Things That Annoy You

[Uncle Duke]

I think you guys have it partially right:  Americans have for the last quarter century been given blue ribbons for just showing up.  We are a very entitled bunch... "Here we are now, entertain us!" Kurt Cobain sang two decades ago.  I especially see it in young men who can never be bothered to put on a button up shirt or nice pants even on dates.  Again and again I see young women in dresses, heels, make-up -- putting on an effort.  Their dates?  Untied high tops, shorts and a "blow me" shirt.  (I exaggerate a bit for effect.  Still....)

But I also think a lot of people feel hopeless, unable to find meaningful employment or buy a home.  Maybe that is why "hope and change" resonated for so many.  It sure beats "makers and takers" to those who DO feel disenfranchised.

It is ugly and the solution is fuzzy.

There is a scene in the Jack Nicholson movie "About Schmidt" that makes this point quite well.  Nicholson's character (Schmidt) is in the bedroom of his loser a of soon-to-be son-in-law, and he notices the guy's got several ribbons, certificates, and awards hanging up.  When he reads them, they're all for just showing up, with words like "participant," "attendee," and "member" displayed.  The best one was for "perfect attendance" for a week long class he'd taken.

[ksm32]

I'm pissed that the gays have hijacked the image of the rainbow as their own. Been angry about this for some time now.

Disclaimer: : I do not mean this as a hatful remark, it's just that they already have the "we are the champions" song sang by (QUEEN) which is fine and I guess appropriate.

[McPhallus]

I'm pissed that the gays have hijacked the image of the rainbow as their own. Been angry about this for some time now.

Disclaimer: : I do not mean this as a hatful remark, it's just that they already have the "we are the champions" song sang by (QUEEN) which is fine and I guess appropriate.

They've ruined parades for me. *

* Not that there's anything......

[Camazotz Automat]

Misplacing a metal spoon from a matched set of cutlery. It's like losing a sock times twenty.

I DO NOT REMOVE KNIVES, FORKS, OR SPOONS FROM HEADQUARTERS.

It has to be here.

(Maybe someone broke in... took just a spoon...)

This reminds me of a revenge play executed by my nephew. He was in a "serious" relationship with this hottie named "Miranda."  (see, that's trouble already... it's all in the name.)

Long story very short: she dumped him in a very ugly way.

He has to go pick up assorted items from her apartment. He is alone when he does this.  While retrieving his property he takes one of her shoes.

It's possible she knew exactly what happened, but there's a good chance she searched almighty hell and back for that shoe, never connecting the events.

I view such action as a thing of beauty.

Unless it's some psycho-ex stealing my cutlery.

[onan]

Misplacing a metal spoon from a matched set of cutlery. It's like losing a sock times twenty.

I DO NOT REMOVE KNIVES, FORKS, OR SPOONS FROM HEADQUARTERS.

It has to be here.

(Maybe someone broke in... took just a spoon...)

This reminds me of a revenge play executed by my nephew. He was in a "serious" relationship with this hottie named "Miranda."  (see, that's trouble already... it's all in the name.)

Long story very short: she dumped him in a very ugly way.

He has to go pick up assorted items from her apartment. He is alone when he does this.  While retrieving his property he takes one of her shoes.

It's possible she knew exactly what happened, but there's a good chance she searched almighty hell and back for that shoe, never connecting the events.

I view such action as a thing of beauty.

Unless it's some psycho-ex stealing my cutlery.

Hey my wife keeps bitching about a missing shoe...

[Camazotz Automat]

Hey my wife keeps bitching about a missing shoe...

I give that response a 10 out of 10. Straight to the point Woody Allen type script dialog.

I see him saying "My wife... she keeps losing just one shoe... what IS it with the shoes? It's been going on for the last five years."

[bateman]

This motherfucking winter. ENOUGH ALREADY.

[McPhallus]

This motherfucking winter. ENOUGH ALREADY.

You know it's bad when even people used to the brutal winters here in Chicagoland are considering moving away for good.

[b_dubb]

You know it's bad when even people used to the brutal winters here in Chicagoland are considering moving away for good.

Yeah.  I've been in Chicago during Winter and it is brutal.  The wind off the lake is just fiercely penetrating.  But Chicago is a seriously great city. 

Fuck Winter though.  I've had it to.  No more snow.  No more freezing weather. 

