Randomness thread, part two.

[MadMojoMonkey]

If it makes you feel any better, I would actually quite like some work over Christmas because I'm fucking skint. I could do six weeks of 55 hr weeks if it was all over come Janurary.

In Murica, everyone is hiring for temp workers right about now. The busiest shopping season is about to start and many stores need extra staff to handle the increased load of customers... that load is going to dry up severely during January and February when everyone has to pay off the debts they incurred during December. The stores do not need to keep that extra staff past the end of the year.

Sure, you'll be working a customer service / retail job, but it's short-term.

I used to be in a band with a guy who mostly worked seasonal jobs... work at a fireworks stand in July, at Halloween shops during October... then as an elf or manager of a store that's only open during Christmas season. There's a lot of seasonal work around if you're willing to be unemployed in between those seasons.

Is it different in the UK?

[Poopadoop]

Something tells me Ong isn't the type who enjoys politely waiting on customers.

[Savy]

One of my churches growing up interpreted the scriptures as "always doesn't always mean always". Funny that.

So no doesn't always mean no?

[wufwugy]

No.

[OngBonga]

Something tells me Ong isn't the type who enjoys politely waiting on customers.

I've worked in a hotel, I can do waiting if I have to. Although, I certainly didn't enjoy it.

Is it different in the UK?

Not really. I used to operate rides at the local Safari Park during spring/summer/autumn, then over Christmas worked at a CD shop and a pub. I've also sold Christmas trees from a supermarket car park, that was horrible. There is plenty of work at this time of year, but most of it is retail.

What I could get on with is a behind-the-scenes job at a warehouse that serves a large retail store. It'd be shit, but at least I would't have to be nice to the general public.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Have you tried an employment agency?

Some of them are excellent, but some are staffed by people who suck.

I recommend being picky.

[OngBonga]

*tumbleweed*

[OngBonga]

I've had employment agencies trying to phone me. I've been ignoring the phone. Bastards. How dare they try to give me work.

Truth is, they either phone first thing when I'm asleep, or later on when I'm stoned. There's probably a one hour window during the day in which I'm in the right frame of mind to talk to them.

Also, I don't recall applying for a job that I actually want.

[MadMojoMonkey]

But making the big bucks as an FTR mod must be paying off, right?



(For non-mods: No hate... I love FTR, it just takes so little time that the hours billed are laughable, like 15 min a month for me. I don't even bother to claim the hours when they're that low. I do it for the love.)

[OngBonga]

I ain't getting paid squat. I'd have a moan about it if others are, only I really couldn't give a flying fuck.

I get paid in smiles when I ban a spammer.

[OngBonga]

On another note, it has been brought to my attention that in every depiction of Adam and Eve, they both have belly buttons.

I think Christians might want to have a think about the implications of this bombshell.

[wufwugy]

On another note, it has been brought to my attention that in every depiction of Adam and Eve, they both have belly buttons.

I think Christians might want to have a think about the implications of this bombshell.

God gave them navels so that their kids wouldn't feel weird with having navels of their own. Checkmate atheist.

If you really wanna get in the weeds, some Christians believe that Adam and Eve weren't exactly the only people around. There were shit like Nephilim, that were humanoid giants or some shit. IIRC they were the "fallen angels" from heaven that rebelled along with Satan or something. IIRC Adam's and Eve's kid, Cain, bred with one of these others or something.

[OngBonga]

Who are you calling atheist?

I'm a pastafarian, tyvm.

IIRC Adam's and Eve's kid, Cain, bred with one of these others or something.

Right, so this is how they get around the incest problem.

Fallen angels. Good one.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Nah, the fallen angels were there, but Cain married his sister.

After he killed Able, he moved away, built a house and called it a city. Probably just said he was sitting, big misunderstanding.

Anyway... marries his sister, has a bunch of kids, and then his house collapses on him, killing him.


Or something like that. Parts of it may be from Jewish texts which are not in the canonized Christian Bible.

