some other members of the Mojave group.

Perhaps a month ago, I saw him get on the #4 bus near the University and he was looking for a church that provided some help to the homeless. About 2 weeks later, as I was going to catch a bus at Ronstadt, I saw in an alley drinking a 16 oz can of Bud. Finally about a week ago, I saw two female cops speaking with him in front of the McDonald's on Speedway, near Campbell Avenue.

I think I have been remiss in my duties as an AA member and I should at least speak to him and try to find out what his situation is at the moment.

WORK NEWS

We were let off today at Parker because the electricity to the local servers went out. We've been having a problem with the A/C and I learned today that Tony Parker has known about this since January and has refused to do anything about it. Now that temperatures will be consistently over 100 degrees, it's time for him to get this fixed.

Some good news! Another phone research company is hiring and I'm scheduled to go in tomorrow morning to fill out an application and maybe have an interview. According to the woman who answered the phone, they do consistently have 20-30 hours a week and they pay 75 cents more an hour than Parker.

Some time ago I put in an application with Pima County for a computer tech trainee position and I have an interview scheduled next Friday at 2 PM. I expect that the competition will be tough but this is a chance to make some real money.

JOB APPLICATION READERS

For the second time, I had to call Pima County and explain to them that my application fulfills the minimum requirements for the position. This time I did not have to file an update but I am left questioning the competence of not only the application screeners but also that of whomever else may read applications.

WHO I'M WORKING FOR

THE PARKER GROUP, INC.

MARKET RESEARCH
Reaching out to understand and motivate political action
In todayís political world, few campaigns and candidates can afford to rely exclusively on imprecise, expensive mass communications efforts to impact public issues and deliver voters to the polls.
Direct contact with customers and constituents is imperative.
The telephone has become the prime instrument in determining what people want, motivating action and winning elections. The explosive growth in political teleservices is a reflection of the direct communications revolution.
The Parker Group, Inc. (TPG) is an established leader in public opinion research and advanced political teleservices for individual campaigns, party organizations, trade associations and public interest groups.
We have worked at the local, state, national and international levels on behalf of political parties, political action committees, public interest groups, corporations, public relations companies, polling firms, campaign consultants and hundreds of successful candidates.
TPG was founded with the express intent of creating the best Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing (CATI) field services capabilities in the market.
Our powerful technological tools and highly trained staff provide a full range of out-bound and inbound teleservices capabilities.
TPG has long experience with political projects including polling, voter contact, grass roots lobbying and data collection. We have a reputation for flexibility, responsiveness to changing campaign needs, high quality and results.

The TPG Philosophy
Do more than is expected.
Do it right.
Treat clients as working partners.
Strategy Driven Services
TPGís polling, issue advocacy and campaign phone bank experience covers a broad range of project types for a varied client base.
Survey Research Services:
Opinion Surveys
Benchmark, Tracking and Time Series Polls
Data Collection
Cross Tabulation and Data Mapping.
Voter Contact Services:
Voter Identification, Persuasion and Mobilization
Targeting
Database Management & Maintenance
List Procurement
Get Out the Vote
Automated Voice Messaging
Advocacy Services:
Grass Roots Lobbying
Persuasion Contacts
Recruitment and Mobilization
Patch Through Calls

ANOTHER RE-UNION

I saw Pat last night at the U of A. He was homeless again because he was fired from Primavera for refusing a drug test. He told me he was dirty at the time and it wasn't just from pot.

PARKER CONSULTING ROCKS!!!

Thanx to Ray Tafoya of Tucson Initiative Placement Services, I was just hired to do surveys over the phone. John Dollinger is the manager and he seems relaxed and courteous, like Vester was at A.C.O.R.N. I begin next Monday.

BACK TO JACKSON

On Monday, I went to my first class and learned that Frank was the trainer. I've heard a lot of bad news about him but for the 3 days I was in class, he was fine. We started out with 13 students and Frank told us that 24-25 had signed up for the class. He also said Jackson had a 97% success rate!!! On Tuesday, we started with 8 but were down to 7 before the end of the day. I believe that Frank expelled one of the students (Wesley) because he wasn't trying hard enough. Wesley may have psychogical problems in addition to whatever brought him to Jackson.

On Wednesday, we started with 7 but were down to 6 before 9 AM. A guy named Bob just got up and left.

On Thursday, I had forgotten to set my alarm so I didn't get up until 8:15, 15 minutes late for Jackson. I called and Frank told me I would have to start over, beginning on this coming Monday.

In the meantime, I've gotten an e-mail from the UA and it looks like I will get to be at least a temporary replacement worker for the Human Subjects Protection Program. Dr. Dahl will contact me to schedule another interview. I also got back with the Tucson Initiative Placement Services, a job finder company that Arizona's Voc Rehab program is paying to find me a job, and I have an appointment with Ray at 1 PM today.

BACK AT JACKSON

I had three options: (1) get a job by Friday (2) re-enter the Jackson program (3) leave the Catalina House.

I chose (2) because (1) didn't occur. When I went back to re-enrol, I said "Hi" to Frank and I waved to Mrs. Lupe. I didn't get a reaction from either of them.

Suzie, the receptionist, was friendly and courteous.

BACK TO SQUARE ONE

I'm back to looking for work. I lasted at Sears for about 3 weeks and I was fired because I neglected to call in sick. I had no valid excuse for not calling in. I don't think I could've lasted much longer because I was running out of empathy for customers' problems. The job was great when I could do some trouble-shooting over the phone and not so great when I has to listen to angry customers.

ANOTHER ONE DOESN'T MAKE IT

Aubrey, one of the better people I met at Primavera Men's Shelter, didn't last very long at St. Mary's. Today I heard that he was fired and like so many others, is hanginf around the Ronstadt bus center.

LOTS OF NEWS

Carlos assigned me to another job coach - Ray Tafoyer - and in about a week, I got hired at the Sears call center. I have orientation on the 12th and training begins on the 15th and lasts for 4 weeks.

Catalina House/Traveler's Aid Society got everyone at the House Xmas presents and threw a nice dinner at the House. I finally got a bathrobe!

A SALLY REUNION

I ran into Ed at the Ronstadt Center and he's now living a Primavera instead of the 4 bedroom apartment he had through JEC. As he put it, that's what happens when you "piss dirty."

Addiction is one problem that the homeless have that doesn't seem to be addressed very well in Tucson.

WOOHOO!

I finally got my CAT CARD and I've already taken out two books that weren't available at the public library.