Newarcher

Sasquatch snowball fight? What in the world happened....ice off the roof? Hate that my friend...... We just had 5-8 inches here in GA followed by two days of freezing rain or sleet (overcast). No wind. So the snow sat on the ground for more than a week now. I had just pulled into my house when I hear BOOM BOOOM BOOM BOOOM and saw steam rising in the intersection I had just come through. It was quite a frustrating feeling of helplessness to see all those cars crashing into each other. Fortunately, an ambulance going to a different wreck actually rolled up on the scene moments later. I was on my way up but once the ambulance got there I went home. Crazy...our kids were out a full week--I've lived in GA for almost 40 years and we never got more than 2 days in a row off due to weather. New

I've been in the work force full time in a professional capacity for almost 20 years now and here's a fact that I have come to both observe and --unfortunately-- understand all too well. Many people that a kneejerk reaction might consider lazy are actually victims of poor Corporate cultures. I would imagine that the laziness gnaws at some as much as it does those who observe. Most men I know want to go home and feel like they accomplished something great during the day. I know I do but often I don't have the opportunity because of problems beyond my control. Sometimes companies get the workers they deserve. I could tell you stories which would blow your mind at some of the things I have seen done by companies and the managers who run them. One such was when I was working for an insurance company in their IT department just before Y2K. I was there three weeks and really wanted to make a splash in a meeting. Little did I know that my supervisor and her manager were going to sabotage the entire company's ability to rate insurance policies by making sure that when Y2K hit our systems were not ready--just to get the Technical Support manager fired. They prepared this extremely elaborate Excel spreadsheet showing that at Y2K we would be on a non-Y2K ready version of Excel. It was too hard for the Technical Support manager to understand but I figured out out (assumed it was a mistake) and pointed that fact out, thinking that I was dong a good thing. They both looked at each other and then at me with looks that could melt skin....then the Technical Support manager figured out I was right and connected the dots. Both were fired not long after that. New

I once had Thanksgiving dinner with two billionaires and a multi-millionaire....they were pretty down to Earth and easy to talk to. But I can only imagine what they thought of the yodel they were having dinner with. One went to prison for improper relations with the underage massage help. New

You know...I had a thought. I bet those guys who are lazy once were complaining to their buddies about the old/jaded guys at work who never do any work. It creeps up on you faster than you think! New

Yeah, I am a lot like you...although I have mellowed with age and wisdom a little bit. I will say that I used to have the attitude that I'd never be laid off/fired if I followed my work ethic and avoided politics....well, I was laid off when my wife was 12 weeks pregnant with our second child. So I am a bit jaded as a result of that. However, it all worked out. When I was laid off, they wouldn't let me go back to my desk (I am in IT and could do a LOT of damage) so they packed up my desk. Not only did they throw in the diskettes containing a very specific and important interface to them --for which there exists no copy in the entire world (I used the diskettes for resumes ) but they threw in a bunch of business cards of everyone I ever met. I was so disgusted at the time I would have either chunked them or threw them out if I were able to clean out my own desk. I looked through the cards and found the card for one of my vendors--bada bing I looked on their website and got a job with that vendor (it was the only call I received back out of 150 resumes). Then along comes one of the largest companies in the world and bought out my company so no I have some of the best benefits known to man and I work from home 100% of the time. So all that said....just like life, the business world isn't always fair. But I have learned to never let that affect my work ethic...if I go home satisfied with myself, I do well. The lay off had nothing to do with me personally, I was layoff number 16 out of a small department. It was housecleaning ahead of a merger. But had I not been laid off I wouldn't be working from home and then my wife couldn't work. So laying me off gave me about a 40% pay increase along with working from home which saves me thousands a year in vehicle maintenance and gas. So the best advice I can give is roll with the punches and take it day by day. Sometimes, good surprises. Sometimes, bad. New

Yeah...my son gets very frustrated in school with projects to the point he'd almost rather do all the work on a group project himself to avoid having to work with the group. He has an overactive fairness clock so I am trying to beat these ideals into his head. If nothing else, I am sure that management sees the same thing you do and it SHOULD give you a leg up when competing with them for jobs in case of layoffs, etc. I've always had a good work ethic....I do goof off but my job allows it and I always end up working more hours in evenings/weekends. I've always worked to a standard that allows me to go home with my head held high and proud of my effort and accomplishments. I've found that my standards are so high that it gets me down the road. New

I once was within arm's length of Cathy Lee Gifford...... guess that doesn't count. I am saddened to hear about Reese Witherspoon not acting like a classy lady....I've always thought she seemed very down to earth and nice. Maybe an off day? I don't get too much into celebrity worship because most of them are turds. However, having said that we don't live their lives and I am sure that not everyone who approaches them or deals with them are very nice. After a couple years of dealing with the pushy public, we might not be very nice celebrities ourselves. Samuel L. Jackson is a turd of the first order I am told. Very much a raging racist and not very nice. New

As I tell my kids....don't worry about the other guy. I've worked with people who completely had their happiness and peace stolen by worrying about things just like this. As a result, their attitude suffered and I have even seen one who self-limited his career by making management mad with all of his griping. As I tell my kids.....work as hard as possible, as smart as possible and as consistently as possible. Do good things consistently and good things will happen for you. The other people will limit themselves and take care of themselves. New

