If you have anger issues, this one is a great tool, H/T mindyourbusiness:
Disclaimer: I’m not your Supervisor. These are my opinions after reading through these books a few times.
June 11
“How much more harmful are the consequences of anger and grief than the circumstances that aroused them in us!”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 11.18.8
Getting angry never helps the situation. I try to remind myself this fact. Sunday, I “fixed” the axle seal on my truck for the third time. As I tried to put the brake pads in, I realized I had put the caliper adapter on before the rotor. I could have gotten mad at myself and in the past I would have, but I laughed it off. Progress!
June 12
“In this way you must understand how laughable it is to say, ‘Tell me what to do!’ What advice could I possibly give? No, a far better request is, ‘Train my mind to adapt to any circumstance.’ . . . In this way, if circumstances take you off script . . . you won’t be desperate for a new prompting.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.2.20b–1; 24b–25a
Does following the Stoic principles tell me exactly what to do in every situation? No, but it gives me a framework to follow and a basic idea of what goal I should be trying to reach. When I was a squad leader I never tried to over plan any of our patrols or the checkpoints we set up. I always tried to leave wiggle room for the difference between what we were told to expect and what we actually found. It is the same way in life. Trying to follow a plan too strictly can cause unnecessary stress when life alters things outside of my control.
June 13
“Don’t you know life is like a military campaign? One must serve on watch, another in reconnaissance, another on the front line. . . . So it is for us—each person’s life is a kind of battle, and a long
and varied one too. You must keep watch like a soldier and do everything commanded. . . . You have been stationed in a key post, not some lowly place, and not for a short time but for life.”
—EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 3.24.31–36
Today is my day to battle. Yesterday I had a mild flu and still felt a little weak today, but had no symptoms. At the gym, after killing myself with back and biceps followed by an ab routine, I thought “damn, getting old sucks”. Then I thought “there are two ways to get old, fight every step of the way, or get lazy and hate myself when I get out of breath walking up stairs”. I choose the first option, regardless of the setbacks I will encounter.
June 14
“Every event has two handles—one by which it can be carried, and one by which it can’t. If your brother does you wrong, don’t grab it by his wronging, because this is the handle incapable of lifting it. Instead, use the other—that he is your brother, that you were raised together, and then you will have hold of the handle that carries.”
—EPICTETUS, ENCHIRIDION, 43
It is up to me how I react to situations. I can choose to get angry at my mother for being a covid true believer. I usually do, but I can also choose to ignore that and focus on other aspects of our conversations. I am working on that, but am not there yet.
June 15
“To the youngster talking nonsense Zeno said, ‘The reason why we have two ears and only one mouth is so we might listen more and talk less.’”
—DIOGENES LAERTIUS, LIVES OF EMINENT PHILOSOPHERS, 7.1.23
I am not a big talker, sometimes to the chagrin of my wife. I usually learn more about other people by letting them do most of the talking. This isn’t always a good strategy, one of my wife’s friends was convinced I hated her because I didn’t talk much. Apparently me telling her “this is me happy” when she asked if I had a bad day meant I was lying. I don’t understand most people.
June 16
“Don’t be ashamed of needing help. You have a duty to fulfill just like a soldier on the wall of battle. So what if you are injured and can’t climb up without another soldier’s help?”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.7
I struggle with this one. When I had ankle surgery in 2014, it would bother me that people would wait and hold the door for me. Likewise, it bothered me after my surgery and hospitalization in Dec last year that my wife had to do everything for me. I understand that is part of life and am glad she is there for me, but I still hate to be in that situation.
June 17
“Fortune doesn’t have the long reach we suppose, she can only lay siege to those who hold her tight. So, let’s step back from her as much as possible.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 82.5b–6
Is being rich necessary to have happiness? Should monetary concerns outweigh any others? I admit having money is a lot nicer than not having it, but it is not the foundation my life was built on. I know people that waited to get married and have kids until they were financially prepared. I got married at 22 and although we were really poor for years, we have a much longer and richer history together than if I would have waited until we were “ready”.
Music this week is from Killswitch Engage. They are the only opening act for Slayer that made an impression on me. I had not heard of them before that concert and they put on a hell of a show. A few years later I saw them open for Slayer again and they still kicked ass.
I need to remind myself of this over and over again.
So, when plotting vigilantism, it’s important to be cold, calculating and ruthless?
