Useless Conversation

[Sky]

Those work really well. I had a couple little ones for my shoes and almost burned my feet off.

[Merusk]

Well, today I learned never read the comments thread on a recipe site.   Made some potato soup for dinner and thought the recipie was missing something so I went to see what everyone else said.  While the comments agreed, the 'improvements' ranged from "Add 1/2 a tub of sour cream" to "Add a pound of bacon!" (note: this is a 6 serving recipie)     I was just figuring it needs more onion or some salt..

[ghost]

Well, today I learned never read the comments thread on a recipe site.   Made some potato soup for dinner and thought the recipie was missing something so I went to see what everyone else said.  While the comments agreed, the 'improvements' ranged from "Add 1/2 a tub of sour cream" to "Add a pound of bacon!" (note: this is a 6 serving recipie)     I was just figuring it needs more onion or some salt..

I have found that out as well.  we need to re-up the cooking thread. 

[Ard]

"Add a pound of bacon!" (note: this is a 6 serving recipie)

I don't see any problems with that, other than the fact that it's only a pound of bacon.  Mmmm.... bacon....

Still a bit weird though, most of the comments on those sites tend to at least be of the useful variety.  Might be because I mostly make candies though from them, and there's not really much variation to be had there.

[Oban]

The infamous, five stars awesome recipe comments on allrecipe?  You click the more button on the comment and it starts off by saying that they tried the recipe as is and it turned out awful.  So they added five cups of flour, an extra pound of ground bison meat, three cups of buttermilk, and a frog leg to make it perfect.

[Johny Cee]

That winter weather in Dallas? Thanks, that's coming here. Though we probably won't get it nearly as bad, but the weather man forecast a high of 33 at noon today. It doesn't matter where I go, nobody's heater seems to be able to keep me at a comfortable temp. Taking the dogs out has been a goddamn nightmare for my skinny ass. I'm wrapped up like Nanook of the North and I still can't get warm. The building management at my office won't let us use space heaters, so I'm contemplating lighting my feet on fire to get them warm. And despite all the cold, we probably won't get a goddamn lick of snow but will likely get freezing rain.

If your extremities are cold, put on a hat.  I mean a real wool or fleece winter hat.  The only reason your extremities are cold is because you're bleeding out too much heat from your core and head, so your body restricted the capillaries in your hands and feet.

Your head is full of capillaries and small blood vessels close to the skin which bleed heat like a mother in cold weather.  Also why even minor head wounds bleed like crazy.

[Sky]

When I work outside, I wear wool pants, duck boots, a good pair of gloves and a wool hat (with ear flappies, fleece lined) and fleecy face snuggy thing (don't know what it's called, like a tube top for your mouth/nose that tucks into the collar). Then I wear a t-shirt, tucked, and a flannel shirt, unbuttoned.

The head, hands and feet need to be warm. The rest doesn't matter much, I usually work for a couple hours in weather down to zero in that outfit.

[ghost]

Well, it looks like the boy is going to get to go play in the snow.  We had a healthy 1/4" dusting here overnight that looks like it may stick around til about noon.  He already asked if he could make a snowman, haha. 

[Minvaren]

Oh, the fools on the Houston roadways today...   

Tow truck drivers are going to make a mint today - and it's just the overpasses that are iced.

[RhyssaFireheart]

Accidents were way up for this morning's commute here as well, luckily none near me. 

A friend of mine in Texas was amazed I went to work yesterday; he'd just assumed getting around Chicagoland wouldn't be possible yet.  The worst parts I had to deal with was the snowplow drivers apparently forgetting how many lanes some roads were supposed to have and the right lane of a multi-lane road just randomly disappearing at points.  Made traffic interesting when the lane you're in just suddenly goes away under snow for a few hundred feet, then reappears.  It was much, much better this morning though, which is about what I expected.

[Nebu]

I wish I had taken pictures during some of the blizzards we had while living in the Rockies.  Since they refused to close the university, students would come to school on cross country skis and snow mobiles.  The buildings on campus looked like chalets with all the skis parked outside.  It was wonderful.

[Merusk]

That's pretty awesome, Nebu.  Makes me want to apply for the job in Aspen I saw listed on the AIA.

[Nebu]

Makes me want to apply for the job in Aspen I saw listed on the AIA.

Do it.  One of my biggest regrets in life was leaving the Rockies.  I hope to go back soon.  If you can afford life in Aspen it is an amazing place.  You wake up to incredible views every day of your life.

[Rasix]

All bathrooms on site were shutdown today.  Everyone is highly encouraged to work at home.  Most businesses in the area have no water/heat.   

[Merusk]

Done and applied for.  Who knows, maybe this will be the first one to call me back. 

I was wondering when you were going to speak up, Rasix.  My sister in law has been bitching up a storm on Facebook (She's in Tucson.)   because southwest gas said they were out of Natural Gas for certain areas and there's no heat.

