French politics

[Jim Thompson]

On May 7, 12:20 am, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-I...@My-
[snip]

As I recall, my German hosts took me up into the foothills of the
Black Forest, where I looked west into France and saw the biggest
source of smog I've ever observed (coal burning?) in my lifetime.

Curious. These days, the French are notorious for getting most of
their electricity from nuclear power stations - 76% - which is a lot
more than anybody else.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3177360.stm

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/readings/frenc...

Modern photochemical smog depends more on car exhausts than on smoke
from coal-fired power stations and household coal fires - but Jim
won't have been to France since the turn of the century, so his
observations are more like ancient history, though granting Jim's
rather feeble grasp on reality, ancient myth is probably closer to the
mark.

Bill, if you don't mind, how much electricity did you use last month?

Best,
James Arthur

Slowman, I may be feeble, but I don't have to earn a living by pimping
my wife like you do ;-)

Indeed I haven't been to France since 1994. But I think I took a
picture. If I can find it, I'll post it.

...Jim Thompson

 

[Michael A. Terrell]

Bill, if you don't mind, how much electricity did you use last month?

All that his wife would pay for.


--
Service to my country? Been there, Done that, and I've got my DD214 to
prove it.
Member of DAV #85.

Michael A. Terrell
Central Florida

 

[Richard The Dreaded Libertarian]

We can discharge an employee for any reason or no reason. If it's not
"for cause", namely a severe act, it's considered to be a layoff, and
the employee is entitled to state-funded unemployment compensation.
And the more an employer lays off people, the higher his unemployment
insurance rates.

But "look bad" is sort of meaningless. Who is going to know?

The guy goes home and says, "Honey, I got laid off! I can get
unemployment and we can finally take that vacation! Hooray!"

IOW, as long as the guy gets his wheel greased, why should he squeak? ;-)

Cheers!
Rich

 

[John Larkin]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]

Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson

But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

 

[John Larkin]

The guy goes home and says, "Honey, I got laid off! I can get
unemployment and we can finally take that vacation! Hooray!"

IOW, as long as the guy gets his wheel greased, why should he squeak? ;-)

When we discharge someone, which is rare, we usually give them a few
months pay and medical coverage to reduce the pain. They can usually
collect unemployment, too.

We did none of that for the pornmeister, of course.

John

 

[John Larkin]

In the UK maybe. Isn't it around 6%? That would be ok but not exactly
"fine" IMHO. However, John was talking about Europe and not just the UK.

Is the UK in Europe? They can't seem to really make up their minds,
which is understandable.

The UK and Ireland seem to be doing very well lately. France, Germany,
and Spain less well, with possibly bad demographics looming. But
modern economies are so productive that nobody in Europe is going to
go hungry or anything radical.

AFAIK the unemployment numbers in many continental European countries
are hovering above 10%. That's quite worrisome.

Chart 6 in this study might also cause quite a bit of concern for the UK
if I understand it right:
http://www.dartmouth.edu/~blnchflr/papers/speeches/qb070118.pdf

Where is the hope for your kids?

The european solution is simple: don't have kids!

John

 

[John Larkin]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Bwahahahahahaha! Another fucking Gore "consensus thinker".


It always amazes me how "independent thinking" the "engineers" who
lurk here pretend to be.

Sad.

...Jim Thompson

Hey, I don't have to pretend; I am authentically goofy.

But the CO2/GW thing makes no sense from a system dynamics standpoint.

John

 

[Joel Kolstad]

This is usually enough, but I can recall one particularly plausible
guy who lasted some 18 months at Cambridge Instruments. The engineers
had his number early on, but management remained bedazzled by the
verbal fireworks (aka bullshit) for a while longer.

I've worked with a guy like that... I always thought that he'd probably be an
OK marketing guy, at least if he could be constrained to be 100% honest.

 

[Joerg]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]

Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson

But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

Come to think of it, no employer or client has ever asked for a copy of
my engineering degree. Not even for my first job. The only ones that did
were government agencies and insurance companies.

For those who might not know: You can save quite a chunk of money with
some insurance carriers, even auto and home owners. I receive a sizeable
discount with Farmers ever since sending them a copy of my engineering
degree. Can't recall the exact amount but IIRC more than 5%. Always
wondered why, until an engineer told me he that he even puts his
crockpot in the sink when cooking something in it. Then it dawned on me
that we do the same and some people have hinted that we might be a bit
paranoid about it. I guess insurance companies like paranoid people ;-)

 

[Joerg]

Is the UK in Europe? They can't seem to really make up their minds,
which is understandable.

The UK and Ireland seem to be doing very well lately. France, Germany,
and Spain less well, with possibly bad demographics looming. But
modern economies are so productive that nobody in Europe is going to
go hungry or anything radical.

Not hungry but some countries have already had to put a crimp into some
"social achievements". Health care, welfare etc. A society can somehow
support 10% unemployment but if it goes much beyond that the system
quickly becomes stretched to the limits.

They could be a lot more productive if they would stop considering
engineers over 45 geezers, and then lament about an engineer shortage
that in reality doesn't exist. My layouter is certainly marching onto 60
by now yet he just finished a stellar job. That was after midnight
yesterday. He cranked 20 hours on Saturday and finished about a week
ahead of schedule. I wouldn't be surprised if this guy would still pull
that off when he's 80. Oh, and the (very active) CEO of one of my
clients had celebrated his 80th many moons ago.

 

[krw]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]

Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson

But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

Come to think of it, no employer or client has ever asked for a copy of
my engineering degree. Not even for my first job. The only ones that did
were government agencies and insurance companies.

