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magical thyme

(14,881 posts)

46. A couple decades ago at Digital Equipment, we were forced to convert to MS Outlook,

Tue Oct 15, 2013, 10:29 AM

Oct 2013

which had been designed for small work groups and was supposedly scaleable to any sized organization, from our robust, top notch "All-In-1" email system.

Imagine a company of 125,000+ employees with email addresses composed of their first names

Outlook was so piss-poor nonfunctional at the time, I was reduced to 2 months of "sneakernet," driving floppy disks all around New England to my internal clients and the printers, before I finally had useable email.

I came from a high tech company that actually believed in debugging it's products before releasing them. We long ago lost to companies like Microsoft that sell you one thing and deliver a very, very buggy, nonworking, phenomenally buggy, essentially untested pile of spaghetti-ware different thing.

I don't blame ACA for the difficult start. I blame privitising everything. They outsourced to the cheapest flim-flammer out there. (not surprisingly right-wing when you think about it.) They got the cheapest, flimsiest response the vendor could pass off on them.

Why am I not surprised?

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OK, don't have a fit: Five thoughts on the Obamacare disaster [View all] cali Oct 2013 OP

ACA will be fine. I am not worried about it at this stage. n/t Laelth Oct 2013 #1

I honestly don't know enough to know if it will be OK or not cali Oct 2013 #2

My hope, of course, is that the ACA fails. Laelth Oct 2013 #4

If ACA fails, nothing will replace it.... brooklynite Oct 2013 #8

I disagree. Laelth Oct 2013 #16

Thanks for repeating the republican New ACA Talking Points Ezra. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #3

Predictable. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #6

what's predictable. do tell. cali Oct 2013 #17

That criticizing the ACA/roll out=pushing republican talking points. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #21

Yep. certain people call ALL criticism cali Oct 2013 #22

I was actually trained on it. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #31

+100 nt Mojorabbit Oct 2013 #92

No cali, when I wake up and the morning noise is whargarbbling exactly the same noise Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #112

Web sites crashing due to customer overload is common, and indicative of successful marketing. Zen Democrat Oct 2013 #32

I question your premise wercal Oct 2013 #40

Bingo. Scuba Oct 2013 #7

Separation of Corporation and State in your signature. Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #11

Hardly. Scuba Oct 2013 #13

Absolutely Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #14

got any actual analysis that refutes what Klein points out cali Oct 2013 #10

I can't refute rumors. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #44

Someone stating their opinion as fact on a host called "wonkblog" does not deserve a refute tjwash Oct 2013 #52

Ezra Klein is one of the most astute thinkers we've got right now beerandjesus Oct 2013 #77

hits aren't the problem cvoogt Oct 2013 #20

Yep. But if you're desperate to make the president's signature bill appear like a failure BlueCaliDem Oct 2013 #38

It's important to have a hobby. grantcart Oct 2013 #74

Yes, Ezra Klein. One of the biggest Obamacare cheerleaders NoOneMan Oct 2013 #103

Well, we are labeled things for criticizing Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #5

I suspect the responses to this thread will be boringly predictable Fumesucker Oct 2013 #9

I don't have a clue. I'll freely admit that. but I'll be double damned cali Oct 2013 #12

the roll-out is only part one of what could be a HUGE backlash ProdigalJunkMail Oct 2013 #15

Better to go bankrupt for ten grand than a million Fumesucker Oct 2013 #23

"a lot of us"??? ProdigalJunkMail Oct 2013 #29

I'd much prefer to go BK on the larger number- kenny blankenship Oct 2013 #55

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #64

This place seems to be attracting more strident humorless pet rocks. kenny blankenship Oct 2013 #67

I like the pet rock analogy /nt lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #68

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #61

and i agree there are some good things about it... ProdigalJunkMail Oct 2013 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #71

If you don't go for gold or platinum, you will be screwed duffyduff Oct 2013 #70

I agree with the first part of your post Pretzel_Warrior Oct 2013 #107

Aren't you glad... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #53

The trouble with the web site will be JoePhilly Oct 2013 #18

Yep exactly. BenzoDia Oct 2013 #19

that's not the only point- or fact- in the article. cali Oct 2013 #24

Yea, it is pretty much. JoePhilly Oct 2013 #26

Servers overwhelmed, computer glitches . . . brush Oct 2013 #25

didn�t i just recently read that the launch left is right Oct 2013 #27

As a gamer... Veilex Oct 2013 #76

No online game has been launched without some issues.. SomethingFishy Oct 2013 #79

And this isn't a game. B2G Oct 2013 #81

Exactly. SomethingFishy Oct 2013 #83

Where in my post did you see claim it was a game? Veilex Oct 2013 #124

True... Veilex Oct 2013 #123

Paul Krugman doesn't think it's been a disaster. pnwmom Oct 2013 #28

Here's a criticism I haven't seen discussed on DU: narrowing coverage BelgianMadCow Oct 2013 #30