[WhiteCrow]

Old people with aged blotchy blue tattoos....
Wonder what that tat was 30 years ago? A biker skull or hippy tree leaf???

[TheMan WhoFell ToEarth]

This motherfucking winter. ENOUGH ALREADY.

Your avatar.  I mean I don't even.

[b_dubb]

[HorrorRetro]

Yeah.  I've been in Chicago during Winter and it is brutal.  The wind off the lake is just fiercely penetrating.  But Chicago is a seriously great city. 

Fuck Winter though.  I've had it to.  No more snow.  No more freezing weather.

Spring has definitely arrived in western WA state. I've been mowing my yard, my plum tree is in full bloom, still waiting on cherry and apple blooms, the chicks have been spending time outside in their coop, and I've been gardening like crazy. After growing up in Alaska, I refuse to live anywhere that gets a lot of cold and snow.

[area51drone]

Spring has definitely arrived in western WA state. I've been mowing my yard, my plum tree is in full bloom, still waiting on cherry and apple blooms, the chicks have been spending time outside in their coop, and I've been gardening like crazy. After growing up in Alaska, I refuse to live anywhere that gets a lot of cold and snow.

Yes, it's awesome today.  I'm going to dig some holes to plant our apple and nut trees, and take down some barbed wire the previous land owner left behind.     Our chickens are now about to start laying eggs, my wife is very excited.   Are your chicks home-grown or did you buy them somewhere Horror?

[b_dubb]

Spring has definitely arrived in western WA state. I've been mowing my yard, my plum tree is in full bloom, still waiting on cherry and apple blooms, the chicks have been spending time outside in their coop, and I've been gardening like crazy. After growing up in Alaska, I refuse to live anywhere that gets a lot of cold and snow.

I want to mow your yard. And I'm mean that literally. There's snow in the forecast.

[Birdie]

There is a scene in the Jack Nicholson movie "About Schmidt" that makes this point quite well.  Nicholson's character (Schmidt) is in the bedroom of his loser a of soon-to-be son-in-law, and he notices the guy's got several ribbons, certificates, and awards hanging up.  When he reads them, they're all for just showing up, with words like "participant," "attendee," and "member" displayed.  The best one was for "perfect attendance" for a week long class he'd taken.

Week long perfect attendance, lol!
I saw a funny Billy Crystal/Bette Midler movie called Parental Guidance a few months ago. They play grandparents who volunteer to watch their grandkids for a few weeks while the mom and dad are away on business trips. They are astounded when they see the way the 'you are so very special and perfect' way the kids are being raised and decide to make some changes. It is pretty damn funny, even if it does get feel-good at the end.
On another note, I wonder how much this mentality is contributing to the unemployment rate. There are jobs out there. I see Now Hiring signs everywhere. I think the new generation feels they are too special and are destined for such wonderful, unique things, they cannot possibly work an ordinary job for minimum wage. It makes me sad in the same way kids who are led to believe they can leave the inner city by becoming a famous rapper or professional basketball player makes me sad.

[HorrorRetro]

Yes, it's awesome today.  I'm going to dig some holes to plant our apple and nut trees, and take down some barbed wire the previous land owner left behind.     Our chickens are now about to start laying eggs, my wife is very excited.   Are your chicks home-grown or did you buy them somewhere Horror?

We got the chicks at Baxter Barn over in Fall City. They have quite a selection.  We started with four, but one hen turned out to be a rooster, so he went to a friend.  We live in a neighborhood and can't have roosters.  We have two French Marans, they lay the dark chocolate brown eggs, and one Easter Egger, which can lay anything from pink to blue or green eggs, so it'll be interesting to see what colors she lays. http://baxterbarn.org/

We are taking advantage of this beautiful weather, since rain is supposed to come back on Tues.  We built an in-ground fire pit today and will also be setting up a rain barrel rain collection system. 

I want to mow your yard. And I'm mean that literally. There's snow in the forecast.

Yuck.  I used to love snow, but I'm done with it. We gets lots of rain here, but it stays green all year long. Now, that rain has serious drawbacks.  We had a huge landslide yesterday that has killed 3 so far, and 18 or so are still missing. 

http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/23/us/washington-landslide/index.html

[TheMan WhoFell ToEarth]

I think we've officially had more snow this Winter than I've ever seen in my life.  I've seen it deeper, but never so frequently.

