Useless Conversation

[Ironwood]

Boss at 10am: I need something written.
Me: Okay (finishing priority work).
Boss: I need it by 12.
Me: Okay (start 11:15am for 11:45am deadline).
Boss: I need it by 11:30am.
Me: Okay!
Boss at 11:23am: I need it at 11:23am.
Me: It's not finished.
Boss: SEND IT NOW!
Me: (send one sentence of fail, look around for sympathy, discover everyone else did it at 11am, curl up and die)
Me: (send complete and polished version 11:40am)
Boss: (silence)
Me: (vent)

Well, sure, but are you going to learn from this or do we have to hear the same thing again later ?

[Ingmar]

So, one of my co-workers left, and I've inherited the role of VMWare guy now. This wouldn't be a problem, except now this one smelly engineer who used to go to him for help comes to me. She was in my office for literally less than 3 minutes and the room has smelled like Play-Doh for at least 15 minutes since she left. What even causes that!

[Yegolev]

Play-Doh is edible.

[WayAbvPar]

The bits that cause the smell probably aren't though. At least in their present condition 

[Nebu]

What even causes that!

The volatile part of Play-doh is a petroleum product that keeps the flour/water doh maleable.  The smell is the combination of the volatile distillates with the fragrance that they add. 

Hope that helps.

[Signe]

Or this:

[Trippy]

So, one of my co-workers left, and I've inherited the role of VMWare guy now. This wouldn't be a problem, except now this one smelly engineer who used to go to him for help comes to me. She was in my office for literally less than 3 minutes and the room has smelled like Play-Doh for at least 15 minutes since she left. What even causes that!

There are few things worse in life than sharing an office with a chain smoking Indian curry eater.

[MisterNoisy]

Didn't wanna start a new thread for this, and it's pretty random, so here goes:

Looking to get into recreational cycling for short errands, mild exercise and the like.  I know that typically people say 'go to a cycle shop', but I kinda want to learn setup and maintenance along with this, since I hate paying people to do stuff I can learn to do myself, and am pretty good at that kinda thing.

Anyway, I'm looking for a 'comfort/city/hybrid' cycle, ideally under $400 if possible, and would appreciate any recommendations.  Sadly, the local Craigslist ads are all for Wal-Mart type cheap bikes and I want something a little nicer than that while not breaking the bank - mostly looking for something durable/low maintenance (internal gears look like just the ticket for that) that i can bolt a rack and/or basket onto for light shopping runs and that won't beat me up like a 'serious' road bike.  Does anyone here have any experience dealing with BikesDirect and/or BikeIsland?  They've got a couple of models I'm looking at and was just curious as to what to expect when dealing with them.  

[Rasix]

So, one of my co-workers left, and I've inherited the role of VMWare guy now. This wouldn't be a problem, except now this one smelly engineer who used to go to him for help comes to me. She was in my office for literally less than 3 minutes and the room has smelled like Play-Doh for at least 15 minutes since she left. What even causes that!

There are few things worse in life than sharing an office with a chain smoking Indian curry eater.

One of the only benefits of our resource action is they fired the chain smoking guy.   It wouldn't have been so bad if he was just that, but he was somewhat repugnant and had pretty awful hygiene in general.  During one brown bag lunch, he took out a package of bologna and ate the entire thing slice by slice.  Plus, it was difficult to verify that he did any actual work.  I'm not sure how he had people fooled for so long.

Nice enough guy though. 

[Sky]

Nice enough guy though. 

[Furiously]

Mock my alcoholic choices. Strongbow has decided to discontinue their traditional dry flavor. I'm quite devastated.

[Yegolev]

Also from the Random Disasters department: I've given up looking for my keyfob and have resigned myself to getting a new one.  Of course I only have one, and my car is in the garage instead of at the dealership, so this should be loads of fun and expense.

The worst part, however, is how I managed to lose my keys in my own house.  At least, I believe that's what happened.  I last drove my car home on the morning of March 28 and as far as I can remember I stayed home all day.  I have a hazy memory of not knowing where my keys are that evening and the next morning, but since I was flying to California I just decided to ignore it until I got back.  I still haven't found them.  It's depressing and infuriating.  I've been driving cars for 25 years and this is the first time I have lost my keys.

