[BC] Switching Cell Phone Carriers

[Thomas G. Osenkowsky]

This is not at all related to cell phone carriers but it may be a post you
want to save for when you think you are having a bad day.

I am in the midst of a major studio move. As you can imagine there are many
vendors and subcontractors involved. The generator vendor subcontracted the
task of constructing a concrete slab upon which the 40 kW outdoor generator
will be mounted. The landlord is also the General Contractor (GC). The GC
had architectural drawings which depicted a four inch slab with reinforcing
rod grid. The sub made a smaller slab, not at all in conformance with the
drawing (no gravel, two inch thickness, #12 aluminum wire grid, etc.). The
GC saw this, and in our best interest, alerted the inspector. The inspector
ripped the generator supplier a new one and would not approve the work. The
generator supplier's electrician wired up the generator using the wrong
gauge wire. It took two days and three men to run the wire to the transfer
switch. The generator was positioned on the slab using tow lines and a
pickup truck.

The generator was unwired, moved off the slab and the slab jack hammered
apart. The sub made a new form with reinforcing rods. The GC measured the
slab and found it to be smaller and with only half the specified reinforcing
rod grid. The sub went off on the GC and demanded to speak with the
architect so the drawings could be changed to reflect what they had
constructed. Yes, you DID read that correctly. They have to remove the old
cable and replace it with the proper gauge cable.

Now comes a discussion with the console manufacturer. This is an IP based
system integrating with a new automation system. I am informed that we need
another server and software for this to work properly. This, after contracts
were signed and most equipment delivered. The console manufacturer and
automation system integrator had been in discussion to formulate the
required equipment lists. Now we have to spend more money, more rack space,
etc. If I were dealing with distributors, I can understand how there may
have been a miscommunication. I dealt directly with the manufacturers,
providers themselves who one would think were the best sources of
information.

Furniture was being delivered to our office suite across the hall. I
deconstructed a cardboard box and placed it in the outdoor recycle bin. I
noticed that the furniture delivery crew placed Styrofoam in the recycle
bin. I told them to remove it from the cardboard. Then I noticed cardboard
in the dumpster. Again, I asked them to put that in the recycle container. I
was politely informed that the double cardboard cannot be recycled. Here
again I am embarrassed that I did not read "Recycling For Dummies" that
morning. Shame on me :-( I did this for the landlord since he has been
looking out for us, otherwise the trash hauler would go off on him.

So far, the three phases of "You can't make this up" on this project and
we're still going. The slab has been properly reconstructed waiting for
inspection before concrete is poured. The software is being provided by the
console vendor, we have to buy the server. The furniture guy elected to take
the cardboard because he didn't want to lose his job over a piece of
cardboard.
 
Tom Osenkowsky, CPBE

>PAUL,,
>you have the worst kind of luck with anything.