Sounds about right.
Maybe Khan was a stoic.
Of course.
I’ve broken things trying to force them when they wouldn’t go.
Way worse than the original problem.
#metoo
STEVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING.
HA… WOULDN’T GO?
“Fortune doesn’t have the long reach we suppose, she can only lay siege to those who hold her tight. So, let’s step back from her as much as possible.”
I wonder if this relates to not being invested in the outcome of whatever venture you are pursuing. Just creating the necessary habits, taking the necessary steps and keeping your melon in the right space.
Love these. Thanks, Ron.
I think that’s what it is. You can strive for more “fortune” whatever that means for you.
But do not let the outcome decide your state of mind or how you interact with people.
Glad you like them.
What I find interesting is that for most people that more money DOES mean more happiness, but stress levels decrease to about $250k and after that they rise. So essentially at that point you get a nice balance.
Experienced well-being rises with income, even above $75,000 per year
In other words – money does not directly buy happiness, but it can deal with stressors that would otherwise reduce it, but the effort of gaining more is a stressor all its own.
Being rich doesn’t make you happy, but being poor definitely can make you unhappy.
Plus the lifestyle changes. Second homes, more travel, boats, cars and the like add stress.
After you get really wealthy you can hire people to deal with this full time and your stressors will go down.
There is a point where money does make life easier, but I try not to make it the focus.
Admittedly that is easier at this point in my life, but for a long time my wife and I did very well on an E-4’s salary with 3 kids (she hasn’t worked since we had kids).
Not monetarily, but life was good.
I’m perfectly happy with what I have. I know many people with more and many with less.
I never focused directly on it, but definitely wanted money in the bank for disaster.
Growing up I knew too many people that lived paycheck to paycheck.
OT – but seeking advice on the interpersonal side of supervision.
As a rule, when one of my direct reports asks for time off, I don’t ask why they want it unless there’s a conflict and a need to negotiate coverage. During a team meeting, I will typically mention upcoming planned absenses just so the team members know who’s going to be available. I do so matter-of-factly, ie “soandso will be out these days, suchandsuch will be out those days”. During a recent such meeting, one of the other attendees chimed in with “have fun on your days off” to said direct report who would not be in. From the uncomfortable tone of the response to that, I got the impression this was not a ‘time off for enjoyment’ sort of absense. My first instinct is to investigate and make sure there’s not going to be any issues, feeling that I somehow instigated the matter by announcing the absense. But I also have this other voice going “you did nothing to encourage a misunderstanding” and that I shouldn’t have this spark of guilt. And lastly there’s a part of me that’s going “You’re overthinking this. Digging in will create the sort of problem you are trying to avoid.”
Being an antisocial introvert with just you lot to turn to for advice, what say you with regards to the appropriate response or lack thereof?
Listen to this part of you. Keep an eye on the two to be sure there is no animosity of some kind there, but employee #1 may have just been making a sarcastic joke. Or he/she may be one of those assholes that never feels any guilt (nor should any of us) taking time off themselves, but feels personally inconvenienced when a coworker does.
I don’t think there was any malice from the person giving the wishes.
Ah. I misunderstood. You’re worried that the other one is having issues. A generic “is everything OK?” might not be a bad idea.
Yeah, it’s the reaction of the one taking the leave that I’m worried about. I don’t have too much managerial experience, and this is one of those areas where it’s far from cut and dried. (The scenarios in the training are laughably transparent about the answer expected, and thus not at all helpful)
No. That will create in the report an unwelcome obligation to explain or at least deflect. Person A put Person B on the spot. Don’t be like Person A.
I personally would be mad at Person A AND THEN be mad at you for extending the conversation.
I’m not a private person. Most of the zoomies and Glibs know this. I’ll tell you anything because I don’t care, I just need to vent and half the time it’s just to have something to say.
However, if I want to keep something to myself, I do. I went in to have a procedure done. I found out my OR nurse was someone from church. Okay, cool, a friendly/familiar face. When I got to church the following Sunday, I was met with surprise by the leader of the women’s auxiliary. She didn’t expect me to be there because of said procedure. I really struggled with whether to report her to the hospital or not, but in the end decided not to. It wasn’t so much that she blabbed; it was that she created a situation for me I did not want to deal with. I didn’t say anything to my church for a REASON and that reason was so that I didn’t have people descending on my doorstep with fried rice. Or whatever food I didn’t like/wasn’t going to eat.
