At Diamond archiving files for the retailer website is often a convoluted and tedious manual process. For example, the order form files — my purview — go in these two directories here (depending on if they are text or PDF), then they are archived in directories here (again, text or PDF depending) under their “standard”Continue reading “See a Problem, Solve a Problem”
Category Archives: Work
Seeing the Signs in Retrospect
One of the most frustrating things about Diamond’s bankruptcy is that I learn everything about the bankruptcy, Diamond’s financial situation, the future, etc., not through work but through the media. Case in point. Bleeding Cool: Diamond Comics Was Already Looking For A New Owner Back In 2023. And while learning that Diamond was looking forContinue reading “Seeing the Signs in Retrospect”
The First Week
On Tuesday, my employment with Diamond Comic Distributors came to an end. After the sale of the company’s assets to Universal and Ad Populum closed in May, those of us at Diamond who were not let go were employed by Diamond under a Transition Services Agreement (TSA) through June 30th. It was unclear whether ourContinue reading “The First Week”
Don’t Be a “Brand”
I have spent more time in the last two months on LinkedIn than the last ten years combined. I’ve come to the conclusion that my brain doesn’t work in the LinkedIn way–the relentless selling, the endless cheeriness, the buzzword-speak, the staccato writing style–and it never will. I saw this post this morning, and it wasContinue reading “Don’t Be a “Brand””
A Hard Week
Last week was a hard week. The July issue of PREVIEWS went to press. #442, my 217th issue. Except. It didn’t go to press. Not really. This issue is PDF-only. We had to buy the paper for the catalog when the sale of Diamond’s assets to Universal and Ad Populum closed, and the decision toContinue reading “A Hard Week”
Anniversaries and Endings
Today marks my anniversary date at Diamond Comic Distributors. Eighteen years. Started on May 17, 2007. Yesterday, a number of people I work with were let go due to Diamond’s bankruptcy. I’d seen the news that the sale—Ad Populum, the owners of Graceland, had bought Diamond’s assets—on Facebook. I read the press release, and thereContinue reading “Anniversaries and Endings”
On the Eve of the Sale
Wednesday night, a former Diamond colleague contacted me and asked hpw I was feeling about Diamond and the bankruptcy. I talked her ear off, in the Facebook Messenger sense, for a solid hour. “You know the ‘Five Stages of Grief?’” I said. “I’m permanently living three of them–Anger, Depression, and Acceptance.” I’m angry about theContinue reading “On the Eve of the Sale”
When I Thought About Learning Python
Two years ago I intended to learn Python. Then I never did. And there’s a story to that. What brings this up is an article I saw online a few days ago, “VBA vs. Python: Which is the best tool for Excel automation.” It began, as many such things do, with a work problem. WeContinue reading “When I Thought About Learning Python”
A Last Anniversary
Facebook memories reminded me this morning that today, February 1st, is the anniversary of the founding of Diamond Comic Distributors in 1982. I hadn’t yet turned nine. There were photos in my memories of the 40th-anniversary in 2022, when the office was essentially closed due to COVID… …and of the gift we received for theContinue reading “A Last Anniversary”
Two Weeks into Bankruptcy Life
“This business will get out of control. It will get out of control, and we’ll be lucky to live through it.” I’ve been quoting this bit of dialogue from The Hunt for Red October like a mantra recently. No, not in regards to the second Trump administration, which finds new and even more depraved waysContinue reading “Two Weeks into Bankruptcy Life”