Thirty-One Things That Keep Me Busy

Checking the organization's telephone directory just now, I am reminded that I am now apparently "Information Systems". Other people are "such-and-such Manger" or "this-and-that Technician". I am, simply, "Information Systems".

My current theory is that if they give me an actual job title, it would mean they would have to define where, precisely, my job duties end. As opposed to how things are now, where they can toss any nebulous problem my way and expect to see results.

At least this is better than what it used to be. I used to be "Computer Audio-Visual / Specialist". It was my favorite typo. But eventually that went away, and now I'm just "Information Systems".

What does "Information Systems" mean? Apparently, it means:

1. computers
2. Internet appliances
3. e-mail
4. HTTP
5. DNS
6. telephones
7. voicemail
8. printers
9. faxes
10. copiers
11. PDAs
12. radios
13. paper shredders
14. FTP
15. fiber optic Christmas trees (Yes. Seriously.)
16. long distance telephone authorization code management
17. MIME types
18. address books
19. SMB/CIFS file sharing systems
20. firewalls
21. backup procedure management
22. CD-R / DVD-R burners
23. Mac OS X German Edition network troubleshooting
24. network security
25. software license compliance management
26. electronic device delivery coordination for special events and meetings, including but not limited to:
    • televisions
    • VCRs
    • DVD players
    • LCD projectors
    • wired microphones
    • wireless hand-held microphones
    • wireless lavalier microphones
    • Internet access
    • portable projection screens
    • podiums (more correctly called "lecturns")
    • PC audio
    • CD players
    • portable speakers with stands
    • easels (Yeah, I don't understand this one, either)
    • telephones
    • conference calls
    • lighting
27. user mailbox management
28. spam control
29. bounced/deferred mail message crisis counseling
30. secure access coordination for authorized web design contractors
31. vendor relations

Am I being diluted? Absolutely. Is it hurting my job seeking potential by hindering my ability to specialize? You bet. Am I upset about it? Yes, but then I look at my never-shrinking "To Do" list and push my anger out of my mind.

And yet, despite all that I'm responsible for overseeing, I can't even get a recruiter to return my calls. Sigh.