niel wrote:
Howdy, all.
Seems like a nice place you've got here.
Thanks! It's been very nice to have some of the old crew come and stop by. I missed the friendly drama-free interaction we used to enjoy in FAWTL once upon a time.
I enjoy BSing with my virtual buds. It also encourages me to stop by Paizo more often, which also helps me inject a bit of energy into my PbPs.
I can't post on Fawtl any more.
It's been over 30,000 posts since I did and I can't break that kind of streak.
it's just good to say hey again, fawtl or not.
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Stupidest f*@%ing question anyone's asked me (so far) "Do you price match Wal-Mart on firearms"
Not "Do you carry firearms", which was evidently assumed.
Me: this is a toy store.
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Best question anyone's asked me "Do you guys carry plush Cthulhu"
Me: no, g#$!*&n it, but I know where you can...
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My mom was a hospital drone her whole life, had 8 boys, and went back to college at age forty, and got her degree in journalism, she's now 70 and still going strong as an investigative reporter.
Be positive, you can do it Patrick, I've seen it happen. :-)
Now, time to collect my motivational speaker fee... wait, a minute.. s&!@, I had something for this..
Eight boys. Wow.
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a foreigners question to the 2-3-4 jobs disscussion from a few days ago:
can you just start a second job in America if you want to?
In Germany you need the permission of your main employer and you need to prove to him, that your second job will not interfer with your main job, otherwise you can't get a taxation cord for a second job from first employer and tus can not work a second job
As a counter-example, I work in a heavily regulated industry (investment securities) and I actually would need my employer's permission to take a second job. That is it ensure that anything I do does not present a conflict of interest with my employer's or my clients' financial best interests. That is definitely the exception rather than the rule, since I work in an industry with federal licensing requirements.
As a counter-example, I work in a heavily regulated industry (investment securities) and I actually would need my employer's permission to take a second job. That is it ensure that anything I do does not present a conflict of interest with my employer's or my clients' financial best interests. That is definitely the exception rather than the rule, since I work in an industry with federal licensing requirements.a foreigners question to the 2-3-4 jobs disscussion from a few days ago:
can you just start a second job in America if you want to?
In Germany you need the permission of your main employer and you need to prove to him, that your second job will not interfer with your main job, otherwise you can't get a taxation cord for a second job from first employer and tus can not work a second job
a long time ago, I heard a rumor that due to hippa regulations, there would be something similar in my job too. But that was dropped for some reasond, probably because it would be hard for someone to prove I was intentionally releasing protected health information at another job where I was also under hippa regulations.
I work at a toy store.
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Hey Cap'n Yesterday can you give me a good price on some car tires?
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Only if you buy 100 dollars worth of Star Wars merchandise, or sell a kidney to Lego first.
Otherwise we aren't allowed to sell the good s+&~ we're clearly hiding in the back, clearly. :-D
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*sigh*.
Up for the day. Five hours sleep. Good news is I can go back to sleep whenever I choose
But I do have to study some more
And gear up for a rough week
Although I do get paid this week
Just not a lot
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It's a beautiful sunny morning afternoon. Methinks I should take my furry children for a perambulation
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I do need some cardio. I definitely failed my shenpo meditation last night.
Working overnight hours can give you munchies like a zombie looking at Steven Hawking.
I must decant my kombucha as well. I have some green tea to brew it with this next batch. It's supposedly better than normal liptons.
As a tangent, when did snack machines begin to take credit cards? Diabolical...
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As a counter-example, I work in a heavily regulated industry (investment securities) and I actually would need my employer's permission to take a second job. That is it ensure that anything I do does not present a conflict of interest with my employer's or my clients' financial best interests. That is definitely the exception rather than the rule, since I work in an industry with federal licensing requirements.a foreigners question to the 2-3-4 jobs disscussion from a few days ago:
can you just start a second job in America if you want to?
In Germany you need the permission of your main employer and you need to prove to him, that your second job will not interfer with your main job, otherwise you can't get a taxation cord for a second job from first employer and tus can not work a second job
One side example: When it became clear due to over hiring and one worker not leaving the job as expected (poor guy is having problems passing the nursing exam) that hours would become very slim I had looked into working in the hospital in another department. I figured it would be easier to schedule. I was informed I couldn't because I can't hold a non-Union and a union job at the same time. For whatever reason. I just think they don't want you working for two different departments
it's just good to say hey again, fawtl or not.
Most definitely agree.
So what's everyone up to these days?
(games and otherwise)
I remember that there were fawtl's heading to Texas, seemingly in mass.