[boost]

God gave them navels so that their kids wouldn't feel weird with having navels of their own. Checkmate atheist.

If you really wanna get in the weeds, some Christians believe that Adam and Eve weren't exactly the only people around. There were shit like Nephilim, that were humanoid giants or some shit. IIRC they were the "fallen angels" from heaven that rebelled along with Satan or something. IIRC Adam's and Eve's kid, Cain, bred with one of these others or something.

Funny how God's omnipotence and omniscience manifests itself in schemes which are seemingly authored by a man of (at best) moderate intelligence-- the type of man who would shamelessly make an omnipotent and omniscient being the pillar of his story as to grant himself an out for the many corners he'd write himself into.

[wufwugy]

Funny how God's omnipotence and omniscience manifests itself in schemes which are seemingly authored by a man of (at best) moderate intelligence-- the type of man who would shamelessly make an omnipotent and omniscient being the pillar of his story as to grant himself an out for the many corners he'd write himself into.

Yuuuuuuup. It's a reason I left the faith.

[wufwugy]

head asploded http://nautil.us/issue/42/fakes/is-p...n-intelligence

[MadMojoMonkey]

meh.

This is what happens when someone with a bit of understanding goes and plays the 'what if' game for a few hours, and doesn't explore the practicality of that creative sojourn.

At least this article has the sense to acknowledge that it's all wild speculation.

Daydreaming is good for us, as a species. I can't prove there is no life in Dark Matter or Dark Energy, so why would I refute these claims and speculations? If this daydream leads to new ideas which can be tested, then I'm in favor.

[boost]

Yeah, I read a bit of it, felt very Deepak Chopra-y

If you define something as being unobservable, then you've got an uphill battle to show that it is at all interesting and merits anyone's attention.

[BankItDrew]

Yeah, I read a bit of it, felt very Deepak Chopra-y

If you define something as being unobservable, then you've got an uphill battle to show that it is at all interesting and merits anyone's attention.

The difference between this article and Deepak is the word 'maybe', and 'perhaps', used it the article. Chopra implies scientific knowledge that is unfounded.

[The Bean Counter]

I've had employment agencies trying to phone me. I've been ignoring the phone. Bastards. How dare they try to give me work.

Truth is, they either phone first thing when I'm asleep, or later on when I'm stoned. There's probably a one hour window during the day in which I'm in the right frame of mind to talk to them.

Also, I don't recall applying for a job that I actually want.

I used to hate having to deal with the muppets that work for those agencies. And you're right, they'd call you at 7am to start at 8:30am when no unemployed person is awake and answering the phone. Plus you tell them something like "I'm happy with warehousing and data entry work, but won't work in a call centre". They'll then call you up saying they've got a fantastic call centre opportunity, with the real kicker being that they can't find you much warehousing or data entry work due to a fucking lack of experience.

Have to say I didn't mind working in warehouses or data entry jobs, as the environment can be a lot more fun than a professional office and you can finish on time without needing to take your work (or the stress) home with you. The money isn't great, but you can rack up the overtime.

[BananaStand]

Just kinda skimmed the last page here, so not sure if this has been mentioned before. But if you're looking for a part time job over the holidays, check out your local airport.

Most cargo handling companies hire massive crews at this time of year. I work for one such company and I can tell you that we'll hire almost anyone who can pass a drug test and background check. It's usually a few bucks over minimum wage

You won't have to deal with the public, and you can usually 'shop around' for your own schedule. Various companies will hire for different shifts based on when their planes arrive. So you can usually choose a 3 hour window, any time of day, and have a job to go to. If you have another job, or class, or other responsibility....you can work around it pretty easily.

[OngBonga]

we'll hire almost anyone who can pass a drug test...

That's me out.

[The Bean Counter]

That's me out.

Christ, I'd reject any job if they wanted to drug test on principle. Pretty sure UK companies don't do this, but maybe some do.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Christ, I'd reject any job if they wanted to drug test on principle.

