Why ??!!...The whinging,moaning,complaining,ranting,letting off steam thread !!

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  • Posts: 15,757
    Well, my job sucks and I'm now at risk of losing it. And the job market isn't good either.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,767
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Well, my job sucks and I'm now at risk of losing it. And the job market isn't good either.

    I'm very sorry to hear that, @Ludovico. I faced the same problem some years ago but thankfully found a much nicer place to work in the end. I hope the same happens for you. You're an intelligent man and you deserve better than a job that sucks.
  • edited February 26 Posts: 15,757
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Well, my job sucks and I'm now at risk of losing it. And the job market isn't good either.

    I'm very sorry to hear that, @Ludovico. I faced the same problem some years ago but thankfully found a much nicer place to work in the end. I hope the same happens for you. You're an intelligent man and you deserve better than a job that sucks.

    Thanks. I'm feeling better because a recruiter contacted me since. I'm not so sure about this new opportunity, but it has a bigger salary and it feels nice to be considered a suitable candidate.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,767
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Dragonpol wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Well, my job sucks and I'm now at risk of losing it. And the job market isn't good either.

    I'm very sorry to hear that, @Ludovico. I faced the same problem some years ago but thankfully found a much nicer place to work in the end. I hope the same happens for you. You're an intelligent man and you deserve better than a job that sucks.

    Thanks. I'm feeling better because a recruiter contacted me since. I'm not so sure about this new opportunity, but it has a bigger salary and it feels nice to be considered a suitable candidate.

    Well, that's some encouraging news. Take heart from it. I wish you all the best with this new job opportunity.
  • DarthDimiDarthDimi Behind you!Moderator
    edited February 26 Posts: 24,689
    Agreed, @Ludovico, that's good news, isn't it? In any case, I admire your patience. I sincerely hope your next job will bring some peace and financial stability or, if you don't need that, at least some security. You're a smart man. Someone is bound to recognize your talents.
  • Posts: 15,757
    Thanks guys. I used to really like my job and it's one of the best employers I've had. But I've been stuck for a year with a difficult proposition and they've changed three times at least the approach to sell it. My wife has a job, decent salary, our mortgage is already paid, we know we can survive on one salary, but two salaries bring security. Especially in a volatile job market.
  • edited March 1 Posts: 12,734
    Does anyone else here get really bothered and depressed sometimes by how much of life really is just luck and happenstance, and no matter how hard or often you try at something it’s meaningless? They teach us all sorts of comforting lies growing up: work hard and you can accomplish anything, you’ll be rewarded for good deeds, or just the premise in general that being good and working hard is worthwhile. The truth of the matter is, your odds might be slightly increased in certain ways by doing certain things, but it’s just as possible to put in endless hours of effort for nothing or sometimes even punishment.

    I know that no one said life was fair, but it does get under my skin thinking about things like this sometimes. It’s so much easier to be born wealthy and without a conscience, they don’t have to worry about anything. Bad guys are always the winners in this life. I think it’s why other people make up sayings like “money doesn’t buy you happiness” or invented fiction so that heroes can actually win, to make ourselves feel better even though it’s not real. Being a good person takes way more effort and is depressingly meaningless and gets one nowhere - qualities like being hard-working, generous, selfless, honest, etc.… those aren’t ever what people with power or success have. Just a hard reality I’ve been struggling with lately.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    Posts: 6,768
    Amazon is testing my last nerve lately. I cannot believe they are in charge of Bond.

    I have friends who are boycotting them but I just don't think I can boycott Bond.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/business/media/amazon-the-apprentice-trump.html
  • DwayneDwayne New York City
    edited March 11 Posts: 2,990
    echo wrote: »
    Amazon is testing my last nerve lately. I cannot believe they are in charge of Bond.

    I have friends who are boycotting them but I just don't think I can boycott Bond.

    https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/business/media/amazon-the-apprentice-trump.html

    (edited for content)

    While everyone is free to do what they think is best, I've been on the Amazon boycott train since November.

