Drejk |
I'm amused that FedEx had such a massive financial miss and is taking a beating and talking about all the difficulties they're facing.
5 years ago, if you sent something by FedEx, it was absolutely, positively guaranteed to be there on time and intact. They were the best in the industry by far, and it cost you.
Somewhere down the line, someone decided to reduce quality to make their costs more competitive. These days I consider UPS Ground a better bet than any FedEx service, and if I want overnight I'm going to go USPS.
How the mighty have fallen.
Moral of the story? If your prices are high because you're the best there is, don't cede that position to lower your prices.
But free enterprise! Competition! Invisible hand of the market!
Freehold DM |
I'm amused that FedEx had such a massive financial miss and is taking a beating and talking about all the difficulties they're facing.
5 years ago, if you sent something by FedEx, it was absolutely, positively guaranteed to be there on time and intact. They were the best in the industry by far, and it cost you.
Somewhere down the line, someone decided to reduce quality to make their costs more competitive. These days I consider UPS Ground a better bet than any FedEx service, and if I want overnight I'm going to go USPS.
How the mighty have fallen.
Moral of the story? If your prices are high because you're the best there is, don't cede that position to lower your prices.
FedEx was always overpriced. Badly. They panicked when they got actual competition and overcorrected with respect to their prices. They never thought they would get competition from USPS of all places.
NobodysHome |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
NobodysHome wrote:FedEx was always overpriced. Badly. They panicked when they got actual competition and overcorrected with respect to their prices. They never thought they would get competition from USPS of all places.I'm amused that FedEx had such a massive financial miss and is taking a beating and talking about all the difficulties they're facing.
5 years ago, if you sent something by FedEx, it was absolutely, positively guaranteed to be there on time and intact. They were the best in the industry by far, and it cost you.
Somewhere down the line, someone decided to reduce quality to make their costs more competitive. These days I consider UPS Ground a better bet than any FedEx service, and if I want overnight I'm going to go USPS.
How the mighty have fallen.
Moral of the story? If your prices are high because you're the best there is, don't cede that position to lower your prices.
FedEx was the Hertz of shipping. "Yes, you're paying 3 times as much as anyone else. But you're getting exactly what you need, when you need it, with no exceptions." That's valuable when things are of critical importance, and businesses and individuals are willing to pay that price. (I once paid $55 to overnight a letter of recommendation to a university in South Korea.)
The moment you're in the least unreliable -- ONE package gets missed or damaged -- you're now just like everyone else and unless you're priced like them you're hosed.
FedEx dropped its quality before its prices. They're doomed.
gran rey de los mono |
Half the group couldn't make it tonight, so the rest of us played "Clank in Space". It was a lot of fun, but instead of the 45-90 minutes it says on the box, it took us 3 hours. That includes setup and learning the rules (we had all play "Clank" before, at least a little, but never "in Space"). Scores were fairly close, too. One had 86. Then 112. Then 113. And I had 114.
BigNorseWolf |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
In mauritania the peace corps had a little tallent night thing. I Whirled around a pair of machetes, then put flashlights on both ends of a staff and whirled that around.
Someone said they recognized the machete moves as philipino stick fighting (which it was, and made sense, sense that was how it developed) but not that whirling finish at the end What the heck was that?
The thing leonardo does in teenage mutant ninja turtles when he cuts the pizza...so worth the scars figuring out how to do that
Mr. Grinch |
NobodysHome |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Now that we're a couple of months in to HelloFresh, here are a few positives and negatives:
POSITIVES:
- The meal kits are cheaper than Bay Area groceries. Our overall grocery bills have shrunk noticeably since we started the service.
- Unlike Blue Apron, the meals really do take roughly an hour to prepare. Of course, the recipe sheets say ridiculous stuff like "5 minutes prep time, 30 minutes cooking" and then expect you to wash and dice all the vegetables, get out all the pots and pans, sort everything, and do the entire mis en place in 5 minutes flat. Ain't happening, but overall it's typically under an hour for me.
- Both kids are able to cook the meals on their own. It may take longer (one meal took Impus Major an hour and 45 minutes because it had a lot of chopping), but they can do it.
NEGATIVES:
- It is very, VERY "American" cooking. Every vegetable is prepared by tossing in olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roasting on a baking sheet at 425°F for 25 minutes. Every sauce is prepared by mixing mayonnaise and/or sour cream with broth, then adding a "flavor packet". Every meat is, "Cook for 5 minutes on a side in a cast-iron pan." For getting three "new" dinners every week, they very quickly flow together into an unmemorable mass of baked vegetables with mayo-based sauces and simple grilled meats.