2nd

But I can say that now that I have a degree. When I did not have a degree, the only jobs available were entry-level jobs and they all required "random" drug tests for all employees, plus one to pass the hiring screening.

Still, it's not their business to know my genetic information. I don't see why anyone (drug user or otherwise) would give them their pee. No, you can't have a biological sample of me, just so you can reduce your insurance costs. You gonna make me give you a bottle of pee to work for you? Then you'll get the best fake pee money can buy.

Excellent investment, IMO.
ROI off the charts.

[BananaStand]

Hmmm, it's overwhelmingly common in the US to drug test new employees. I think if you rejected it on principle, you might find yourself limited to some not-so-great employment opportunities.

That being said, beating a test is lol-easy. My company uses a mouth-swab, which only detects usage within about 48 hours. Just take a weekend off and use some extra Listerene before your interview. Easy game.

2nd

But I can say that now that I have a degree. When I did not have a degree, the only jobs available were entry-level jobs and they all required "random" drug tests for all employees, plus one to pass the hiring screening.

Obviously mileage may vary, but I also have a degree, and 20 years experience in my field. I work in accounting/finance. I don't operate equipment, interact with customers, or perform any function that would be diminished even if did it while ripping-shit stoned. Yet, two of the three jobs I've had over the last decade and a half required me to pass a drug screen.

In my cases, I think it had more to do with a perception of equality and equal treatment. If Johnny Punchclock has to be clean, then so do I.

[MadMojoMonkey]

I work in accounting/finance. I don't operate equipment, interact with customers, or perform any function that would be diminished even if did it while ripping-shit stoned. Yet, two of the three jobs I've had over the last decade and a half required me to pass a drug screen.

How have we been convinced that we live in the "land of the free" when this the kind of shit we deal with on a daily basis just to earn a living?

Is it because we would rather just silently lie to them to placate them so we can do what we please? Doesn't that dilute our freedom in every meaningful way?

It was no small motivation to me to earn my degree so that I wouldn't be treated like an assumed criminal by my employer.

Not trolling.

[BananaStand]

Not trolling.

Neither am I, but allow me to play devil's advocate here.

FWIW, I enjoy a little doobage now and then, and it does frustrate me that there are additional hurdles if I want to change jobs, or seek additional employment. Yes, it's a nuisance, but I really think its a stretch to say corporate america is inhibiting my freedoms.

I could just as easily say that 'freedom' means I can hire whoever the fuck I want. And if I don't want drug users on my staff, I should be free to hire as I please.

Also, you really have to look at this from the Employer's perspective too. Take my company for example. We subcontract cargo handling labor for some major air carriers and freight companies in the US. The industry model, is that the carrier will pay us for every labor hour we put on the job. They will say "Plane comes in at 4am, leaves at 7, and it takes 10 people to do the job". So that's 30 hours. I will send the carrier a bill for 30 hours X my rate.

What if a guy calls in sick? Now I only have a crew of 9, but I'm still getting paid hourly. It's the same plane, with the same amount of Cargo, but now i can only put 27 man hours on the job. 27 x my rate = less money. Same thing if a guy gets hurt. Same thing if a guy is late. I lose money.

So for about $18 per hire, I can swab their cheek and find out who's personal habits might lead them to be truant, tardy, or otherwise unfocused at work.....how can I say no?? How can that not pay dividends? How could a government in the "land of the free" pass a law that restricts me from running my business that way?

Also, let's not be too shortsighted here and say that this is limited to just drug testing. Monkey, did you have to pass a background check for your job? I've had my background checked for every job I've had since college. In some cases, they checked my credit too.

If someone is hiring me into a position where I'll be able to embezzle, shouldn't that employer be able to find out whether or not I'm in debt or otherwise troubled financially?

Having a degree shouldn't exempt you from scrutiny. I'm not sure why you think that.

[The Bean Counter]

^^ Don't necessarily disagree, but you should be hired on your ability to do the job and fired if you're not doing it right e.g. if you turn up drunk or call in sick too often because of a hangover. Whether you like a smoke in the evening or not is irrelevant, unless you're a politician or professional athlete.

