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#41 (tie)
Tablet
Score: 53 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 9th (Ixo)
Whoops! I rolled up a vote for the mobile device with the vote for the product in the image above. My bad. Here's Bulgakov on the former:
Bulgakov said:
And Ixo on the latter:
Ixo said:
Now, had anyone voted for slabs of stone or for a specific form factor for medicine, I can neither confirm nor deny whether those would've been rolled up into this entry, too.
Clippit said:In Scotland, "tablet" can also refer to a confection made from sugar, condensed milk, and butter that vaguely resembles an eraser if it were made of butterscotch. Hey, that gives me an idea...
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ON the mobile-device version, I held off on getting one for a long time until I ended up with an iPad as basically a bonus from my cell plan due to a special deal, and I quite like it for web-surfing and such from a comfy couch - more screen real estate than a phone but less bulk than a laptop hits the spot sometimes. But I don't really ever use it in my office so I didn't consider it for this list.
My current tablet (the latter) is a Wacom Bamboo from nearly a decade ago. Like my little blip up there mentioned, I've never taken to it and need to upgrade to something that will allow me to draw directly on the screen. I've been considering saving up for a previous gen iPad that can run ProCreate (and serve double duty as a comics reader), but all the 12+ inch models are so dang pricey.
I'm bad about weekends. Last weekend was Father's Day, so I kind of had an excuse; this weekend, I just plain forgot. As an olive branch, have two for the price of one, and we'll be back tomorrow with our regular entries.
I love badge reels. They're the responsible adult version of a tape measure.
If it weren't for the "zwip!" action on these, nobody would have even cared.
Some of us are less ashamed of our actual preferences, though, and aren't shy about admitting that we really just want something we can play with on our desks.
#57
Badge reel
Score: 40 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 9th (JBear)
Badge reel
Score: 40 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 9th (JBear)
I love badge reels. They're the responsible adult version of a tape measure.
Torzelbaum said:
JBear said:
If it weren't for the "zwip!" action on these, nobody would have even cared.
#54 (tie)
Toys
Score: 45 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 9th (Kirin)
Toys
Score: 45 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 9th (Kirin)
Some of us are less ashamed of our actual preferences, though, and aren't shy about admitting that we really just want something we can play with on our desks.
Kirin said:
I thought about putting my badge reel on my list! But, I forgot when it came to actually writing it. And yeah, it pulls double duty as a fidget spinner.
In my cubicle at work I have two big tranformers a SD Trypticon with tiny Megs and a SD Omega Supreme w/ tiny Optimus.
In my cubicle at work I have two big tranformers a SD Trypticon with tiny Megs and a SD Omega Supreme w/ tiny Optimus.
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
Ooh, I didn't think of the badge thing. The switch from physical keys to badges was magical.
Since knowing how those badges work (sort of) is some of the random knowledge in my head I could ruin the magic for you and everyone else. If you're interested.
A bit of administrative business: you may have noticed we're off-schedule already this week (or maybe you're like me and don't really notice the update cadence, in which case, go ahead and skip to today's entry). I'm doing some travel this week and next, so we've got a little more schedule instability in the near future. What this means is that we'll update T-Th-Sat this week, and we should probably hit M-W-F next week as usual with the bonus weekend update as usual (provided I don't forget again).
#41 (tie)
Paper trimmer
Score: 53 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 6th (Yimothy)
Apparently also called a guillotine:
It's difficult to find an office supply that competes with the paper trimmer on the capacity for a power trip. Got frustrations to take out? Don't take them out on your co-workers! Take them out on paper. The feel is great, the sound is great, and it cuts your paper in such neat lines! Just don't try to trim a thick stack, because you won't get the neat lines or the satisfaction. Have you used one of these?
SHUNK
#41 (tie)
Paper trimmer
Score: 53 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 6th (Yimothy)
Apparently also called a guillotine:
Yimothy said:
Dracula said:
It's difficult to find an office supply that competes with the paper trimmer on the capacity for a power trip. Got frustrations to take out? Don't take them out on your co-workers! Take them out on paper. The feel is great, the sound is great, and it cuts your paper in such neat lines! Just don't try to trim a thick stack, because you won't get the neat lines or the satisfaction. Have you used one of these?
SHUNK
Oh yeah, I didn't think of these because it's been several years since I've used one, but they're awesome. I think we probably had one around the last time I was helping run a convention, because there's all kinds of call for slicing paper into different form factors there.
I'll be honest - those have always made me a bit nervous.
Ooooops I missed some posts! Catching up...
