Random thoughts...

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:07 pm

I've got a job interview next week! It is with the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development-- in other words with unemployment. Apparently it is full time most of the year, part time during the summer, which would mean it would probably be easy to get time off for Burning Man.

I hope that the interview goes well and I get offered the job!!!

While mowing the lawn (and finding out that whatever it is I am allergic to is in full bloom and doesn't care if I have taken Claritin or not), it occurred to me that the Harry Potter series and a series of books I have been reading by S.M. Stirling (the Ember series) both feature a villain who rules by fear. In the case of Harry Potter, the argument is that love is a stronger fuel than fear, and in the Ember series it seems to be that respect is a better management method (possibly love and respect). I wonder if it would be possible to switch the economy of the United States from being fueled by fear to one fueled, and governed, by love and respect? I think that a lot more people would be a lot happier.... Of course, anyone who tried to seriously promote the idea would be ridiculed to death by the establishment (and anyone who doesn't understand the concept of "tough love", for that matter).

I'm getting tired of all of the laser hair removal places ads on the local radio stations. I wonder if they would be willing to do my feet? (esp if I don't wash them first....)

Payday loan outfits are a sign that the neighborhood is going to Hell... and there are very few neighborhoods they are not in.

Nap time!

B.

Post by **AntiM** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 10:05 am

So, how was the nap?

Huh, everyone who has lived in my basement guest room for longer than three days has become a Black Rock Ranger.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:01 pm

The nap was o.k., IIRC. (That was a whole three days ago!:shock: )

Hmm, not certain I would like being a Ranger, so I guess I will stay away from your basement!

(Nothing against the Rangers, I just don't know as I would want to do conflict resolution-type stuff on what is supposed to be a vacation.)

I just got a letter for another job interview. This one would be doing custodian work at night at the University of Wisconsin-- Madison. It isn't as appealing as the Dept. of Workforce Development, but the time between interview and hiring is likely to be shorter. I think I will take the interview and then take it from there.

I dropped off an application form at the reconstruction place I have been temping at. The temp agency sent me to work there again today, and I found out that, someone, the last time I had worked in the warehouse I had said something which apparently really offended the woman who is the supervisor there.... She gave me a warning that she would have me fired if I said anything like that to her ever again. I apologized and asked her what I had said, but she refused to tell me..., and I am still wondering what it was!

(I think I would actually have preferred it if she had slapped me when I said whatever it was, because then I might have some idea... as it is, all I know was that it was when I had been working on the dehumidifiers and I was apparently mad at her [which I don't recall, either].) Fortunately, she seemed friendlier by the time I left today, so, hopefully, things will be okay....

I toyed with the idea of just heading off to Blackrock today, instead of going in to work. The big drawbacks were that I would have had to empty my savings account, which is supposed to be for emergencies (such as the surprise bill a former landlord just sent me), and that I would have had to turn around and get all of my stuff together, and I am not entirely certain where it all is stored. Plus, some of it still needs to be cleaned....

Oh, and I need to get some work done on my car before trying to drive it that far.

Aw, drat! I just remembered what I wanted to do while I was down in the basement-- about a half an hour ago! Oh, well, I can put it off for another half an hour or so....

B.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:09 pm

Bar... bar... ouch! Rebar!

B.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:35 pm

Why would anyone complain about something and refuse to be specific?
Because they know they were mistaken?
Weasels?

I've run into this more than once.
People on the playa that want you to take their side but won't say about what.
Are they serious?

Someone did an intervention for a friend and me but wouldn't tell either of us what was supposed to be the problem!!!!
I was supposed to be mad at her.
So the conversation went-
Are you mad at me? No
What the hell do you think this is about? Maybe I said you were crazy or something. No clue.
Well, I am a little crazy.
So, how's it been going?

Still not a clue what that was about.

I've seen people bring up mysterious stuff on eplaya, they then won't talk about.

I suspect your supervisor knows she is full of shit.
It's a gutless way for her to behave.
I would insist on an explanation.
No one has a right to complain about something mysterious.
It's weasely and deceptive and the worst kind of manipulative game playing.

But you have to do what you think best.

Most big drama turns out to be the silliest kind of miscommunication,
especially with people that are vague.
People that don't ask, always get it wrong.

I have had people assume I was mad, jealous, depressed etc. about things I was personally indifferent to.
It's not that hard to ask.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:42 pm

I suspect your supervisor knows she is full of shit.
It's a gutless way for her to behave.
I would insist on an explanation.
No one has a right to complain about something mysterious.
It's weasely and deceptive and the worst kind of manipulative game playing.

Well, I did try to insist as much as I dared, but since it was a temp assignment, I didn't dare insist too much. She isn't the supervisor I normally get while working there, and one of the co-owners of the company seems to like me, so hopefully things will work out in the long run.