    As for boycotting Bond when a new film is released, I'll play it by ear depending on the specifics of mgt involvement. I'm just thankful that I don't have to make that decision for the next two years or so.
  • Posts: 6,166
    Okay, this message might be considered political, but I really had to vent out my frustration, so here goes :

    This month, I had a small windfall in my bank account (my part of the inheritance of one of my aunts who passed away in 2023, if you must know). So, I had decided to spent a small portion for a little week-end in London (you know, sightseeing, shopping, and going to see three shows in the theaters). Except that some morons in the higher spheres of the British government have decided to add an obstacle, in addition to the ones already in place : the Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA for short. Okay, if it were only filling a form, everything would be all right, but I also have to take a picture of the main page of my passport (which is very difficult to do with the phone in one hand and the other keeping the passport open), and then taking a picture of myself. I wanted to use the site instead of the app, and so had my picture taken by a professional photographer. I tried today to take the picture of my passport and download it on my computer (don't know if it would be accepted, but...), and I couldn't download the pics from my cellphone to my computer. Something tells me that I won't be able to go to Britain anytime soon, unless a) I manage to use the app, which fills me with trepidation, considering how complicated it is, or b) that the powers that Be decide to stop that Brexit born stupidity.

    Rant's over. Now, can somebody here give me some pointers on how to deal with the situation ? Or tell me if I can try to get an old-style visa, instead of all that digital crap ?
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,767
    I unfortunately don't know about your specific case but as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic I've noticed that a lot of things have moved from physical paper forms to online only forms. I suppose it was designed to stop the spread of Covid for officials handling paper forms and it's just stayed on post-pandemic. The new normal, as they say. You have my sympathy though as from experience some of these online forms are a bloody nightmare to fill in. Sometimes the old ways of pen and paper are still the best.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,968
    Gerard wrote: »
    Okay, this message might be considered political, but I really had to vent out my frustration, so here goes :

    This month, I had a small windfall in my bank account (my part of the inheritance of one of my aunts who passed away in 2023, if you must know). So, I had decided to spent a small portion for a little week-end in London (you know, sightseeing, shopping, and going to see three shows in the theaters). Except that some morons in the higher spheres of the British government have decided to add an obstacle, in addition to the ones already in place : the Electronic Travel Authorization, or ETA for short. Okay, if it were only filling a form, everything would be all right, but I also have to take a picture of the main page of my passport (which is very difficult to do with the phone in one hand and the other keeping the passport open), and then taking a picture of myself. I wanted to use the site instead of the app, and so had my picture taken by a professional photographer. I tried today to take the picture of my passport and download it on my computer (don't know if it would be accepted, but...), and I couldn't download the pics from my cellphone to my computer. Something tells me that I won't be able to go to Britain anytime soon, unless a) I manage to use the app, which fills me with trepidation, considering how complicated it is, or b) that the powers that Be decide to stop that Brexit born stupidity.

    Rant's over. Now, can somebody here give me some pointers on how to deal with the situation ? Or tell me if I can try to get an old-style visa, instead of all that digital crap ?

    Keep your chin up and try the app service to your best ability. Keep in mind the system is likely designed to dissuade people from coming, so it's not your fault at all that it's complicated.
  • edited April 24 Posts: 1,746
    just-woke-up-from-a-dream-that-I-met-Earthquake-WWF-wrestler&got-some-autographs
    then-I-read-Istanbul-had-a-quake,obviously-I-missed-this-before-going-to-sleep
  • Posts: 6,166
    I've been subjected to this kind of messages a lot of times now. My response : Bin them !

    Now, I have tried today to use the ETA app from the official site to get my Electronic Travel Authorization to go to London in the near future. Alas, I haven't succeeded : It bugged both time in the sme spot : writing my address. Seems that for the app, my town doesn't exist, and so, they keep telling me to enter a town or city name. Something tells me that my days of going to London and seeing musicals there are over, unless a) the Powers That Be decide to stop that nonsense (yeah, right !) b) I manage to make that app work, or c) Somebody finds me a easier way to to do things. I'm not too optimistic about any of those things happening.
  • DragonpolDragonpol https://thebondologistblog.blogspot.com
    Posts: 18,767
    Gerard wrote: »
    I've been subjected to this kind of messages a lot of times now. My response : Bin them !

    Now, I have tried today to use the ETA app from the official site to get my Electronic Travel Authorization to go to London in the near future. Alas, I haven't succeeded : It bugged both time in the sme spot : writing my address. Seems that for the app, my town doesn't exist, and so, they keep telling me to enter a town or city name. Something tells me that my days of going to London and seeing musicals there are over, unless a) the Powers That Be decide to stop that nonsense (yeah, right !) b) I manage to make that app work, or c) Somebody finds me a easier way to to do things. I'm not too optimistic about any of those things happening.