I’m pretty sure your OR nurse committed a HIPAA violation. That could get her fired.
Oh, she absolutely did and absolutely it would have. I felt discretion was the better part of valor. That said, I found out she didn’t work for that hospital for much longer after that.
I haven’t seen her much at all since then, so I haven’t had a chance to say anything personally to her, but if the occasion presents itself, I will.
Don’t ask a question.
“If you need my support or think I can be helpful, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Don’t say anything. It’s not UCS’s place. Least said soonest mended.
Or, if something must be said, “Okay, moving on.”
I guess this is what I had in mind. Poor choice of words above.
And to be clear, I mean privately, definitely not in the presence of other people.
Thankfully, the meeting is long over.
I think I’ll stick with the concensus of “say nothing, wait and see.”
Mo, I’m the same as you.
However, as a manager you have to deal with all kinds of people including emotive ones.
You can dig yourself into a hole if you sometimes if you don’t say something. You really need to adjust to the employee and sometimes come up with something neutral that’s going to leave both kinds of employees unsettled, but that’s what you have to do.
Relax, UCS. It’s really none of the coworkers’ business why another a person is taking time off. Your job ended when you announced Who and When. The Why can be between you and the person taking the time off, if it is part of the job.
This.
“IF YOU MUST KNOW, I HAVE ANAL WARTS OF UNUSUAL SIZE WHICH REQUIRE SURGERY. ALSO WHEN I SAT AT YOUR DESK EARLIER I LEAKED A LITTLE.”
Anal warts of unusual size? I don’t believe they exist.
At the last place I worked as an employee, I was the NORMAL one of the bunch. We had a delivery driver who was about 6’7″, 500 pounds, black, and the jolliest dude you ever did meet. He was wonderful. In fact, even though we don’t have godmothers in my religion, we decided he would be my daughter’s fairy godmother. It was awesome.
One day he called in and told Dragon Lady his exact problem: He had a boil on his ass he couldn’t pop. My eyebrows lived in my hairline in those days.
The owner of the company (who was an utter letch and whom I threatened to shoot [in a roundabout way] if he kept trying to sexually harass me) (also he wasn’t very bright) (he was running his father’s business into the ground) called in yelling about where were his delivery drivers. Dragon Lady tried to calm him down and told him fairy godmother was sick.
“Sick? How sick? What’s his problem?”
“You don’t need to know; he’s just sick.”
After several minutes of haranguing (and we had customers in our store), she finally shouted in her aged and cigarette-smoke-riddled voice, “HE’S GOT A BOIL ON HIS ASS, OKAY? HAPPY NOW? A BOIL. ON HIS ASS.”
I died. I’m still dying. I howl every time I think about that day.
Brings new meaning to ‘Fire Swamp’
I’m so using that in a story one day.
I meant to write a collection of essays about that place, but never did. At the time, it was a vexing place to work, but I look back on it fondly.
What Mike said.
My boss and all his subordinates have a separate shared Outlook calendar on which to list planned time off. That or something similar might eliminate the need to mention it during meetings.
We have one. People only check it when they are planning/requesting leave. I do the periodic announcements so I don’t have to hear “Is soandso out today?”
“We have some folks scheduled off in the next [unit of time measurement,] so please keep an eye on the [calendar in question] to track who’s available when.”
? Could work.
I wager I’ll forget by the time the next meeting rolls around.
Make meeting a recurring appointment. Attach agenda template (even if you aren’t going to share it with the other attendees.) Make time-off calendar reminder a permanent agenda item.
Personal time off is personal.
No need to figure out why the person is taking time off.
Agreed.
The root of my concerns was possible future friction. But I really am overthinking the matter.
I’ve been in corporate america long enough that I have trained out the instinct to ask “normal, human questions” like “oh, what are you doing on your day off?” It avoids all the awkward moments.
As an introvert, it wasn’t hard to do this. But there are always those oblivious extroverts that always ask questions like that.
Yeah, that is awkward and I also learned to never ask a question like that. Especially as we’re all aging.
I’ve noticed the IT and engineer type teams operate somewhat formally than what I’m used to. I don’t ask for why as a rule either UCS, but my team, including both my supervisor and my reports usually share why we would be out just out of pure social conversation. We all get along very well and it’s a natural flow as I would have with out of work friends. Just no politics or religion.
