Week in review

[ljb5]

Dow down triple digits two days in a row.

Iraq more of a mess than ever - bombings of Christian Churches are a new tactic fo the insurgents.

Haliburton under investigation (again.)

Jobs report about a tenth of what was expected - and previous months revised downwards.

Winds from SW 3 to 5. I'm going sailing with my wife.

[John Bell]

Your glee at any bad news is palpable. Kind of ghoulish, IMO.

You ain't changing anyone's mind, either.

Have fun sailing. We're headed to the lake in a couple hours ourselves. Three to five is bit light for good sailing, but it beats workin'.

[ 08-07-2004, 09:40 AM: Message edited by: John Bell ]

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

John I agree.
I find the inclusion of the going sailing remark at the end especially gleeful.

ljb5 if you go sailing post a thread about that. This is not the first time you have included a sailing story in some political rant, its annoying.

The concept that Americans are dying and Americans are loosing jobs is nothing to be gleeful about :(

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I bet there's some good military people in Iraq who wish they could go sailing right about now.
Enjoy your freedom and give thanks to those that defend it for us.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

P.S. I got laid off yesterday, the poor man's vacation. :D

[ 08-07-2004, 10:05 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Know It All ]

[Hughman]

Yeah. Don't mix the wheat with the chaff.

MKIA, you put a grin thingy after the laid-off tag....Are you glad to get laid-off, or is this a crisis?

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

It's only for a few weeks( I hope) and I'd rather be laid off in August while I can go boating or work on the house. Like I said , the poor man's vacation. :D

[Wild Dingo]

poor mans vacation??? ****e!!! :rolleyes:

So yet another forumite joins the bulging ranks of the great unwashed... strewth fellas whatsahappenin? :eek:

Sublime confidence Kevin excellent stuff! Keep it positive and upbeat you'll be right :cool: ... says he as he continues addressing selection criterias and emailing resumes around the flamin country! :rolleyes: ;)

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

My Carpenter cousin used to refer to summer layoffs as UP to the beach. MrKIA I hope its not a sustained layoff. Good Luck

My wife's design firm laid her off permanently last month after 12 years the last 3 years post 9/11 struggle. She has picked up some freelance work and is trying to grow that. Thank God I'm doing OK in the R.E. market and we have COBRA insurance until we can join some reasonable group plan. Just trying to sock some ca$h away for the lean times.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I suppose everything happens for a reason and time is a gift. Lay-offs are common here in the rust belt. In fact, we've been lucky to have been working since December last year. Tons of overtime too. I'm blessed with a few low paying side jobs to carry me if this drags out for long.
I need time to work on the Lyman too......so there ya go. :D

[ahp]

To add to all of the above it turns out that Texas executed a lot of innocent people and the public school success rate wasn't nearly what they claimed during George's watch.

The man has screwed up everything he has touched, publicly and in his own business ventures.

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by John Bell:
Your glee at any bad news is palpable. Kind of ghoulish, IMO.
Wow, you ARE projecting - or you're faking where you live and are actually his neighbor!


pal·pa·ble adj.

1. Capable of being handled, touched, or felt; tangible: “Anger rushed out in a palpable wave through his arms and legs” (Herman Wouk).
2. Easily perceived; obvious: “There was a palpable sense of expectation in the court” (Nelson DeMille). See Synonyms at perceptible.
3. Medicine. That can be felt by palpating: a palpable tumor.
He made a statement of facts and you're jumping to conclusions about his attitude. How extraordinary!

I guess it would be too anti-partisan to express any outrage over fearless leader's insistance, even in the face of the numbers, that everything is just peachy with the economy, as he claimed in a speech televised yesterday (exerpt on News Hour). I'd say that didn't win him any points with the majority of Americans who are worried about the economy and their jobs.

[John Bell]

If so, then I'm projecting just as much as Dutch et. al. project about Karen. And yes, I knew the definition of "palpable" when I chose to use that word.

Things aren't as great as they could be, but I don't see where the alternative offers anything that won't make it worse. Give me a real choice for the better, and I might be convinced to change my mind.

[ 08-07-2004, 01:10 PM: Message edited by: John Bell ]

[alteran]

Originally posted by Meerkat:
[QUOTEI'd say that didn't win him any points with the majority of Americans who are worried about the economy and their jobs.If those who are worried about a job spent their time searching for one instead of whining about the economy they WOULD be employed.
The helping hand you need is at the end of your arm. Use it wisely.

Al.

