Friends in high places

nospam@example.com (Henk van de Goor) — Fri, 02 Jun 2006 13:02:52 -0500

'The Boss'

Yes folks, there is nothing more frightening than ignorance in action.

Especially when it comes to politics (let's say, Bush) or - closer to home - my work. Now, besides some exceptions, I normally do not write about my (current) work. Well, this is gonna be one of those exceptions.

Yesterday I had the 'pleasure' of attenting a board meeting at my company (2nd time).

The company I work for consists of 8 subsidiaries (actually 9 but one is inactive) that have been bought over the last 15 years or so and now are part of a group. At the core of the group is a printing company and the subsidiary that I work for is the IT/pre-media company.

Now, because of the history of the company, the board consists of three directors (or maybe it's four if I count the CFO). Of those three (or four) people, two are in control of (overall) daily operations. Both only have knowlegde of the print world. And, since they are 'self-made men', they have no management background (MBA or otherwise) whatsoever.

Off course having proper education doesn't mean a thing: I have seen great CEO's that never went to university or anything. On the other hand: for some people it would definately help to have at least some basic management (and people) skills and/or theoretical knowlegde of how to run a business.

Well, to summarize the capabilities of those two CEO's: the first thing that pops into my mind is the image of a second hand car salesman. You know the type: all talk and flash and no substance. In fact: they are living proof that the Peter Principle exists. Well, the meeting was - just like the last time - chaotic and completely ad hoc and unprepared. I really can't stand this kind of unorganized crap - especially from people that are supposed to be leading the company. If they would have been generals and this was a war, soldiers would die because of their Charlie Foxtrot!

Needless to say; I certainly made some friends in high places yesterday... Not.

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nospam@example.com (Henk van de Goor) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 11:31:48 -0500

Hi there everyone!

I'm just letting you know that it's time for me to move on.

Move on to the next level of Blogging software: WordPress .

I have been using the S9y blogging software since January 2003. I was more or less blogging before that in the '90's using a free Geocities account.

Up to a point I was very happy with S9y.

However, in February 2009 I tried to upgrade my S9y blog software to the latest version and by trying that, I effectively killed my blog. It took a lot of effort (I'm talking days here) to restore it to working order.

After that, I was afraid to do anything to it.

The S9y software has no option to update itself and relies on users manually uploading PHP files and such and running some update scripts.

A crude and - in one word - "outdated" system.

I talked to the S9y developers about the way the WordPress software handles updates (right from the back end) but all they kept saying was how this was a "security problem".

So I figured I should test out WordPress and see if I like it. Well I have been using it for a year now and I can say that it works without a glitch!

Updating the software, using plug-ins and everything else is 100% working for me. All hassle free.

So I have decided to abandon S9y and keep on working with WordPress.

So from now on point your browser to either one of the following url's:

http://blog.vandegoor.com

or:

http://www.vandegoor.com/beta/

In the mean time I will keep up this homepage as it contains 7 yrs of my blogging archive.

I am still trying to find a way so you get to my "real" new blog immediately whenever you come to my website, but that might take some time.

So for the latest low-down, go to my new blog at the URL's mentioned! To browse through 7 yrs or archives: you're in the right place here!

Peace!

Henk van de Goor's Bloggers@large

Friends in high places

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