Random thoughts that don't warrant a thread

[tx 3 putt 77921]

 

[Incredulity 11686]

2 hours ago, nnm said:

We’ve never had more than two TVs functional in our house. 
Well, that’s not quite true. In our last house I had a small one in the master bedroom that I put in just in case I wanted to watch the end of a night game in there. I think we turned it on a total of 3 times in 5 years we had that house. 
Now we’re in a new (to us) retirement house on a lake in ETX, and we’re back to two.  One in the den, one in the LR. None in bedrooms. None in kitchen. None in dining room. None in garage. None on patio. I should probably put one out in our guest cabin, but haven’t gotten around to it. 

Patio.

Football, beers, cigar and a fire on the patio.  Tough to beat

[tx 3 putt 77921]

 

[Superhero 8889]

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

[DalTxHornFan 3122]

26 minutes ago, Superhero said:

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

No doubt that you will next be hearing from his lawyer.  Crazy times.

[52-80 19277]

he was probably checking his Global Entry application status and have jetted out the country by now

[closetohumping 17547]

6 hours ago, Superhero said:

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

Yikes.  You know, there's so many resources on interviewing out there that you can absolutely ace an interview even if you're a schlepprock.  And also, smartphones have killed our attention span.  It's sad.

[Crapinon 2311]

6 hours ago, Superhero said:

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

My boss hired a kid for a salesman in our branch, against my wishes and while I was on vacation. He came strolling in on his first day of work at 9:15. I told him we start at 8 and expect him to be here at that time. He told me he was salary + commission so he didn't think he needed to be at work that early. He lasted about 4 months. During that time he tried to get one of my office staff to sign off on falsified mortgage papers and did donuts in our parking lot after I tore them up. He loaded his desktop computer with viruses when he left. When I tried to clean it up I found all his homemade porn on it. He did not have good taste in baby momma's or sidepieces.   

[Kennythetiger 9496]

Why would you tear up a donut?  I’d eat it instead, especially if it had sprinkles on it. 

[Superhero 8889]

Something else that’s been on my mind for several years… we have another guy in my department who is a real superstar with management written all over him.

He has muscular dystrophy and his condition is getting progressively worse. In the past 6 years, he’s gone from walking with a limp to needing a motorized wheelchair to get around. His arms are becoming weaker as well.

Day 3 of our business trip, he texts a few of us at 650 AM to ask for help. I get to his room and he’s on the bed, not able to get up because the bed is too low and too soft. It takes me and another coworker to lift him up trying not to twist his leg.

He’s shy about asking for help, so I do what I can to make his life easier. I got the company to help pay for his wheelchair, which cost almost $30k. On a daily basis, I just check on him, bringing him food, coffee, see if there’s anything around him that might have dropped to the floor.

I’m hoping that they hurry the fuck up with the CRISPR gene editing thing before he loses all muscle because it’s fucking heartbreaking to see my friend go through this. He stick his chin up and has a good attitude, but I can’t imagine the depression and loneliness he feels inside. 

[tx 3 putt 77921]

 

[52-80 19277]

arent comedy writers massively under-recognized by the public and maybe the entertainment industry too?

if youre on staff writing skits and monologues for conan o'brien, or jokes and episodes for the office, people will think 'wow conan / steve carrell' are hilarious... but thats like, atleast 70% of your contribution.

i mean sure the jokes need to be delivered, and the actors take part in some of the writing and direction, but one party are multi-million dollar stars, and the other party are wage earners.

[nnm 36842]

1 hour ago, 52-80 said:

arent comedy writers massively under-recognized by the public and maybe the entertainment industry too?

if youre on staff writing skits and monologues for conan o'brien, or jokes and episodes for the office, people will think 'wow conan / steve carrell' are hilarious... but thats like, atleast 70% of your contribution.

i mean sure the jokes need to be delivered, and the actors take part in some of the writing and direction, but one party are multi-million dollar stars, and the other party are wage earners.

It’s all in the delivery. There are plenty of outlets for those guys/gals to try their stuff on their own. 

[tbone_ 14255]

Good morning from Arizona

[Ghost of LL 15603]

I have an entire bar full of highball glasses that I have stolen from various hotels around Austin.  It always happens that I go to some event that has an open bar, and when it's time to go I get a fresh bourbon for the road.  So I just walk out the front door of the hotel and hop into an Uber with a full glass of bourbon.

I'm reasonably certain that I've never been stopped.

[thunderlounge 8029]

Hmmm. I wonder what would happen if you were in a bear costume? 