[Mind Flayer Monk]

On another note, I wonder how much this mentality is contributing to the unemployment rate. There are jobs out there. I see Now Hiring signs everywhere.

I think most of the unemployed are in their 50s and employers don't want to hire them.
I have heard the saying "people will hire a bad 22-year-old before a good 55-year-old."

[Heather Wade]

On another note, I wonder how much this mentality is contributing to the unemployment rate. There are jobs out there. I see Now Hiring signs everywhere. I think the new generation feels they are too special and are destined for such wonderful, unique things, they cannot possibly work an ordinary job for minimum wage. It makes me sad in the same way kids who are led to believe they can leave the inner city by becoming a famous rapper or professional basketball player makes me sad.

Dude, I'd pick up trash if it meant a paycheck.

[onan]

Dude, I'd pick up trash if it meant a paycheck.

Sorry you aren't qualified. (joke)

[Juan]

When I was trying, I applied for more than 700-jobs from McDonald's to an assistant professor job at a local university.  I was qualified for every one of them.  I'm over 50.  I got 5 interviews and no job offers. They won't hire competent older people because the mid-level managers are afraid of them.

[Uncle Duke]

When I was trying, I applied for more than 700-jobs from McDonald's to an assistant professor job at a local university.  I was qualified for every one of them.  I'm over 50.  I got 5 interviews and no job offers. They won't hire competent older people because the mid-level managers are afraid of them.

I got the opposite problem, convincing people I meant it when I retired.  I do some consulting, but never more than 10 hrs/week and no travel.  In fact, just yesterday took clothes to Goodwill, including 27 ties.  Won't be needing those anymore.

[Mind Flayer Monk]

In fact, just yesterday took clothes to Goodwill, including 27 ties.  Won't be needing those anymore.

Any of those ties have tiny airplanes on them?

[Uncle Duke]

Any of those ties have tiny airplanes on them?

Don't think so, but there was one with crossed US and UK flags.  When I did get those "swag" like items at trade shows and the like, I usually gave them to colleagues and co-workers to give to their kids.   Did the same with magazines, pictures etc; friends of my dad's did that for me back in 60s.  It was quite a thrill in those pre-internet days.

[Bart Ell]

fiercely penetrating.

Kinda describes my high school years.

[b_dubb]

There are jobs out there. I see Now Hiring signs everywhere. I think the new generation feels they are too special and are destined for such wonderful, unique things, they cannot possibly work an ordinary job for minimum wage. It makes me sad in the same way kids who are led to believe they can leave the inner city by becoming a famous rapper or professional basketball player makes me sad.

There's a lot of this.  I hear people talk about going to school for journalism or some other degree that IS NOT IN DEMAND and then bitch about not being able to get a job.  OPEN YOUR EYES.  I could've gotten a degree in horse carriage design.  Probably would not translate into paid work. 

[area51drone]

We got the chicks at Baxter Barn over in Fall City. They have quite a selection.  We started with four, but one hen turned out to be a rooster, so he went to a friend.  We live in a neighborhood and can't have roosters.  We have two French Marans, they lay the dark chocolate brown eggs, and one Easter Egger, which can lay anything from pink to blue or green eggs, so it'll be interesting to see what colors she lays. http://baxterbarn.org/

Thanks for the link Horror, I'll show my wife.   Who said bellgab wasn't good for anything?

[area51drone]

I could've gotten a degree in horse carriage design.  Probably would not translate into paid work.

Actually, you probably would get paid very well doing that.   I knew a guy that I used to play hockey with, and he works as a large pipe organ maker/manufacturer.   He did well and was in high demand because hardly anyone does it.   

[zeebo]

You go to microwave your cup of water for tea (because you're a lazy American and don't bother to make tea properly), but you notice the splatterings from last night's ill-conceived microwave burrito, so you grab a dishtowel and wipe that thing down, trying to ignore the fragrance of stale mystery-meat fat, and then you realize this is the last clean dishtowel, so you pop it in the washer along with the others, and go to grab the detergent, which amounts to exactly 7 soapy grains in an otherwise empty box, so you pull out your groc. list and add detergent to it, and then you're sitting there, tea-less, wondering why you're filling out your groc. list at 8am.