- Speaking of American, they really really like ground meat. I know that it's cheaper, but unless you explicitly order something different, your dinners are going to consist of ground beef in a sour cream sauce, ground pork in a sour cream sauce, and ground beef and pasta in a sour cream sauce, all served with baked vegetables.
- I'm Californian. If it isn't green, it isn't a "vegetable". Too many of the HelloFresh meals take the Reaganesque approach that potatoes count as a vegetable. Or carrots. (I'll forgive carrots more than potatoes.)
Since it's getting the kids cooking and GothBard can pick the meals every week AND it's reducing our bills, we'll probably stick with it.
But I'm definitely not "wowed" by their meals.
captain yesterday |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Now that we're a couple of months in to HelloFresh, here are a few positives and negatives:
POSITIVES:
- The meal kits are cheaper than Bay Area groceries. Our overall grocery bills have shrunk noticeably since we started the service.
- Unlike Blue Apron, the meals really do take roughly an hour to prepare. Of course, the recipe sheets say ridiculous stuff like "5 minutes prep time, 30 minutes cooking" and then expect you to wash and dice all the vegetables, get out all the pots and pans, sort everything, and do the entire mis en place in 5 minutes flat. Ain't happening, but overall it's typically under an hour for me.
- Both kids are able to cook the meals on their own. It may take longer (one meal took Impus Major an hour and 45 minutes because it had a lot of chopping), but they can do it.NEGATIVES:
- It is very, VERY "American" cooking. Every vegetable is prepared by tossing in olive oil, salt, and pepper, then roasting on a baking sheet at 425°F for 25 minutes. Every sauce is prepared by mixing mayonnaise and/or sour cream with broth, then adding a "flavor packet". Every meat is, "Cook for 5 minutes on a side in a cast-iron pan." For getting three "new" dinners every week, they very quickly flow together into an unmemorable mass of baked vegetables with mayo-based sauces and simple grilled meats.
- Speaking of American, they really really like ground meat. I know that it's cheaper, but unless you explicitly order something different, your dinners are going to consist of ground beef in a sour cream sauce, ground pork in a sour cream sauce, and ground beef and pasta in a sour cream sauce, all served with baked vegetables.
- I'm Californian. If it isn't green, it isn't a "vegetable". Too many of the HelloFresh meals take the Reaganesque approach that potatoes count as a vegetable. Or carrots. (I'll forgive carrots more than potatoes.)Since it's getting the kids cooking and GothBard can pick the meals every week AND it's reducing our bills, we'll probably stick...
All those negatives are basically how people cook in the Midwest.
It makes you wonder whether my poor sense of taste is genetic or regional.
NobodysHome |
3 people marked this as a favorite. |
For all the grief the game industry gets, there are some really decent companies out there.
GothBard got the follow-up call from the SportsGameBall franchise to let her know they were interested in continuing, but they'd noticed that she hadn't said a word about sportsball in either of her interviews, and was working for a sports franchise really something she wanted to do? She admitted that no, it wasn't, but she was really interested in their RPG division and the recruiter said, "Oh, THAT job has been on hold! I'll be sure everyone knows you're interested!"
So honesty all around, complete understanding that not everyone loves sportsball, and once the other position opens, she'll at least be considered.
All in all really solid.
Drejk |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |
- Speaking of American, they really really like ground meat. I know that it's cheaper, but unless you explicitly order something different, your dinners are going to consist of ground beef in a sour cream sauce, ground pork in a sour cream sauce, and ground beef and pasta in a sour cream sauce, all served with baked vegetables.
I never really understood American obsession with minced meat, and burgers in particular. Yes, you can make some nice things from minced meat. Sznycel, klopsiki, lasagna. From time to time. Whole pieces or chopped meat (like goulash and various stews) are as good if not better most of the time.
- I'm Californian. If it isn't green, it isn't a "vegetable". Too many of the HelloFresh meals take the Reaganesque approach that potatoes count as a vegetable. Or carrots. (I'll forgive carrots more than potatoes.)
Well, they could give you ketchup...
Drejk |
I am back from The One Ring session...
Three guesses who got struck with a critical hit in the first round of the fight, failed an armor roll against injury (come on, they assaulted our party in The Pony in the middle of the night, I only managed to grab my shield and sword), and then proceeded to roll the worst result on wound quality and immediately went unconscious and slowly dying.