[NeverMarryAStripper 22030]

2 hours ago, Ghost of LL said:

I have an entire bar full of highball glasses that I have stolen from various hotels around Austin.  It always happens that I go to some event that has an open bar, and when it's time to go I get a fresh bourbon for the road.  So I just walk out the front door of the hotel and hop into an Uber with a full glass of bourbon.

I'm reasonably certain that I've never been stopped.

Reasonably certain?  So there's a chance you were stopped, accosted, and thrown in the hoosegow and just don't recall it.

[Ghost of LL 15603]

32 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Reasonably certain?  So there's a chance you were stopped, accosted, and thrown in the hoosegow and just don't recall it.

Anything's possible.

I'm just thinking back as to whether anybody has ever stopped me on the way out and said, "hey, man--you can't leave with that drink."  If that happened, it wouldn't be so extraordinary that I would necessarily remember it.  But I honestly don't think it's ever happened.

[Kennythetiger 9496]

45 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Reasonably certain?  So there's a chance you were stopped, accosted, and thrown in the hoosegow and just don't recall it.

He’s an attorney. There are no absolutes. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 22030]

1 hour ago, Kennythetiger said:

He’s an attorney. There are no absolutes. 

That sounds pretty absolute

[LW Goatman 1125]

Suicide is painless is a great song, but never knew the back story about the kid. 

[Underdog 28868]

So glad mowing season is ending but fuck leaf raking. 

[SHOOTER12 8852]

On 10/14/2022 at 12:30 AM, Superhero said:

We live about 1/2 mile from my kids' school. Most days my wife will walk them to school, but today she had a work call, so filled in...

I figured they're already 10 and 7, we live in a very safe area and there parents/kids everywhere. I walked them out the gate, pointed at a mom walking her kid to school, and said "Go, follow them, you'll be alright, trust me, you don't need me to take you guys, OMG you're almost in middle school, stop bein a little baby and just go with them."

Does that make me a bad dad?

 

On 10/14/2022 at 12:31 AM, tbone_ said:

Assuming they aren’t on a milk carton now, then no.

 

On 10/14/2022 at 12:42 AM, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Well did they come home from school or not?

It doesn't matter,  hero will be on a milk carton when his wife gets through with him.

[nnm 36842]

57 minutes ago, Underdog said:

So glad mowing season is ending but fuck leaf raking. 

100 post oaks in my back yard. Leaf season is a beast. 

[tx 3 putt 77921]

 

[SHOOTER12 8852]

On 10/20/2022 at 1:59 AM, Superhero said:

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

What's a PIP?

[SHOOTER12 8852]

1 hour ago, nnm said:

100 post oaks in my back yard. Leaf season is a beast. 

I'm having our 20 acres logged and will hopefully never have pain in the ass leaf problems again. Over 200 trees moved so far and have just now put a dent in it. 

[Underdog 28868]

7 minutes ago, SHOOTER12 said:

What's a PIP?

One of the backup singers for Gladys Knight.

[Scheiss Meister 8419]

58 minutes ago, SHOOTER12 said:

What's a PIP?

Performance Improvement Plan - ostensibly intended to guide and encourage an employee to improving their performance and behavior while clearly explaining the consequences of failing to improve in the allotted time.  In practice, at least in my experience, an extended torture session for both the supervisor and the recalcitrant employee because it is usually begun late in the discipline process, after the employee has proven repeatedly that they either cannot or will not fix the problem. 

They exist purely to 1) justify the existence of HR, and 2) provide documentation that you tried everything possible before firing the employee.

[SHOOTER12 8852]

1 hour ago, Scheiss Meister said:

Performance Improvement Plan - ostensibly intended to guide and encourage an employee to improving their performance and behavior while clearly explaining the consequences of failing to improve in the allotted time.  In practice, at least in my experience, an extended torture session for both the supervisor and the recalcitrant employee because it is usually begun late in the discipline process, after the employee has proven repeatedly that they either cannot or will not fix the problem. 

They exist purely to 1) justify the existence of HR, and 2) provide documentation that you tried everything possible before firing the employee.

Thank you 

[Superhero 8889]

2 hours ago, Scheiss Meister said:

Performance Improvement Plan - ostensibly intended to guide and encourage an employee to improving their performance and behavior while clearly explaining the consequences of failing to improve in the allotted time.  In practice, at least in my experience, an extended torture session for both the supervisor and the recalcitrant employee because it is usually begun late in the discipline process, after the employee has proven repeatedly that they either cannot or will not fix the problem. 

