Got my girl flowers for Valentine's Day.

Meaning behind it:

I've always considered myself an alpha wolf but wolf tattoos didn't really have the look I wanted. So I went werewolf. He's in a humble position but not kneeling. He's been beaten but isn't broken. He's thankful for what he has and again, humbly acknowledges that and those who got him where he is but he's a fighter. He's still standing and still fighting. But he's taking a moment to pause and reflect on what he's lost but also gained.

Thanks,
A.J.

Original:

Mine:

@gjacobse said:

@thanksajdotcom said:

Waiting for my body to wind back down so I can sleep...I'm into hour 24 atm...

At least you are young enough that your body has the ability to recover better.. I can't do that so much ay more..

Got to sleep finally last night...slept between 6 and 7 hours...felt good

@scottalanmiller said in Don't Stay in School:

Sadly, immediately after these videos he went silent on all channels. No idea what happened to him.

The Rothschilds had him killed

@dafyre said in Don't Stay in School:

@Dashrender said in Don't Stay in School:

@scottalanmiller said in Don't Stay in School:

@Dashrender said in Don't Stay in School:

I'll definitely agree that anything past probably 8th grade, and perhaps much less than that, are really needed by the common man.

Probably a mix. Few 8th graders are anywhere nearly prepared to talk politics. Things like geography and history are necessary for even basic functional citizenship (unless we remove democracy, then we don't have to educate every individual to all of these things - democracy comes at an incredible price.) Math needs to at least go to algebra. Science we go way, way too far. Computing we rarely even bother to introduce in any meaningful way. English lit... way too far.

I definitely understand where you are coming from - and I'll fully admit to my general lack of knowledge in history - but would dropping the general requirements for history really change much in the world we live in today?

History gives us good examples of things that have been tried and worked, or things that have tried and failed... In technology, government, business...

The issue is that, in the US, a lot of history is actually taught incorrectly, and is taught from a biased viewpoint that isn't really factually accurate, but is presenting the perception that is wanting to be imparted. I fully agree that "those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it", which is why we have candidates like Trump succeeding so well in the polls when he's very much a fascist. But we need to make sure that the history taught is being taught accurately, and not how people wanted it to be perceived, instead of what's the brutal reality.

So some things that need to change in the American education system:

• We need to stop the "teach for the test" approach. Kids don't like tests, and I agree with Scott. I've taken tests on things that I barely knew anything about and done very well, simply because I'm excellent at taking tests. Tests are an easy way to generate metrics and numbers for someone to present to someone else. However, our current testing system doesn't really test on comprehension, but rather, as @Dashrender I believe said (sorry if I'm mistaken), them being able to regurgitate information.
• Teach kids practical life skills. How to change a tire, create a budget, basic home and car maintenance, basic accounting and bookkeeping, and much more. I actually use basic algebra on a daily basis. I still end up using a calculator, but if I'm trying to figure out that 280 is 90% of what number, I know it's x*.9=280 and I end up dividing 280/.9 to get the answer. Stuff like that. But if someone isn't going to go for math in college, why are we teaching calculus and trig?
• Teach skills. After 8th grade, get kids active in learning something. Let kids choose some basic activities they WANT to learn about, and have people teach them. Construction? Computers? Cars? Get them learning hands-on, and help these kids start both gaining skills they could use to get a job, and help them figure out what they actually want to do for work.
• College is a means to an end, not the be-all, end-all. I agree with Scott that I think many GCs propagate a system that is built on bullshit, because if they don't further the bullshit, they are forced to admit to themselves, and others, that what they built their life on was a total lie. You wanna be a doctor, lawyer, CPA, etc? You're going to need a degree. Want to get into IT? College probably isn't necessary. I also think that, if someone wants to get into a certain field, bringing in people who actually have REAL EXPERIENCE in that field, rather than a GC just guessing or making shit up based on what they found in 2 seconds through Google, as far as what they should learn and what training path they should take, would be advantageous.
• Stop cutting woodshop, band, etc. You want kids to learn and you want kids to WANT to learn? Get them excited about the idea of learning. I agree with Scott also that learning for the sake of learning is something to be encouraged, not looked down on. It NEVER hurts to be MORE informed, but we are seeing the sad effects in this country of what happens when people are FAR LESS informed.

Just a few ideas...sorry for the long rant.

Thanks,
A.J.

Trying to not freak out that I've been up since 4AM yesterday (1:20AM currently here) and I have to be at work in 40 minutes...and work til 8AM...to which I will come home and crash HARD!

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

First day on the new job. Very excited to see how things go.

that was fast! Good luck!

They wanted me onboard. They seem very excited to have me here.

@RojoLoco said in What is New Earth:

@thanksajdotcom said in What is New Earth:

@JaredBusch said in What is New Earth:

@tonyshowoff said in What is New Earth:

@RojoLoco said in What is New Earth:

@tonyshowoff said in What is New Earth:

@RojoLoco said in What is New Earth:

@tonyshowoff said in What is New Earth:

@RojoLoco said in What is New Earth:

I've always practiced a policy of "never discuss science with those who subscribe to any religion". This has saved me immeasurable time over the years.