At least I managed to hamper the toughest of the intruders with my newly learned virtue that drained 2 out of his 4 Resolve points so he was really hesitant to boost oneself when facing against my sister (for one round) and then the rest of the fellowship (who were sleeping in another room and had to deal with their own 3 intruders).
Drejk |
Making a sauce with mayonnaise is something I've never come across in my life. I doubt I'd enjoy it, personally.
BTW: I love mayonnaise-based sauces.
My stomach, less so :(
You could give a try to Polish vegetable salad (or vegetable salad with additions of chicken or egg). You might find it in Lidl or one of Polish (and likely Lithuanian) shops around.
NobodysHome |
5 people marked this as a favorite. |
Pride and Prejudice Rewritten for the Bay Area:
Mrs. Bennet: I hear he makes $40,000 a year!
Elizabeth: Oh, dear! Is he homeless?
EDIT: As I was looking some things up I found this delightful article on figuring out Mr. Darcy's income in modern dollars.
captain yesterday |
4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Pride and Prejudice Rewritten for the Bay Area:
Mrs. Bennet: I hear he makes $40,000 a year!
Elizabeth: Oh, dear! Is he homeless?EDIT: As I was looking some things up I found this delightful article on figuring out Mr. Darcy's income in modern dollars.
The plot twist is they are talking about their kid's teacher.
NobodysHome |
6 people marked this as a favorite. |
One of the reasons conspiracy theories and other false beliefs exist is confirmation bias: You're more likely to notice things that confirm your beliefs than things that contradict them.
Today's an interesting case. It seems like every semester there's a smurfstorm of midterms, assignments, and obligations just as concert season rolls into full swing. Tomorrow night we're off to see Sabaton at the Fox theater in Oakland. Typically, Impus Major would have a major exam the day after the show, GothBard or I would have some major project, and I'd be tirading about how things always seem to work out terribly.
Except Impus Major and Impus Minor have their midterms today, GothBard is getting her design challenge for another job she wants today, and by tomorrow evening we'll actually all be free to enjoy the concert, in direct contradiction to my beliefs and biases.
You just have to pay attention. Most drivers are decent. Many bicyclists obey the rules of the road. Things usually go just fine. You simply don't notice when things go right, and remember when things go wrong.
captain yesterday |
6 people marked this as a favorite. |
One of the reasons conspiracy theories and other false beliefs exist is confirmation bias: You're more likely to notice things that confirm your beliefs than things that contradict them.
Today's an interesting case. It seems like every semester there's a smurfstorm of midterms, assignments, and obligations just as concert season rolls into full swing. Tomorrow night we're off to see Sabaton at the Fox theater in Oakland. Typically, Impus Major would have a major exam the day after the show, GothBard or I would have some major project, and I'd be tirading about how things always seem to work out terribly.
Except Impus Major and Impus Minor have their midterms today, GothBard is getting her design challenge for another job she wants today, and by tomorrow evening we'll actually all be free to enjoy the concert, in direct contradiction to my beliefs and biases.
You just have to pay attention. Most drivers are decent. Many bicyclists obey the rules of the road. Things usually go just fine. You simply don't notice when things go right, and remember when things go wrong.
All I heard was "Grassy knoll purple monkey moon landing".
lisamarlene |
4 people marked this as a favorite. |
NobodysHome wrote:All I heard was "Grassy knoll purple monkey moon landing".One of the reasons conspiracy theories and other false beliefs exist is confirmation bias: You're more likely to notice things that confirm your beliefs than things that contradict them.
Today's an interesting case. It seems like every semester there's a smurfstorm of midterms, assignments, and obligations just as concert season rolls into full swing. Tomorrow night we're off to see Sabaton at the Fox theater in Oakland. Typically, Impus Major would have a major exam the day after the show, GothBard or I would have some major project, and I'd be tirading about how things always seem to work out terribly.
Except Impus Major and Impus Minor have their midterms today, GothBard is getting her design challenge for another job she wants today, and by tomorrow evening we'll actually all be free to enjoy the concert, in direct contradiction to my beliefs and biases.
You just have to pay attention. Most drivers are decent. Many bicyclists obey the rules of the road. Things usually go just fine. You simply don't notice when things go right, and remember when things go wrong.
Fun fact: I live 3.7 miles from the Grassy Knoll. At least 2 or 3 time a month, errands around town have me getting home by driving over the white X's painted on Elm Street in the exact spots the President's car was positioned when the bullets struck.
Dallas is a weird damned town, but that is easily one of the top five weirdest things about living here.