Patrick, what did you do at a hospital?
I've been on the maintenance staff at one in Williamsburg, Va. for over nine years.
It's one of about 10 in a non-profit corporation.
From people I've spoken to, every hospital still does things differently for overtime, part-time, and basic staff sharing.
I am currently a security officer for our local hospital. I have been there eight months. It's a per diem position which means I have no guarantee of hours. Until very recently this hasn't been an issue. I have actually been into overtime most weeks. However they decided to take on more per diems because they anticipated a shortage of workers. Then the person who was supposed to leave didn't. So, now I am heading into a two-week span with three shifts. 24 hours in a two-week span will not pay my bills. The next Two weeks are little better.
So, now I search for an extra job.
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A nice start Drejk. A quick editorial comment:
You seem to be missing a lot of articles. A, an, the. I'm thinking this is perhaps a language thing?
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Thanks, Facebook's "On This Day" for reminding me that exactly four years ago, my fiancee dumped me over the phone and I spent the rest of the day playing Magic: the Gathering and drinking until I passed out on the floor of my friend's apartment. I really appreciate that. It's a nice break from the usual suggestions of "remember the one specific Jawbreaker song that you posted exactly one year ago?" and "remember that one time your friend died?"
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I suppose it's a step up from the period of time when I kept getting ads for funeral services and mail-order brides. I don't trust any website that knows me that well.
That sucks, Patrick.
I don't suppose the security company has work on other sites?
(though I'm sure you've already thought of that)
I also now realize I'm assuming your hospital (like mine) uses an outside contractor for security which may not be true.
Would your experience with security at the hospital help you to get work with another security company in the area?
Since they aren't letting you use your experience with the hospital to work in another department (which is just silly, in my opinion)?
Intelligent bosses would realize someone with proven ability, who can be trusted to work in the hospital environment, would be valuable wherever he works.
(Hell, our environmental and food service department are chronically understaffed.)
Admittedly,in my experience at least, the higher-ups get all concerned with what they name 'politics' (which seem to be more like dick measuring contests) rather than making sense.
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I suppose it's a step up from the period of time when I kept getting ads for funeral services and mail-order brides. I don't trust any website that knows me that well.
I was going to get a mail order bride, once.
They wanted to charge for shipping, and I'm all like, just send her back, no one pays for shipping anymore. G&+&!%n Amazon, make me spend 35 dollars for free shipping, I'll show them...
Ho-ray!
edit: that doesn't look right
Hughrey?
Hurrah?
maybe Yipee?
Anyway- Three cheers for success!
That sucks, Patrick.
I don't suppose the security company has work on other sites?
(though I'm sure you've already thought of that)I also now realize I'm assuming your hospital (like mine) uses an outside contractor for security which may not be true.
Would your experience with security at the hospital help you to get work with another security company in the area?
Since they aren't letting you use your experience with the hospital to work in another department (which is just silly, in my opinion)?
Intelligent bosses would realize someone with proven ability, who can be trusted to work in the hospital environment, would be valuable wherever he works.
(Hell, our environmental and food service department are chronically understaffed.)Admittedly,in my experience at least, the higher-ups get all concerned with what they name 'politics' (which seem to be more like dick measuring contests) rather than making sense.
It's actually an in-house department of the hospital. Yet they are the only department in the hospital that isn't Union. So, we are kind of the red-headed stepchildren of the hospital.
Still, as jobs go it pays well and isn't too hard. I just wish I could keep the hours at 40/week
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A nice start Drejk. A quick editorial comment:
You seem to be missing a lot of articles. A, an, the. I'm thinking this is perhaps a language thing?
Yes. I am using English for 20 years now and I am still missing a lot of them. Mostly I just forgot to add them, sometimes I forget to add them after I changed from plural to singular, or I think that the particular plural noun should be indefinite and thus missing the article until someone convinces me its definite and should get the.
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Yes. I am using English for 20 years now and I am still missing a lot of them...A nice start Drejk. A quick editorial comment:
You seem to be missing a lot of articles. A, an, the. I'm thinking this is perhaps a language thing?
I've heard that's a Polish thing. In any case, you're doing a hell of a lot better than Tommy Wiseau, and he's been living in the US for 40 years.
I've heard that's a Polish thing.Yes. I am using English for 20 years now and I am still missing a lot of them...A nice start Drejk. A quick editorial comment:
You seem to be missing a lot of articles. A, an, the. I'm thinking this is perhaps a language thing?
Yes. We do not anything remotely resembling articles so having problem with them is typical for Poles using English.