I think in a finance position, the only relevant personal issues are whether you have a criminal record containing fraud or other forms of deception. That seems a reasonable check for an employer to make.

[MadMojoMonkey]

I favor your argument that the employer has the freedom to hire whomever they see best fit for the job please.

However, an employer is legally restricted from denying employment to a person based on untrue prejudices, e.g. that Asians are poor drivers or that women aren't fit for manual labor. I see that as increasing overall freedom of the population and preventing bad actors from causing harm.

When it comes to drug testing, I don't know of any causal link between the supposed behaviors you describe as having increased probability if an employee uses drugs. Even if there are statistical factors which can be unequivocally (or near enough) demonstrated, then I don't agree that the law should support such discrimination.

E.g. statistically women ARE smaller than men, and have lower muscle mass and lower brute strength. Yet the law says you cannot discriminate against hiring women for jobs involving heavy physical labor.

I see the cost of $X as an excuse to pass the buck. It's not improving the background check, it's providing a non-sequitur which caters to a widely held public view that all drug-users are untrustworthy junkies with a poor work ethic. Which is particularly bothersome because you have put forward that you see this as a fine POV, while you are living proof that it's a lie.

***
IDK to what extent my university did a background check. I assume that they at least checked my references and degree, but I know that is often taken for granted. I am not aware of any legal background check, but it's Washington University in St Louis. They'd be remiss to avoid such things, and they have the money to not bill me for the cost of said check. My legal background has a lot of minor stuff in it, and an arrest for "doobage" at Six Flags... real smart move, there... none of which was I asked about.

[MadMojoMonkey]

If someone is hiring me into a position where I'll be able to embezzle, shouldn't that employer be able to find out whether or not I'm in debt or otherwise troubled financially?

I don't see any reason the employer can't explore all public records to determine whatever they like before choosing whom to hire.

However, knowing that someone is in debt or financially troubled cannot be directly linked to criminal behavior. I don't think it's acceptable to make that correlation. Nearly everyone who earns a college degree graduates with debt. Financial troubles can come to honest, hardworking people just as easily as to criminals.

Having a degree shouldn't exempt you from scrutiny. I'm not sure why you think that.

I do not think that. I only acknowledge that having the degree DOES have this benefit.

[OngBonga]

Christ, I'd reject any job if they wanted to drug test on principle. Pretty sure UK companies don't do this, but maybe some do.

It's a thing here in the UK.

[Savy]

Most people think I'd be against random drug testing for jobs (have it for my job currently) but it isn't restricting your freedoms at all, it is all completely voluntary. If you don't want to do it then you don't, simple. If it is bad working practice (and for a lot of jobs I think that it is, mine is somewhat valid & the benefits to the company will be huge) then those not doing them benefit as a result.

The place I work for used a mouth swab and I can guarantee that people passed it who took drugs in the same week they passed it, they said weed stays for weeks but I doubt it. For the record that person wasn't me, I'm clean as a whistle

[OngBonga]

Weed is detectable in hair for some weeks after smoking, but saliva samples should be clean much quicker. Saliva is enzymes and water, it's a digestive fluid, it breaks down organic compounds.

[BananaStand]

it's providing a non-sequitur which caters to a widely held public view that all drug-users are untrustworthy junkies with a poor work ethic. Which is particularly bothersome because you have put forward that you see this as a fine POV, while you are living proof that it's a lie.

I think you're putting words in the public's mouth a little bit. While there my not be a perfect correlation, I think most people would agree that the presence of drugs in your system is the first clue that you might have an addiction. We can split hairs over whether "addiction" is a character flaw, or an affliction. But in either case, it makes you less attractive to an employer than someone who pees clean.

IDK to what extent my university did a background check. I assume that they at least checked my references and degree, but I know that is often taken for granted. I am not aware of any legal background check, but it's Washington University in St Louis. They'd be remiss to avoid such things, and they have the money to not bill me for the cost of said check. My legal background has a lot of minor stuff in it, and an arrest for "doobage" at Six Flags... real smart move, there... none of which was I asked about.