But I also just ask to be given notification and not permission when someone is taking time off. And my reports have flex time to take off smaller chunks of time as they please for something like a dr. appt without needing to notify me at all. So that informality might create a whole different atmosphere.
I put a meeting on my boss’s and paralegal’s calendars that says “[trashy] OOO” and is set to Free. I then put an event on my calendar set to Away. If I get an accepted notification for the meeting, nothing more is said.
So far I have never declined a leave request. The workplace policy states that time off muct be approved by the supervisor, which is the reason it’s a request-approve process in my team. The practical effect is that the policy is “make sure I know and put it on the calendar”. At some point I might need to negotiate coverage, but so far the team’s been good about not piling too many absenses on the same days. (That won’t last forever)
My work has both the formal requested time off, and it’s always just asking for dates and approvals (to make sure there isn’t something planned and there’s coverage). We also have what’s called Wellness time which accrues, and is used as unplanned PTO (sick days, doctor’s appointments, something came up).
This reminds me of when my wife’s father passed away suddenly and she took about two weeks off work. When she returned, one of her clients said “I hope you had a nice vacation.”
No malice meant, but it basically ruined her day. Not a lesson for you UCS, but just in general good life advice, don’t assume time off is fun time unless it’s explicitly said.
As I tried to put the brake pads in, I realized I had put the caliper adapter on before the rotor. I could have gotten mad at myself and in the past I would have, but I laughed it off. Progress!
That’s something I need to be better about.
I’ve come a long way, but it is still there.
I just installed a 12,000 BTU window a/c. Its heavy and cumbersome. Right after I got the case in the window and screwed down I realized I had the side curtains backward.
“Every event has two handles—one by which it can be carried, and one by which it can’t. If your brother does you wrong, don’t grab it by his wronging, because this is the handle incapable of lifting it. Instead, use the other—that he is your brother, that you were raised together, and then you will have hold of the handle that carries.”
I’m with you on this one. Last week I had a blowout with my mom and dad about me and the Mrs. opening a gym. It got ugly. I haven’t talked to them since, but tomorrow my family is getting together because my sister from FL is in town. I’m not sure how it will go, but this is something I’ll keep in mind.
How is the gym going?
And I hope things smooth over with the family.
Slowly, but as one of our advisors said, we need to take one step at a time. Still waiting on the financing to go through, and still looking for a location. Meanwhile Mrs. TOK is doing research on what other gyms are around, what they offer, and how much they charge, so we are sure we are offering something unique at the right price point.
Daily Quordle 137
5️⃣3️⃣
9️⃣6️⃣
Irony rules the day. (that’s not a hint).
I see ‘iron’ and my mind goes to the discussion of people falling into molten metal and the effect the heat has on the body.
That was quite the discussion. If you’ve ever been near anything that hot it scary enough. The heat triggers a “Danger, Will Robinson” body response. I can’t even imagine the terror or realizing I was falling towards it.
PROFESSOR! LAVA! HOT!
I used to do a lot of work for the (former) Ford engine plant in Cleveland, in the foundry. I was told that fatalities occurred about every 6-7 years because thats how long it took someone to get complacent around an open hearth of molten steel.
tl;dr: It’s bad.
Daily Quordle 137
4️⃣3️⃣
6️⃣7️⃣
This may be my best ever result. Or tied for it.
Tied
Is Seneca referring to ‘fortune’ as in ‘money’, or as in ‘luck?’
I suspect it is both and either.
I read it as ‘success’, however you choose to define it.
The Klan is in Germany?
A gay pride parade in Germany was attacked by a group of young men of “southern origin,” a euphemistic term authorities usually deploy to describe Muslim migrants from North Africa and the Middle East.
The incident occurred in the German city of Karlsurhe last weekend.
Around 30 men of “southern origin” attacked the pride parade, setting fire to a rainbow flag and physically attacking the participants.
“The situation escalated late on Saturday evening when the men stole a rainbow LGBT flag from the parade and set it on fire,” reports ReMix News.
How can this be? How can this be? /woketard
Don’t worry. It never happened. You imagined it. /wokemedia
I don’t know; the behavior of a lot of those people near the southern German border can be pretty cheesy…
I canton imagine what you mean.
