Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[Suicane75]

In just my 2nd season of fantasy football I won the regular season in one of my two leagues. I'm probably a little too proud of that fact.

I love cutting off a piece of pumpkin or cherry pie, putting some whipped cream on top of it and then putting it in the freezer for about an hour.

Will And Grace, just over a decade old, is so badly outdated.

[Izulde]

Anyone else planning on catching the VS Fashion Show tonight/tomorrow?

[Autumn]

*crickets*

[JediKooter]

I keep getting these stupid emails at work for 'Message Therapy'. These are from our company gym. They are so frequent, that I now consider them spam, besides the fact that I don't want some stranger touching me.

[Passacaglia]

My aunt's boyfriend got a massage from my mom's boyfriend on the weekend of Thanksgiving. All kinds of awkward there.

[JediKooter]

Yes, that would definitely qualify as 'awkward' in my book.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

I keep getting these stupid emails at work for 'Message Therapy'. These are from our company gym. They are so frequent, that I now consider them spam, besides the fact that I don't want some stranger touching me.

We get those all the time where I work, too. I do enjoy getting massages, but I have a preferred spa I go to.

/tk

[cuervo72]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

I keep getting these stupid emails at work for 'Message Therapy'.

ePsychiatry.com apparently isn't catching on.

[NorvTurnerOverdrive]

Don't push me cause I'm close to the edge
I'm trying not to lose my head
ah huh-huh-huh


feel better?

:messagetherapy:

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

We get those all the time where I work, too. I do enjoy getting massages, but I have a preferred spa I go to.

/tk

I do not like massages at all, especially from someone I don't know. Something about a person I don't know...touching me. A hand shake I'm fine with though.

Originally Posted by cuervo72

ePsychiatry.com apparently isn't catching on.

Had they linked to it in their emails...

[Matthean]

Some days I really need to be reminded why I'm taking 7 math classes by the time I take 2 computer science ones and my major being computer science. Seven classes in something I'm not even looking to minor in and it takes up essentially one whole academic year.

[terpkristin]

I set a goal of reading 52 books this year. So far, I've read 49. Some of the books this year were pretty beefy, including The Stand and Way of Kings, as well as all 4 books in the Hyperion Cantos. I won't lie, I chose the next book I'd read by going to my "to read" queue and seeing which was the shortest that I'd have some interest in.

/tk

[Radii]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Some days I really need to be reminded why I'm taking 7 math classes by the time I take 2 computer science ones and my major being computer science. Seven classes in something I'm not even looking to minor in and it takes up essentially one whole academic year.

Always seemed completely pointless to me while I was in school, and now that I've been in the workforce for 15 years, seems even more pointless. Taking some basic calculus and physics, sure, but being on the same track as a mechanical engineer... why?!

[cuervo72]

I think it speaks to what computer programming used to entail. We have a couple of old programs that have calculations for distances (based on lat/long) and azimuths, and these involve a good deal of math. The other 99% of what we work on, not so much. At one time though, I'd imagine most programs actually involved calculating things. Of course that time may well have been 35 years ago...

[Matthean]

It really depends on what kind of company you end up working for. Coding for NASA versus an insurance company will require a vastly different skill set. I get it, but it is frustrating. I have to fight tooth and nail for my math classes while I could sleepwalk my comp sci classes.

[gstelmack]

I took lots of math because we were in the engineering school, but all that math held me in good stead when I entered game programming. It just depends what type of programming you end up doing.

[mckerney]

Originally Posted by Izulde

Anyone else planning on catching the VS Fashion Show tonight/tomorrow?

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show A Hit Among People Who Don't Know That Pornography Exists | The Onion - America's Finest News Source | Onion News Network

[sabotai]

It's been nearly a year since I updated my movie dynasty. Other hobbies sorta pushed it to the side but I always wanted to get back to it. This week, i canceled my DVD plan with Netflix. A quick search on their Instant Watching and a few other sites confirm that the vast majority of the movies on my "to see" list for that dynasty are not available for streaming. So I guess that now officially ends my journey.

[DougW]

From "A Football Life : Barry Sanders"

Barrys' Heisman Trophy still sits in William and Shirleys' house, BEHIND his fathers souvenir Oklahoma helmet.

[QuikSand]

Originally Posted by QuikSand

So, my kids dig Curious George, no shock. I fully understand the notion of taking a popular work by deceased creators and spinning it into more modern and ongoing material -- I'm okay with that. I am oddly put off, though, by the weird convention used in the more modern CG books where the books are given an illustration attribution (something like "illustrated in the style of Margret and H.A. Rey") but as nearly as the books can tell me, nobody actually wrote the words. I suspect that's possibly part of a deal with the Rey estate or somesuch, but it strikes me as odd that *nobody* gets credit for writing these books, no matter how trivial and derivative the content actually is.

This still irks me.

[Autumn]

To my mind it may be better than someone getting credit of being an "author" for writing 16 poorly worded sentences. Some of the stuff people get paid to write in children's literature drives me insane.

