So they want to question the interrogation tactics used on terrorist prisoners. So they think water boarding and mock executions go too far; that it is unfair to humiliate those whose sole goal in life is the destruction of our way of life.
I'm curious. Gather up the survivors of all the attacks on 9/11 and the families of those who did not survive and ask them what they think. Ask those who lost loved ones in embassy attacks. Ask those still dealing with the fallout from bombing of the USS Cole. Ask them if having their family and friends back, ask them if avoiding nightly nightmares, ask if them avoiding the shattering of their lives and dreams wouldn't have been worth pulling a few finger nails.
I don't advocate torture, but lets keep things in perspective. . .
Friday, August 28, 2009
Things Americans should remember. . .Item 1
As Americans we are guaranteed life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
No one ever guaranteed what the results of that pursuit might be.
Bill Randall, 2009
No one ever guaranteed what the results of that pursuit might be.
Bill Randall, 2009
Daily musing. . .
Where, oh where pray tell is that oh so fine line between confidence and arrogance?
And why, oh why hath the divine hand of fate marked such a precipice with invisible ink?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Warning: ascending soap box - Architect Part II
Hey. How did it go? Did you find any listings? No not for those computer guys. Did you find any listings for building designing, bricks and mortar Architects? The ones with licenses and liability insurance and continuing education? HELL NO!!!!!!!!!!! And if you did, it was probably on the order of 1 for every 25 computer job listings.
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be in the throws of a 2 year job search (yes the economy is that bad) and have to deal with this garbage every day. Just because "Programmer" is not a cool enough word anymore? Well tough noogies! Architects have been around for centuries. What gives the new kid on the block the right to come in and usurp our titles? Find something else for goodness sake. There are hundreds of things that you could choose to describe what you do, but only one for me; "ARCHITECT".
Further, in most states in the country, IT IS ILLEGAL TO CALL YOURSELF AN ARCHITECT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE! This means that nearly every computer jockey, IT junky and code monkey out that who have embraced the use of Architect to describe what they do is BREAKING THE LAW! That's right Career Builder, Monster and all you other job posting outlets. Every time that you allow a company to post listings such as "Data Architect", "Enterprise Architect", "Solutions Architect", "Microstatagies Architect" or "I could go on for hours and not run out of examples Architect" you are literally aiding and abetting criminal activity. Seriously, in most states in the country, it is illegal for them to use that title. Which brings me to an entirely different but completely related matter.
Secretaries of State across this great Union:
Why are you not addressing this issue? You issue the licenses (in most cases). You regulate who can use the title "Architect". Why do I have to test and pay fees and it's illegal for me to do otherwise while these jokers are out here throwing the name Architect around willy nilly? Please do something about this!!!!!!!!
American Institute Of Architects:
How much do you charge Architects for the pleasure of being part of your organization? And your mission is to " promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members" and "elevate the standing of the profession". Really??? Upjohn is spinning in his grave. What would be more practical than being able to find a job without being accosted by a flood of completely unrelated job postings?
Right from your own website "until this point anyone who wished to call himself an architect could do so. This included masons, carpenters, brick layers and other members of the building trades". I mean, this issue was one of the foundational issues of the organization. Frankly, I'd rather a carpenter call himself an architect that a computer programmer. At least a carpenter can read construction documents and is operating in the same industry!! But hey, I guess that you are doing a great job. I haven't heard a mason call himself an Architect in, well, never. If you could just do something about the completely unrelated computer programming field, maybe Upjohn and his brethren could rest in piece.
NCARB:
Frankly, I'm getting tired of typing. But considering that since 1951 every state of this union has laws regarding the practice of architecture and presumably the title of Architect, I would think that somebody within your organization could get off their duff and address this situation.
And Finally:
I'm sure that some of you are thinking that I'm worked up over nothing. And I am sure that others want to know what I am doing about it. Well, I am worked up. I challenge anyone to go through the type of downturn that our profession is facing without getting worked up. Add to this 2 years of a job search that returns 100's of leads just to find out that 95 of them are really not for Architects but rather for code writers. Honestly, I have nothing against the computer guys. Some of my best friends are in that profession. But I don't call them Architects and they don't call me a Programmer. AS for what I'm doing about. . .well hopefully I am issuing a call to arms. Hopefully, I am stirring the organizations that charge us for memberships to action. Hopefully I have issued the first salvo in what will become at the very least a passionate and powerful debate.
