RTDNTOTO 🐻 Random Thoughts Deserving No Thread Of Their Own 20 (2025)

[Big Owl]

Can you say more about the Order's policy? I don't know much about anything beyond the cool sash and that not all of us did it. American Indian Programming? I didn't know there was an old policy, let alone a new one. Give! Give! I like knowing stuff.

It's actually fair and respectful as the lodges have to have partner with a state or federally recognized Indian tribe; unfortunately because of the local nature of the partnerships, it means the end of national and section dance competitions, so it will be just inter-lodge competitions. Read here for more information.

It also means the end of indian references in rituals and ceremonies unless given permission by local partnering tribes.

 

[JNA]

Denmark zoo asks people to donate their small pets as food for captive predators

The zoo points to guinea pigs, rabbits and chickens as possible donations.

www.wthr.com

 

[donk]

I lost it on a neighbour today when they congratulated me for selling my house. Long story, but it's due to politics and the reason we are moving. Needless to say, I'm upset about moving.

Not sure why I'm feeling like I need cyburbia, but many of you folks have lived my ups and downs with me.

 

[DVD]

That sucks. I have one of those neighbors too, but he is easily steered away from conspiracy theories and politics which he knows nothing about to something more fun like cars which he knows way too much about.

 

[jumbach]

Sierra County, California (population 3,013), is very old school with employment applications. You can download the form from their dial-up-era website, but you have to print it out and mail it back using actual mail. I haven't filled out a job application by hand since the early 00's.

Meanwhile, I wonder if I should be concerned that this planning position has been posted for over a year. Not much changes in that neck of the woods anyway . . .

 

[ursus]

I lost it on a neighbour today when they congratulated me for selling my house. Long story, but it's due to politics and the reason we are moving. Needless to say, I'm upset about moving.

Not sure why I'm feeling like I need cyburbia, but many of you folks have lived my ups and downs with me.

I hope you're feeling more settled about moving. I left a house and neighborhood I loved very much 10 years ago now, and it still sits wrong with me. I hope the best for you. Big hugs. All big hugs.

 

[Big Owl]

I just got a call from a guy who clearly enjoyed the 70s more than most. He had some concerns about the proposed development near his house. My favorite part of the conversation went like this:


Caller: Man, they’re gonna knock down all those trees, and then our trees are gonna be exposed. They’ll blow over, man. What’s your name? ‘Cause I’m not voting for you. You’re not gonna get elected doing stuff like this.


Me: My name’s Big Owl, and I’m not in an elected position…


Caller: Man, you’re right; because you’re not gonna get elected after this. Me and my neighbors vote, and we ain’t voting for you.

 

[DVD]

I just got a call from a guy who clearly enjoyed the 70s more than most. He had some concerns about the proposed development near his house. My favorite part of the conversation went like this:


Caller: Man, they’re gonna knock down all those trees, and then our trees are gonna be exposed. They’ll blow over, man. What’s your name? ‘Cause I’m not voting for you. You’re not gonna get elected doing stuff like this.


Me: My name’s Big Owl, and I’m not in an elected position…


Caller: Man, you’re right; because you’re not gonna get elected after this. Me and my neighbors vote, and we ain’t voting for you.

Should have said your name is (insert least favorite person running for council) or hinted that they have something to do with the trees.

 

[jumbach]

Three interviews lined up over the next two days. I think one of them is pro forma (i.e., I have the job unless I really screw up), but I will certainly attend all three.

None of the positions are in planning, but I hold out hope. There are still some developments coming in that arena, but government takes time,

Jim

 

[jumbach]

Something the Germans probably have a word for:

Being in competition for a job with a former co-worker, when you are listed on his application as a reference, and he is on yours. And, having to honestly give a glowing review about your former co-worker to the employer, despite knowing that doing so means you will put yourself out of the running.

It's the right thing to do, though. I am not the sort to sabotage someone's chances, and the person that got the job is a great person., He made the right choice. (He called me over the weekend to say he was getting an offer, he knew I had also applied, and what I thought about his accepting. I told him that he should take said job.)

By the way, I found out our scores, but only because HR volunteered: he beat me 96-95 in the interview. What a finish!

In other news, though, since he took that offer and not the other one on the table (that I had already gotten a "no thanks--we are pursuing another candidate" letter for), I went ahead and re-applied for that one.