[Sky]

Sorry Furi, I think we should mock Yeg's alcoholic choices it seems.

[Signe]

Look in the corner in the bottom of the closet.  The last time I lost keys, that's where my cat found them.

[Paelos]

I found mine in the back corner of my couch, in the slot between the arm and the back.

[Signe]

My sister lost her wedding ring inside the Thanksgiving turkey one year.  Have you checked left overs?

[Bunk]

I'd been missing a bluetooth headset thing for some time - I found it yesterday. Under my spare tire.

I've known there was a nail in my left rear tire for a while, I've avoiding fixing it because it was a really slow leak. Yesterday I came out of work, checked that the tire had enough air to drive on, and started pulling my car out. Thump thump thump. My front left tire was flat. Also had a nail in it. So yay! two flat repairs in one trip to the garage. They didn't even give me a discount.

I will say that I was proud that I was able to change the tire, using one of those horrid little wind up jacks, in under 15 minutes. I can remember watching three sales guys last year in the rain standing around for half an hour more or less just staring at a flat, hoping they would learn how to change a tire through osmosis perhaps. No, I didn't help them, Sales is the enemy.

[Yegolev]

Believe me when I say I've looked in all the obvious places, as well as quite a number of non-obvious places.  It's maddening.

Somewhat related, I'm going to buy some golf clubs and start playing that fucking sport.  I have no idea what to look for.  I thought there was a thread on Golf already, but I'm just a bit too depressed and busy to look for it.

[IainC]

Rage-playing golf is the only way to play.

[Yegolev]

I'm 1/3 of the way to The Masters, then.

[Rasix]

Golf is an awesome way to explore the depths of your self loathing.  Also an effective gauge of how good your temper is.

I'd love to start playing again.  It's really cheap here in the Summer if you're willing to deal with the heatstroke and rattlesnakes.  The problem is, golfing just takes so much fucking time.  18 holes and you're out for half the day; even 9 can take 2-3 hours just for the playing.  Then if you're playing as a single, you have to deal with the dickholes you get paired with.  "Yes, I know my swing sucks.  Shut up."

[Yegolev]

I see the all-day commitment as a benefit.

[Rasix]

It has its appeal.  It can be very quiet (until you start swearing).

[Paelos]

I've played for years, and caddied for years. People that suck and take it way too seriously are the ones I'm wondering about. Like, what's so wrong in your life that you're out on a Tuesday, away from the office, and you're miserable shooting 96 as an 18 handicap?

Expectations gap is huge in golf.

[Yegolev]

Like, what's so wrong in your life that you're out on a Tuesday, away from the office, and you're miserable shooting 96 as an 18 handicap?

Alcohol allergy, I guess.  I'm not planning on taking failure seriously on the golf course.  I do want to get out there, though.  Step one, walk into the nearest golf shop and shout "HERP A DERP".  Step two, play some fucking golf.

[Salamok]

Like, what's so wrong in your life that you're out on a Tuesday, away from the office, and you're miserable shooting 96 as an 18 handicap?

Alcohol allergy, I guess.  I'm not planning on taking failure seriously on the golf course.  I do want to get out there, though.  Step one, walk into the nearest golf shop and shout "HERP A DERP".  Step two, play some fucking golf.

You can rent clubs you know.  Unless you are in a situation where lighting a fistful of hundred dollar bills on fire is not an uncomfortable experience I would suggest trying that first, my next suggestion is to buy used, you are most likely going to scratch the crap out of your first set of clubs anyhow.

[Merusk]

Believe me when I say I've looked in all the obvious places, as well as quite a number of non-obvious places.  It's maddening.

Every time this has happened to me it was because one of the kids up and walked off with them.  The little bastards.

Well, until yesterday when I found I'd put them on the fireplace mantle and was simply having a moment of senior blindness. 

[Paelos]

Just get a set of $300 irons as a starter set, get a decent putter that's not a blade, and get a Driver that costs like $70.