    Don't worry. Sir Keir Starmer will get it all sorted out. Probably.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,279
    Probably not before Nigel Farage is elected Prime Minister...which solves the problem, in a way.
  • echoecho 007 in New York
    edited May 27 Posts: 6,768
    "The president has said he wants to personally visit Fort Knox to ensure that no one has stolen the government-owned gold bars that are stored there."

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/27/us/trump-fort-knox-gold.html

    Fleming and Eon did it better.

    Next up: a thorough search for a Japanese volcano that launches spaceships?
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,279
    echo wrote: »
    "The president has said he wants to personally visit Fort Knox to ensure that no one has stolen the government-owned gold bars that are stored there."

    https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/05/27/us/trump-fort-knox-gold.html

    Fleming and Eon did it better.

    Next up: a thorough search for a Japanese volcano that launches spaceships?

    Christ. And for decades we have been ridiculing Reagan for asking to see the "War Room" (created by Ken Adam for Dr. Strangelove) when he first came to the White House. But this tops everything. (Note to mods: feel free to delete this. I had to let it out.)
  • Posts: 6,166
    Gerard wrote: »
    I've been subjected to this kind of messages a lot of times now. My response : Bin them !

    Now, I have tried today to use the ETA app from the official site to get my Electronic Travel Authorization to go to London in the near future. Alas, I haven't succeeded : It bugged both time in the sme spot : writing my address. Seems that for the app, my town doesn't exist, and so, they keep telling me to enter a town or city name. Something tells me that my days of going to London and seeing musicals there are over, unless a) the Powers That Be decide to stop that nonsense (yeah, right !) b) I manage to make that app work, or c) Somebody finds me a easier way to to do things. I'm not too optimistic about any of those things happening.

    Update : I have managed today to make the ETA app work, and I can now travel to Great Britain ! Hurray ! Turns out I had tried to spell the name of my town with an apostrophe (which it has in real life : Bois d'Arcy), and the app, apparently, doesn't like that. So my advice for all people who come from a town with an apotrophe in the name (or probably an accent) : Don't ! No, seriously, don't! The app is as complicated as it is to add any more complication which gets you close to a nervous breakdown.

    BTW : I couldn't help but notice one thing on this forum : we have a thread for the bad news, why not a thread for the good news ? What do you think about adding a bit of positivity here ?
  • Posts: 15,757
    Okay, here's one for you: I have recently been hired for a new job. Salary is decent, it seems to be a nice team of friendly people, small ish company but interesting solutions/services, work from home. So far so good, only the working hours kind of suck (it starts really early in the morning).

    So I received the computer and equipment last Friday. Except that the monitor wasn't there. I was already a bit miffed to have to set up a whole PC and not a mere laptop, which would have made things way easier for me to get ready. But hey, these things happen. No monitor, no instructions. I tell HR the monitor is missing, she's very apologetic, I receive it today. In fact, I have now two monitors, which take a lot of room on my desk. But... I have no power cable. No instructions as to how to set up a PC either. So yeah, that was my day. Again, the HR lady was very apologetic, reassuring me that it's the first time such thing happens, but I'm starting to get me wary about what's next.
  • j_w_pepperj_w_pepper Born on the bayou, but I now hear a new dog barkin'
    Posts: 9,279
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Okay, here's one for you: I have recently been hired for a new job. Salary is decent, it seems to be a nice team of friendly people, small ish company but interesting solutions/services, work from home. So far so good, only the working hours kind of suck (it starts really early in the morning).

    So I received the computer and equipment last Friday. Except that the monitor wasn't there. I was already a bit miffed to have to set up a whole PC and not a mere laptop, which would have made things way easier for me to get ready. But hey, these things happen. No monitor, no instructions. I tell HR the monitor is missing, she's very apologetic, I receive it today. In fact, I have now two monitors, which take a lot of room on my desk. But... I have no power cable. No instructions as to how to set up a PC either. So yeah, that was my day. Again, the HR lady was very apologetic, reassuring me that it's the first time such thing happens, but I'm starting to get me wary about what's next.

