I work for an agency that isn't appropriated by Congress (we charge fees to the entities that we supervise). So even though I'm a federal employee, I'm at work today. (I don't get the time off, but I do get the paycheck. I'll let others argue over whether I get the better or worse of the deal.)

The commute was lighter than normal but busier than you'd expect. Traffic was heavy but generally moving on the roads. Probably 1/3 fewer people than normal on Metro, which means that there were some empty seats. It just feels weird today, but I don't know how much of that may be just me.

I walked up to the Mall during lunch yesterday. A few people around, but fewer than normal. I'll check it out again today, time permitting.

Overall impression: Far less effect than the 1995-96 shutdowns.

I have no patience today to people who respond to a meeting invite with 'Just tell me where to call in!' when they are reply-alling and including the text of the invite in their message.

Which contains the call in number.

Not feeling like babysitting at all today.

Meeting on how to use new tool:

It's so easy, just a command line!

[...]

3 people talking all over each other with hypotheticals, complete failure to answer key configuration questions and 45 minutes later.

[...]

Well, ok, maybe we should write up some instructions for this.

headdesk

... the butchest, most-make-distaining, non-girly woman in my dorm in college (and there was serious competition for that position) is now a glammed up, short&tight dress-wearing pro/competitive salsa dancer in Florida. Oh college.

Oh, my god. Someone actually did this for their resume: [link]

I HOPE that is done ironically (which would have its own smartass downside at a lot of jobs), but I'd be terrified that the person who would show up for the interview would be a Lennie Small type who's a computer programming savant but so relentlessly twee about everything that I'd be constantly battling an urge to commit murder.

Oh, my god. Someone actually did this for their resume: [link]

Wow. That's amazing, but it does trigger my skeptic senses.

it does trigger my skeptic senses

As in he didn't apply for a job with it?

Co-worker offered me popcorn with artificial sweetener on it. At least I checked before touching it, but I have a pile of cold popcorn on my desk. It's hysterical how he can't taste it at all, but the people who he's shared it with all think it's overwhelming.

I stumbled across Paul McCrane yesterday. I can't work out if it was just sunny, or he was trying to be undercover--I ended up deciding the guy in shades (he'd been in traffic next to me, and then pulled into Frys when I did) wasn't him because not ginger, and if he hadn't asked for help at the entrance I'd have gone on thinking it wasn't him. But no way that voice wasn't the amputee doctor/regenerating mutant killer/other yelly dangerous person.

Not ginger...hmm.

Heaven saved me from "I talked to a black girl on this African topic, so I know".

Paul McCrane was a serious ginger in Fame. Also adorable, and he sang!

This is some bullshit: The News and Documentary Emmys ceremony isn't black tie! But the gift bag does have a ton of candy and cookies in it, so that's something.