Date:         Mon, 27 Sep 2004 15:15:41 -0600
Reply-To:     Jack Hamilton <JackHamilton@FIRSTHEALTH.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         Jack Hamilton <JackHamilton@FIRSTHEALTH.COM>
Subject:      Re: How mean should your IT department be?
Comments: To: RHODESD1@WESTAT.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Never meanings 7-10?  Lucky you!



--
JackHamilton@FirstHealth.com
Manager, Technical Development
Metrics Department, First Health
West Sacramento, California USA

>>> "Dianne Rhodes" <RHODESD1@WESTAT.COM> 09/27/2004 2:01 PM >>>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: SAS(r) Discussion [mailto:SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf Of
Mike
Rhoads asked:
> Subject: How mean should your IT department be?
>  "SAS IT Management
> Solutions operating on the SAS(r)9 Intelligence Platform give
> businesses the power to know how to make their IT departments
> lean and mean ..."
>
> (full press release available at
> http://www.sas.com/news/preleases/092204/news1.html)
>
> Well, I guess I can understand the "lean" (wonder if we also
> need to be Atkins-friendly these days), but I'm not as sure
> about the "mean".  Do you suppose there will be a separate
> product for those who prefer "kinder and gentler" IT departments?
;-)
>

Mike, maybe it depends on what you "mean" by "mean" ;-)

I've taken to looking up words on dictionary dot com because so much
English
usage has just gotten sloppy.  See the definitions copied below.  So I
can
easily say that I have worked with IT depts that were mean by
definitions  1
through 6 below.  But perhaps SAS means it in the sense of number 11,
slang,
As Excellent or skillful.  That would be great, don't you think?

Dianne Louise Rhodes
Sr. Systems Analyst
Westat


mean2    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (mn)
adj. mean*er, mean*est
1
  a  Selfish in a petty way; unkind.
  B  Cruel, spiteful, or malicious.
2  Ignoble; base: a mean motive.
3  Miserly; stingy.

4
   a  Low in quality or grade; inferior.
   B  Low in value or amount; paltry: paid no mean amount for the new
shoes.

5  Common or poor in appearance; shabby: "The rowhouses had been
darkened by
the rain and   looked meaner and grimmer than ever" (Anne Tyler).
6  Low in social status; of humble origins.
7  Humiliated or ashamed.
8  In poor physical condition; sick or debilitated.
9  Extremely unpleasant or disagreeable: The meanest storm in years.
10 Informal. Ill-tempered.
11 Slang.
   a  Hard to cope with; difficult or troublesome: He throws a mean
fast
ball.
   B  Excellent; skillful: She plays a mean game of bridge.

> Mike "Lean and Mean" Rhoads
> Westat
> RhoadsM1@Westat.com
>