[Yegolev]

Too bad the cold won't kill off the scorpions.

[Chimpy]

So I had my first classroom session for the project management professional development class I am taking at the local community college. Was interesting, looking forward to the whole thing as I will learn a lot.

One interesting tidbit I did learn from my instructor is that if you are buying salad dressing, your best bang for your buck is Kraft. Not because of price, but because their fill-meters are so inaccurate that to ensure they don't underfill their bottles (and get a fine from the government) they are overfilling 16oz bottles to around 17oz. The guy is working on a project to help Kraft cut costs in their plant here and was telling us some very interesting stories about the way they do things.

[Samwise]

If only Kraft salad dressing didn't taste terrible.

[ghost]

If only Kraft salad dressing didn't taste terrible.

It wouldn't be at the top of my list for healthiest, either. 

[Paelos]

I'm going to be "that guy" here, but unless you're talking about the creamy dressings, making your own by investing in some decent olive oil pays dividends for your health and taste buds.

Not to mention it usually takes 30 seconds.

[Ironwood]

Yup.

[Paelos]

Also, I will point out the ease of making your dressing in your actual large salad bowl, putting the greens on it as you cut them, and then waiting until it's time to serve to toss it in the dressing. Great time saver.

[Engels]

Ok, now you're actually that guy. No, not the other one you thought you were. This other guy, who knows too much about salad.

[Paelos]

Ok, now you're actually that guy. No, not the other one you thought you were. This other guy, who knows too much about salad.

I watch a lot of food network in my spare time before dinner.

[Mrbloodworth]

Kidney stones are a bitch. 

[ghost]

Kidney stones are a bitch. 

Um, yeah.  I hope you didn't have one.  My wife had one two years ago and wow, it was rough. 

[Chimpy]

God damnit, I have the hiccups.

[Cyrrex]

God damnit, I have the hiccups.

Well, that's way worse than kidney stones.

[ghost]

I absolutely love the post superbowl whiskey flu.  It's such a strange coincidence that suddenly cars won't start and children get sick on the Monday after the big game.

Anyone in a position of management have strategies to deal with this?

[Merusk]

Accept that some kids are actually sick (my daughter and wife are home today with a 101 fever, vomiting and the rest. The son and I are fine.) while some are merely hungover and accept it.   You gave folks sick-days, quit bitching when they use them.

[ghost]

Accept that some kids are actually sick (my daughter and wife are home today with a 101 fever, vomiting and the rest. The son and I are fine.) while some are merely hungover and accept it.   You gave folks sick-days, quit bitching when they use them.

My problem isn't so much that they use them, it's that they all use them on the same day for non-intended purposes.  It's not a big deal when one of them is "sick".  When three of them are "sick" it becomes much more problematic because it involves patient care and this is over half my staff.  

I guess I'm just going to have to start requiring doctor's notes.  I don't like to go that route, but I guess that is what it will have to be. 

[Merusk]

Then fire the ones you think are lying.

Oh wait, you can't prove it.  So then yell at 'em all, that'll fix it.

There's not much you can do but bend over and take it. Keep track and call out those who make it a habit after a major Sunday night event or prior to a major Friday night/ Saturday event.   If you want to be a real prick about it, start keeping track of who's family members are alive and dead, you'll discover that "uncle bob" has died more than once for an employee in a large enough work force.

Yes, I'm hostile about this.  I've gotten enough shit from bosses because it inconvenienced them that I really don't give a fuck.  You gave 'em the days, you set the policy so you can't bitch when it's used.  All you can do is keep track to see if it's being abused and call them out on it.  If you can't do that, then looks like you'd better keep some numbers for good temp staff around for such emergencies.

[Lantyssa]

Or plan for the day after Superbowl being short-staffed.

[ghost]

Or plan for the day after Superbowl being short-staffed.

I've thought about this.  I'm not sure it is the right thing to do.  People seem to always find a reason to party.  Hell, maybe I should petition the city to make the day after the Superbowl a holiday.  That would clear things up a bit. 

Merusk:  I'm not your typical employer.  I don't scream at my employees and I rarely even give them a hard time about things like this.  I don't fire people for useless shit.  I don't usually pester them for doctor's notes or even usually ask them why they were out.  I have never said no to a time off request.  I expect them to respect the rules, but I'm usually pretty flexible with them because they are people with real lives.

I understand you're bitter about the job market, but getting on my case won't get you a job any quicker.  However if you offered a reasonable solution  you might actually be able to help my employees. 

[Nebu]

My problem isn't so much that they use them, it's that they all use them on the same day for non-intended purposes.  It's not a big deal when one of them is "sick".  When three of them are "sick" it becomes much more problematic because it involves patient care and this is over half my staff.  

It sucks to be in charge.  That's why you make the big $$$.

I understand your situation completely.  Sadly, employees will never care as much about our work as we do.  Some days they make us realize it more than others.