Don't get a driver that's lower than a 10 degree loft since you're starting out. Don't get a putter that looks like a spaceship.

https://www.pgatoursuperstore.com/backdraft-gt-1-putte/100303000606.jsp

That's a perfectly fine putter and it's like $30. It's also the most important club you'll have.

When I'm teaching people, I start with putting and move to chipping, then to half wedges, then up to short irons, long irons, and finally the driver.

[Sky]

I love golfing but nobody will golf with me because I pretty much see the rules as optional and secondary to having fun. I've made people lose their minds a couple times. I don't even bother keeping score unless someone else thinks it's important.

But I grew up playing on a course my grandfather and his buddies built on the weekends with their construction equipment, so for me it's like hiking with a minigame. I think I've got three sets of mismatched used clubs. When I hear people talking about club technology I get a laugh. I think it's more fun the more primitive the club (within reason you jackasses).

[Sky]

When I'm teaching people, I start with putting and move to chipping, then to half wedges, then up to short irons, long irons, and finally the driver.

I favor playing putt-putt and then hitting the driving range if I have a non-golfing friend. Putt-putt is actually pretty good practice if you pay attention and of course a driving range is just fun.

[Rasix]

Just get a set of $300 irons as a starter set, get a decent putter that's not a blade, and get a Driver that costs like $70.

My path to getting new clubs: dad gets a new set.  He recently got a new set of irons from a client when he retired, but I already had a nice set of Ping Zing 2s gathering cobwebs.  I really wish he'd upgrade his damn driver. I still have the ping blade putter from when I played in junior high.  Great putter.

My aunt is an ex-teaching pro and golf course supervisor in Phoenix.  She could not make a serviceable golfer out of me.

[Paelos]

Yeah you can't teach some people hand-eye coordination. There's a basic element of golf that can't be taught, and that's making contact. If you can't make contact with the ball after months of practice (meaning you still are constantly whiffing or topping the shit out of it) you should probably find another sport. This is similar to people that can't hit a baseball or a tennis ball.

[Yegolev]

I met someone who golfs on the local course.  He said he brings a baseball bat for when he gets bored and will start whacking golf balls with it.  That's where I'm going to be playing.

Anyway, fine advice on what to buy.  They will definitely get scratched up from riding around in my pickup bed.  Now that I can't drive the G37.  Also redneck golf course.

As for not hitting the ball after months of practice, I'm also going to play baseball this summer.  Fun hobby or horrible mistake?  At least I can walk to the baseball field.  Since I can't drive my car.

[CaptainNapkin]

Didn't wanna start a new thread for this, and it's pretty random, so here goes:

Looking to get into recreational cycling for short errands, mild exercise and the like.  I know that typically people say 'go to a cycle shop', but I kinda want to learn setup and maintenance along with this, since I hate paying people to do stuff I can learn to do myself, and am pretty good at that kinda thing.

Anyway, I'm looking for a 'comfort/city/hybrid' cycle, ideally under $400 if possible, and would appreciate any recommendations.  Sadly, the local Craigslist ads are all for Wal-Mart type cheap bikes and I want something a little nicer than that while not breaking the bank - mostly looking for something durable/low maintenance (internal gears look like just the ticket for that) that i can bolt a rack and/or basket onto for light shopping runs and that won't beat me up like a 'serious' road bike.  Does anyone here have any experience dealing with BikesDirect and/or BikeIsland?  They've got a couple of models I'm looking at and was just curious as to what to expect when dealing with them.  

I recommend bikesdirect.com. I bought a MTB from them years ago when I was just getting into it and wasn't sure id stick with it, so didn't want to spend a lot. Basically you sacrifice brand name frame for overseas versions ( still good quality ), but get the advantage of better components than you would get on bike store brands at similar price. As testament I now own a high end Santa Cruz but still will take out the Windsor from bikesdirect when I'm in the mood for a hard tail ride.

Minor assembly required as they show up Ina box. The other down side is not being able to ride it and test the fit. But $400 got me a decent bike that has held up well.

[Yegolev]

You can rent clubs you know.

Shit on that shit.  I don't live near a golf store, so I'll pay money to only go to there once.

Now, if I can find out where the voiceover agents play golf, I'll be set.