I really don't understand how I am supposed to avoid doing something if I don't know what that something is!

At this point, I probably shouldn't bring it up to her again, since she seems to be over whatever it was....

B.

Bin Noddin · Post by **Bin Noddin** » Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:03 pm

BAS wrote: . . . This one would be doing custodian work at night at the University of Wisconsin-- Madison. It isn't as appealing . . .

Good luck with that, BAS - BMH-II ("building maintenance helper - 2") is how I paid my tuition there. So many dirty toilets, overflowing wastebaskets, a crew of broken down boozers tending the machines down in the sub-basement of Lowell Hall. Crew chief bringing his 30/06 to work and caressing it all night long. mmm mmm mmm.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 8:50 pm

Bin Noddin wrote:
BAS wrote: . . . This one would be doing custodian work at night at the University of Wisconsin-- Madison. It isn't as appealing . . .
Good luck with that, BAS - BMH-II ("building maintenance helper - 2") is how I paid my tuition there. So many dirty toilets, overflowing wastebaskets, a crew of broken down boozers tending the machines down in the sub-basement of Lowell Hall. Crew chief bringing his 30/06 to work and caressing it all night long. mmm mmm mmm.

Hm. That actually sounds more interesting than I had thought!

Well, I did give them a call and schedule an appointment for next Wednesday. The interview is in the Veterinary building, don't know if that is where the job will be. (Would I have to clean up after sick animals...? Would that be any worse than dealing with hospital waste, which I have done?) It could lead to something better, and at least would be some kind of start.

Dang. I can't remember if I have ever been in Lowell Hall. I have been in the steam tunnels once, back in the 1980s. Weird place, and more asbestos than I care to risk inhaling (not to mention all sorts of other stuff, from general trash to cockroaches.) Tunnels just suddenly opening up onto the basement of a building with only some fencing separating the two, weird, waist high side tunnels curving in a short loop back onto themselves, and tapering down into nothing. Some sections a strip of concrete, worn down to almost nothing, and brick archways, possibly from the 1800s. Other sections like concrete boxes stretching out of sight, with all kinds of insulated pipes and wiring running along the sides. At least at one point I spied a passageway branching off, nearly blocked off by pipework. I doubted I could squeeze under the pipes into that passage, and I was a lot thinner in those days, and could still easily run a 10k race.

I don't know where any of the other 3 guys I went down into the tunnels are these days. Last I heard one had been arrested a number of times on drug dealing charges. Another had moved down to the southwest in order to survive "the imminent ice age", and then suddenly moved from there to somewhere back east to live with a new girlfriend. The last one might not even be alive any more-- I last saw him at a distance at a gaming convention at some time in the early 1990s. A few years before that I had tried to talk with him briefly, and found he didn't remember me. I think his drug habits had been taking their toll.

Hm. Someone went ahead and invented a combination rowing machine/bicycle, saving me the effort. I toyed with the concept about 10 to 15 years ago, but lacked the resources to actually pursue the idea. The Rowbike is a bit different that how I thought to implement the concept-- it has a giant lever which, when in the wrong position, give the bike a low ground clearance. I had thought about having the rower's arms pull out a cable, which would have given better ground clearance, but would not offer resistance when moving the "oars" forward. Unfortunately, the cheapest Rowbike is nearly $800 new, which means I can't casually purchase one to play around with. Maybe after I am employed I can save up enough.... (Heck, I need to do something to get in better shape!)

Well, phooey! I need to get to bed! I am supposed to watch the canoes/flotation devices for my dad's Hash House Harriers run tomorrow. (It was supposed to be a run and tubing event; unfortunately, the tube rental place was out of tubes, so now it is a run and bring something to float in the river event....) The weather forecast for Saturday is rain/really cool weather/thunderstorms likely, so we will see whether or not anyone shows up, or gets into the water if they do show up!

B.

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Fri Aug 17, 2007 10:36 pm

BAS wrote:The nap was o.k., IIRC. (That was a whole three days ago!:shock: )
I dropped off an application form at the reconstruction place I have been temping at. The temp agency sent me to work there again today, and I found out that, someone, the last time I had worked in the warehouse I had said something which apparently really offended the woman who is the supervisor there.... She gave me a warning that she would have me fired if I said anything like that to her ever again. I apologized and asked her what I had said, but she refused to tell me..., and I am still wondering what it was! (I think I would actually have preferred it if she had slapped me when I said whatever it was, because then I might have some idea... as it is, all I know was that it was when I had been working on the dehumidifiers and I was apparently mad at her [which I don't recall, either].) Fortunately, she seemed friendlier by the time I left today, so, hopefully, things will be okay....
B.