    If you previously set up a laptop, and supposing that both have the same or a similar operating system (Win 10 or 11 doesn't make much of a difference, for example), I don't see your problem, quite frankly. Desktop or laptop doesn't make any difference at all. You don't have a power cable? I never throw any old power cables away (except reducing the collection every few years), and I cannot imagine not having a suitable power cable. If you have two monitors, you can probably use the same power cable, they're standardized. You just can't use both at the same time. Other than that, where's the problem?

    (Disclaimer: I'm in no way an early tech adopter nor a specialist, but got my first PC at my job when I was about 35, which still is a looooong time ago. But I have always been using my play instinct to experiment with my computers, and learned a lot from that. Also never caused any catastrophes.)
  • Posts: 15,757
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Okay, here's one for you: I have recently been hired for a new job. Salary is decent, it seems to be a nice team of friendly people, small ish company but interesting solutions/services, work from home. So far so good, only the working hours kind of suck (it starts really early in the morning).

    So I received the computer and equipment last Friday. Except that the monitor wasn't there. I was already a bit miffed to have to set up a whole PC and not a mere laptop, which would have made things way easier for me to get ready. But hey, these things happen. No monitor, no instructions. I tell HR the monitor is missing, she's very apologetic, I receive it today. In fact, I have now two monitors, which take a lot of room on my desk. But... I have no power cable. No instructions as to how to set up a PC either. So yeah, that was my day. Again, the HR lady was very apologetic, reassuring me that it's the first time such thing happens, but I'm starting to get me wary about what's next.

    If you previously set up a laptop, and supposing that both have the same or a similar operating system (Win 10 or 11 doesn't make much of a difference, for example), I don't see your problem, quite frankly. Desktop or laptop doesn't make any difference at all. You don't have a power cable? I never throw any old power cables away (except reducing the collection every few years), and I cannot imagine not having a suitable power cable. If you have two monitors, you can probably use the same power cable, they're standardized. You just can't use both at the same time. Other than that, where's the problem?

    (Disclaimer: I'm in no way an early tech adopter nor a specialist, but got my first PC at my job when I was about 35, which still is a looooong time ago. But I have always been using my play instinct to experiment with my computers, and learned a lot from that. Also never caused any catastrophes.)

    For the record no, I do not have a spare power cable. And even if I did: it's the employer's duty to provide the equipment needed to do my job. It's going to take at least three deliveries so I can have all the stuff I need. For my previous employers, one of them are much smaller company, they sent me everything right away and if anything turned out faulty along the way, say a headset, a new item was sent immediately.
  • LucknFateLucknFate 007 In New York
    Posts: 1,968
    Ludovico wrote: »
    j_w_pepper wrote: »
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Okay, here's one for you: I have recently been hired for a new job. Salary is decent, it seems to be a nice team of friendly people, small ish company but interesting solutions/services, work from home. So far so good, only the working hours kind of suck (it starts really early in the morning).

    So I received the computer and equipment last Friday. Except that the monitor wasn't there. I was already a bit miffed to have to set up a whole PC and not a mere laptop, which would have made things way easier for me to get ready. But hey, these things happen. No monitor, no instructions. I tell HR the monitor is missing, she's very apologetic, I receive it today. In fact, I have now two monitors, which take a lot of room on my desk. But... I have no power cable. No instructions as to how to set up a PC either. So yeah, that was my day. Again, the HR lady was very apologetic, reassuring me that it's the first time such thing happens, but I'm starting to get me wary about what's next.

    If you previously set up a laptop, and supposing that both have the same or a similar operating system (Win 10 or 11 doesn't make much of a difference, for example), I don't see your problem, quite frankly. Desktop or laptop doesn't make any difference at all. You don't have a power cable? I never throw any old power cables away (except reducing the collection every few years), and I cannot imagine not having a suitable power cable. If you have two monitors, you can probably use the same power cable, they're standardized. You just can't use both at the same time. Other than that, where's the problem?

    (Disclaimer: I'm in no way an early tech adopter nor a specialist, but got my first PC at my job when I was about 35, which still is a looooong time ago. But I have always been using my play instinct to experiment with my computers, and learned a lot from that. Also never caused any catastrophes.)

    For the record no, I do not have a spare power cable. And even if I did: it's the employer's duty to provide the equipment needed to do my job. It's going to take at least three deliveries so I can have all the stuff I need. For my previous employers, one of them are much smaller company, they sent me everything right away and if anything turned out faulty along the way, say a headset, a new item was sent immediately.