So, just as an aside, I'd recommend you keep a little bit closer contact with the folks you've listed as references. You should probably want to know whether or not they were called, and what they would/are saying about you.

It's possible you signed something during your onboarding process that allowed them to do a background check. Maybe not though. It's also possible that they don't do "full" background checks. I know some companies will send off the info to the background check company and only ask for results for certain things like fraud. It's possible just don't care about the doobage

I do see where you're coming from a little bit though. It is somewhat troubling to see this kind of invasive scrutiny has become so institutionalized. I don't think my company drug tests employees because we believe it cuts down on sick-outs. We do it because the TSA tells us that we are out of business if we don't.

Want to bid on a government contract? - drug test

Want to get a commercial driver's license - drug test

Want to be an ISO certified company - you probably need to drug test

I'm not sure that's the government's fault. I blame the market. And I would really only want the government to intervene if the market were creating some kind of unfair climate. But I don't think that's the case. Two people apply for the same job, both equally qualified. One smokes dope, and one doesn't. I think the market should make that call, not the law.

[boost]

I think employers and employees are in a tough spot, and I do think it is due to the government's actions. I don't think employers should be punished for discriminating against those who use mind altering substances-- mostly because I think the market will more or less show whether or not this is a good policy for any given employer. However, the fact that the government has deemed certain mind altering drugs illegal, arbitrarily from the perspective of employment it would seem, there is more information gained from knowing someone partakes in an illicit substances. Even in the case of weed, where in many jurisdictions it makes you a scofflaw at worst, there is potentially pertinent information to be gained by knowing whether prospective employees take on the risk of breaking laws in pursuit of an altered state of mind.

In some industries, employers require your driving record, your credit report, etc. These industries have different considerations than others, and compensation should reflect the greater scrutiny.

So, I think what I'm saying is that the government has given certain substances an unwarranted stigma, and that's distorted the market, but it's a paradox because now that the market is distorted, the results of the test actually mean something different and will until the stigma goes away.

[wufwugy]

anybody else find the drop bear and hoop snake hilarious?

[Savy]

So I won an amazon voucher from work for being GOAT at my job* and I couldn't think of anything to spend it on, so I thought fuck it I'll buy some books (still not finished TFAS). Gives me something to do whilst commuting to work. Here is the list, anyone got any other suggestions.

The Marshmallow Test: Understanding Self-control and How To Master It
The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuition Deceives Us
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions
Naïve. Super (only one that's fiction)

*I'm doing the whole if I say something enough times people will start thinking it's true, which it is.

[MadMojoMonkey]

anybody else find the drop bear and hoop snake hilarious?

Those really look like words that make a sentence, but I divine no meaning in their arrangement.

help, plz

[wufwugy]

So I won an amazon voucher from work for being GOAT at my job* and I couldn't think of anything to spend it on, so I thought fuck it I'll buy some books (still not finished TFAS). Gives me something to do whilst commuting to work. Here is the list, anyone got any other suggestions.

The Marshmallow Test: Understanding Self-control and How To Master It
The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuition Deceives Us
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions
Naïve. Super (only one that's fiction)

*I'm doing the whole if I say something enough times people will start thinking it's true, which it is.

I couldn't recommend Gorilla Mindset by Mike Cernovich and How To Fail At Almost Everything And Still Win Big by Scott Adams more. Wonderful books.

[wufwugy]

Those really look like words that make a sentence, but I divine no meaning in their arrangement.

help, plz

The drop bear -- a carnivorous Koala (possibly venomous) -- has killed many a tourist in Australia.

Hoop snakes can travel fast enough to outrun your average family sedan.

[MadMojoMonkey]

All the hard work for the year is done. My grades are graded and submitted. All the final paperwork for the final exam is complete.