My uncle....God rest his soul. My Dad never hunted or fished or did much besides work--a fact I hated growing up but learn to appreciate more and more every day. We'd take our vacations to go see family in Virginia and we arrived early one morning to my uncle Paul and Cousin Eddie going hunting. They asked me if I wanted to go and --shuh YEAH. My uncle Paul knew I was too young and inexperienced to hunt with a real gun but wanted to make me feel a part of the actions. So he loaded up my cousin's Daisey Red Rider BB gun with bb's and gave it to me. There was no way we were going to get a deer with shake shake shake going through the woods. Never mind that I was as coordinated as a giraffe. As we were easing through the woods across the side of a ridge, I hit a patch of granite covered with leaves. With the 10-20 percent grade and me trying to sideways across it....well, I didn't make it. My feet went Southbound and I was scrambling to get ahold of anything that I could get ahold of to keep from sliding down into the gully. That Daisey BB gun slammed against that rock with a thud that stopped nature. So each time I saw old uncle Paul in the later years, he'd tell that story and that sound would get louder and the distance to which I spooked game got bigger. I think at last time he told that story, I spooked game for at least a mile! But he never got mad at me, he just smiled and knew there was more to taking game. And he sparked a passion that hasn't died yet. Through the years, we hunted virtually everything that walked, crawled, or flew in those VA woods. From salamanders to snakes to deer, turkey, and frogs. If he'd have handed me a million dollars it wouldn't have been any better than handing me that BB gun! New

I tripped across his show when it was on tv a time or two...tripped being the word. While I think he is actually a brilliant man intellectually and he could use his talents to make himself into a semi-Larry King type but only relevant...he wastes his talent. It seemed to me that ever time I ran across it flipping channels it was like Beavus and Butthead type losers in their parent's basement trying to get some neighborhood girl to take her top off (he he...he he.....look at that). It was really pathetic honestly. Just my two cents. Never listened to him on free radio or sat radio. He doesn't interest me. New

Reminds me of the time we were visiting my uncle who was a dyed and true union rat type. Love him, hate his love for unions. He had been out of work for some astronomical amount of time (maybe a year and a half) and was railing on GM's management and that the union would eventually save him and call him back to work. At a ripe old age of 7 or 8 I asked him "why don't you just go get another job?". Crickets chirped for a long time. I hate unions...if they are sooooo great and so wonderful for the worker and the community, wouldn't the great northeast be the most prosperous area in the entire US? You'd think. New

You are paying for the ignorance and voting record of your neighbors. The US is paying for the ignorance and laziness of American voters. Had the Republicans not won in November do you understand that you'd be paying probably $3,000 in additional taxes due to credits from Bush expiring, tax rates adjusting up, etc.? Ask the average American how much they paid in income taxes last year and about half will say "nothing, I got a refund". MORONS. If the Average American had someone analyze their life and show them exactly how much they pay in taxes (income, payroll, Medicare, phones, gas (big one there), property, car tags, etc. etc. etc. each year, there would be a revolt. But the politicians know exactly how stupid people are and how if they hide the tax increase behind a morsel of a handout, they will have the votes they need for the bill. New

p.s. You have to make due with less so that the Government doesn't have to. Kind of puts it in perspective, doesn't it? New

The tax tax and tax mentality has really worked out for Michigan....don't see why it will not work out for IL as well ! I'd get out now why houses have an value left! I know someone who works for the IL Government, the stories she tells of the corruption are AMAZING. New

My name is Frances....but any of yous call me Frances, I'll kill ya! New

I DEFINITELY wouldn't approve of THAT! Yikes......when fish gets pickled here in the South, we throw it out because it has gone bad! New

I'm not quite sure what this thread is about but I am all but certain I wouldn't approve! :saber: New

No man my middle name is John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmitt :bang: You don't even want to know my last name! Nah, I am plain old boring Mike. New

Elrod Elvis Eugene Folks couldn't decide on one so the used all three as my first name. Can't tell you how hard it is to explain that one at the social security office. New

= what's found in a baby's diaper! Actually I like it if it is home made and done right. If wrong....see baby diaper comment! New

I read somewhere that the advertiser association in America is trying to make television commercials like some DVD's where you can't fast forward through the commercials. They claim that the government owns the airwaves and that their revenue makes it possible that you can watch the TV shows and movies we like. New

Yeah, we tivo it now and if I am running the remote I can make it through the show without freaking out. I am an expert at stopping it in the right place. My wife, she goes too far then goes back but then rewinds too far. I am not sure which is more frustrating! Teaching her to drive a stick shift was easier! I do get one benefit out of it...if I am watching hunting or football and she starts to complain, all I have to say is BIGGEST LOOOOOSER. Automatic win! New

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. I absolutely HATE that show. I hate it. I watch tv for entertainment and watching other people's misery is not my idea of entertainment. My wife watches it religiously and it wasn't a problem until she started working again--she could watch it during the day while I worked. But now, NOOOOO I gotta watch it now. The other beef I have is that it comes on for TWO FREAKING HOURS A WEEK AND IT NEVER STOPS. There are like two weeks between seasons. It is always on. Why is it two hours a week? They could cut it to an hour but NOOOOO, they gotta have 30 seconds of BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP before going to a commercial befor they come back for a slow motion recap of the BEEEP BEEEP BEEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP before they give their weight! Hate that show. New

I tried to remove the hard top to a 1962 Corvette I owned during my teenage years by myself. I almost fell backwards out of the car and through plate glass window. So I tried to sit it back down into place and the bracket on the hard top scratched the paint on the car's top cover and trunk. Ouch..... New

I am convinced that the so-called pastor fred phelps is gay. I really truly believe that he's doing all of this as a way to try to exercise his demons. I won't open the discussion into what God thinks because that would be applying my understanding of the world and how it works to God. That would be limiting God. But I can point to one of 1,000 verses they are violating. God will deal with them. It does make you scratch your head that kooks shoot the 9 year old innocent girl and others making a difference in the world and these people breathe on. New