[Meerkat]

Originally posted by alteran:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Meerkat:
[QUOTEI'd say that didn't win him any points with the majority of Americans who are worried about the economy and their jobs.If those who are worried about a job spent their time searching for one instead of whining about the economy they WOULD be employed.
The helping hand you need is at the end of your arm. Use it wisely.

Al.</font>[/QUOTE]Always got to make it personal, eh little man? :mad:

[ljb5]

Anyone who thought I was being gleeful about bad news is an idiot. That goes double for you, Joe. You should know better.

I've posted about bad economic news before, and Conrad was always there to chime in about how it was actually good news in disguise.

I've posted about bad news from Iraq, and Karen was there to explain how happy she was that our soldiers were over there.

I've posted about the investigations of Halliburton and Art was quick to chime in that he was happy about it and going to vote for Bush again.

Obviously, I'm not happy about the bad news. That's why I'm voting for change.

The people you should be upset with are the people who got us into this mess -- and the people who will vote to keep us in it.

[ 08-07-2004, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: ljb5 ]

[alteran]

Originally posted by Meerkat:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by alteran:

Originally posted by Meerkat:
[qb][QUOTEI'd

Al.Always got to make it personal, eh little man? :mad: </font>"Little man" sounds a little personal, Meerkat.
Found time to seek employment yet or are you a little too busy here whining?

[ljb5]

Originally posted by Mr. Know It All:
I bet there's some good military people in Iraq who wish they could go sailing right about now.I know it for a fact. If it were up to me, they'd never have gone over there. If it were up to me, they'd be home with their families sailing.

I'm not the one who sent them overseas on fake promises and outright lies.

[John Bell]

If you don't derive some sort of smug satisfaction by posting gloom and doom, then why do it?

Frankly, the main reason I come here is to be entertained. Posts like that aren't entertaining at all. They are trolls, nothing more, nothing less.

Shame on me for rising to the bait.

[Mark Van]

Let me get this straight. Bush is stupid. Kerry allowed Bush to mislead him into voting for the war in Iraq. Kerry is smart. Something doesn't make sense here.

[ljb5]

Originally posted by John Bell:
If you don't derive some sort of smug satisfaction by posting gloom and doom, then why do it?Because it's important to me.

I don't derive any smug satisfaction out of going to the dentist, but I do that too. Sometimes painful reckoning with a problem is the best way to deal with it.

I just can't understand anyone who votes for Bush and supports his policies, yet complains about the 'ghoulish' bad news which results. Then they go and vote for him again. Then they attack me for it! Bizarre and pathetic.

[alteran]

Originally posted by ljb5:

Winds from SW 3 to 5. I'm going sailing with my wife.How was sailing? You weren't gone long.
What lake were you on? What kind of boat? How did it sail in the 3 to 5 winds?

[km gresham]

OK, here's the secret - this is the set up for everything to turn around in October, for the October Surprise. Oh and we'll turn up Osama, too. ;) smile.gif

I'll still vote for President Bush. smile.gif

[ljb5]

Originally posted by alteran:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by ljb5:

Winds from SW 3 to 5. I'm going sailing with my wife.How was sailing? You weren't gone long.
What lake were you on? What kind of boat? How did it sail in the 3 to 5 winds?</font>[/QUOTE]Glad you asked. The 3 to 5 never appeared. We motored out to the RC boat and sat around for half an hour. An itty-bitty little puff came up, so we set sail and did two tacks up wind and a gybe to a spinnaker run. The wind died completely and RC gave us three guns so we motored in. Same Colgate 26 as before.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Originally posted by alteran:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Meerkat:
[QUOTEI'd say that didn't win him any points with the majority of Americans who are worried about the economy and their jobs.If those who are worried about a job spent their time searching for one instead of whining about the economy they WOULD be employed.
The helping hand you need is at the end of your arm. Use it wisely.

Al.</font>[/QUOTE]What do you do for a living Al?
Have you ever been laid off?
I have to say, you sound like someone who dosen't know what the hell he's talking about.
I still work when laid off from my Job but I don't make as much.
There's no lack of work here, just a lack of decent wages for a weeks work.
With so many people out of work, it's an employer's market and they expect more and pay less, because they can.
Why don't you tell us a little about yourself so we can be critical too.
How do we know you're not living off your Daddy's trust fund and have never worked a day in your life? :D

[Art Read]

"...Because it's important to me..."

And that's why I put so little stock in what you have to say here. You showed up right about when the "political" season got into full swing, started right in with obviously partisan trolls and then act shocked when some of us find your tactics distasteful. Can we look forward towards your losing "interest" here once the election's over?