I have maybe 30 or so minutes of work to complete tomorrow, but it's collecting files off of the in-room computers to email to the professors.

I made it.

1 week to Hawaii.

[Poopadoop]

All the hard work for the year is done. My grades are graded and submitted. All the final paperwork for the final exam is complete.

I have maybe 30 or so minutes of work to complete tomorrow, but it's collecting files off of the in-room computers to email to the professors.

I made it.

1 week to Hawaii.

MBN.

Sounds like your term ends around the same time as mine did. But, I still have to put the finishing touches on one paper, revise another, get my lazy-ass-but-otherwise-brilliant collaborator to make a figure readable for another and start writing a grant. Oh, and mark essays. Other than that, I can relax.

Bah humbug?

[wufwugy]

Finally done with econometrics. God forsaken class.

It's funny how much economics is trying to play statistics. Not good!

[MadMojoMonkey]

[a500lbgorilla]

[The Bean Counter]

Finally done with econometrics. God forsaken class.

It's funny how much economics is trying to play statistics. Not good!

Always enjoyed the econometrics modules and took them as electives, but I've always been more interested in trying to prove something out, rather than theory. Always seemed like an easy top grade too.

MBN.

Sounds like your term ends around the same time as mine did. But, I still have to put the finishing touches on one paper, revise another, get my lazy-ass-but-otherwise-brilliant collaborator to make a figure readable for another and start writing a grant. Oh, and mark essays. Other than that, I can relax.

Bah humbug?

What do you think about Open Access publishing? Reason I ask is because the company I work for is investing heavily in it (and I'm the guy that reviews the business cases).

[Savy]

Other than that, I can relax.

Bah humbug?

The way my working week falls means that I'll end up working every day I normally would over the holiday period

At least I'm off 50+ hour weeks for a while.

[Poopadoop]

What do you think about Open Access publishing? Reason I ask is because the company I work for is investing heavily in it (and I'm the guy that reviews the business cases).

Can't speak to the economic side of it except to say that it seems like a good racket for the people running them. I suspect the market will become saturated with OA journals at some point though and there will be diminishing returns.

From a science side, it has its good and bad points, but more bad than good imo. The good is that they're free to read, but since most unis have all the most important journals on sub anyways, that isn't much of a plus imo.

The biggest negative is that OA journals are notorious for publishing literally anything as long as the authors are willing to pay. This obvious lowers the standards for what it publishable science. Personally I don't plan on ever sending my work to an OA journal. If I ever do a study so bad that an established reputable journal won't publish it I should probably just chuck it in the bin, and re-think wtf I'm doing.

[The Bean Counter]

The biggest negative is that OA journals are notorious for publishing literally anything as long as the authors are willing to pay. This obvious lowers the standards for what it publishable science. Personally I don't plan on ever sending my work to an OA journal. If I ever do a study so bad that an established reputable journal won't publish it I should probably just chuck it in the bin, and re-think wtf I'm doing.

The academic perception will take some changing, no question. That said, the quality has improved a lot after a sting a few years back and titles are getting rankings. You may be surprised to know that my employer rejects 65% of submissions to OA titles, plus there are strong peer review and anti-plagiarism processes in place. So the quality isn't so bad.

The most useful part for OA is for those articles which would be good enough to get in a journal that everybody wants to publish in, but there's just too many submissions to that journal. The OA sister journals to the high impact titles tend to do quite well from what I've seen.

Money will change the quality too. The Chinese government is throwing money at it, which isn't necessarily good quality research, but the Australians are also funding OA publications well and the UK/US won't be too far behind. I gather a lot of research council grants now require and fund OA publication as standard, presumably as part of some social agenda. I could be wrong on that though.

[Poopadoop]

You may be surprised to know that my employer rejects 65% of submissions to OA titles, plus there are strong peer review and anti-plagiarism processes in place. So the quality isn't so bad.

That is different from my experience then. Where I have served as a reviewer, the editorial process has been more lax than some of the weakest non OA journals. Could just be my field.