Those damn Catholic Bavarians.
*narrows gaze*
No Tom’s of Finland shoppers amongst the pride crowd? You’d think a few beefy ones might have dissuaded the attackers.
Karlsruhe.
Carry on.
Money doesn’t buy happiness. It just makes surviving easier.
I’m sorry, but when you’re living paycheck to paycheck, and then get hit with a severe monetary setback, they pretty much do.
I was reflecting on this the other day – $500 car repair turned into $1000 repair, just like that.
I grumbled about it but later felt fortunate that I could handle that without any issue.
Having slack in the budget is good.
Yep. By end of day tomorrow, I will have dropped $2400 on my car in 2 weeks. The hell of it is, we have no choice because of the country’s car situation. Also, I do not want a new car, so there’s that.
We are putting a new engine into a 2009 Corolla because of how much a used replacement would be.
And my wife really likes her car.
Yeah, I love my little Sonata. It’s zippy.
Anecdotal, but a friend’s Sonata (mileage uncertain but its pretty new) just lost a motor mount a decent amount of speed.
Im pretty sure its done.
2009 Honda Fit – new condenser for the AC turned into new condenser + new compressor. I briefly thought of skipping it when it was just $500 for the condenser, but we’ve got a couple trips coming up (and a dog), and no time to try to find a new car before that.
On the plus side, it only has ~ 110k miles. I bet it’s got another 100k in it, if we treat it reasonably well.
Mechanic bought a 2016 Honda Civic from someone for $500 (turns out, engines need oil); he hasn’t even finished putting a replacement engine in it and has already gotten multiple offers.
Reminds me – I need to get the very important and very expensive 60k-mile maintenance done on my beloved Subaru before I head east late next month.
I blame Obama and his Cash for Clunkers program.
I mentioned that to my mom and was accused of blaming everything on Democrats.
George Bush had his fingers in that one too, so not just Democrats.
If they don’t want the blame, they shouldn’t be in power .
It’s nice when people who spent the better part of a billion dollars to get elected complain about it afterwards.
Cash for Clunkers ruined the use car/truck market.
Supply chain problems now are ruining the new car/truck market and putting even more pressure on the used car/truck market.
“Perfect Storm” would not be an inappropriate description.
At that time I worked on Wall St and had more than a few Team Blue coworkers who loved Obama and talked about the economic benefits of this policy.
I asked many of the Ivy League MBA grads and McKinsey alumnae how this was different than the parable of the broken window.
Answer was always the sound of crickets. They learned never to bring it up to me again.
Yes, I’ve had that happen to me also.
That is not what that is talking about, I am talking about how I arranged my life. Gaining a lot of money wasn’t high on the list, if it was there at all.
It probably should have been a bit more of a priority, but it has worked out at this point in my life anyway.
This cunte is still talking?
.@BarackObama in Copenhagen: “Now I want to be clear. I have little sympathy for reactionaries who cynically condemn identity politics or cancel culture when you all they’re doing is trying to preserve existing privilege or excuse entrenched injustice, or bigotry.”
At least Bush Jr. had the decency to go quietly into the night.
Funny how anyone who criticizes identity politics is de facto trying to preserve privilege or bigotry.
Is that one stolen base, or two?
Look, working towards The Great Reset ain’t got no end.
PS. CWAFA
“Getting angry never helps the situation”
Anger is a useful learning tool. It can be used by the bestower or the recipient. I would on occasion let loose when someone was doing something dangerous and immediate action was required. Otherwise I took the recipient to the “Proverbial Woodshed”.
Praise in public, criticize in private
*tear*
As you know, the first of several publicly televised hearings surrounding the events of January 6, 2021, occurred yesterday evening. These hearings include graphic new footage and testimony related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, which may be naturally unsettling or even re-triggering to some individuals within our community.
Please know that the professional counseling staff of the Office of Employee Assistance (OEA) are here to provide confidential support and problem resolution for individuals and teams impacted by these events or other stressors they may be experiencing.
I guess you better not show the snowflakes images/video from the BLM/Antifa summer of love and peace.
Does this seem like desperation to you? Like things are unraveling faster than they can spin?
The shrillness and over the top hyperbole doesn’t appear to be moving the needle at all.
They’re desperately trying to harden the base of support. They’ve got no chance of bringing votes back, but they’re hoping they can stop the freefall.