[alteran]

"Glad you asked. The 3 to 5 never appeared. We motored out to the RC boat and sat around for half an hour. An itty-bitty little puff came up, so we set sail and did two tacks up wind and a gybe to a spinnaker run."

"Did all that on an inland lake with an itty bitty puff huh? OK......

What lake were you on?

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

You have to answer questions before you ask Al.
What do you know about the troubles of the ordinary average working man? :confused:

Thought so. :D

[alteran]

Originally posted by Mr. Know It All:
You have to answer questions before you ask Al.
What do you know about the troubles of the ordinary average working man? :confused:

Thought so. :D I'll answer you later tonight, know it all, right now I'm working.

Al.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Workin up a good one I'm sure. :D

[Meerkat]

Meanwhile a dozen more explosions in Baghdad today and the puppet government censors Al Jezeria (sp?).

[alteran]

Originally posted by Mr. Know It All:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by alteran:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Meerkat:

What do you do for a living Al?
Have you ever been laid off?
I have to say, you sound like someone who dosen't know what the hell he's talking about.
I still work when laid off from my Job but I don't make as much.
There's no lack of work here, just a lack of decent wages for a weeks work.
With so many people out of work, it's an employer's market and they expect more and pay less, because they can.
Why don't you tell us a little about yourself so we can be critical too.
How do we know you're not living off your Daddy's trust fund and have never worked a day in your life? :D </font>Here you go Know it all. [wise choice of a nick name by the way.]

Grew up on a farm where I learned that if you don't send milk to the creamery or cattle to market you don't get paid.

At 17 I went off to college. My parents paid half the tuition and I earned the rest and paid my room and board working 3 part time jobs. School in the morning, bus route driving in the afternoon, welding at a refinery at night and equipment repair at a warehouse every Saturday.

Sundays I kept my $200 cars running and had some fun.

Out of school I supported my wife and family selling on a commission basis. Lost my job once when I had 2 children and one on the way. Was working the next day pounding nails as a carpenter. Not the job I wanted but it WAS a job. It paid the bills.

Have owned my own business now for almost 20 years. Doing everything from selling to multimillionaire CEOs while dressed in a suit to laying under a truck at midnight putting in a clutch so my crew could be working the next morning.

Yes indeed I am living off "daddys trust fund".

The trust fund he left me was a strong work ethic.

I'm grateful.

Al.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I'm still kinda confused on what exactly it is you do? Do you sit behind a desk now? Come in at noon, make a deposit at the bank and leave at 2 to go golfing like my boss? Most business owners get a break somewhere along the line but will swear all their success is from the sweat of their brow ,when in reality it usually comes from their workers desperate need for a paycheck. :D

I also wonder, if you lost it all tomorrow and had to start over, if you would be humbled enough to feel a little sympathy for some poor guy who just lost his job? I hope you never have to find out but that would be your karma. tongue.gif
Peace----> Kevin in Ohio

[Meerkat]

Good point Mr. KIA. It's strange how so many buisness people (but not all!) seem to treat/think of workers as unfeeling tools that can be discarded without much consideration. Makes the notion of compassion in conservativism dubious.

[George G]

[QUOTE] if you go sailing post a thread about that. This is not the first time you have included a sailing story in some political rant, its annoying.
QUOTE]

I beg to disagree. Occasional inserts about sailing and boats are reminders that we all do have at least one thing in common, and perhaps keeps the polarization of the bilge somewhat under control.

[alteran]

Originally posted by Mr. Know It All:
I'm still kinda confused on what exactly it is you do? Do you sit behind a desk now? Come in at noon, make a deposit at the bank and leave at 2 to go golfing like my boss? Most business owners get a break somewhere along the line but will swear all their success is from the sweat of their brow ,when in reality it usually comes from their workers desperate need for a paycheck. :D

I also wonder, if you lost it all tomorrow and had to start over, if you would be humbled enough to feel a little sympathy for some poor guy who just lost his job? I hope you never have to find out but that would be your karma. tongue.gif
Peace----> Kevin in OhioMost days I start at 6 am. Rarely done before 9 pm. This for 6 months of the year. The other 6 months are 6 to 10 hour days. Some days I'm the salesman somedays I'm working right alongside my employees getting dirty and sweating my ass off.
6 days a week every week. Sometimes 7. Today, Sunday I'll meet a customer at 8, get him back on his way by 10, measure a few jobs, knock out a couple bids and sail a while if I get a chance.

If I lost it all tommorrow I'd be working the next day for one of my competitors.

As for your comments insinuating that I treat my employees poorly and give them none of the credit for my succsess you are dead wrong. I couldn't do it without them. They do an excellent job and I treat them well. Their pay is 40% over the norm here. They have been with me many years and likely will be here for many more.