That said, the quality has improved a lot after a sting a few years back and titles are getting rankings.

In my field, there was a revolt by editors of one OA journal because the journal owners strongly discouraged them from rejecting anything, to the point where it became a huge hassle for an editor to reject a paper. Big fuss and I think there was some legal action that went with it (breach of contract or some such when these editors resigned en masse). It wasn't pretty...

The most useful part for OA is for those articles which would be good enough to get in a journal that everybody wants to publish in, but there's just too many submissions to that journal. The OA sister journals to the high impact titles tend to do quite well from what I've seen.

I've heard this argument and while it sounds reasonable I don't really buy it. There is a hierarchy of journal quality and if you can't even get published in the lowest tier of journals it probably isn't very good research and won't be missed.

I gather a lot of research council grants now require and fund OA publication as standard, presumably as part of some social agenda. I could be wrong on that though.

I believe the idea is that the journals being open to the public makes the funding of science more transparent. There is a similar movement towards public engagement and it's a bit like the scientists are expected to justify their work to the public so people get to see where their tax money is going. It's a good idea in principle. But the counters to that are that a) Joe Public isn't qualified to evaluate scientific research and b) good quality research generally gets picked up by the media anyways and re-packaged in layman's terms; though the media often is more interested in promoting sexy stories than evaluating their quality, so there's that too.

[boost]

So I won an amazon voucher from work for being GOAT at my job* and I couldn't think of anything to spend it on, so I thought fuck it I'll buy some books (still not finished TFAS). Gives me something to do whilst commuting to work. Here is the list, anyone got any other suggestions.

The Marshmallow Test: Understanding Self-control and How To Master It
The Invisible Gorilla: And Other Ways Our Intuition Deceives Us
Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion
Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces that Shape Our Decisions
Naïve. Super (only one that's fiction)

*I'm doing the whole if I say something enough times people will start thinking it's true, which it is.

I just started "In the Blink of an Eye"-- On its face, it is a how to on film editing, but the tangents, anecdotes, and metaphors are so commonplace (so far) and fascinating that I think it'd be worth reading whether you've the faintest interest in editing or not.

[jackvance]

God damn i missed this place. Been working in the uae for over 2 years now, it's been good. Got married, kid on the way. Up for promotion at the job. Just read the last werewolf, ong tricked everyone, what was that?

[JKDS]

Whats werewolf?

[MadMojoMonkey]

Sup JV?

Did you bring a lady with you and marry her or meet one there and marry her?
Either way, congrats, man! Glad to hear you have (what I assume to be) love and support in your life.

Remind me what your job is and do tell about the promotion.

Ong was well-known for his tricksiness in the dub-dubs, ya know.

[Savy]

JV I hope you get hit by a bus

Spoke to a lad today who appreciated the Spoon way of thinking about things (which tbh I do too RIP) was quite good fun explaining to him, very rare I can bore someone into that conversation.

[BananaStand]

Since celebrities die in threes, does anyone wanna offer odds on who is gonna round out the trio with George Michael and Carrie Fisher?

Right now I think I would offer the following...

5:4 Hugh Heffner
3:2 Willie Nelson
4:1 Bob Barker
10:1 OJ Simpson

[a500lbgorilla]

God damn i missed this place. Been working in the uae for over 2 years now, it's been good. Got married, kid on the way. Up for promotion at the job. Just read the last werewolf, ong tricked everyone, what was that?

Congratz on everything!

[OngBonga]

Either the Queen, or the Duke.

[MadMojoMonkey]

I went to the Pacific Aviation Museum today with my dad.
It was excellent.

He loves airplanes and is so knowledgeable about that era. It turned what would have been a rather mundane and short walk through a couple of hangars and outdoor static displays into a few hours of great conversation and cool facts.

Afterward we had lunch in a restaurant with an open wall facing the harbor. Also good times.


We're doing a 7-hour tour of Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri tomorrow. I'd normally not want to bother with the military history, but it's great to see my dad's enthusiasm about the subject, so I'm looking forward to it.