Jim

 

[jumbach]

I have formed an informal exploratory committee among my neighbors regarding a potential County Commission run next year.

Reactions based from "What the hell took you so long?" to "I wish my cat could vote for you too!"

Haven't officially opened my campaign yet.

I am a registered Democrat in a decidedly Republican county, but I work will all sorts of people across the proverbial aisle, and am definitely right-leaning fiscally and left-leaning socially. But that's a discussion for the Cyburbia politics thread.

Jim

 

[JNA]

 

[MD Planner]

I just got a call from a guy who clearly enjoyed the 70s more than most.

This reminded me of something Joe Walsh said a couple years ago when I last saw the Eagles:

"I had more fun in my 20s in the 70s than I'm having in my 70s in the 20s!"

 

[Doohickie]

View attachment 65045

There was a guy I used to work with that always looked at the negative side of things. I started calling him a Bucket of Liquid Sunshine.



Think about it.

 

[kjel]

This has been a very busy and very stressful week. I am on vacation for the next two weeks which is only making it more stressful.

 

[ursus]

This has been a very busy and very stressful week. I am on vacation for the next two weeks which is only making it more stressful.

Lemon, it's Wednesday.


You can make it to your vacation! Stay the course!!

 

[mendelman]

One of my extended family members (first cousin, once removed) died this week at 64.

Keep yourself healthy and happy out there everyone since we all get older every second, so enjoy everything possible at every 'now'.

 

[kms]

One of my extended family members (first cousin, once removed) died this week at 64.

Keep yourself healthy and happy out there everyone since we all get older every second, so enjoy everything possible at every 'now'.

I'm sorry for your loss. Makes you think, doesn't it?

 

[Maister]

Time and mortality march ever onward. Pay attention to what's happening in life. Find things to be grateful for. Have lemon meringue pie.

 

[JNA]

^ make lemon bars.

 

[btrage]

This has been a very busy and very stressful week. I am on vacation for the next two weeks which is only making it more stressful.

Same here, but I only have next week off.

 

[luckless pedestrian]

moving back in renovated city hall - nobody is happy with the new setup ugh - pizza day tomorrow lol

 

[JNA]

Do you have or need this ornament ?

Cowbell Ornament

We could all use a little more cowbell. Inspired by the Saturday Night Live skit from 2000, iconic comedians performed one of the most popular skits of all time using a cowbell. Relive the comedic moments each time this ornament is hung upon the Christmas tree. This a great gift for SNL fans and...

oldworldchristmas.com

 

[ursus]

Same here, but I only have next week off.

OK, where are you going and can I come, too? Can we go in a convertible? Ooh, can I have snacks? I'm assuming it's a road trip but I'm good with a cruise, or plane rides....I'm not annoying at all on a plane, I promise.

 

[SlaveToTheGrind]

Election year which mean local politicians will be more vocal and appear more concerned about everything than they usually are.

 

[Big Owl]

Do you have or need this ornament ?

Cowbell Ornament

We could all use a little more cowbell. Inspired by the Saturday Night Live skit from 2000, iconic comedians performed one of the most popular skits of all time using a cowbell. Relive the comedic moments each time this ornament is hung upon the Christmas tree. This a great gift for SNL fans and...

oldworldchristmas.com

View attachment 65050

I run the soundboard at my church and a few years ago I labeled two unused channels, "cowbell" and "more cowbell". Nobody has mentioned it but at the same time no one changed it. It would be nice if my work was noticed.

 

[The Terminator]

Jaguar Purrs & Rawrs

 

[jumbach]

It's rather frustrating to go through an interview, pass the typing test, pass the sample work scenario, and then be told, "Well, you did great. We will definitely add you to the approved applicant pool for whenever we have an opening. Possibly as soon as November."

Yet the web site was offering a signing bonus and wanted people to apply "urgently."

 

[Wannaplan?]

There was a guy I used to work with that always looked at the negative side of things.

I recently watched this clip on toxic positivity, I found it inspirational:

 

[Salmissra]

It's rather frustrating to go through an interview, pass the typing test, pass the sample work scenario, and then be told, "Well, you did great. We will definitely add you to the approved applicant pool for whenever we have an opening. Possibly as soon as November."

Yet the web site was offering a signing bonus and wanted people to apply "urgently."

I'm in that same position. After being laid off, I'm looking for a position. I'd prefer public sector, but I'm applying to both public and private.