Too bad you are so blinded by your stereotype of business owners that you think the worst before finding out the facts.

[imported_Dutch]

a bit off topic are we?

[LeeG]

everyone has a week to review.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Hmmmmm......still kinda vague about what it is you do? If I'm jumping to conclusions it's because you're vague about it. I'm betting most days, you sit at a desk and talk on the phone. Then you drive around, meet with customers and give estimates. If you've owned the business for 20 years, the days of getting dirty and sweating with your crew are in the past. You may remember what it's like but I'll bet it's been awhile. That would explain your lack of compassion. I doubt your competitor would hire you because your too old and he doesn't need a salesman.If you're so tight with the crew how many are going sailing with you today? You sure spend alot of time here on the forum for someone who works so hard and puts in so many hours. :D

[ 08-08-2004, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Know It All ]

[alteran]

Originally posted by Mr. Know It All:
Hmmmmm......still kinda vague about what it is you do? If I'm jumping to conclusions it's because you're vague about it. I'm betting most days, you sit at a desk and talk on the phone. Then you drive around, meet with customers and give estimates. If you've owned the business for 20 years, the days of getting dirty and sweating with your crew are in the past. You may remember what it's like but I'll bet it's been awhile. That would explain your lack of compassion. I doubt your competitor would hire you because your too old and he doesn't need a salesman.If you're so tight with the crew how many are going sailing with you today? You sure spend alot of time here on the forum for someone who works so hard and puts in so many hours. :D Computer is right here on my office desk next to the other one that I use to figure jobs. Which is what I'm doing now as I wait for my man to show up for his material.

And as for the last time I worked with the crew and got dirty?

Yesterday morning northern wisconsin. 4 hours of pick and shovel work. Me and my 28 year old female employee. Working, sweating, laughing, teasing each other and gettin it done so she could have the afternnon off.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Quote by Al ......"Yesterday morning northern wisconsin. 4 hours of pick and shovel work. Me and my 28 year old female employee. Working, sweating, laughing, teasing each other and gettin it done so she could have the afternnon off."

Getting hot and sweaty with a female employee?
Did your wife know where you were?
I'll trade you jobs any day Al. :D

[ljb5]

Originally posted by alteran:
Yesterday morning northern wisconsin. 4 hours of pick and shovel work. Me and my 28 year old female employee. Working, sweating, laughing, teasing each other and gettin it done so she could have the afternnon off.You gave her a helping hand? Why didn't you just tell her to tough it out? The helping hand she is looking for is at the end of her arm and all that...

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Yeah tongue.gif

That just about brings us full circle. :rolleyes:

Sorry Dutch,didn't mean to hyjack your thread. :D

[alteran]

Originally posted by ljb5:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by alteran:
Yesterday morning northern wisconsin. 4 hours of pick and shovel work. Me and my 28 year old female employee. Working, sweating, laughing, teasing each other and gettin it done so she could have the afternnon off.You gave her a helping hand? Why didn't you just tell her to tough it out? The helping hand she is looking for is at the end of her arm and all that...</font>[/QUOTE]Ahhhh perhaps you didn't get it.

I work together with my employees. I make money, they make money, we are all happy. And yes the helping hand is at the end of the arm. Her arms, my arms, all of us who work together.

Oh, by the way why didn't I tell her to tough it out?

She is a great employee. Why would I do that?
It would be a poor way to treat a fellow human being, friend and employee and would be bad for my business as well. We would both lose.

Thats why.

[ 08-08-2004, 07:54 PM: Message edited by: alteran ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Glad to hear you're happy Al.
Thats all that matters anyway.
Have a good week.
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio

[ljb5]

Originally posted by alteran:
[QB]I work together with my employees. I make money, they make money, we are all happy. [QB]Sounds like a worker's paradise.

[alteran]

Originally posted by ljb5:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by alteran:
[QB]I work together with my employees. I make money, they make money, we are all happy. [QB]Sounds like a worker's paradise.</font>[/QUOTE]Paradise? No. Just a good little business where everyone gets along and we all make money as we live the good life in a pretty place.
In the last 2 weeks we have seen outside the shop 3 eagles, several wild turkeys with their young, geese, 3 sandhill cranes, a fox, and always there are white tail deer [too many] and raccoons.

My employees and I don't gross what you might in Madison Wi. or what others make in metro areas but we never drive in heavy traffic, see traffic lights only a few times a week, normally eat our lunch under the shade of a tree in a place with no traffic noise and we sleep in quiet homes in the country.

Paradise? Well now that I think about it.........