Tablets: I've only owned one tablet, coincidentally (I promise) called the Asus Transformer. I got it specifically because I was a journalist and it was getting really troublesome to lug my laptop around to places to take notes. The Transformer was called that because it had a removable keyboard attachment that effectively turned it into a tiny laptop. It was great! It's now too old to function well, but it served its purpose. I've thought about getting a new one, but I'm not sure if I'd get my money's worth out of it.
Toys: I didn't think to vote for this, but I probably should have. I'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that my desk is covered in toys. Actually, at my last job, one of the first things that happened was I got a request from management to tone down the stuff I had on my desk. They requested that I limit my decorations to "three personal items, at most," which was not only ridiculous but also hilarious to my new coworkers. We joked about that for years. I slowly added stuff to my desk area until it was almost the same level of decor I had when I arrived. My current office situation has no compunctions about decoration. Maybe if I made it a shrine to our lord and master Satan, but they seem fine with the toys.
Paper Guillotine: At my last job, I was often responsible for the printing and production of proposals, and that involved a lot of paper cutting. We actually had a special super paper cutter, the kind where you seal the stack of papers in a box and a mechanized blade comes down and chops them up. It could cut through hundreds of sheets at once, but it was pretty hard to use, and more than a little terrifying.
Tablets: I've only owned one tablet, coincidentally (I promise) called the Asus Transformer. I got it specifically because I was a journalist and it was getting really troublesome to lug my laptop around to places to take notes. The Transformer was called that because it had a removable keyboard attachment that effectively turned it into a tiny laptop. It was great! It's now too old to function well, but it served its purpose. I've thought about getting a new one, but I'm not sure if I'd get my money's worth out of it.
Toys: I didn't think to vote for this, but I probably should have. I'm sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that my desk is covered in toys. Actually, at my last job, one of the first things that happened was I got a request from management to tone down the stuff I had on my desk. They requested that I limit my decorations to "three personal items, at most," which was not only ridiculous but also hilarious to my new coworkers. We joked about that for years. I slowly added stuff to my desk area until it was almost the same level of decor I had when I arrived. My current office situation has no compunctions about decoration. Maybe if I made it a shrine to our lord and master Satan, but they seem fine with the toys.
Paper Guillotine: At my last job, I was often responsible for the printing and production of proposals, and that involved a lot of paper cutting. We actually had a special super paper cutter, the kind where you seal the stack of papers in a box and a mechanized blade comes down and chops them up. It could cut through hundreds of sheets at once, but it was pretty hard to use, and more than a little terrifying.
#41 (tie)
Photocopier
Score: 53 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 4th (Ixo)
How do copiers work? Is it magic? It's probably magic.
Ixo said:
I've never used one nearly that fancy. I'm impressed when a copier can print in color. I must admit I am intrigued, though.
Today's image is on the subtle side.
Johnny Unusual
(He/Him)
So many uses.
#41 (tie)
Paper trimmer
Score: 53 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 6th (Yimothy)
Apparently also called a guillotine:
Tablets: Be they mini computers, or drawing tablets, I've found very little practical use for them in my work settings. They're fun toys to me and not much else.
Badge reel: I dislike these. I dislike having to wear your IDs or keys like an accoutrement. It has always felt dehumanizing. If I need to prove my identity or unlock something, I will brandish the appropriate items from my pocket. NFC locks are neat, I enjoy them a lot. But usually a little device I can attach to my keychain is more than sufficient; don't need a badge reel for it.
Toys: Don't serve any practical purpose in a working environment, so I doubt I'd count them if I were to have made up a list. But they're still neato. At my work, toys are actually part of the job sometimes, but we'd try to keep them educational and thought provoking like board games or puzzles.
Paper trimmers: Incredibly obnoxious, IMO. They're a necessity in my line of work, but the problem with them is that they're essentially large communal knives. And like most communal property at the office, people tend to abuse them and render them useless. Because taking care of a knife is an art, and a hundred different stressed out, over-caffinated, over-worked teachers all using the same knife is going to lead to your knife very quickly going dull, getting knicked, getting bent, etc. Every teacher worth a damn buys their own and hides it from everyone else.
Photocopier: Quintessential for educators, but IMO quickly becoming obsolete. At least in the traditional, self-serving variety. A well run/funded school will have a print shop, where the photocopying gets done for you if you put in a job order. The nicer ones I've worked with, let you upload files remotely instead of giving them something physical to photocopy. Which is just straight up magical, especially for a modern educator. It's so nice to be able to upload a test or worksheet or whatever remotely, give the print shop detailed instructions of what you want, and then just have everything printed, collated, and even stapled, ready to be picked up when you show up for work the next day. It saves SO much time and headaches and I bet even money. Especially since you have pros handling the equipment instead of letting before mentioned stressed out, over-caffinated, over-worked teachers, most of whom don't know how these machines work, fiddle with and kick/slam expensive and delicate communal office equipment, and you're redistributing the labor to increase efficiency and job satisfaction.
