Tuesday, August 2, 2011

DevNullers Guide to Looking Busy at Work

How To Look Busy at Work in August

Welcome to August, everyone! It's the month where not one single thing gets done at anyone's job anywhere in the world. But just because there is nothing to do doesn't mean you can just sit at your desk and do nothing. Here's a guide to making yourself look busy without troubling with any actual work.
Your boss is away, half of your contacts are also on vacation, and there are few deadlines looming until after Labor Day. So, how are you going to make the tedium of your desk job bearable without, you know, doing any actual work? Here are some simple strategies.

Type—A Lot

Nothing says, "Boy, am I busy," like the click click clacking of little typewriter keys. That means you just type away, young friend. That doesn't mean you actually have to be writing up something for your job. Write emails to your mom, the first chapter of the book you've been thinking about, screeds on Facebook, or long recaps of reality television shows for your personal blog (do these in Microsoft Word and then copy and paste them later, though, so it looks like you're drafting a report). Everyone will think that you're hammering away at some very important project they know nothing about and be totally jelly, when all you're really doing is entertaining yourself and your friends by talking about how idiotic people who say "jelly" instead of "jealous" are.

Create a Project

Before someone saddles you with some shitty work, think up a project on your own. Make sure it's something inconsequential that seems very important and looks involved when there really isn't that much work to be done. Then talk about it non-stop with all of your coworkers and anyone that will listen and create yourself a bunch of obstacles, which are also easily surmountable. When anyone accuses you of slacking off, just throw your project in their face and talk about how important it is. It's a foolproof strategy. Everyone in Congress has been using this approach with the damn "debt ceiling" for weeks now to great effect. Masterful.

Send Well-Timed Email

While you're slacking off and trying to do nothing while looking busy, you need some empirical evidence of your productivity. That comes in the form of emails. Send them early in the morning and just after 6:30pm. They don't have to say much, just some updates on what you're working on, or a little note to a superior so that they think you're in the office for a full day. This is especially handy if your boss is away or working from his beach house. The content doesn't matter, just the time stamp. The real secret is to program the emails to send at a set time so it looks like you were at your desk, when you were really sleeping late, leaving early, and dicking around in between. Now that the boss thinks you've been dutifully at your desk, you can spend the rest of your time reading all the latest Hunger Games casting news on EW.com. Yeah, they have nothing better to do right now either.

Go Places

The only thing that makes you look busier than being at your desk is not being at your desk. Well, actually it's a tentative balance. If you're gone for too long, people will think that you went out shoe shopping, but if you're never getting up, people will think you aren't taking any meetings. The answer: Wander around the office. Just get up and look like you're headed to the conference room, like you're going to meet someone in reception, or like you're stepping out of the office for something important. Mention all the meetings you have right now (so people don't think you're interviewing for a job) and let them see you on the move. You don't have to actually go anywhere (stop by to see your girl Jenny and gossip, or go take a 20 minute nap in a stall in the bathroom). You just need people to think you have somewhere to go. By going nowhere, you'll actually get somewhere.

Offer to Get Lunch

If you really want to get in everyone's good graces and need some time away from your desk, just offer to buy them lunch. Here's the plan: Say you're getting lunch and ask who's in. Then call ahead so that it's ready when you get there. Then go about doing whatever the hell you want to do outside of the office (shop, work out, get stoned behind the Dumpster), and pick up lunch when you're done. When you get back to the office, bitch about how awful the lunch rush is and they messed up your order and blah, blah, blah. No one's going to care you just took 90 minutes off, because you brought back soft tacos. You're the slacker hero, my friend, and all it cost you was four cheese pizzas.

Monday, June 13, 2011

One Horsepower Engine


I decided to go for a test ride on my daughters ride.  The kick starter wasn't working for me.  Electric starter was no where to be found.  The only thing that would make this beast go was my daughters voice.  

Not only was the starter broken, so was the steering.  This thing had a mind of its own.  I could barely keep this beast on the road.   He just went in circles.  I did manage to get the beast to trot and walk.  Cantering will be another day.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Ride to Work Day - June 20th

Motorcycle Classics encourages all motorcyclists to support Ride to Work Day, Monday, June 20, 2011, by – what else – riding to work! As riders, we appreciate the difference motorcycles make in easing congestion and decreasing our use of fuel. Three to five motorcycles can fit in the average auto parking spot, and compared to the average motorcycle, each lumbering SUV you take off the road can save a couple hundred gallons of gas annually. Multiply that by a few hundred thousand and the numbers really mean something. That’s why we want everyone to join in this year for Ride to Work Day.

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Trans-America Trail Adventure

A couple of DevNull members headed out early yesterday morning to start their adventure on the Trans-America trail.  Plans were to leave at dawn (ok maybe 8:30) and start scooting down to Jellico Tennessee where the Trans-America trail begins.  The Trans-America trail is a part road, part off-road trail that goes from East coast to West Coast ending up in Oregon.  Fang and Frank Jr. are planning on going from Jellico TN to Oklahoma before heading back to Maryland.

For daily status, please check http://bugsinmyface.com

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

DevNuller of The Day

This weeks DevNuller of the Day belongs to Roanald and his cocky attitude.  Anyone with an attitude like this has got to be a DevNull.

Let's face facts: The job market isn't what it used to be. And with so many people in the applicant pool, you need to be on your A-game if you're going to get noticed. If you're looking for work, ...
Let's face facts: The job market isn't what it used to be. And with so many people in the applicant pool, you need to be on your A-game if you're going to get noticed. If you're looking for work, ...

Sunday, May 22, 2011

British and European Motorcycle day

So, why did two DevNullers show up to the British and European Bike Show on a couple of Japanese bikes?  Because they wanted to make it home.   Actually, the ride home was a bit interesting after missing a turn, we ended up in downtown Gaithersburg sitting at a never ending red stop light.  After 5 minutes, it finally turned green and let 3 cars through before turning red for another 5 minutes.  Oh, and let's not forget the downpour that started as we were sitting at the red light. 

The bike show was good.  There were some nice vintage bikes at the show.  A lot of Triumph's, Norton's, BWM's, Matchless, BSA's, Ura'ls , Ariel's, Ducati's, and Laverda's. 



Thursday, May 19, 2011

Pixel Counting

Bytor is providing an excellent example of Pixel Counting today.  For those of you that don't know what Pixel Counting is let me enlighten you.  From the definition in the infamous Urban Dictionary, Pixel Counting is defined as "The act of staring at one's screen to avoid bullshit at work".  Bytor has proven again and again that he should probably be out riding the Vulcan instead of Pixel Counting.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

The "V"

As with any Biker club, the need to differentiate ones self from the other biker clubs is a necessary evil.  Some clubs have tattoos, club jackets or special handshakes to show their brotherhood.  In order to be unique, much thought has gone into how the DevNulls would distinguish themselves from the others.  After our last DevNulls meeting, it has been decided that the "V" wave identifies our members and shows the sign of brotherhood. So next time you see a DevNull walking or riding the streets, just give the friendly "V" sign before it's too late.

* Note:  This image does not reflect our political views and should not be used against us.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Welcome

The DevNulls Motorcycle Club blog is officially open for business.