I've known plenty of atheists with piss poor understanding of science. Of course, if one's religion clouds their ability to reason it doesn't really matter, but you can find a lot of die hard conspiracy theorists and flat earthers who are atheists too. There's one famous flat earth guy, I think his film is called "under the dome", anyway he thinks it's aliens, not God which put us in this dome.

Atheism is not an automatic sign of being reasonable or intelligent.

Who said I was atheist? That's as bad an "ism" as all the rest. I am fervently anti-religion, all of them. I believe in science, not in re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-re-translated stories from thousands of years ago.

Nobody, I never said you were an atheist. I was merely pointing out lack of a religion doesn't mean they're intelligent, which is what you basically said.

Actually, I said I don't discuss science with religious people. Nor do I discuss it with idiots or otherwise unreasonable people. When not at work, I surround myself with intelligent people.

So what are you defining religious as then? Any faith in anything or organised religion only?

I like to torment my religious friends by calling their religion a cult.

I was actually raised in a cult, so I actually have done this and find it hysterical.

I didn't know you were a Scientologist!

About half a step better than those people, but not a whole lot...JW.

Got some sleep last night, and now I'm at work.

So not only is Staples hiring me back, but just like every other time, I'm going back to a pay raise. And they reached out to me, not me to them. Going to be working at a different store, and this one is actually closer to home. Although a part of me hates the idea, there's a certain familiarity to it all, and it'll be extra money too, which is good. It's nice when you receive much needed validation that people who said and did certain things are proven that they were full of shit!

Pizza is on its way to the office! Wings too! Very happy!

FYI, @acs77043 was someone who used to come in to my retail store and we'd talk shop. One of the few customers who I could talk real shop with, and we always had a good time.

Cup of broccoli cheddar soup, a Redd's, and some french fries.

@thwr said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thwr said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Talking to people in India who are telling me it's against policy to give me access to systems that I am required to use in order to do my job...FML

They are just doing their job... exactly the way they have been instructed to do it. Word by word.

Not saying it's the same with all the people from India (that would be stupid, there are > 1 billion people), but I've heard a story once where an Indian company was tasked to build a small website. "There shall be links on the left side in a menu". They did just that: Putting the word "links" multiple times there.

I love getting told to send emails and open tickets when we've done this, MANY times, and we constantly just get ignored...

Maybe you missed to add some keywords like "inquiry", "invoice" or "order"

Or words like "DO YOUR F***ING JOB ***HOLES!" Well, maybe not...

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@wirestyle22 said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thwr said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thwr said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@thanksajdotcom said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Talking to people in India who are telling me it's against policy to give me access to systems that I am required to use in order to do my job...FML

They are just doing their job... exactly the way they have been instructed to do it. Word by word.

Not saying it's the same with all the people from India (that would be stupid, there are > 1 billion people), but I've heard a story once where an Indian company was tasked to build a small website. "There shall be links on the left side in a menu". They did just that: Putting the word "links" multiple times there.

I love getting told to send emails and open tickets when we've done this, MANY times, and we constantly just get ignored...

Maybe you missed to add some keywords like "inquiry", "invoice" or "order"

Or words like "DO YOUR F***ING JOB ***HOLES!" Well, maybe not...

Everyone could say that to you too though. I try to give people the patience I want. Granted I'm human and I'm depleted of resources sometimes.

It just gets frustrating being told to send emails and open tickets, when we've done that multiple times, had them closed without follow-up or just blatantly ignored, and we ask again, because there are only a few things we do here onsite, and I'm missing access to one of the most key systems I need, as well as the system I use most often...and if my coworker isn't here when I need that done, it doesn't get done right now. Including an AD password reset...lovely right?

@scottalanmiller , to answer your question, my boss, the head of IT for the Americas, just responded to the email I CC'ed him on requesting access to systems I should have had access to since day 1, saying that the team needs to get this done ASAP.

@scottalanmiller Oh I know she wouldn't have been there. One, she's too old. Two, she's a JW, so she doesn't do clubs. And a good JW, so yeah... still...but my heart breaks for those families...

@scottalanmiller said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Get out there and vote!!

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1762449-the-2016-spicies-awards-spiceworks-partner-edition

@KOOLER @Nic and others in the running.

@PackMatt73

Just got to work. I'm dressed up for the wake I have to go to later, which a lot of people are surprised by how nicely I clean up. Lol

I just wish I still had a proper suit with all the amenities.

@thwr said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

@JaredBusch said in What Are You Doing Right Now:

Why can people, supposedly IT people especially, not use a f*** [moderated] search. Or even browse the recent topics.

https://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1847932-3cx-and-traditional-analog-paging-systems

Making good use of a search engine / search function is a skill on its own IMHO... I know quite a few people who aren't good at it, to say the least.

Google + RegEx = YASSSSS!