[Matthean]

Michigan becomes a right-to-work state. Regardless of my opinion of unions, r-t-f states earn a little over 9% less income, which really isn't what this state needs right now.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Michigan becomes a right-to-work state. Regardless of my opinion of unions, r-t-f states earn a little over 9% less income, which really isn't what this state needs right now.

Michigan Republicans obviously know that the way to bring jobs back to Michigan is to work towards being able to compete with countries where workers make less than $2 a day and have absolutely no rights other than taking the money or leaving it.

[MrBug708]

Wherever I have worked, those who tended to be more liberal complained the most about taxes taken out. I've never know specifically why though

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by Matthean

Michigan becomes a right-to-work state. Regardless of my opinion of unions, r-t-f states earn a little over 9% less income, which really isn't what this state needs right now.

Well that 9% difference should not in any way imply a cause and effect relationship. It just happens that higher wage states (NY, NJ, CA) are not RTW states. Also, states that are in particularly poor economies (eg MI) are more likely to pass RTW legislation to spur growth.

I can't believe that RTW isn't a national law - it just seems wrong to force employees to join a union as a condition of employment.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Well that 9% difference should not in any way imply a cause and effect relationship.

Pretty convenient way to dismiss facts.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by MJ4H

Mantracker is an awesome show.

Cosplay is a word I don't know the meaning of.

I love blackbox for windows more than almost anything.

Seeing fat people helps me stay motivated to work-out regularly.

I once cried at the beauty of a full moon rising while driving to work.

I fully expect great success from this thread.

Moonshiners > Mantracker

Still don't know what Cosplay means, although sure, I have a general idea.

Seeing fat people is great motivation to stay slim.

This thread has delivered.

[MacroGuru]

I just got bit in the ass by the union and a PLA agreement.

I am working on a bid for a local state owned college. They have put up a new building and we are bidding on the AV installation for the building. We are a smaller company and are unable to Bond to the $ they want without a massive amount of output $ on our end to go through the certifications on our end, so we tend to partner up with a non union electrical contractor.

Well, they have a big bullseye on their back when they go onto a PLA site. AV does not fall under the PLA and we are exempt from that, but the language of the PLA was scary enough to force our partner out on the 11th hour due to their exposure.

It sucks...we are talking like this would be a big chunk of my commission for next year and I just watched a PLA destroy it.

[Lathum]

Strep throat sucks

[DougW]

I'd have no problem with it, if joining a union was just "an option". Where you choose to be full part, or not at all. But from what I understand it isn't like that.

Could someone tell me if this is correct ? :

• From what I understand, 2 workers could work side by side in a Union shop. Worker A could be a union supporter, and Worker B could choose to not pay dues.
• Worker B would enjoy ALL of the same benefits as Worker A.
• The union would still be obligated to represent him.
• The union would still negotiate his income & benefits.
• The union would still be obligated to go to bat for him if he gets in trouble.
• Worker B would still enjoy other union negotiated conditions. (For example, at my shop - we get a "clothing allowance". Where the company picks up the tab for $200 for clothes (in house store), and a pair a work boots each year. Now, granted the company may or may not have chosen to do this on their own, but it was part of our negotiated contract.)

I guess basically, my understanding is that under the same roof, people who choose to be union and people who choose not to be are offered the same wages, benefits, and representation. And the only difference is that one financially supports the union, and one doesn't.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by lighthousekeeper

Well that 9% difference should not in any way imply a cause and effect relationship. It just happens that higher wage states (NY, NJ, CA) are not RTW states.

Notice the higher cost-of-living / higher wage correlation there.

[Sun Tzu]

Pffffffffffff.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

Notice the higher cost-of-living / higher wage correlation there.

I'm with you on this one. I'd totally leave California if I could make the same amount of money in a state that doesn't have as high of a cost of living, but, that's really not likely to happen, so you never really 'get ahead'. I'd rather stay here in California and enjoy the 99% of the time nice weather.

[DaddyTorgo]

Originally Posted by DougW

I'd have no problem with it, if joining a union was just "an option". Where you choose to be full part, or not at all. But from what I understand it isn't like that.

Could someone tell me if this is correct ? :

• From what I understand, 2 workers could work side by side in a Union shop. Worker A could be a union supporter, and Worker B could choose to not pay dues.
• Worker B would enjoy ALL of the same benefits as Worker A.
• The union would still be obligated to represent him.
• The union would still negotiate his income & benefits.
• The union would still be obligated to go to bat for him if he gets in trouble.
• Worker B would still enjoy other union negotiated conditions. (For example, at my shop - we get a "clothing allowance". Where the company picks up the tab for $200 for clothes (in house store), and a pair a work boots each year. Now, granted the company may or may not have chosen to do this on their own, but it was part of our negotiated contract.)

I guess basically, my understanding is that under the same roof, people who choose to be union and people who choose not to be are offered the same wages, benefits, and representation. And the only difference is that one financially supports the union, and one doesn't.

As I understand it, that's correct.

What "right to work" does then is basically enable free-riding.

Oh but wait you say - Republicans hate free-riders? Apparently not in this case.

