Conference wecare::zko_suggestion_box

See the "top 10" posted in humane::digital (Where you cross posted this) for
some humor.

It happens every year.  

The sand cleanup seems to always be botched (sand left on the roads for 
weeks on end).

Facilities contracts to some company to do the work.  If some worker of that 
company sees fit to blow six leaves around - its not Digital's problem, its
that company's problem.  Who is around to bitch at?  I don't know how many 
people that are now in the old nurse's area actually work for Digital
(I think its single digits - no pun intended) so if you walked in there and 
said "the landscapers suck" I don't think you would get too far.  

You could send mail... don't expect a reply - ever...  so you never know if 
it was read or if it was read and ignored or if it ended up in the bit-bucket
somewhere.

Its kind of sad.

I'd rather see them spend money on getting more Thorn scan cards than throwing
down a little mulch.  We just had a contractor start and security said there 
weren't any cards left because of all the MKO people coming in.


Rumor is they are trying to fix some of the cameras - but there are far 
too many trees in the way to make them useful - again just rumor.  The 
facility people appear to think that the people in the buildings don't 
really need to know what is going on around them.  Hint, if you want to know
how many cars are stolen, just get your car taken, then you will get a
list - at least that is what I have heard.

bjm

> See the "top 10" posted in humane::digital (Where you cross posted this) for
> some humor.

I did. Very funny.

> Rumor is they are trying to fix some of the cameras - but there are far 
> too many trees in the way to make them useful - again just rumor.  The 
> facility people appear to think that the people in the buildings don't 
> really need to know what is going on around them.  

This is truth, not rumor. The key word here is "trying." They are not
doing anything.

> Hint, if you want to know
> how many cars are stolen, just get your car taken, then you will get a
> list - at least that is what I have heard.

I have had my car stolen from the ZK2 lot. Twice. Two times in six months!

The numbers are quite astonishing. It's close to one per month over the
last 12 months. Then there are the cars that are simply broken into.
There is a real problem here, at Sanders, and at the Pheasant Lane Mall.
Security and Police are aware of this, but it doesn't appear that much
is being done about it. They "don't know what to do about it." That is a 
quote from ZKO security.

If you work in ZKO you get mail from Security alerting you about the laptop 
computer thefts, not the car thefts.

Regarding the camera problem: The camera by the ZK2 bridge has not been
functional for several months. Yes, several months --- like over six now.
The camera that is prevented from observing the parking lot because it is 
obstructed by trees is "still useful for monitoring the walkways." That
is another quote from ZKO security.

The word from Corporate Security is, and yes I really called them -- not 
very useful people, that the cost is too high to move the camera, and
the ground is still frozen (in Feb), and we can't trim the trees because 
it's not environmentally right.

Yes, this is a Green company that is slowly sinking deeper into the red.

Anyone ever notice that the lights in the parking lots flicker on and off?
This is a tell-tale sign that the bulbs need to be replaced. How safe do
people feel when walking out to their car late at night when the parking
lot is not illuminated? Don't worry, just feel safe knowing that the camera 
can't see you. Feel even safer knowing that the security car is parked and 
locked up by the ZK1 entrance. Maybe this is a means for trimming the
electric bill. Remember, the bill is posted in the ZK1 lobby for all to
observe and be shocked by reading.

Yes, this is a energy conscious company that is wasting money making the
grounds pretty but is not keeping the site safe for it's employees.

For a frustrating time call Security or Corporate Security and ask questions
about the safety issues of your facility! Don't expect many answers, just
expect to hear a bunch of words.

-Mike

I think upper management is barely willing to pay for the security we have,
let alone invest in more (guards or equipment).

I heard indirectly from someone that the cameras are generally off, since
there's no one to monitor them.

I do see security's Taurus circling the lots.  I bet the theives do also,
however...

Charlie

    Well, when you contract out to the lowest bidder, you get what you
    pay for.  Last week, when I was coming into work at 8:30, two
    young kids were raking the grass by the motorcycle parking at the
    ZK1 circle.  When I came back out at 12noon, they were still raking
    the same area they were raking at 8:30.  I didn't look much better
    than before.
    
    Just remember: "If you pay peanuts, you'll get monkeys."
    
    				-John

    FWIW, my understanding is that the issue with the Thorn cards is not
    one of management not wanting to spend the money, but the vendor not
    being able to deliver.
    
    My understanding is that the cards have been on order for months.
    
    About the only way I can fault anyone at Digital is for not having
    predicted the demand for new cards.
    
    	db
    

>>    About the only way I can fault anyone at Digital is for not having
>>    predicted the demand for new cards.

I have no problem with this.  How long has ZKO known that MKO was closing
(please give guesses in number of years)?

bjm

.6> I take it the mko cards won't work at zko

I think they and LKG have the old "vertical" cards like we used to have (before
we switched to the stupid "horitzontal" ones when they secured all of the labs).


				Webb

    Maybe its just been randon chance, but everytime I've known people
    who needed a new Thorn card (including myself) asked for one, we
    we're told "they are in short supply, more are on order".
    
    Given the number of Thorn card systems in use in the world, the
    supply surely can't be that limited...
    
    				-John

That's the answer I've gotten.  That and "they cost 3.50 each, do you really
need a new one or does yours still work?" [it still works, but the crack is
being held my scotch tape...

    One more thing, they also seem to be constantly short of film for
    making new pictures as well.  Anybody got a new badge lately?  I
    had to reglue mine with contact cement since they wouldn't make me
    a new picture.  These pictures are just passport photos.  Next time,
    I think I'll go to the mall and bring back pictures on my own...
    
    				-John (whose Thorn card is also cracked 
                                       about 50% across with tape)
    

I got passport photos taken at Security in March - didn't seem to be any
problem with it.

			Steve

>    FWIW, my understanding is that the issue with the Thorn cards is not
>    one of management not wanting to spend the money, but the vendor not
>    being able to deliver.
    
>    My understanding is that the cards have been on order for months.
 
  This situation scares me. I don't work at ZKO, but if it can happen here,
it can happen anywhere that key cards are used. Some questions:

1. Does Thorn make the card readers too, or just the cards?

2. Is there another vendor who makes cards that will work in this card
reader? If so, has Digital looked into buying cards from this source?

3. What is happening to the people who move into ZKO and can't get key
cards? 

  It seems to me that key cards are just as essential to working here as
office phones. I don't even want to think about how awkward life would be
for people who can't get them.
  $3.50 is peanuts for something like this when you consider what it saves
in equipment theft; we have already seen what happens when locked lab doors
are propped open. I think it would be worth paying double this price from
a second source, on a temporary basis, to get us out of this pickle.    

>  It seems to me that key cards are just as essential to working here as
>office phones. I don't even want to think about how awkward life would be
>for people who can't get them.

It takes ~three weeks to get a "put a phone in this office" request processed
so if you know of someone that is moving it, make sure their admin person puts 
the request in long before they plan on showing up to work.

bjm

    > 3. What is happening to the people who move into ZKO and can't get key
    > cards?
    
    my key card cracked in half last Thursday.  Every day, I have to go to
    the front desk and have my temporary key card re-programmed.  Then I
    have to cross my fingers that it's been programmed for access to the
    right lab.