In any case, you're doing a hell of a lot better than Tommy Wiseau, and he's been living in the US for 40 years.
But worse than Joseph Conrad who learned it later than me and for whom it was third language (after Polish and french) and not second (after Polish).
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But worse than Joseph Conrad who learned it later than me and for whom it was third language (after Polish and french) and not second (after Polish).I've heard that's a Polish thing. In any case, you're doing a hell of a lot better than Tommy Wiseau, and he's been living in the US for 40 years.Yes. I am using English for 20 years now and I am still missing a lot of them...A nice start Drejk. A quick editorial comment:
You seem to be missing a lot of articles. A, an, the. I'm thinking this is perhaps a language thing?
Doing a hell of a lot better than me, too. I'm a native English speaker, and though I've tried learning several other languages, none of them ever stuck. Three years of Latin, a year of Irish, and five years of Spanish, and all I've got to show for it is a half-baked comprehension of written Latin, some insight on Irish pronunciation, and a kindergarten-level proficiency in Spanish.
I was taught German for a total of six year (four in high school, two during studies) and I barely can write something nice to Sabine on Facebook without checking.
I learned a few bits of Greek and Latin during the studies (well, it was philosophy) - no real grammar, just some words, but now I can barely write the word angel... I don't remember if it used long or short 'e' was used inside.
Ah, of course I thought it uses the other e than the one I'd pick if I was writing it...
I was taught German for a total of six year (four in high school, two during studies) and I barely can write something nice to Sabine on Facebook without checking.
My maternal grandfather's family is ethnically German (from Düsseldorf), and my mother is fluent in German and Dutch as well as English. She tried teaching me when I was small, and I took to it like a duck to wet cement. I don't remember a damn word of either.
Actually I was quite decent when it came to grammar, but I was terrible at remembering of German words and (guess what) I was terrible at German articles - because I couldn't remember the German gender of each noun to save my life. Polish language assigns gender to each noun but the same nouns have often different genders between Polish and German.
Edited for your convenience: (edits in bold)
“Gods of the skies be praised! Zamel regained consciousness! Your ointments worked, healer. I brought you the payment! You earned it…”
A stuffed purse hit the table with metal clang.
“More wine, maid, bring it quickly! And not that plonk! Bring us Alzirian Blue. There is no better wine here for my friend, the healer!”
The massive man dropped on the bench next to Varth with a loud thud. Beside the young man, he was sole human in the tavern. theRemaining clientele, meager at such early time of the day, was composed of three kai-tangs, four rimmers of various strains and a lone kyo. Even both of the merchant’s bodyguards were sa-rimmers. Varth looked on both armed lizardfolk, memorizing color patterns of their scales and then took the purse from the table.
“That is generous payment, saar Terem. Very generous for just a few hours of work…”
“Ha! Payment corresponding to skills! In this reptilian paradise I could not find aphysician capable of putting ahuman on his feet! At best I could hope for some kai-tang witch doctor. One could expect that local lordlings note who trades with them and provide them with appropriate services… Healers having anidea about human body, lasses shaped pleasantly to human eye… Where is that wine, maid?!”
A catlike amri serving in the tavern closed and put a jug of wine on the table with a hiss.
“You are cantankerous, human. Cantankerous and loud. Cantankerous, loud, and stupid. Everyone knows that Ammadan’s politokratos cares little for humans and their wares. He is only interested in the gold brought by kyo from Virrikan Archipelago.”
The merchant bestired oneself and thumped his fist on the table. “You must know, cub, that in absence of Alzirian wares kyo would not even bother to s+!*ting on Ammadan while flying over it. Birdfolk come to this island only to buy what we bring from Alzir!”
“Truth to be said, politokratos desires orichalk, not gold. Still, lots of Alzirian wares end in kyo cargoholds.”
Varth reached for the jug and generously poured wine for himself. “Do you have fish soup today?” He asked the amri while glancing on the merchant. Terem noticed the gaze, laid a handful of bronze coins on the table and satback laughing loudly while speaking to the girl. “Bring what you have today, and lots of it. Don’t be embarrassed and take what you want for yourself as well… There is little traffic now so you could sit with us. I haven’t ever spoken about politics and trade with a healer and a waitress at the same time."
Amri snorted but took coins without hesitation before walking away with lithe steps. The large merchant kept an eye on her until she vanished behind beaded curtain.
“Orichalk instead of common gold? What use the old toad has for so much orichalk?! Assuming that thetales of kyo skyjammer’s full cargoholds are true…” Terem turned to Varth when the waitress’ tail slipped behind the curtain. “One does not import such amount of sorcerous metal, none of the sorcerous metals, without some sort of esoteric use for it.