They exist purely to 1) justify the existence of HR, and 2) provide documentation that you tried everything possible before firing the employee.

Yup. I put several people on PIPs in the past 5-6 years. Two of them quit within a few weeks. I kicked the other out of my department where she promptly got PIPed there and quit.

[Superhero 8889]

On 10/19/2022 at 11:59 PM, Superhero said:

We interviewed a kid last month. He was bright eyed and bushy tailed, he talked about his work experience, softwares he learned and how he applied it to his work, the state of the construction industry. Things that we wouldn't expect a 24 year old kid to know. We all liked him and made him an offer.

Last Monday was his first day. He takes a few days to get his computer set up and watch some training videos, but I'm already noticing a lack of motivation. During a meeting on Friday, whenever there was even a slight pause in the conversation, he would start looking at his phone. After the 4th time, I told him to turn his phone off, push it to the middle of the table and pay attention. I can be pretty direct at times.

Over the weekend, I decided to put him on a PIP, and would address it after I got back from a work trip. Since my flight was early on Monday morning, I sent him a message setting expectations on when and what he needed to get done, reminded him to stay off his phone, and we would talk when I get back.

This morning (Wednesday), I get a text from HR saying they've let him go. Apparently something popped up in his pre-employment drug screening. The clinic tried calling him several times to clear things up, but he never returned their calls. When the clinic finally reached out to us, HR fired him on the spot.

 

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

The situation is resolved already, but thought I'd share this extra tidbit.

Apparently the kid came in at 9AM on Tuesday completely BLASTED. He stared at his computer for 30 minutes, pressing the power button, and did nothing else. Some coworkers checked to see if he was okay, and he just grunted. Then he disappeared for 4 hours and came back looking even worse.

I wonder what he was taking / snorting / smoking. I don't think it's meth or coke because he's be a lot more energetic. I've been around potheads, and he didn't smell of pot, or act like he's on pot. Any ideas on what would make someone lethargic, really quiet, completely distracted and zone out?

[Steel Shank 9439]

11 hours ago, Ghost of LL said:

I have an entire bar full of highball glasses that I have stolen from various hotels around Austin.  It always happens that I go to some event that has an open bar, and when it's time to go I get a fresh bourbon for the road.  So I just walk out the front door of the hotel and hop into an Uber with a full glass of bourbon.

I'm reasonably certain that I've never been stopped.

What's ironic is that I'm enjoying a bourbon right now and nobody is stopping me either.

[Underdog 28868]

Superhero:  kid has upper management written all over him.  You're hired. 

[66BUFF 2574]

7 hours ago, Superhero said:

The situation is resolved already, but thought I'd share this extra tidbit.

Apparently the kid came in at 9AM on Tuesday completely BLASTED. He stared at his computer for 30 minutes, pressing the power button, and did nothing else. Some coworkers checked to see if he was okay, and he just grunted. Then he disappeared for 4 hours and came back looking even worse.

Any ideas on what would make someone lethargic, really quiet, completely distracted and zone out?

[tx 3 putt 77921]

 

[TKthunder2 5016]

I’ve put just over 10 or so people on PIPs at my last two stops. I’ve actually had pretty good return on them and 50% or so end up getting their shit mostly together (never became a top employee but became acceptable enough) to come off the PIP. Half the time just setting out the expectations is enough to correct the behavior.

About 1/4 of the time it works itself out, and they quit. The other 1/4 we move to termination.

HR at my last company was so scared of lawsuits I had to PIP a guy 3 times. Each time he failed the PIP they’d tell me we could fire him because it wasn’t clear or good enough. I’d rewrite it and go through the motions again and again they declined to terminate. I went round and round with them until finally I was able to prove the guy lied on his timesheet and only worked half a day but turned in 8 hours and that gave HR enough material to find their balls and finally terminate the guy.

I didn’t stay at that company that much longer. If they make it that had to get rid of underperformers, it wasn’t going to be a great long term fit.

[Kennythetiger 9496]

On 10/21/2022 at 9:01 PM, Superhero said:

The situation is resolved already, but thought I'd share this extra tidbit.

Apparently the kid came in at 9AM on Tuesday completely BLASTED. He stared at his computer for 30 minutes, pressing the power button, and did nothing else. Some coworkers checked to see if he was okay, and he just grunted. Then he disappeared for 4 hours and came back looking even worse.