In the mean time, I need to go wade through another hundred job listings that have nothing to do with my chosen profession.
Do you have any idea how frustrating it is to be in the throws of a 2 year job search (yes the economy is that bad) and have to deal with this garbage every day. Just because "Programmer" is not a cool enough word anymore? Well tough noogies! Architects have been around for centuries. What gives the new kid on the block the right to come in and usurp our titles? Find something else for goodness sake. There are hundreds of things that you could choose to describe what you do, but only one for me; "ARCHITECT".
Further, in most states in the country, IT IS ILLEGAL TO CALL YOURSELF AN ARCHITECT IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE APPROPRIATE LICENSE! This means that nearly every computer jockey, IT junky and code monkey out that who have embraced the use of Architect to describe what they do is BREAKING THE LAW! That's right Career Builder, Monster and all you other job posting outlets. Every time that you allow a company to post listings such as "Data Architect", "Enterprise Architect", "Solutions Architect", "Microstatagies Architect" or "I could go on for hours and not run out of examples Architect" you are literally aiding and abetting criminal activity. Seriously, in most states in the country, it is illegal for them to use that title. Which brings me to an entirely different but completely related matter.
Secretaries of State across this great Union:
Why are you not addressing this issue? You issue the licenses (in most cases). You regulate who can use the title "Architect". Why do I have to test and pay fees and it's illegal for me to do otherwise while these jokers are out here throwing the name Architect around willy nilly? Please do something about this!!!!!!!!
American Institute Of Architects:
How much do you charge Architects for the pleasure of being part of your organization? And your mission is to " promote the scientific and practical perfection of its members" and "elevate the standing of the profession". Really??? Upjohn is spinning in his grave. What would be more practical than being able to find a job without being accosted by a flood of completely unrelated job postings?
Right from your own website "until this point anyone who wished to call himself an architect could do so. This included masons, carpenters, brick layers and other members of the building trades". I mean, this issue was one of the foundational issues of the organization. Frankly, I'd rather a carpenter call himself an architect that a computer programmer. At least a carpenter can read construction documents and is operating in the same industry!! But hey, I guess that you are doing a great job. I haven't heard a mason call himself an Architect in, well, never. If you could just do something about the completely unrelated computer programming field, maybe Upjohn and his brethren could rest in piece.
NCARB:
Frankly, I'm getting tired of typing. But considering that since 1951 every state of this union has laws regarding the practice of architecture and presumably the title of Architect, I would think that somebody within your organization could get off their duff and address this situation.
And Finally:
I'm sure that some of you are thinking that I'm worked up over nothing. And I am sure that others want to know what I am doing about it. Well, I am worked up. I challenge anyone to go through the type of downturn that our profession is facing without getting worked up. Add to this 2 years of a job search that returns 100's of leads just to find out that 95 of them are really not for Architects but rather for code writers. Honestly, I have nothing against the computer guys. Some of my best friends are in that profession. But I don't call them Architects and they don't call me a Programmer. AS for what I'm doing about. . .well hopefully I am issuing a call to arms. Hopefully, I am stirring the organizations that charge us for memberships to action. Hopefully I have issued the first salvo in what will become at the very least a passionate and powerful debate.
In the mean time, I need to go wade through another hundred job listings that have nothing to do with my chosen profession.
Warning: ascending soap box - Architect
Arg!!!!!!
I am an Architect. And I don't mean one of those keyboard jockeys slinging code and developing software. I mean a real, Honest to God Architect. A t-square using, pencil sharpening, AutoCAD drafting, building designing, presentation drawing Mike Brady of an Architect. I have a 5 year bachelor of Architecture degree (incidentally, costing 10s of thousands of dollars). I completed a 3 year internship, sat through 9 exams (some 8 hours apiece) earned my license, paid the fees and the membership dues and 14 years worth of continuing education credits. With literally hundreds of thousands of square feet in construction under my belt and 4000+ hours of site planning and thousands more of design and presentation; with thousands of hours of site time under my belt, by golly, I have earned the right to wear the mantle of Architect. And I wear it proudly. However. . .
Do me a favor? Just for grins and giggles? Pretend for just a moment that you too are a "bricks and mortar" architect. Hop on the job search engine of your choosing. OK, now type in Architect and see what listings come up. I will be back in a few to check in with you. . .
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