That and trying to block Trump in 2024.
They’re desperately trying to harden the base of support. They’ve got no chance of bringing votes back, but they’re hoping they can stop the freefall.
Does it matter on the votes? I watched on live tv, as did others, as Trump’s vote total somehow decreased in VA from one interval to the next. This was not a broadcast error since it was replicated in the database the numbers are drawn from. There is no doubt the vote count was rolled back. Perhaps there are legitimate reasons for doing so, but no one in the Cathedral has presented one, let alone called for an investigation into how this happened. They changed they vote total on live tv and nothing happened. No outcry. This is banana-republic level rigging.
I agree they are trying to harden the base of support, but there are other reasons for a regime to do that besides voting.
^^
Co-witness of the Va tally shenanigans.
They’re flirting with actual insurrection now. I guess you can see it as also a warning to anyone who would cross them.
It should be clear to everyone that they will not pull any punches from here on out. Much like in Canada, the gloves are off.
I’ll be in my bunk.
“Why are the news networks colluding with a political party to tell us this is the most important thing?” Carlson asked.
“Because whether you’re talking about the mainstream media or you’re talking about Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, or Congress, frankly, they don’t care about the real threats that we face domestically to our freedoms and our democracy,” Gabbard replied. “Instead, they’re focusing on this; they don’t want to deal with the real issues that Americans are struggling with every day across the country: increasing inflation, rising gas prices, increasing crime, open borders.” …
“Right now we’ve got the Biden administration, we’ve got the Department of Justice, the mainstream media, Big Tech, all colluding to undermine our rights and civil liberties and freedoms,” she stated. “I don’t see Congress taking action to address and deal with that threat. So if they really wanted to uphold their oath they swore, that’s exactly what they should be focused on right now.” …
“This is the kind of propaganda show that we used to make fun of when it took place in totalitarian [countries] when you were a kid,” Carlson recalled. “Do you remember that? We had this vibrant, lively news media and people debated things, and we’d look over at these totalitarian hellholes and say, ‘They turn on their TVs and they get this pre-produced lying.’ How shocking is this?”
“This is not America,” Gabbard said bluntly. “This is what’s so crazy and what’s angering and sad; all of these things at the same time is: This is not the vision that our Founders had for America.”
She just shows more of her “Russian Asset” side every day.
I sometimes listen to the audio of Carlson’s show from the previous evening as a “podcast” on the SiriusXM app. I’ll make a point of checking this one out. Thanks!
https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fbucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F33116659-f56a-44ba-b74e-57ad39bbfeac_1440x1353.jpeg
Oh my. Nice shot, there.
Oh my! Someone get George some burn cream. I hope the stupid fucker sees it and gives it even a moment of reflection.
*Narrator* he won’t.
CWAA!
(Sulu not the girl.)
Not bad.
Dang. And funny on multiple levels. ///ComedyInception
Also, .223/5.56 is a bit much for squirrel hunting.
That was my reaction too. Pellet gun or .22lr at most.
Yeah, it just blows their lungs out all over the place.
https://utahgunexchange.com/ads/brandons-lung-blower-ammo-sale-9mm-1000-round-cases-in-stock/
Props to that dude. LOL.
Why would you need 9mm?
I thought George Takei died a year or two ago.
I use squirrels to keep people out of internment camps, too.
“Fortune doesn’t have the long reach we suppose, she can only lay siege to those who hold her tight. So, let’s step back from her as much as possible.”
I did not interpret “fortune” as money when I read this. What naturally leapt to my mind was fortune as in “luck”, random shit that happens to us, as in Carmina Burana “O Furtuna!” The Wheel of Fortune. If you are mentally a slave to luck, if you pray for good luck, and curse bad luck when the outcome reveals itself, you are a slave to fortune and have no agency.
My take is that he was telling people to step up and take action rather than waiting to see what happens and then curse the darkness.
Whatevs.
Carl Orff’s “O Fortuna” : https://youtu.be/GXFSK0ogeg4
Also a good way to look at it.
Magnificent piece of music, but I will forever associate it with every TV news “magazine” program’s feature on exorcism.
One of my favorite life quotes, from Robert A. Heinlein’s Have Space-Suit, Will Travel:
“There is no such thing as luck; there is only adequate and inadequate preperation for a statistical universe.”
