The Daily WTF: Curious Perversions in Information Technology

The New Hire's a Bust

by Remy Porter in Feature Articles on 2011-09-27

"Hey, Stan. Congrats on your promotion," John S. said without terribly much sincerity. Stan was a nice enough co-worker, but a promotion to VP doesn't mean much to a company that hands out promotions like glowsticks at a rave. Stan was now the 4th VP in the 30 person company. It didn't actually mean very much at all.

"Well, thanks John. I'm really excited. I talked to the other VPs, and they're all really enthusiastic about my proposals."

138 comments - Last comment @ 2013-07-23

Get to da COPPA!

by Remy Porter in Feature Articles on 2011-09-20

Corporate meetings about how new government regulations are impacting the business aren't the most interesting meetings. The intersection of corporate responsibility and politics is as exciting as watching a pumpkin rot. Derek tuned most of the meeting out, but got the important takeaway: "Due to new government regulations, we will have to massively overhaul our flagship products."

The same year that Google was founded, the Federal government was trying to figure out this whole Interwebs thing. They passed the Child Online Privacy Protection Act, and among its many "think of the children!" provisions, there were rules governing what sort of data web service providers could collect from minors without written parental consent. Derek's company made a set of Java-powered applications designed to let schools run websites that let students do homework online, which meant they needed to be COPPA compliant.

152 comments - Last comment @ 2024-10-10

Common Educational Oriented Language

by Remy Porter in Feature Articles on 2011-09-01

"The problem," Alex's guidance counselor explained, "is that you simply do not have enough elective credits to graduate high school."

In the latter half of the 80s the US was into terrible music and leaving children behind. Schools weren't run on standardized tests, but on credits and coursework. Alex had bounced around through a few school districts before landing in the River City Schools "Talented and Gifted" magnet school. He enrolled specifically because the district assured his family that the program would give him enough credits to graduate on time.

159 comments - Last comment @ 2024-07-04