The phrase "form over substance," describes a lot about the 21st century. 

Although, "form," is probably a little bit too optimistic. It is more like, "bullshite promotion of the most pathetic over anything having to do with actual productivity or sensibility." Unfortunately this does not have any sort of nice ring to it. 

Not really a statement you can put on a meme.

Last night we got together we from some University Expatriates. We all have sort of a survivor bond. It is really kind of amusing.

I have run into several former University people, students and staff alike, and generally it is the same statement... "I can't believe I spent (...) years at that place. Then we all start telling funny stories about the stupid stuff we witnessed. 

Friday, I saw a retired neighbor whose wife had attended Linfield in the 1940's or 50's. They used to be supporters and donors. He was very happy I no longer worked there. He expressed a common sentiment I hear when I tell the locals I am a farmer now. "Well, I was starting to worry about you..."

I am not sure what that means. It may explain some fundraising issues though.

When I look back I do have to laugh. 

I have been gone six months and already they have killed the tractor I babied for six years, and were also able to kill every plant in the greenhouse. 

I know this as I get frequent updates from current inmates.

I was just sent the below picture of the greenhouse. It is dead and brown. I do see that someone found the watering system parts that were under the bench for eight years. It was a great idea although it only took 15 minutes to manually water the greenhouse and it only needed to be done twice a week. However, I am sure there is a rationalization for this. Probably it has been declared off limits due to cost cutting. No one ever admits they are just incompetent.

Of course the real reason everything is dead is there is because initative is discouraged, and there no is incentive to learn or take on extra duties. There was a minor problem and no one could solve the problem so they just let everything die. I suspect i could have solved the issue with no cost and no loss of plants.

There was a  problem I had to deal with in the greenhouse.  The automatic temperature control is not working correctly. The reason it does not work is because someone decided to screw with the controls but did not ask the operator of the greenhouse (me( how those controls worked. As a result they over extended the mechanism that opens the roof and did serious damage to the mechanism and broke several windows. The solution is not complicated. But it does require someone who can do basic trouble shooting. There is a temp sensor which controls a motor which raises a vent on one side of the roof. This vent runs the length of the greenhouse and is a continuation of the glass panels which comprise the green house roof. (You can see it in the picture below.) 

There is a broken part which is setting on the desk of a technician in the Utilities department. In fact, the new part is probably on order. But, no one bothered to even ask about this issue. It was not a secret. I didn't follow protocol and I told anyone that would listen what was going on.

If the automatic system doesn't work there is a manual control for raising the roof panels. It is pretty obvious. You can see it in the picture. There is also a sun shade to cover the roof. Since we all have access to weather information you can predict when it will be over 90 degrees during the day. So.... If  you can't figure out how to make the electric panel raise, or if you don't trust the electric panel, (in my case) you manually raise the roof, you leave the door open, you put up the sun shade, and you leave fans running day and night to circulate the air.

This does not take a lot of time, but it does require intelligent thought and an ability to look ahead. Those things are somewhat frowned upon from upper management at the college, although this allegation is vehemently denied by everyone in leadership at the University.

I do find it amusing that people who really coveted my role as greenhouse manager and thought there was some sort a favoritism that I got the job were unable to actually make the greenhouse work when they had the opportunity. I also recognize that if I were to confront management about the failure of the greenhouse they would have a BS reason that it was purposefully shut down. Not enough time, shortage of people, cost, but really they are either lazy or stupid or a combination of the above.

When I left they had just installed plants in the new science building. When I took over the greenhouse I also took over care of all indoor plants. This included the old science building and the library. I maintained replacement plants in the greenhouse and rotated the plants if there were problems. (I was not that great at the job)

In a masterful example of supervisory effectiveness it was decided that one person would take care of the science building plants, another person would take care of the library, and I would continue with the greenhouse as I had extra duties on the athletic fields.

When people tell me about these failures I feel bad. Sometimes I feel I should get a little angry about being fired. I just feel like I spent eight years dealing with mentally handicapped people and they really couldn't help that they were idiots. I feel kind of sorry for them and find it hard to hold a grudge. I obviously should not have insulted a manbun-dumbass.  Sometimes I feel like I should go fix stuff that they screw up. (Just for the good of the students) Or when I get a text about conflicts with the Cartel, I feel I should go over on their break and get both sides of the story and try to explain. My wife says I am not allowed to do this. She is correct. 

Pearls before swine. On the top left is the chain hoist that raises the roof. Also on the left are the Philodendrons I babied that is the replacement for the library plants. The front right shows the Begonias that were used by the science department. But, I think that professor got a better job so they are irrelevant.