That was an interesting crossover point in his writing. Still a juvenile work, but many adult themes.
I am not working today but I must leave in a few minutes for the rest of the day. The night owls will see my return.
Today starts the three-day long Summer Circuit. Sailboats from throughout Hawaii have converged on Oahu for three days of intense course racing. We’ll race a minimum of five races a day, each ~90 minutes in length, as the informal State Championships. Then two weeks from today a bunch of the boats will race from Oahu to Kauai in an ocean race. Woo Hoo! (The race there is downwind and fun, bringing the boat back is upwind and more work/time.)
Fair Winds and Following Seas
/s former rail meat.
Relevant music
https://www.12metre.com/ booked for the morning of the 22nd.
Hopefully there are enough people signed-up for real racing but even just cruising around on one of the boats will be cool.
I will endeavor to take some pics/video.
Today’s GOA campaign: https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=17180
If they do and get tossed out, would the replacements roll any of this back?
You’re a funny man.
Laws are just as permanent as the pyramids. Remember though, GOA, who I do like as an organization, isn’t above fearmongering for fundraising’s sake.
Not unless we get a new president.
I looked at the numbers for the Senate the other day. Currently 50 Republicans, 48 Democrats, 2 independents. In 2022, 20 Republican seats are up for grabs, 14 Democrat seats are up for grabs. Even if the Republicans keep every seat they currently hold and flip all 14 of those seats, that gets you to 64 Republicans. You’ll need three Democrats to join those Republicans to override a veto.
Wifey is about to go under the laser for lasik. She is nervous and excited.
Good luck w/ that. It’s incredibly safe these days, statistically.
I can barely get eye drops for an exam.
Good luck to her.
She also…she can’t do the burst of air in the eye they do during exams..so big leap for her. She is tired of glasses and/or contacts
I’m there too. Hope it works out great.
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Good luck to mama!
I hope it goes well.
Had it done years ago. No pain, little recovery time and for the first time in my life, clear vision. One of the best things I ever did.
Another hole in the market that will not be easily plugged.
The #TamponShortage is real. From Maryland to Ohio, Rhode Island to Michigan, we are getting all your stories talking about sparse shelves. We feel it to as our warehouse (see pic) has barely any #tampons to donate to folks in need.
Who would have thought shutting down swaths of various markets would have lasting effects.
I was chatting with my brother awhile back. I said there is no supply “chain”. There is a supply “web”. Snip any line in the web, and the whole web gets distorted. Then random shit becomes scarce.
Predictable outcomes are not unforeseen outcomes.
+ 1 supply chain management.
Best part for public companies was the boilerplate the SEC forced upon everyone in their 10Ks about supply chains.
I never covered automobiles, but I’ll bet dollars to doughnuts that commodity microchips were never mentioned pre-COVID.
Politicians generally don’t have a fucking clue why or how anything works, that’s why they’re politicians.
As usual Thomas Sowell said it better than I could.
Red letter day!
*narrows gaze*
I’m sure they can pad out the inventory.
How many strings do we have to pull to get a narrowed gaze?
I guess it depends on the flow of the thread.
I was having a problem absorbing the content of this thread. I think maybe it isn’t a good fit for me?
Et tu? *continues narrowing gaze*
Check HS and college men’s rooms. I bet there are a lot to spare there.
This is some of the most dishonest sanctimonious horseshit I have ever heard.
Reason hot takes
https://reason.com/2022/06/10/the-january-6-hearings-may-be-surprisingly-worthwhile/
Yeah, I want to click on that. ?
Interesting stance…
Shocking video shows man brazenly open fire on Brooklyn street
That whole law and order thing in NYC is working great.
WTF?
Sean, unlike PA, in NYC that aren’t a lot of convenient places to practice shooting.
OTH, for actual shooting their are plenty of places.
There… darn autocorrect.
Music break.
1986 era Soul Asylum.
Soul Asylum never really got the credit they should have.
I’ve heard them described as a “studiocracy” – far better live than any of the albums they recorded.
I did indeed enjoy them live quite a bit more than I thought I would.
Yes, they were terrific live. I’m not sure how many times I’ve seen them, but I don’t recall ever being disappointed.
I just saw them the one time – with Screaming Trees and and the Spin Doctors(!).
Weird mix.
As opposed to Boston, who could do a lot of producing in the studio that was difficult to reproduce live.