I wonder what he was taking / snorting / smoking. I don't think it's meth or coke because he's be a lot more energetic. I've been around potheads, and he didn't smell of pot, or act like he's on pot. Any ideas on what would make someone lethargic, really quiet, completely distracted and zone out?

He’s reading the Sark thread in the football forum. 

[Underdog 28868]

I know they’ve been in the AL for 67 yrs but I still keep thinking the Astros are an NL team.  

[NeverMarryAStripper 22030]

2 hours ago, Underdog said:

I know they’ve been in the AL for 67 yrs but I still keep thinking the Astros are an NL team.  

Damn, I must be older than I thought because I sure remember them being in the National League most of my life

Edited October 24, 2022 by NeverMarryAStripper

[SquishMitten 10459]

On 10/20/2022 at 1:59 AM, Superhero said:

I'm miffed on how 4 of us completely misread him. I wasn't prepared to put someone on a PIP just one week into their employment, but I guess this takes care of the situation.

Made this mistake once early in my career. If you feel the need to put someone on a PIP within the first few weeks (probably even the first year) of employment, it is not going to work out. Just end it and move on.

[Crapinon 2311]

44 minutes ago, NeverMarryAStripper said:

Damn, I must be older than I thought because I sure remember them being in the National League most of my life

They've only been in the AL since 2013. The first 51 were in the NL. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Houston_Astros 

[NeverMarryAStripper 22030]

5 hours ago, Underdog said:

I know they’ve been in the AL for 67 yrs but I still keep thinking the Astros are an NL team.  

 

Edited October 24, 2022 by NeverMarryAStripper

[SHOOTER12 8852]

Idle thought and don't know why. 

Wonder what Native American Indians thought about the Civil War?

Let the dumb bastards kill each other?  Really couldn't blame them...

[Kennythetiger 9496]

They probably hoped for the same asteroid that y’all do when Arkansas plays aggy. 

[Scheiss Meister 8419]

1 hour ago, SHOOTER12 said:

Idle thought and don't know why. 

Wonder what Native American Indians thought about the Civil War?

Let the dumb bastards kill each other?  Really couldn't blame them...

Depends on the tribe and location.  The Comanche pushed most of the frontier line 100 miles east during the Civil War while most of the men were fighting each other elsewhere.  The Navajo and Apache played hell in New Mexico and Arizona while the Union Army was busy with the Confederate Santa Fe expedition.  Once the confederates were run out of New Mexico, the Union Army in the area shut them down pretty quickly.  Many Cherokees fought for the Confederacy.  One of Grant's staff officers was a Seneca.  Like I said, it depends.

Edited October 25, 2022 by Scheiss Meister
Late addition.

[SHOOTER12 8852]

1 minute ago, Scheiss Meister said:

Depends on the tribe and location.  The Comanche pushed most of the frontier line 100 miles east during the Civil War while most of the men were fighting each other elsewhere.  The Navajo and Apache played hell in New Mexico and Arizona while the Union Army was busy with the Confederate Santa Fe expedition.  Once the confederates were run out of New Mexico, the Union Army in the area shut them down pretty quickly.  Many Cherokees fought for the Confederacy.  Like I said, it depends.

Thank you...

[Helobious 9503]

Today I learned who Leslie Jordan was.

[Armybrat 40987]

Motorcycles.

Bikes have never been good for my family, starting with my Dad.
He had a 1918 Indian that he rode when he was a student at the U. Of Missouri starting in 1929. During his sophomore year he was going to ride it home to Nodaway County for Christmas but missed a curve and landed in a corn field with a broken leg. Wish I had that bike now though - it would be a cool display in my man cave room.
My oldest brother had a German Zundapp 250 that he rode around Austin as a U. Of Texas student in the late ‘50s. He got t-boned by a Volkswagen on campus, breaking his leg. He sold the bike and bought a Volkswagen. 
In the early 1980s his son had a Yamaha 550 dirt bike in Austin. Some old fart pulled out of a driveway too fast for my nephew to avoid hitting him. Nephew not only broke his leg flying over that car, but the foot peg made a huge hole in his thigh. Still has quite a scar there.
My youngest son snuck his older brother’s Kawasaki 500 trail bike out one day, but only got a block from home before hitting a curb and dislocating his shoulder after landing in someone’s front yard.
I had a 1975 Honda CB200 and a 1980 CT110, but luckily never put either one down. Sold the 200, and one of my boys kept the little 110 as a classic.

[closetohumping 17547]

I'm fairly confident that Arbv's rib sandwich is of better quality than the McRib, but yet I'd still rather have a McRib.