While somewhat true Sgent Oct 2013 #113

Are you aware that the problems seem to be in the states who aren't accepting Medicaid funds? Zen Democrat Oct 2013 #33

Apparently these folks haven't seen very many large tech rollouts. Adrahil Oct 2013 #34

I've been involved with hundreds... trumad Oct 2013 #35

IIRC, the space program had, in its earliest days, some very public disasters... CTyankee Oct 2013 #39

So have I and none have been 'perfect', but B2G Oct 2013 #42

Disasters drummed up by the right wing trumad Oct 2013 #58

Head in sand B2G Oct 2013 #62

better than head in a bubble. trumad Oct 2013 #78

I agree with you... Veilex Oct 2013 #82

... to that point, though ... Myrina Oct 2013 #41

You missed my point.... those things cost money. Adrahil Oct 2013 #50

Haven't they spent like 600 million so far? B2G Oct 2013 #63

Wait wait wait... hold on a sec... Veilex Oct 2013 #84

Message auto-removed Name removed Oct 2013 #45

Does Max Baucus have a new job yet solarhydrocan Oct 2013 #36

Steve Benen mentions Klein's piece, but ProSense Oct 2013 #37

I assume that the shutdown is responsible Waiting For Everyman Oct 2013 #43

A couple decades ago at Digital Equipment, we were forced to convert to MS Outlook, magical thyme Oct 2013 #46

Exactly Puzzledtraveller Oct 2013 #60

Just for the sake of clarity... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #47

K&R Veilex Oct 2013 #85

Medicare Part D is broadly considered a success? progressoid Oct 2013 #48

A sincere question for the IT people who are downplaying the problems. Jim Lane Oct 2013 #49

Most federal IT workers are furloughed... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #51

That is just not true B2G Oct 2013 #66

Been told by whom? (nt) Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #72

By Obama, Sebelius, Carney, to name a few. nt B2G Oct 2013 #75

Health & Human Services has responsibility for www.healthcare.gov Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #89

This was outsourced B2G Oct 2013 #90

Because contractors are FAMOUS for their willingness to work without being paid... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #91

Do you think it possible that some Republicans are using the shut-down hedgehog Oct 2013 #94

I don't think it's intentional... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #96

I was thinking more along the lines of serendipity - hedgehog Oct 2013 #97

Yes. Something like that (nt) Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #99

umm, they've already *been* paid Psephos Oct 2013 #101

Umm, and you know this how? Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #108

Facepalm. Psephos Oct 2013 #109

This is not a copy of their contract... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #115

yet you *didn't* post the contract, the source of your expertise? Psephos Oct 2013 #117

Yeah... Jeff In Milwaukee Oct 2013 #118

I accept your concession. n/t Psephos Oct 2013 #125

"they would just pull the plug until they were back" Veilex Oct 2013 #86

Point was the IT folks trying to fix this aren't furloughed. B2G Oct 2013 #88

It's already an indication of failure B2G Oct 2013 #65

Judging by Social Security, I would say the problems won't be going away anytime soon. ieoeja Oct 2013 #114

I have yet to receive any official government notification of compulsory enrollment. L0oniX Oct 2013 #54

TOTALLY CONFUSED humbled_opinion Oct 2013 #56

Fuck the washington post. This is just repuke regurgitation. lostincalifornia Oct 2013 #57

I really don't heaven05 Oct 2013 #59

It's not about "hating Obama". Obama was against Obamacare when he was running solarhydrocan Oct 2013 #120

yeah, yeah on mind change, everyone does it. heaven05 Oct 2013 #121

Have you ever played a massively multi-player Online game (MMO)? Veilex Oct 2013 #73

This is no longer "the first day". bvar22 Oct 2013 #100

deep doo doo spanone Oct 2013 #80

Carrying water IS honest labor... MineralMan Oct 2013 #87

odd the bugs. before opening day the site was very searchable. what are the bugs does anyone know? Sunlei Oct 2013 #93

We rightly criticize Bush for his terrible handling of Katrina... Demo_Chris Oct 2013 #95

Yes because web site issues and people fucking drowning for days is exactly the same thing. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #98

So you think there's no harm when people who could be covered aren't? Psephos Oct 2013 #102

I think there was MORE HARM before ACA so ACA is REDUCING HARM EVEN IF NOT PERFECT. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #105

Not perfect? Psephos Oct 2013 #110

That's what I call tens of thousands of people getting subsidized access to healthcare. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #111

you are contributing to its failure by providing cover Psephos Oct 2013 #116

Caught about five minutes of Rush this morning on the car radio Cleita Oct 2013 #104

And "democrats" are lining up, mindlessly or not, to join in the Greek Chorus. Warren Stupidity Oct 2013 #106

I don't see a need for concern over a slow start up Lifelong Dem Oct 2013 #119

The only failure is it wasn't Medicare for ALL. mstinamotorcity2 Oct 2013 #122