I had to sign a waver so my employer could fetch their own copy of my
transcript. No trust there! ;-)

For those who might not know: You can save quite a chunk of money with
some insurance carriers, even auto and home owners. I receive a sizeable
discount with Farmers ever since sending them a copy of my engineering
degree. Can't recall the exact amount but IIRC more than 5%. Always
wondered why, until an engineer told me he that he even puts his
crockpot in the sink when cooking something in it. Then it dawned on me
that we do the same and some people have hinted that we might be a bit
paranoid about it. I guess insurance companies like paranoid people ;-)

I've never received a discount for being an engineer. Perhaps I
should try.

 

[Joerg]

John Larkin wrote:

On Mon, 07 May 2007 08:20:16 -0700, Jim Thompson



On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]


Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson



But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

Come to think of it, no employer or client has ever asked for a copy of
my engineering degree. Not even for my first job. The only ones that did
were government agencies and insurance companies.

I had to sign a waver so my employer could fetch their own copy of my
transcript. No trust there! ;-)

Interesting, I only had to sign such waivers for government agencies
where that is kind of normal. Maybe it's a big company and they have to.
Reminds me of my last company. We grew which was a good thing but it
also meant policies had to be put in place and then they apply to
everybody. I still remember a newly hired CFO becoming quite miffed when
he heard that he had to pee into a pot at a drug test site. "You mean
even an executive has to go there?!" ... "Yep."

I've never received a discount for being an engineer. Perhaps I
should try.

Tell them Farmers gives the discount (they really do) and that you'd
consider a switch. Could even give them the 1-800 number so they can ask
for themselves. The word switch usually makes them quite "motivated".
Worked every single time for me.

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]

Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson

But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

 

[krw]

John Larkin wrote:


On Mon, 07 May 2007 08:20:16 -0700, Jim Thompson



On Mon, 07 May 2007 10:32:30 -0500, Spehro Pefhany

[snip]


Wishful thinking and exaggeration is one thing, but it's interesting
how some people have resumes that are complete fabrications.



Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

Like our recently dismissed (after 31 years) Director of Admissions at
MIT... her resume was a total fabrication... she had NO degrees at all
;-)

...Jim Thompson



But, as I recall, most everybody thought she did a great job.

That was her real, unforgivable sin: showing that someone *without* an
advanced degree can do a great job. That sort of thinking cannot be
allowed at MIT.

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.


Come to think of it, no employer or client has ever asked for a copy of
my engineering degree. Not even for my first job. The only ones that did
were government agencies and insurance companies.

I had to sign a waver so my employer could fetch their own copy of my
transcript. No trust there! ;-)

Interesting, I only had to sign such waivers for government agencies
where that is kind of normal. Maybe it's a big company and they have to.
Reminds me of my last company. We grew which was a good thing but it
also meant policies had to be put in place and then they apply to
everybody.

I think that's part of it. The other side is that they never knew if
I'd be working on a government contract, so everyone had to have at
least the basic eligibility.

I still remember a newly hired CFO becoming quite miffed when
he heard that he had to pee into a pot at a drug test site. "You mean
even an executive has to go there?!" ... "Yep."

They do a drug test upon employment as part of the physical (turn
your head and cough) but not after.

Tell them Farmers gives the discount (they really do) and that you'd
consider a switch. Could even give them the 1-800 number so they can ask
for themselves. The word switch usually makes them quite "motivated".
Worked every single time for me.

Good idea. I have gotten special dispensation from insurance
companies with just a hint of the threat of going elsewhere (gee, I
have three cars and a house insured...). It's certainly worth a try
when my policy comes up for renewal.

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 12:36:20 -0700, John Larkin
[snip]

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Robots have more personality and creativity than some of the recent
MIT grads I've observed over at Intel :-(

...Jim Thompson

 

[Rich Grise]

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

Was this bias documented?

Is yours?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[krw]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 12:36:20 -0700, John Larkin
[snip]

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Robots have more personality and creativity than some of the recent
MIT grads I've observed over at Intel :-(

From what I can tell, Intel doesn't value creativity in its drones.
Perhaps the problem is not MIT.

 

[John Larkin]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 12:36:20 -0700, John Larkin
[snip]

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Robots have more personality and creativity than some of the recent
MIT grads I've observed over at Intel :-(

...Jim Thompson

Intel is full of nasty, cynical, agressive people. Worst corporate
culture I've personally run into.

John

 

[krw]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 12:36:20 -0700, John Larkin
[snip]

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Robots have more personality and creativity than some of the recent
MIT grads I've observed over at Intel :-(

...Jim Thompson

Intel is full of nasty, cynical, agressive people. Worst corporate
culture I've personally run into.

I wasn't going to be that nasty, but...

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Mon, 07 May 2007 15:40:21 -0700, Jim Thompson

On Mon, 07 May 2007 12:36:20 -0700, John Larkin

[snip]

If I discovered that a great employee has faked his/her resume, I
wouldn't care at all.

John

Same here. But, as I observed as a member of the Educational Council
there seemed to be a slant away from admitting nerds and geeks, and
toward admitting leftist weenies. So good riddance ;-)

...Jim Thompson

Robots have more personality and creativity than some of the recent
MIT grads I've observed over at Intel :-(

...Jim Thompson

Intel is full of nasty, cynical, agressive people. Worst corporate
culture I've personally run into.

I wasn't going to be that nasty, but...

<snicker>

...Jim Thompson