Friday, September 12, 2008

Friday thoughts

Back to some semblance of regular blogging:


  • Gas prices go up 12 cents /litre because Texas might get hit by a tornado? What a soulless existence it must be to be the CEO of an oil company.
  • Far be it for me to advocate violence, but if said CEO were to get hit in the nards really, really hard (like spitting up blood hard), I would laugh. Oh yes, I would.
  • The Atom Cougars take a two-game winning streak into Sunday morning's showdown with the unbeaten Gaitors. Time to see what we're made of!
  • Young Jacob loves football, despite being stuck on the offensive line for the 2nd half of the season. He's a keeper.
  • Apparently Michael Bishop may be a keeper too. Who'd a thunk it?
  • Weston Dressler is a fan favourite in his first year. Where are the "experts" who wondered what Dressler had done to warrant making the team after training camp?
  • Is this the best Rams team ever? No. No it is not.
  • I bid a sad farewell to SportZone producer Terry Bell, who is leaving the employ of Access Communications. Could this spell the end of the line for SportZone as well?
  • They sure are going through a lot of people in the production department at Access these days. Yep, they sure are.
  • Are the Regina Pats going to be any good this year? I can't help feeling pessimistic. Hopefully I'm wrong.
  • Now that my Court Club membership is kaput, I bit the bullet and signed up at Golds Gym today. Pray for me.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Pete! --

Riders - Like the Simon and Garfunkle song the Riders are starting to "slip sliding away". The D has started to slip the last 4 or 5 games. We are starting to give up a lot of points. The injuries have caught up. Other teams don't respect our recievers so they just keep bringing heat on or O line which as well is starting to falter. In the 2nd half of the season we have only beat Winnipeg - big deal!!

Pats - The last 4 years plan failed miserably so it appears we are starting another. These guys just slay me when it comes to their ability to pick or build a champion. In most people's mind they passed on a World Class coach all so the interference can continue. We are young again, not overly talented and destined for 3rd or 4th in the division. We will struggle to make the playoffs. You notice we are not even on the radar for pre-season rankings. We won't get there again this year.

Did it ever occur to anyone how the Kelowna Rockets had one bad year 2 years ago, were very good last year, and are now again back in the top ten rated teams in Canada. It is a goddam disgrace and shame how these imposters keep getting as free ride in the Regina media. The Pats are the epitamy of a futile Jr hockey organization. This coming from a season ticket holder.

Anonymous said...

They go through a lot of people at Access Communications because it's a crap organization to work for. High demands with low pay. Most of the technical staff just go there to bide their time gaining experience and waiting for SaskTel to call.

Pac58 said...

Anon #1 - the Riders will be okay, but the defense has to start gettin some pressure on opposing quarterbacks. And our o-line needs to step up its game this week.

Anon #2 - Not the first time I've heard that, actually.

Anonymous said...

About the Access Communications work place. Go to www.saskjobs.ca and they are advertising for all kinds of openings. They can't keep employees. Years ago people would complain how much they hate the work environment, but wouldn't or couldn't leave. Now with the availability of jobs I know for a fact people will not put up with abuse so they leave. Tough place to work and it's a tough place to attract employees for the long term.

Pac58 said...

I keep hearing that, but as a freelancer I don't get a real feel for the corporate culture. Is it the wages? The workload? Management?

Anonymous said...

I'm not biased I'm just stating fact of what I have personally seen, and have gathered from people who have worked there. I don't have an agenda or care one way or the other. Stating that where there is smoke there is usually fire.
The culture is one of management by fear caused by CEO Jim Deane and his henchmen particulary Debbie Kuntz and Nico Khakhar. If you are on the ins with them then you are fine. If you are on the outs then you are soon to be shown the door.
All jobs have demands, but that workload and expectation is do it or you're are gone. VP's routinely work 6 days a week and on average 14-16 hours a day. If they are feeling that type of pressure then it's not long before it filters downward.
You pay into an employee association that has absolutely no power. The head of the association who is supposed to bargain for you in good faith ends up becoming a manager in the company. Tell me if that doesn't stink.
Bottom line are the wages are low compared to similar technical based organizations. You can make more at Global, CTV, or SaskTel. Wages are lower, but they do have good benefits. 100% coverages plus free cable TV. It's really the training ground for future SaskTel employees. The training and technology is right up to date. People work in a survival mode so yes to conform they will push the pace, and that type of work ethic is admired by SaskTel.
So the answer is yes to all three: culture is bad, workload unreasonable, and the management is quite frankly mean spirited starting with the CEO.

He's an interesting guy for maybe another discussion. Fred Wagman started the company. 1981 he hires Jim Deanne to work as Finance Manager. He guides Jim along then Jim goes to the board a few years ago, and backstabs Fred. Fred builds the company, and is escorted out of the building carrying his personal items in a cardboard box. Jimmy is appointed CEO. All the other long term managment team is turfed shortly after. These are guys he worked with for decades. Whe people see a guy do something like that what do you think the culture is like?

Pac58 said...

Wow,

Well, all I can say is that I've always been treated well by Access. Granted, I've never been a full-time employee of the company (only freelance), but my experience has been mostly positive.