The employer is always in a hurry, but they are lazy when it comes to follow-up.

 

[kjel]

OK, where are you going and can I come, too? Can we go in a convertible? Ooh, can I have snacks? I'm assuming it's a road trip but I'm good with a cruise, or plane rides....I'm not annoying at all on a plane, I promise.

✈️ JFK to BCN (are you jelly LP?), hanging out there for a few days. Then getting on a 🛳️ for 9 nights with stops in Lisbon (overnight), Porto, Tangier, and Cadiz. Back to BCN and catching a flight home.

 

[JNA]

Since several Cyburbian like Monty Python - check out the new British Royal Mail Stamps -

Monty Python - Special Stamp Issues

shop.royalmail.com

 

[luckless pedestrian]

✈️ JFK to BCN (are you jelly LP?), hanging out there for a few days. Then getting on a 🛳️ for 9 nights with stops in Lisbon (overnight), Porto, Tangier, and Cadiz. Back to BCN and catching a flight home.

Heading to Terminal E in Boston right now to meet up with you... I wish!

 

[mendelman]

Tangier

My wife and I visited Tangiers about 20 years ago on a day excursion from Spain.

It was very cool and, technically, permits us to say we have been on the African continent.

 

[The Terminator]

It's rather frustrating to go through an interview, pass the typing test, pass the sample work scenario, and then be told, "Well, you did great. We will definitely add you to the approved applicant pool for whenever we have an opening. Possibly as soon as November."

Yet the web site was offering a signing bonus and wanted people to apply "urgently."

Any planning job that gives you a "typing test" instead of asking for a real work sample or portfolio, than asks you for free labour to get to an IRL stage, that job needs to leave earth IMO.

I've been in the scenario before where they [prospective employer] asks you for ~2hrs of free labour in doing some sort of "weeding-out" task, than ghost when your task had even the slightest imperfection. Been there, done that when I was living in Montreal and looking for "subsistence jobs" in customer service during covid with tech companies at the same time as I was working as a Doorman p/t #neveragain

*Being a Doorman was actually a chill gig, at the right building they make bank. Sadly I was not at the right building and was there to covid screen entrants while wearing PPE all day. It's what I did after my community development job used Covid as a reason to lay off everyone sub-director level. It set in motion the chain of events that lead to me now being in WNY.

 

[Bubba]

Apparently I've been a member of this here internet board for twenty years now. Ye gods...

 

[luckless pedestrian]

It's rather frustrating to go through an interview, pass the typing test, pass the sample work scenario, and then be told, "Well, you did great. We will definitely add you to the approved applicant pool for whenever we have an opening. Possibly as soon as November."

Yet the web site was offering a signing bonus and wanted people to apply "urgently."

I stopped reading this at typing test - are you freakin kidding me - I have been the interviewer for many positions for the last couple of years and typing test is not even a consideration

 

[bureaucrat#3]

Election year which mean local politicians will be more vocal and appear more concerned about everything than they usually are.

We have candidates searching for things that could be issues right now. It's so stupid.

I spent yesterday explaining to a council candidate why we had to redistrict wards and why his ward looks like it does. Then I had to explain our consent decree from the mid-80s that required majority minority wards. Then I had to explain to him the Voting Rights Act and 14th and 15th Amendments.

 

[bureaucrat#3]

I stopped reading this at typing test - are you freakin kidding me - I have been the interviewer for many positions for the last couple of years and typing test is not even a consideration

The only typing test I had was 20 years ago for a large city that had a personnel board. Everyone had to be tested and they could only interview the 3 highest candidates. The rest of the test was actually less applicable than typing.

The job before this they made me start ArcMap and bring in a layer and make a buffer. Apparently, they had hired someone previous that said they were proficient in GIS but wound up not knowing how to turn layers on and off.

 

[mendelman]

Apparently I've been a member of this here internet board for twenty years now. Ye gods...

We have candidates searching for things that could be issues right now. It's so stupid.

I spent yesterday explaining to a council candidate why we had to redistrict wards and why his ward looks like it does. Then I had to explain our consent decree from the mid-80s that required majority minority wards. Then I had to explain to him the Voting Rights Act and 14th and 15th Amendments.