Badge reel: I dislike these. I dislike having to wear your IDs or keys like an accoutrement. It has always felt dehumanizing. If I need to prove my identity or unlock something, I will brandish the appropriate items from my pocket. NFC locks are neat, I enjoy them a lot. But usually a little device I can attach to my keychain is more than sufficient; don't need a badge reel for it.
Toys: Don't serve any practical purpose in a working environment, so I doubt I'd count them if I were to have made up a list. But they're still neato. At my work, toys are actually part of the job sometimes, but we'd try to keep them educational and thought provoking like board games or puzzles.
Paper trimmers: Incredibly obnoxious, IMO. They're a necessity in my line of work, but the problem with them is that they're essentially large communal knives. And like most communal property at the office, people tend to abuse them and render them useless. Because taking care of a knife is an art, and a hundred different stressed out, over-caffinated, over-worked teachers all using the same knife is going to lead to your knife very quickly going dull, getting knicked, getting bent, etc. Every teacher worth a damn buys their own and hides it from everyone else.
Photocopier: Quintessential for educators, but IMO quickly becoming obsolete. At least in the traditional, self-serving variety. A well run/funded school will have a print shop, where the photocopying gets done for you if you put in a job order. The nicer ones I've worked with, let you upload files remotely instead of giving them something physical to photocopy. Which is just straight up magical, especially for a modern educator. It's so nice to be able to upload a test or worksheet or whatever remotely, give the print shop detailed instructions of what you want, and then just have everything printed, collated, and even stapled, ready to be picked up when you show up for work the next day. It saves SO much time and headaches and I bet even money. Especially since you have pros handling the equipment instead of letting before mentioned stressed out, over-caffinated, over-worked teachers, most of whom don't know how these machines work, fiddle with and kick/slam expensive and delicate communal office equipment, and you're redistributing the labor to increase efficiency and job satisfaction.
Ah, the dream of a school with halfway adequate funding. Must be nice.
I'M ONTO YOU, MOG
#39 (tie)
Compressed air
Score: 54 - Votes: 3 - Highest vote: 12th (JBear)
JBear said:
To me, the magical thing about a can of compressed air is that it gets colder as you use it. I mentioned in the previous entry that I was pretty sure photocopiers function via magic, but I am absolutely certain that refrigerators operate by way of wizardry, and that extends to these little cans. I've never found them to be essential, but then I'm on record as being a "hold your keyboard upside down and shake" guy. How about you?
Violentvixen
(She/Her)
These were banned at my old company because our (very dumb) safety officer tried to puncture one before throwing it away and hurt herself. Somehow that meant no one else was allowed to use them?
I try to minimize use for environmental reasons, but the house nitrogen just doesn't work quite as well sometimes or reach to the little finicky spots this can.
I try to minimize use for environmental reasons, but the house nitrogen just doesn't work quite as well sometimes or reach to the little finicky spots this can.
I don’t really use these cans of compressed air at work, but I do use a lot of other compressed gasses. Most often cylinders of oxygen or carbon dioxide. We also have sockets on the wall for those and medical air. I used to have to clean our hair clippers between cases, part of which involved blowing them out with air, but now we use disposable clipper heads.
I had a difficult case recently where we went through a whole cylinder of gas in about an hour (usually one cylinder lasts for days). It was covered in condensation afterwards and although I had to connect a new cylinder straight away I had to wait to remove the old one because it was too cold to pick up.
I had a difficult case recently where we went through a whole cylinder of gas in about an hour (usually one cylinder lasts for days). It was covered in condensation afterwards and although I had to connect a new cylinder straight away I had to wait to remove the old one because it was too cold to pick up.
So am I, but that often doesn't cut it. Before compressed air, I used to routinely dig around grooves with pins and pry off keys. This is much easier!
#39 (tie)
Coffee
Score: 54 - Votes: 2 - Highest vote: 5th (Issun)
Let's be real: this isn't a vote for the beverage so much as the substance, right? Caffeine, that is. Rather than maintain a healthy, sustainable sleep schedule, the overwhelming majority of us have elected to create a chemical dependency in order to meet the ever-increasing demand for the conversion of our time and energy into societal value. It's fine. We're fine. Everything is fine. Send help.
My vote was for coffee makers, but it's all part of the caffeine delivery process.
Although really, for me it's less about the caffeine and more just that I really love to start my day with a cup of coffee. Black usually, though if it's a hot enough day I'll have it iced, in which case I have some milk in it.
Although really, for me it's less about the caffeine and more just that I really love to start my day with a cup of coffee. Black usually, though if it's a hot enough day I'll have it iced, in which case I have some milk in it.