[lighthousekeeper]

Originally Posted by DaddyTorgo

As I understand it, that's correct.

Where are you getting that info from?

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by DougW

I'd have no problem with it, if joining a union was just "an option". Where you choose to be full part, or not at all. But from what I understand it isn't like that.

Could someone tell me if this is correct ? :

• From what I understand, 2 workers could work side by side in a Union shop. Worker A could be a union supporter, and Worker B could choose to not pay dues.
• Worker B would enjoy ALL of the same benefits as Worker A.
• The union would still be obligated to represent him.
• The union would still negotiate his income & benefits.
• The union would still be obligated to go to bat for him if he gets in trouble.
• Worker B would still enjoy other union negotiated conditions. (For example, at my shop - we get a "clothing allowance". Where the company picks up the tab for $200 for clothes (in house store), and a pair a work boots each year. Now, granted the company may or may not have chosen to do this on their own, but it was part of our negotiated contract.)

I guess basically, my understanding is that under the same roof, people who choose to be union and people who choose not to be are offered the same wages, benefits, and representation. And the only difference is that one financially supports the union, and one doesn't.

Disclaimer: What I am about to say was true back in the late 90s when I was in college and took a few business classes ("at distance" crap). May not be true now or may be different state to state

At my college, the teachers were a part of a union. Because the non-union members got the same benefits as those in the union, they still had to kick in 90% of the dues that union members paid. So you could be in the union or not, but you were either paying 100% of the dues or 90% of them.

And AFAIK, a "union shop" means you have to join the union in order to work there. (EDIT: After googling a bit, I may be confusing "union shop" with "closed shop")

[JediKooter]

It's been a while, but, when I worked for PacBell/SBC/at&t, non management was union. You didn't have to be a union member, but, dues were still taken out of your pay. At least that's how I"m remembering it.

[terpkristin]

So my darn cat decided to go crazy today when we tried to take him to the vet. Honestly, I'm not surprised by it. He ended up scratching my dad and I pretty good. I've got one puncture at my thumb, in between my index finger and my thumb and now my thumb's all swollen and painful to use/move. I'm doing my best not to start thinking about it too hard, but somehow all I can think of is the various bacteria types on cat's paws and stuff. My brain is getting the best of me. Truly, it's more likely I hyperextended my thumb while trying to wrestle with him, but why doesn't my brain want to believe that?

/tk

[Honolulu_Blue]

To compare this year to last year...

Our billing calendar runs from October - September.

If I stopped working tonight and didn't come back to the office or bill another minute until mid-March, I still will have billed more hours this year than last year.

Not good times.

[JediKooter]

Originally Posted by terpkristin

So my darn cat decided to go crazy today when we tried to take him to the vet. Honestly, I'm not surprised by it. He ended up scratching my dad and I pretty good. I've got one puncture at my thumb, in between my index finger and my thumb and now my thumb's all swollen and painful to use/move. I'm doing my best not to start thinking about it too hard, but somehow all I can think of is the various bacteria types on cat's paws and stuff. My brain is getting the best of me. Truly, it's more likely I hyperextended my thumb while trying to wrestle with him, but why doesn't my brain want to believe that?

/tk

How did your cat know you were taking him to the vet?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

How did your cat know you were taking him to the vet?

Animals are pretty good at picking up on that kind of thing. My dog, for example, always knows when it's time for a bath. He always starts to act the fool in such a way that he only ever acts when its bath time.

[terpkristin]

Originally Posted by JediKooter

How did your cat know you were taking him to the vet?

Well he may not have known "vet" but he saw the cat carrier thingie. And he has no patience for that. He knows it brings bad news.

/tk

[molson]

I'm not overweight (anymore), but I'm pretty sure I could eat 3 large pizzas with no problem. Maybe 4. Is competitive eating lucrative? I feel like I have talent in this field.

[Sun Tzu]

My wife makes a lot of noise when she sleeps. Bitch needs to quiet down.

[Suicane75]

I wonder if Mike Hart was never considered good enough to be an NFL back or if he just took so much wear and tear in college that nobody thought his body would hold up. His career path has always intrigued the hell out of me.

[M GO BLUE!!!]

When with my last girlfriend I woke up one night and had to fart really bad. Problem was that she was holding me. From behind. Rather than make a big deal I let it go. She was awake. That went really badly. "Did you just fart on me?" I pretended to be awakened by her rant & surprised by her accusation.

[britrock88]

Originally Posted by Suicane75

I wonder if Mike Hart was never considered good enough to be an NFL back or if he just took so much wear and tear in college that nobody thought his body would hold up. His career path has always intrigued the hell out of me.

Small and banged-up, I would guess. Even in his senior year of college, he was wearing down.

[Lathum]

We just got a quote for almost 8k to put new blinds in the house. Does that seem normal to anyone?

[cuervo72]

If they're electronically controlled and bulletproof, maybe.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by Lathum

We just got a quote for almost 8k to put new blinds in the house. Does that seem normal to anyone?

Probably depending on the amount of windows/size of the blinds. I mean, yeah, you obviously laughed at the guy though.