    I agree with you. It's on my employer to provide the tools I need to do my job. Not always the case, but it should be. For example, Genesis in America is finally starting to stock its dealership service bays with tool kits, instead of hiring mechanics who traditionally have to buy and keep and transport their own tools. Kind of insane when you think about the norm not being stocked service bays.
  • edited May 30 Posts: 6,166
    I should have known it was too good to last. Today, I have purchased everything for my trip to London in august (train tickets, theater tickets, hotel room), and I was happy as punch. Tonight, I discovered that one of the hoses under my bathtub is pierced, and was gushing water through a tiny puncture hole. I put on some adhesive tape (the only thing I have at my disposition right now, I'll buy some duct tape tomorrow), but that can only be temporary. I have contacted the caretaker, but given the time, I doubt I'll receive a message tonight, or tomorrow for that matter. But still, I'm afraid I could well pay through the nose for that. Damn, double damn, and triple damn !

    ETA : Note that it won't force me to cancel the trip, but still, I could have done without that unexpected event.
  • Posts: 6,166
    Update : Well, I paid through the nose indeed : 3213,06 € ! And the repairs were not easy i the least : the plumber had to cut the water for the whole building given that the valve on my own meter doesn't work as intended.

    Can someone tell em why is it that, every time one think things are going great, something like that happen ? Because I'm starting to think I'm cursed. But, well, the trip to London in august is still on, and paid for. The only thing that irks me is that, for the time being, I'll have to watch how I use my debit card, because I'm close to the ceiling.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,784
    Ok, so thursday evening I managed to get ill. Some sort of stomach bug. Kept me running to the toilet all through the night, and half way into the day. Not convenient, had to call off meetings, costs money. Took me up until today to recover, so hopefully back on track tomorrow. Was not helped by our 6yo also getting into trouble. Nowhere near as bad, but plenty of cleaning to be done. Can happen. But then: I just decided that I was in need of something beautiful. So, I googled 'something beautiful ' in images. What do I get? Sunflowers? Rainbows? No, endless pictures of Miley Cyrus. The internet is broken.i respect het for being the artist she is, but being 'something beautiful' is definitely not what she is.
  • Posts: 15,757
    Ok, so thursday evening I managed to get ill. Some sort of stomach bug. Kept me running to the toilet all through the night, and half way into the day. Not convenient, had to call off meetings, costs money. Took me up until today to recover, so hopefully back on track tomorrow. Was not helped by our 6yo also getting into trouble. Nowhere near as bad, but plenty of cleaning to be done. Can happen. But then: I just decided that I was in need of something beautiful. So, I googled 'something beautiful ' in images. What do I get? Sunflowers? Rainbows? No, endless pictures of Miley Cyrus. The internet is broken.i respect het for being the artist she is, but being 'something beautiful' is definitely not what she is.

    Sorry about this. I think there's a bug running: I had two of my colleagues call in sick recently. No chance from catching it from one another: we all work from home. But still.
  • CommanderRossCommanderRoss The bottom of a pitch lake in Eastern Trinidad, place called La Brea
    Posts: 8,784
    Ludovico wrote: »
    Ok, so thursday evening I managed to get ill. Some sort of stomach bug. Kept me running to the toilet all through the night, and half way into the day. Not convenient, had to call off meetings, costs money. Took me up until today to recover, so hopefully back on track tomorrow. Was not helped by our 6yo also getting into trouble. Nowhere near as bad, but plenty of cleaning to be done. Can happen. But then: I just decided that I was in need of something beautiful. So, I googled 'something beautiful ' in images. What do I get? Sunflowers? Rainbows? No, endless pictures of Miley Cyrus. The internet is broken.i respect het for being the artist she is, but being 'something beautiful' is definitely not what she is.

    Sorry about this. I think there's a bug running: I had two of my colleagues call in sick recently. No chance from catching it from one another: we all work from home. But still.

    yeah, it was quite a nuisance, and as an entrepreneur, it really hits hard. I've had some tough months, and was just getting back on track. So things like this are utterly unwelcome. But hey, getting better, and back at work. thankfully.
  • The internet is broken.i respect het for being the artist she is, but being 'something beautiful' is definitely not what she is.

    Ah, to be fair it seems like she has a song entitled something beautiful that came out last Friday; makes sense why it'd dominate images now I guess.
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