BAS wrote:
I suspect your supervisor knows she is full of shit.
It's a gutless way for her to behave.
I would insist on an explanation.
No one has a right to complain about something mysterious.
It's weasely and deceptive and the worst kind of manipulative game playing.
Well, I did try to insist as much as I dared, but since it was a temp assignment, I didn't dare insist too much. She isn't the supervisor I normally get while working there, and one of the co-owners of the company seems to like me, so hopefully things will work out in the long run.

I really don't understand how I am supposed to avoid doing something if I don't know what that something is! At this point, I probably shouldn't bring it up to her again, since she seems to be over whatever it was....

B.

You may have simply offended her sence of being in charge. Easy to do, sometimes even with a good boss. And it is especially easy to do when you are mad. More so if you brought up a point or fact about the job over which she has no control but still has to enforce to people below her and then report to someone higher for. With a good boss if you simply apologize afterwards they will forget about it and often like you even more.

honeyfire · Post by **honeyfire** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 9:59 am

Am i really that much of a flirt, or is it just that i'm flirting back?
All without realising i'm doing it, mind you...

waywardvirtuoso · Post by **waywardvirtuoso** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 12:14 pm

mmmm. french toast....

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Tue Aug 21, 2007 1:55 pm

WAFFLES!

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 11:31 am

Why does "I am playing with my mom's Furby" sound so wrong?!!

B.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 5:38 pm

BAS, honey, playing with my furby is never wrong.

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:28 pm

[quote="honeyfire"]Am i really that much of a flirt, or is it just that i'm flirting back?
All without realising i'm doing it, mind you...[/quote]

Flirting is just an innocent game in most cases. The problem is that most guys are delusional from testosterone poisioning. They think that you're seriously inviting them to jump your bones. It's sad.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 1:01 am

I, however, am so out of it, I assume Fishy is offering to let me play with a cute, faux fur covered, talking, electronic toy with kind of nifty senors which might not actually work (in my experience)!

B.

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Sep 03, 2007 6:53 pm

I like how the new hot portal thread (soon to be deleted as spam) offers both on line gambling and on line debt relief...

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 3:40 pm

Hooray! I've got a used treadmill motor! Now I can attempt to build the electric wind turbine from vol. 5 of Make magazine! Spec.s on the motor are a little different, but I don't think that will hurt anything.

The motor seems to be the most difficult part to find. If I can get the thing built and working, I might try to take it out to BM with me. (Well, assuming I have anything which needs power, that is.)

B.

Lukky · Post by **Lukky** » Sun Sep 09, 2007 7:59 pm

Moon Hoax PROVEN!

pinemom · Post by **pinemom** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 7:46 am

Ah, Lukky...thats phuckin funny... and I was gonna post about my strange Dream i had last night...

I drempt of the BBar, we were serving the masses, everyone had a drink and it was 2-3 peeps deep, everyone was visiting and I noticed in row 2 of the people was Chris Farley! Drink in hand and doing his normal shtik laffing insanely loud and it all seemed so normal...................

The CO · Post by **The CO** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 9:11 am

I love Make magazine!

Gooloo · Post by **Gooloo** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:07 pm

Testosterone is a very powerful drug. Daily usage can lead one to think flirting from the opposite sex is an invitation to party in the pants. Drug usage can be dangerous. Women don't attempt to try this at home. The effects of Testosterone will drive you to drinkin'.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Mon Sep 10, 2007 2:17 pm

"Take me down to Black Rock City/Where the girls are green and the grass is missing/Please take me there!"

(Eat yer heart out GNR!

)

B.

Lukky · Post by **Lukky** » Thu Sep 13, 2007 12:47 am

Box Burner · Post by **Box Burner** » Fri Sep 14, 2007 12:16 pm

But I never played Pacman. Honest!

Damn it's a good thing those pills glow in the dark.

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:39 am

A.C. on. Kitchen door wide open. Figures.

B.

can't sit still · Post by **can't sit still** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:47 pm

Dating and pollution for Eskimos and Inuit,,, the death of women's lib http://environment.independent.co.uk/li ... 953456.ece

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Sat Sep 22, 2007 9:56 pm

But, I'm a fish! Of course I have a marine diet!

BAS · Post by **BAS** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 7:06 am

Gah! I think my brain has been replaced with stuffing! I feel like taking a nap and have been up for less than an hour.

B.

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:05 am

can't sit still wrote:Dating and pollution for Eskimos and Inuit,,, the death of women's lib http://environment.independent.co.uk/li ... 953456.ece

Can't be all bad:
http://majikimaje.com/KR.jpg

Random thoughts...

Oooh, "500 Miles", i love this song...

Re: Oooh, "500 Miles", i love this song...