For the first vacation that I've personally earned, this is a major win. It feels so good to share it with my dad, who was such an instrumental supporter of me through my unemployment.

[oskar]

This raises so many questions:
https://www.buzzfeed.com/ariannarebo...Q65#.svvVLJZMp

Mostly about jell-o and loafs.

[MadMojoMonkey]

At least a few of those looked edible and possibly tasty.

Banana "candle"...?
Purpose: hazing sorority pledges, amirit?

[oskar]

At least a few of those looked edible and possibly tasty.

Explain yourself.

[OngBonga]

That salmon looks alright.

[oskar]

It's stuffed with celery, trenched in hollandaise and "garnished" with all the parsley. The salmon looks alright if you scrape all the shit off and just eat the salmon. Well, alright, it's the most edible out of the list, I'll give you that.

[Savy]

It's stuffed with celery, trenched in hollandaise and "garnished" with all the parsley. The salmon looks alright if you scrape all the shit off and just eat the salmon. Well, alright, it's the most edible out of the list, I'll give you that.

Atora steak pudding?

[OngBonga]

It's stuffed with celery, trenched in hollandaise and "garnished" with all the parsley. The salmon looks alright if you scrape all the shit off and just eat the salmon. Well, alright, it's the most edible out of the list, I'll give you that.

Yeah, pretty much. I looked at it and thought "salmon, bread rolls, rice, that's good enough for me".

And it also looks fantastic, in an artistic sense.

[OngBonga]

Couldn't figure out what the atora was, but I thought it said aorta at first glance, which I feel is more fitting.

Still, if it's pastry and steak with gravy, well that's fucking ace.

[MadMojoMonkey]

#2 Ham and Bananas Hollandaise
Only problem is the bananas don't look to be seared or heated at all. Fried bananas are excellent, albeit pretty sweet for this dish. I don't see why adding ham would be a deal breaker. Hollandaise and Ham is part of eggs benedict, which I love. Replace the bananas with fried plantains and this would be great w/o caveats.

#3 Hot Dog Fondue
Yeah, the hot dogs look funny, but that wont change the flavor. Hot dogs are OK, and I don't see why dipping them in sauces would be dramatically different than squeezing the sauces onto them.

#5 Frosted Ribbon Loaf
Cream Cheese, Ham, and Egg doesn't sound like a problem to me.

#13 Frozen Cheese Salad
You gotta click the link for the recipe. I'm skeptical, but I would try it.

#18 Glazed Potato Salad
Again I am skeptical of the Glaze, but not so much to stop me from trying it.

#19 Baked, Stuffed Salmon
I love Hollandaise, and don't see a major issue with this dish.

#20 Igloo Meat Loaf
Again, gotta click for recipe.
It's just meat loaf wrapped in mashed potatoes with some cheese on top, so I don't even see a problem with this one.

[MadMojoMonkey]

Couldn't figure out what the atora was, but I thought it said aorta at first glance, which I feel is more fitting.

Still, if it's pastry and steak with gravy, well that's fucking ace.

2nd

[Savy]

Couldn't figure out what the atora was, but I thought it said aorta at first glance, which I feel is more fitting.

Still, if it's pastry and steak with gravy, well that's fucking ace.

It's suet, essentially in any pie, pudding, etc. That picture seems to be steak pudding so unless there is some weird shit in the ingredients that they aren't mentioning they've essentially listed a classic chippy option.

[oskar]

Still, if it's pastry and steak with gravy, well that's fucking ace.

2nd

You dirty animals!

[Savy]

Seriously though if you're ever in the UK and go to a chippy get a steak and kidney pudding with chips and gravy, they're brilliant.

[Poopadoop]

If you want a good British meal, go to an Indian restaurant.

[OngBonga]

Seriously though if you're ever in the UK and go to a chippy get a steak and kidney pudding with chips and gravy, they're brilliant.

The kidney was always the problem with these from my pov... not sure I'd like these aorta puddings.