It’s because of the big hits in the ’90s. Decent songs but not even close to their best.
Also Winona Ryder cursed the band.
Hang Time and And The Horse They Rode in On are still among my favorite albums.
I find it amusing that Winona Ryder wasn’t crazy enough for Johnny Depp.
And I totally would have crossed that HOT/CRAZY line for her.
Good point. And the same.
The same for Sean Young.
“Do you like our owl?”
Yes, yes I do.
Uvalde school police chief says he didn’t keep officers from breaching massacre scene and didn’t consider himself the commander, report says
What we needed here was Al Haig.
There are assholes, and then there’s this guy.
If you didn’t consider yourself the scene commander, then who was it?
Gov Abbott. Do you even prog, bro?
An ‘Ugly’ Inflation Report Upended Hopes That Price Gains Would Ease
Fortunately Brandon is going to go live today and badly read a teleprompter to put all at ease.
Any bets on what we’ll get? I’m guessing one of the following.
1) It’s not that bad, it’s showing signs of slowing.
2) It’s the fault of greedy corporations.
3) January 6!
Why not all three?
And “Go buy an electric car.”
Hellen went on record saying she doesn’t believe corporate greed is driving this.
Stoped clock and all.
Yellen. Autocorrect again.
I would be surprised if anyone else picks up on that.
The press secretary will probably blame racism.
Hopefully, stage-whispered. For that extra soupçon of “asshole”.
4) Putin!
^This^
Russia, Russia, Russia! (in Jan’s voice)
It’s always the fault of greedy corporations, but you forgot PUTIN!!!
5) He could babble on incoherently, and you won’t be sure what he’s saying.
You can learn new words with Dr. Jill.
I swear, the price of gas doubled and everything goes to shit. Who could have seen this coming? The money printing didn’t help either.
Look, energy and fuel costs have nothing to do with how goods get from one place to another. Things are made, then they show up on the shelves, no one can explain it.
Selfish truckers are jacking up the costs of transport to reap windfall profits on the backs of the American Consumer!
It is a gorgeous Friday afternoon out there which probably explains why I feel like I am alone at work, talking to myself. I had to get my boss to crack some skulls and find someone to approve an urgent code fix. Do you people even work??
Just ended a 3 hour review session. Hideous. And qualifies as work.
I am, but working for myself today and not The Man.
Got about 15 minutes before it’s time for me to go on a git outta the office.
Excellent. A bit longer for me. Very much looking forward to Friday.
BY FRIDAY MEAN….
Saturday, dammit.
Technically, I’ve got another hour, but it seems that everyone has already logged out for the day. No responses to e-mails, no updates to tickets, just sitting and waiting.
Yup. As soon as my boss got my PR approved, his status went right back to “away” lol.
Never stop an adversary when they are making a mistake.
Yep. Pushing this stuff back to be closer to the election is going to backfire on them. It’s hard to imagine how the timing could be much worse.
This would be a viable strategy to increase gains if things were going well which they obviously aren’t. The Jan 6th circus seems so trivial when there’s a looming recession and sky high inflation and hopefully people will see through it.
Not to mention another looming Summer of Love.
This seems like a really good way to get killed, and completely deserve it.
Go ahead. Take the gloves off. Let’s see what happens.
We are *that* fucking close… and they won’t stop pushing.
It all feels intentional. They want the bugaloo – and IMO it’s because they want to try to use the military domestically.
“Posse Comi-what? Pshaw. Ancient old law has nothing to do with the kinds of INSURECKKSHUNZ WE FACE TODAY!!!”
Posse Comitatus is based on white supremacy or something.
Just yesterday Liz Cheney and that Democrats (but I repeat myself) were saying how much reverence they have for the Constitution.
I really hope you are wrong.
That would fracture the military at least in part. And that’s when things get really nuts.
Why do I get the feeling that “abortion” is just a stand-in for what these lunatics really want. I mean, nobody cares about the issue THAT much.
They’re violent revolutionaries; they want a hot civil war and will use any excuse to try and make one happen.
Ironic name for the group considering RGB disagreed with RvW decision.
“Friday Funbags make life meaningful.”
-Q
https://archive.ph/lO7Ip
Friday Funbags (probably not safe for work)
FTFY
You will NEVER be this cool
https://twitter.com/NoContextHumans/status/1533025778312560642