“Murphy’s Laws of Computing” just before the Service Numbers

I used to want the words "She tried" on my tombstone. Now I want "She did it."

Katherine Dunham
(1909-2006)


WHAT’S NEW?

EXCELLENT
A very happy SIUE student will long remember Building Service Worker Roger Donnell.  In the course of his duties, Roger found a wallet and notified his supervisor, Matt Collins, who then contacted the student to let her know the wallet was found and when it would be available for pick up.  When the student recovered her intact wallet, she was delighted to have it returned.  Good Work, Roger!

TO HONOR
Flags flew at half-staff on Friday, May 19, 2006, to honor Christopher B. Donaldson, 28, Chief Warrant Officer, United States Army, of Effingham, Illinois, killed in the war in Iraq on May 5, 2006.
 

SO MUCH HELP…
Again in 2006, the Facilities Management Walk-Throughs are providing valuable insight into each building’s unique set of problems. The Walk-Through of the Engineering Building is scheduled for Friday, June 9, 2006.  Minutes of each Walk-Through are posted on the FM web page at www.siue.edu/FACILITIES.

ROOF RENOVATION
The renovation of Peck Hall roof is scheduled to begin the week of May 21-27, 2006, and should take three to four weeks to complete.

VACATION E-MAIL ADDRESSES
The departmental email accounts below should be used when sending email to Facilities Management, especially during summer months when individuals may be on vacation. If an email is for a specific individual, and it doesn’t matter how soon it is answered, individual email addresses are fine. However, when the email has to do with a situation that needs to be addressed in a timely manner, the following email addresses should be used:

Hot or cold calls: E-mail (fmworks@siue.edu) or call 3711
Customer Service: E-mail (fmserv@siue.edu) or call 3711
Work Order Control: E-mail (fmworks@siue.edu) or call 3711

EAST ST. LOUIS HIGHER EDUCATION CAMPUS (ESLHEC)
Update May 28, 2006: Some small projects are ready to move forward, but delayed by unforeseen circumstances.  For example, the company that installed the fence returned to repair and repaint portions of it, but went bankrupt before completing the repairs.  Now, CDB has legal issues to resolve before another contractor can be hired.  Ceiling replacement in the cafeteria will take place after the exhaust fan in the grill hood is replaced and the exterior water leaks are fixed.  Preliminary plans for the exterior work package have been submitted for review, though, so some progress is being made.

ADA PROJECT
Update May 28, 2006:  Since the architect is relatively new to the project, they aren’t fully “up to speed” on the concepts and ideals to be accomplished, so a conference call has been scheduled to facilitate a better understanding of all the review comments.  Although the project has been discussed, some time and effort are still required to comprehend the scope of work in the project.  However, FM is pleased with the architects thus far.


SIUE SDM ALTON CAMPUS/DENTAL CLINIC FACILITY EXPANSION
Update May 28, 2006:   The holly bushes have arrived and will be planted shortly.  The placement of the bushes will be studied in order to best screen the chiller and still provide maximum protection at the wishing well.  The contractor will complete several items once the solution is found.  Otherwise, construction is complete and the School is installing dental chairs.

MASONRY RENOVATION
Update May 28, 2006: Once sealant is applied to the precast concrete panels at Alumni Hall and Vadalabene Center, the sealant work will be complete.  A meeting was held with the brick supplier to order the correct brick.  Even with the manufacturer doing all he can to expedite delivery, the first of August seems to be the earliest the brick would be delivered.  The mason contractor will complete all the work he can, then pull off the job until the brick arrives.  Unfortunately, that means holes will be left in some brick walls until the new brick can be installed.  All doorways will be functional, so if a doorway is blocked, check with Facilities; it may be FM work.

MISCELLANEOUS GIR/MOD PROJECTS
Update May 28, 2006: The contractor for the Art & Design concrete pad cleaned and prepared the sub base for the new slab.  He expects to return during the week to begin forming and pouring concrete.  With the work week shortened by the holiday, though, he probably will not pour concrete until the following week.  Work has begun on some School of Education projects in Founders Hall.  Another in-house project will begin shortly in the Dental Clinic Building as an old classroom is converted to a Dispensing Room.

For every action, there is an equal and opposite malfunction.

To err is human... to blame your computer for your mistakes is even more human; in fact it is downright natural.

He who laughs last probably made a back-up.

If at first you don't succeed, blame your computer.

A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked just fine.

The number one cause of computer problems is computer solutions.

A computer program will always do what you tell it to do, but rarely what you want it to do.

When computing, whatever happens, behave as though you meant it to happen.

When you get to the point where you really understand your computer, it's probably obsolete.

The first place to look for information is in the section of the manual where you least expect to find it.

When the going gets tough, upgrade.