2/27    What's the best way to go about asking for nice keyboards and trays
        from your boss? And yes my wrists really hurt.
        \_ "My wrists are starting to hurt.  I need a better keyboard."
           They shouldn't take offense to that.
           \_ and if they do take offense, go to a doctor and try "My doctor
              says I'm permanently injured because of you, so I'll buy
              myself a new keyboard and tray with my huge worker's comp
              settlement."  -tom
           \_ Or you could do what a normal and reasonable person would do
              and just patiently explain to them it's a serious issue and
              you're "certain that the company doesn't want me to end up
              crippled and unable to work" because that'll get the point across
              without making you look like an asshole.  Also once you start
              making noise about lawyers you need to put up or shutup and
              you're fucking up your future at that job and any place else you
              run into those people in the future at other companies.  After
              that you're not good for anything but working for the government
              or university or maybe some lab.  Just be nice about it.
                \_ what's wrong with government jobs? It's laid back and
                   there isn't a lot of overtime. I get to bike as much as
                   I want.
                   \_ See! That's just evil! You should be overworked and
                      suffering emotionally and physically to achieve the
                      American Dream(tm). That's what is right!
                      \_ From each according to his means.  To each according
                         to his need.  Overall, the wealth of the society is
                         better shared in communist and most socialist nations
                         than in the capitalist west.  People are happier
                         there.
                         \_ how much time did you spend in russia before
                            the fall of the soviet union? how much time
                            did you spend in China before the reforms of the
                            '80s?  if life was so much better in the
                            Communist Bloc, why did they have guard towers
                            and razor wire all along the beach in Tallin to
                            keep people from fleeing to Finland?
                            ok, i just re-read your reply.  you're a troll.
                            sorry, i'm the moron..
                            \_ Because those people were unwilling to share
                               with others.  They were selfishly trying to
                               destroy the system.  It only works if everyone
                               wants it to, the same as any other system.
        \_ whatever you do, take care of your health. if you get hurt,
           claim workman's comp, etc. you make your value in the workforce
           worthless for all practical purposes. if someone tries to hire
           you, their insurance rates will skyrocket. they will prob hire
           someone else, instead.
        \_ wrist pads are cheap at CompUSA or Fry's or Internet
           Likewise for the other stuff. Now if you asking for an adjustable
           desk like the professors have or being able to drill holes
           in the furniture or a reasonable chair, you may wish to
           contact your friendly local Ergonomics department. What?
           Your company is so small and so tech-unsavvy that they
           don't have either an onsite dept or bring in periodic
           consultants? Well,  I don't know then.
           [You're vs. Your correction motd god was here]
           \_ "the professors" at Berkeley, except in departments with more
              money than they know what to do with (EECS), have terrible
              ergonomic setups.  Most are using WWII Navy-surplus Steelcase
              desks as computer desks.  -tom
              \_ Too bad the T-buildings are gone.  Nothing was better than
                 using WWII military surplus in a WWII military "T"emporary
                 building.
                 \_ we have new T-buildings at Hearst Gym now.  -tom
                    \_ Yeah but they're not from 3 or 4 wars ago.  It's just
                       not the same....  -T building lover
              \_ don't speak too soon, tom.
                \_ what?  -tom
        \_ If you really feel you are injuring yourself, buy whatever supplies
           you need with your own money.  The amount of money will be trivial
           in terms of the amount of suffering you are sparing yourself.  Then
           you can take your special keyboard and mouse with you to your next
           job when you leave.  -ax [motd formatd god was here]
        \_ When I needed to raise the monitor, I just used two packs of 8.5x11
           paper thinking that it costs much less than a monitor stand and just
           works as well.  One day my manager saw that, and he felt sorry and
           automatically got me a monitor stand.  I didn't intend to make him
           feel guilty, but he just did it himself.  So it depends on your
           luck with what kind of manager or finance department you have.
           \_ protecting people from injury is just good business.  Any
              manager that doesn't see that needs to be awakened in an
              abrupt and painful manner.  -tom
           \_ As Tom said.  Figure the cost of a $15 stand vs. the potential
              liability.  You think you were doing the company a favor.  You
              weren't.  A lame-o monitor stand means *nothing* in the overall
              budget.  It's petty pocket change.  Don't be a martyr.  No one
              likes a martyr.
              \_ Well, on the other hand I requested the most expensive anti-
                 radiation anti-glare Polaroid brand screen filter that I could
                 find in the supply catalog, because a cheaper one doesn't work
                 as well.  So I wasn't really a martyr.  It all depends on
                 whether or not a cheap alternative works as well as the
                 conventional option.
                 \_ Even your $100 or whatever filter is still chump change.
                    Always order the best.  It won't make a difference to the
                    budget and they'll feel better knowing they got you the
                    best out there so liability is no longer an issue.  The
                    cost for even _looking_ at a lawyer is higher for them
                    than just buying you all that stuff at any market price.