Can I talk to you about the report?

So I talked to the Director about the report I had been worried about. He came by my desk, sat down, and we went over what stored procedure we were going to use and how the thing should be layed out, and I pointed out a tricky pivot table like section that was possible technical snag. We were in agreeance pretty much for all of this.

Turns out the team lead misunderstood what the issues were. Maybe he doesn't understand Reporting Services well enough.

It's all good though it does disturb me that if management gets an idea in their head they can wreck the whole project real quick...

That may be an overstatement. The project manager is a pragmatic guy and so is the DBA. And everyone wants this to work out if only to keep their jobs..

Another nice thing is that I'm not even working on it. The guy in the next cube is. So that's happening too. Nice all around.

Derision And Mockery As A Sales Technique.

Over the past like two weeks I've had salesmen try to push something on me and they have both used the same technique. They make an inquiry, asking me if I want something free, I say no, and they act shocked.

The first instance was at Wells Fargo. I was despositing a check and making a withdrawl. The teller typed in the info then stared at her computer screen for a minute or two. Usually I do this sort of thing at the ATM and it takes maybe a minute. I don't stare at the screen quizzically. After this pause, she looks back at me, wide eyed and 'serious' and says that I have an older type checking account and I can get a newer one.
"What would that get me?"
"You would get free checks and cashiers and free stuff."
"No thanks."
"You don't want upgraded checking?" She said, her voice rising somewhat to indicate surprise and disgust, as if there was something wrong with me for not taking up this offer.
"Nope." I said, going for a flat affect, trying to indicate I want to leave and I have no interest in the pitch and I was offended enough by her approach that I was no longer going to be nice.

The second instance happened today. It was about 5:00 pm. I was sitting at my computer browsing the internet and I hear knocking at the door. I assumed, correctly, that it was a guy trying to give away the paper (Denver Post). I answered the door, and some guy in his late twenties to mid thirties, dressed in t-shirt and jeans and affecting an energetic demeanor, said,
"Hi! I just wanted to know if you had been getting your paper?"
"No. And I'm not interested."
"You don't want a free paper?"
"Absolutely not." I said.
"Wow! Turning down a free paper?" He said, as I shut the door in his face.

I don't have problem being asked if I'm interested in a companies product. I do have a problem with the sales technique that tries to maniuplate me into buying their stuff by semi-concious social cues.

I don't want free 'stuff' from my bank and I'll never, ever, pay for the Denver Post (I might read it for free off the internet though).

Devious motherfuckers.