[deep inhale...]...ok...so...in year xxxx, when the State was accepted into the Union, the State Constitution explicitly stated it is and will always be compliant with the US Constitution...and that's why we have to closely monitor due process, so we can exercise our 9th amendment police powers...[/]

 

[The Terminator]

The job before this they made me start ArcMap and bring in a layer and make a buffer. Apparently, they had hired someone previous that said they were proficient in GIS but wound up not knowing how to turn layers on and off.

Ooooh, this is a good idea! I am going to be bringing on some undergrad GIS interns soon, all of whom I am told have a baseline familiarity with ArcGIS Pro. This will be their first "task"; Import a layer that I have premade in a preexisting directory, than make a 500 ft buffer around a polygon feature of that layer, that will also be premade.

Than I'll get them started on various projects related to my public web GIS portal roll out, based on their skill and interest. If any of them have truly zero GIS capacity, I'll give them some youtube and esri tutorials and give them a shot anyway. Its unpaid on our end but they get course credit and stipend through our Uni partner, so I'm not going be hard on them at all. I was in that boat too and had to deal with piss & vinegar supervisors who could care less about the free labour they were getting. Me, Im going to be quite grateful for them!

 

[Gedunker]

Corel WordPerfect was great for typing tests because you could pull back the curtain and see every keystroke. Very useful to determine if remedial skills were going to be needed in candidates for admin positions.

 

[Salmissra]

✈️ JFK to BCN (are you jelly LP?), hanging out there for a few days. Then getting on a 🛳️ for 9 nights with stops in Lisbon (overnight), Porto, Tangier, and Cadiz. Back to BCN and catching a flight home.

Lisbon is awesome! Spent a few days there prior to a cruise. Had a port stop in Cadiz - lovely walking town, and the bay was peaceful. There's a small city history museum that had a hand-carved map of the city and bay - beautiful!

 

[jumbach]

Wel

The only typing test I had was 20 years ago for a large city that had a personnel board. Everyone had to be tested and they could only interview the 3 highest candidates. The rest of the test was actually less applicable than typing.

The job before this they made me start ArcMap and bring in a layer and make a buffer. Apparently, they had hired someone previous that said they were proficient in GIS but wound up not knowing how to turn layers on and off.

Well, it's in a call centre, so we would need to take notes of calls. I can type well enough for anything. I've been typing since I was four.

When I worked in a call centre in 2015, I made a bunch of keyboard shortcuts with CTRL keys that I would use for common phrases. My "cheat" actually ended up getting adopted and made policy!

Jim

 

[jumbach]

Corel WordPerfect was great for typing tests because you could pull back the curtain and see every keystroke. Very useful to determine if remedial skills were going to be needed in candidates for admin position

The state civil exam actually still asks WordPerfect questions. :-O

My wife used Mavis Beacon a decade or so ago to get up to speed. She can type 50, which is fast enough. (I was 80 yesterday.)

 

[jumbach]

I'm in that same position. After being laid off, I'm looking for a position. I'd prefer public sector, but I'm applying to both public and private.

The employer is always in a hurry, but they are lazy when it comes to follow-up.

"HIRING URGENTLY" does not mean "you start tomorrow."

I'd really love to stay in PERS, but, failing that, I'd like to remain in planning, even if at a private company. (Or a tangential field--I am working on an app at an architecture firm now. That's related, and I've worked with them on projects at the city before.)

 

[jumbach]

Not sure what to think about an e-mail I am accidentally cc:ed on (quickly recalled) that said, "We will be moving forward with Sam but let's give this one a courtesy interview."

Snarky response? Withdraw? Ignore?

Jim

 

[Wannaplan?]

"We will be moving forward with Sam but let's give this one a courtesy interview."

What kind of organization gives courtesy interviews? What in the actual eff?! Wasting EVERYONE'S time!

 

[luckless pedestrian]

Not sure what to think about an e-mail I am accidentally cc:ed on (quickly recalled) that said, "We will be moving forward with Sam but let's give this one a courtesy interview."

Snarky response? Withdraw? Ignore?

Jim

Respond for sure - but say, instead of an interview, would you consider an information interview to assist me with my job search, given you have a candidate already, as noted above.

 

[jumbach]

Respond for sure - but say, instead of an interview, would you consider an information interview to assist me with my job search, given you have a candidate already, as noted above.

I honestly don't blame Sam, and wish him/her the best of luck. But I agree--why bother wasting everyone's time? Just e-mail a standard "we picked someone else" e-mail instead. I much prefer that to being strung along.

Jim