“Who can know that? Maybe polikratos wants to arm all of his guards with encrusted armors or build whole fleet of skyjammers…”
“Ha! In thewhole of Ammadan there is not enough skilled sailors to man three skyjammers without hiring outsiders. No, probably the old toad decided to build some sort of arcane mechanicarium or other marvel. I wonder what could it be?”
“Mechanicarium? Intriguing idea. People say that politokratos keeps throngs of adepts, alchemists, thaumaturgists, and other sages. There could be mechanomancers among them as well.”
“You have little respect for their skills, healer…” Boomed the merchant.
“What could make you think so?” Varth feigned surprise, badly.
“I would be a poor merchant if I could not read hints from what people say and from what they don’t say either. Maybe it is of little use when I have to squabble with all rimmers, kyo, and other Old and Young Races, but humans I can read. At least I don’t lose on Alzirian bargains. And here is thesoup!”
On the table landed a tray with three bowls, apot full of steaming soup, half a loaf of bread, and a number of smoked meat pieces and cooked vegetables.
“Bread?! Real bread? I have been coming to Ammadan regularly for the last twenty years and haven’t found anything that would resemble edible baked goods!”
The merchant smelled the bread. “Fresh! Gods of the skies, you couldn’t bake such bread on a skyjammer—the dough won’t rise properly… Where? How? But… Let me hug you, darling!”
“Away from me, fat-human! Sit and hug the bowl if you please!” Amri lashed against Terem’s extended arms with a rag.
“I will please, I will. But I still want to know how you got the bread. Have you bought it or baked it? If you bought it, I want to know from whom. If you baked it, I will be your customer on every visit to Ammadan.”
The merchant pulled a piece of bread while speaking and put into his mouth while glancing atthe waitress. “Excellent, where did you get flour?!” Without waiting for the answer he turned to his guards but before he could speak one of them made a denying gesture “We ate today. We would grew sluggish if we gorged ourselves now.”
The amri shrugged and sat on the bench and helped herself to the soup. Before she could start, the door opened and a group of lizardfolk soldiers led by a toad wearing white robes and a copper chain, a badge of a minor magistrate.
“I am Quezeq, a junior assistant secretary of the Ammadan portmaster. By the orders of the politokratos, all the mammals are to be immediately escorted to the port and put on their ships."
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I are spake Engrish wall.
I've lost pretty much all of my Arabic, sadly. I can still puzzle out French if it is written or spoken very slowly. But there's a lot of commonalities with it and English
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Actually I was quite decent when it came to grammar, but I was terrible at remembering of German words and (guess what) I was terrible at German articles - because I couldn't remember the German gender of each noun to save my life. Polish language assigns gender to each noun but the same nouns have often different genders between Polish and German.
"Every noun has a gender, and there is no sense or system in distribution; so the gender of each must be learned separately and by heart. There is no other way. To do this one has to have a memory like a memorandum-book. In German, a young lady has no sex, while a turnip has. Think what overwrought reverence that shows for the turnip, and what callous disrespect for the girl."
- Samuel "Mark Twain" Clemens, The Awful German Language (1880)| 3 people marked this as a favorite. |
What do you call someone who can speak three languages?
What do you call someone who can speak two languages?
What do you call someone who can speak one language?
~grins and runs~
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I listened to that Henry Rollins YT recording:
Because Czech is closely related to Polish (only Slovak is closer to Polish) I was able to understand why a lot of those errors were made and where Boris used certain analogous expressions.
What do you call someone who can speak three languages?
** spoiler omitted **
What do you call someone who can speak two languages?
** spoiler omitted **
What do you call someone who can speak one language?
** spoiler omitted **
~grins and runs~
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An Andy Warhol themed villain. Lol I love the Venture Brothers
** spoiler omitted **What do you call someone who can speak three languages?
** spoiler omitted **
What do you call someone who can speak two languages?
** spoiler omitted **
What do you call someone who can speak one language?
** spoiler omitted **
~grins and runs~
Sadly, despite being a Canuck, my french never got beyond grade 9, and since it will be 30 years next year since I graduated from high school, I pretty much had to give up on ever working a Federal gov't job (bilingualism is almost a requirement for those).
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Edited for your convenience: (edits in bold)
** spoiler omitted **...
Thank you!
Back to work today after a week off. Bah. On the bright side I get to go to the British Museum in London next Friday. So that's something to look forward to.
The start to my week off. But lots to do. I need to get motivated:D