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NEWS 392 - 9 Comments
From: BigFatty Entered on: February 6, 2007 10:56 AM
After many, many months, I finally have clearance to work offically in Hungary.  I got my visa today and I start work tomorrow!  My days of British Soap Operas are over!  It is very sad.  Unemployment suits me like spandex.  I've decided I am a true traitor in this job.  Well, not quite yet, but it might happen.   My job boils down to taking jobs from other countries and moving them to lower cost Hungary.  Offshoring is the Biz term.  Americans are sick of their jobs going overseas.  Well, I am the one doing that now!  It is just a matter of time before I come to America and take some of those jobs.   Lets recap to see why this is so interesting.....  I lose my job at Steelcase due to downsizing - they are shifting some of their manufacturing over to Mexico.  My job really is not a part of this, but.... because of all the Steelcase job loses attributed to foriegn workers, I qualify for a Federal re-training grant.  This takes me to France where I am 're-trained' in drinking, partying, and oh, International Business.  Back to the US where I work for Meijer, but long for the greener grass of Europe.  So, I go to Hungary and get a job taking away jobs from other countries.  That re-training grant did work in a strange way I guess, but not to the end that it was intended.  If I do go to the US and apply my trade, this journey would certainly bite of irony.
From: The Bone Entered on: February 6, 2007 11:45 AM
Great news Fatty, now you can buy yourself a hamburger. Dude, I tried calling you but it seems when I switched over to Cingular, I lost my long distance abilities. At least I'll be able to get the Iphone though. I'll sort it out soon. Maybe I'll get vonage in my new house or something. Also, I picked up my Volvo. It's fucking great and not only did I get it for about $3500 below dealer invoice, I also don't have to pay any sales tax whatsover. Give me a call this week, I'll be around.
From: Ross Entered on: February 6, 2007 12:49 PM
Offshoring is an interesting business.  In my group at Bank of America, we have varying numbers of software developers over in India.  Many people feel threatened by this.  I do not, and here's why: they suck. I once watched that show "30 Days" by the guy who made "Super Size Me" and they had a software developer who lost his job to offshoring.  That guy must have been flat-out retarded for that to happen, or his company was, or most likely a combination of both.   I am constantly battling offshore developers to get them to do things right.  Part of the problem is obviously the fact that they have a 12 hour time difference so we hardly ever talk in realtime.  It's not that Indians aren't smart - they are, but they just don't give a shit about doing any more than just enough to get by - just like your average turdly American worker.  Those aren't the people I want to hire.  So we give them shitty projects, and they do a half-assed job on them, and no one really expects anything else.  At some point, people have to realize that they get what they pay for (and quite frankly, I'd be surprised if we didn't lose money on an average offshore project).   In short, from what economists tell us, in the grand scheme of things, offshoring tends to be beneficial to both countries involved - the cheaper, shittier jobs go overseas which makes room for the harder, more interesting, and better paying ones here.  Which is more or less how I see it, but I'm lucky to be in a position to have one of those kinds of jobs. So Fatty, have fun stealing our jobs - we don't want 'em anyway!
From: Ross Entered on: February 6, 2007 12:48 PM
Bone, what kind of Volvo?  Did you sell the BMW?
From: The Bone Entered on: February 6, 2007 1:58 PM
I got an S40 T-5 and the good thing is I could pick options a la carte instead of packages that you would have to get throught the dealer. Example, I didn't want a sunroof but wanted leather. Can't order one that way from a dealer. I sold the BMW. I was sad to see it go as it was afucking fine piece of German engineering but it was 10 yrs old and I figured it would be more cost effective to have a newer car. Plus the automatic in the Volvo makes battling hienous traffic soooo much better. Plus it's steptronic so I can drop the hammer when I need to.
From: Ross Entered on: February 6, 2007 3:06 PM
I hear you about the automatic transmission - our only car (Jetta) is a manual, and although I rarely drive these days, Chicago traffic doesn't make it as fun as it ought to be.  Heather has decreed that our next vehicle be an automatic.  However, I don't think I'll be buying a brand-new car again - it seems much more economical to buy one that's 2 or 3 years old.  I really have no idea what to buy next, as the major influencing factor is the addition of a child.  For now, the Jetta will do... but we've decided no minivans, ever.  I'm not a big fan of SUVs, and Heather seems to also hate station wagons.  I think maybe just a decent sedan could work... possibly even a Volvo.
From: BigFatty Entered on: February 26, 2007 2:49 PM
I just got back from my first road trip last week - Brussels.  We put in some hours the 3 days we were there, but I managed to get out enough for a little sightseeing, but more importantly, to sample some of the 'Good Life' (Food and Beer).  Belgium is well known for its foo-foo food and french cuisine.  I couldn't give a shit about that.  I found the In't Spinnekopke restaurant on the web.  It was highly rated and was in this house that nearly pre-dated history... from 1769 or so.  It served traditional food and had a beer cellar to die for.   Another reason I picked this place was I heard it served one of the top rated beers in the world - Westvletren 12.  Alas, the beer is so popular that people wait all day outside the monestery just to buy one case.  The monks don't care to make any more money than just to survive on, so they just make enough beer to cover the bills.  So, I had the waiter pick a brew for me.  Man, I am not a beer lover at all, but this beer was like candy!!!!  I loved it.  I was trying other ones, and now I am a fan!  The food there was good too - very traditional.  I had the Stoemp Saucisson - a brat cooked in beer with mashed potatoes.  It was GOOD! Anywho - after my good beer experiences, I decided to continue the good life at home.  I bought 6 more beers to take home with me at the 250 Belgium Beer Store.  I just grabbed some randomly, not sure what to get.  I just had one tonight and it was frickin Fatabulos!  I look at the bottle to check the name, and had to crack up.  It is very fitting...     You can read the rating here .  I got lucky and grabbed a three-pack of top rated beer!
From: The Bone Entered on: February 27, 2007 8:35 PM
Fatty, sounds like the good life. I haven't been enjoying good beer very much as I've started drinking more wine, but I always enjoy a good trapist brew.  So Roche tells me you have more exciting news. Congradulantions. I guess our around the world trip is further postponed. I'm in my new house now for the first time. I'll be sleeping on the floor tonight but my furniture will be delivered tommorow. I'm currently connected via my neighbors wireless signal. It seems to be very strong and unencrypted. There are also a couple other decent option available. Funny, but I was just about to buy internet today but decided to hold off.
From: Ross Entered on: February 28, 2007 10:09 AM
Haven't had it before - I'd like to try it, though!  I often use ratebeer.com to scope out new beers, in fact.  Anyone had anything from Three Floyd's Brewery before?  They're one of my favorite examples of the good life.  Last time I was coming home from GR I stopped at their brewery and picked up a couple cases as it's right off the highway.  Great stuff. And Fatty/Bone, are you insinuating what I think you're insinuating?