Freehold DM |
captain yesterday wrote:NobodysHome wrote:All I heard was "Grassy knoll purple monkey moon landing".One of the reasons conspiracy theories and other false beliefs exist is confirmation bias: You're more likely to notice things that confirm your beliefs than things that contradict them.
Today's an interesting case. It seems like every semester there's a smurfstorm of midterms, assignments, and obligations just as concert season rolls into full swing. Tomorrow night we're off to see Sabaton at the Fox theater in Oakland. Typically, Impus Major would have a major exam the day after the show, GothBard or I would have some major project, and I'd be tirading about how things always seem to work out terribly.
Except Impus Major and Impus Minor have their midterms today, GothBard is getting her design challenge for another job she wants today, and by tomorrow evening we'll actually all be free to enjoy the concert, in direct contradiction to my beliefs and biases.
You just have to pay attention. Most drivers are decent. Many bicyclists obey the rules of the road. Things usually go just fine. You simply don't notice when things go right, and remember when things go wrong.
Fun fact: I live 3.7 miles from the Grassy Knoll. At least 2 or 3 time a month, errands around town have me getting home by driving over the white X's painted on Elm Street in the exact spots the President's car was positioned when the bullets struck.
Dallas is a weird damned town, but that is easily one of the top five weirdest things about living here.
Wow.
Alternative Factotum |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |
NobodysHome wrote:All I heard was "Grassy knoll purple monkey moon landing".One of the reasons conspiracy theories and other false beliefs exist is confirmation bias: You're more likely to notice things that confirm your beliefs than things that contradict them.
Today's an interesting case. It seems like every semester there's a smurfstorm of midterms, assignments, and obligations just as concert season rolls into full swing. Tomorrow night we're off to see Sabaton at the Fox theater in Oakland. Typically, Impus Major would have a major exam the day after the show, GothBard or I would have some major project, and I'd be tirading about how things always seem to work out terribly.
Except Impus Major and Impus Minor have their midterms today, GothBard is getting her design challenge for another job she wants today, and by tomorrow evening we'll actually all be free to enjoy the concert, in direct contradiction to my beliefs and biases.
You just have to pay attention. Most drivers are decent. Many bicyclists obey the rules of the road. Things usually go just fine. You simply don't notice when things go right, and remember when things go wrong.
That's what THEY want you to think. Wake up, Satan's brainwashed cattle!
Scintillae |
4 people marked this as a favorite. |
Whats shakespere got to do with the V guy? :)
Or more likely anonymous
The only man to enter parliment with noble intentions...
1. Guy Fawkes is part of a group plotting to blow up the House of Lords.
2. Some of Shakespeare's relatives are implicated in the plot.3. Shakespeare goes hard on brown-nosing in Macbeth to get off of the "possible treason" list.
4. The Guy Fawkes mask is popularized in comic form by V for Vendetta.
5. V for Vendetta gets a movie adaptation.
6. Internet edgelords decide they like the message (accuracy of interpretation debateable) and co-opt the mask for Anonymous.
Six degrees of Bonfire Night!
I could not for the life of me tell you with any accuracy how many anons actually know anything about Guy Fawkes.
NobodysHome |
6 people marked this as a favorite. |
Ouch. Having been on the hiring end of catastrophes like this, I feel the company's pain. But now I get to see GothBard's side of things and nobody enjoys it.
GothBard had some really good interviews with a larger company last month. She never heard back after the second round, and assumed they'd ghosted her. Then she heard through the grapevine that there had been a major reorg at the company (aka layoffs). This morning a different recruiter reached out to inform her she'd made it to the third round and when would she like to interview?
She is nonplussed.
But yep. Been there. You've got an open requisition to hire someone. You start the process, start interviewing, and find a candidate you really like. Then, WHAM! Layoffs/reorgs happen, your req gets frozen, and you sit there twiddling your thumbs for a month waiting for it to get re-approved. Once it finally gets re-approved, you have to sheepishly reach out to that candidate and say, "Ahem. Hey. Excuse me? Are you still looking?"
So GothBard's gone from no leads on Thursday to two design challenges, an invite to a third-round interview, and a follow-up from the SportsBallMegaCorp recruiter pushing her for the RPG job as of today.
And as always, as the spouse you sit there hoping that at least ONE of these things is going to go all the way.
Wish her luck!
EDIT: Oh, plus the contracting gig. So as she puts it, she went from 0 leads to 5 in just a few days.
David M Mallon |