Life

[Spenny]

Sucks about your situation Twig, it's one I unfortunately can really relate to.

[Apple Cider]

I can also relate but thankfully I am literally a lone wolf in most respects regarding what I work on, so all I have to endure is comments and chatter I overhear. Which isn't great either! But at least it's background noise and not something I have to engage usually. (My supervisor has a fondness for calling women bitches. This is in an industry and building that is largely women, incidentally.)

[Blambo]

My Kindle says I'm 60% of the way through it so take this with a grain of salt, but I'd say the book focuses more on the author's philosophy rather than the practicality of her method. As someone who is generally pretty logical and unemotional, it's an odd book to read because the author frequently talks about spirituality hand in hand with practicality.

Example - she suggests folding socks and shirts instead of rolling them up or some such thing, half because if you fold something like socks you're not going to be stretching the elastic as you would if you rolled them up. The other half of this practice is so that you touch the clothes for longer so you're pouring positive energy into them rather than just treating them roughly or hanging things up unnecessarily. I don't fully buy the energy and spirit stuff, but she does tend to refer back to utility often because I imagine that some of the Japanese spiritualism might wear after a while.

Whenever I see something like the word "spirit" in this kind of context I sort of just silently insert "as a shorthand for overall pathos of a thing". I keep feeling like there's always some kind of less fantastical or new age intent in using it if it's obviously part of some complex or formed idea.

Like maybe it's talking about the "spirit" of this kind of organization being a reflection of a certain mindset in doing things, ie. being thorough for mundane tasks even if it's not the bare minimum you have to do, which forces you to focus on your actions in the present. Or some such thing; I haven't read any of the book (though it looks interesting) so the author might be completely weird and new age, I dunno. Mundane aesthetic and living habit as enforcing or reflecting an abstract idea or philosophy I think is pretty Japanese, at least.

Anyway I think words that have other, nebulous superstitious connotations often make the reader kind of just dismiss stuff without a thought because of (understandable) skepticism around weird spiritual stuff, but I also think that this isn't giving the author enough credit and kind of betrays a kind of prejudice. I'm not into "spirituality" either in that stereotypical or popular sense but maybe the opaque and weird language masks actual, practical, grounded ideas?

[JonCole]

Whenever I see something like the word "spirit" in this kind of context I sort of just silently insert "as a shorthand for overall pathos of a thing". I keep feeling like there's always some kind of less fantastical or new age intent in using it if it's obviously part of some complex or formed idea.

Like maybe it's talking about the "spirit" of this kind of organization being a reflection of a certain mindset in doing things, ie. being thorough for mundane tasks even if it's not the bare minimum you have to do, which forces you to focus on your actions in the present. Or some such thing; I haven't read any of the book (though it looks interesting) so the author might be completely weird and new age, I dunno. Mundane aesthetic and living habit as enforcing or reflecting an abstract idea or philosophy I think is pretty Japanese, at least.

Anyway I think words that have other, nebulous superstitious connotations often make the reader kind of just dismiss stuff without a thought because of (understandable) skepticism around weird spiritual stuff, but I also think that this isn't giving the author enough credit and kind of betrays a kind of prejudice. I'm not into "spirituality" either in that stereotypical or popular sense but maybe the opaque and weird language masks actual, practical, grounded ideas?

 

I definitely think that the spiritual elements of the author's philosophy at the very least provide a context for some of the things she recommends or even a reflection of a significant amount of thought about cleaning. You may be right about the prejudice thing, though I also have a suspicion that there's some ageist prejudice in how I was writing because I just kinda feel like the author is not the sage old cleaner who has been doing it for decades and has gleaned some spiritual (in the religious sense) insight along the way.

 

In either case, I am confident that there are plenty of practical aspects of the book that I appreciate and I'd be more than willing to admit that the author has put a lot of thought and emotional currency into something I have given almost zero thought and emotion into. Maybe that's why my house was well still kinda is a mess, but a work in progress.

[Thrik]

Still playing around trying to make musics. I learnt what an arpeggiator does today.  
 
Escalating Cliche - SoundCloud

 

At work I'm currently surrounded by cool people (all working on different stuff from me) but I was told this afternoon that I'll soon be moving desks to sit with the rest of the people working on the project I'm on.
 
I'm kind of mad (I'm actually mad) about this because I like the people I sit next to. I can talk to them and not expect a gay joke or a random complaint about people not liking sexism or a lunch hour ruined by people not understanding that blatant generalizations about groups of people aren't cool.
 
I can't say the same about the people I'll be sitting with soon.
 
I was finally getting to a place where I could enjoy work - almost entirely BECAUSE of where I currently sit, 'cause it sure as hell isn't the project I'm on... - and now here's a giant step backwards.

 

Can definitely relate to this too. I think employers often underestimate how important where you spend 38+ hours of your god damn time a week is in terms of general happiness. The old 'well you should be working anyway' type comment is what can usually be expected, which of course completely overlooks the fact that if you don't enjoy being at work then it'll be very difficult for your productivity to not drop.

 

Right now I'm in what is probably the best team I've ever worked in. Fortunately we do go to the canteen for breakfast and out for lunch virtually every day, not necessarily because we need to but because we've all made an unspoken agreement that it's a good thing to do from a socialising point of view. There is the possibility that I'll be shuffled around in the future, which doesn't delight me as a prospect but I know I'd still get to see my team plenty. And in all honesty, we often just chat through Lync/Skype and have headphones on anyway.

 

It's a shame that your team isn't this way inclined, although that doesn't mean you can't take steps to encourage them to do more than just sit at their desks during lunch. Perhaps even outright say that you'd like to go out for lunch so that you can see them more, which you might find that they're totally up for — especially if you can suggest nice places nearby to get food. I myself frequently push my colleagues to come out with me, and if they don't come I go anyway. I find that in most cases people want to join me, but I do end up being the organiser in a way, who goes to everyone's desks and says "Coming out for lunch?".

[Griddlelol]

I broke another set of headphones. I had 5 sets last year, it's only Feb and I've destroyed one already. 

 

Apparently you can't cycle with headphones in (before anyone says anything, I have them quiet, in one ear only and with a podcast for my relatively long cycle) because the jack gets damaged. 

 

Does any one know of robust headphones that will withstand a battering, or should I just buy another of my favorite pair and treat them like they cost £1000?

[Bjorn]

If you're only using one, what about just using a cheap Bluetooth headset for the audio in one ear?  That's what I did when I was still jogging.

 

On my previous phone, I think I had to download an extra app to get it to put audio out from my podcast player to the headset, but that was years ago and maybe isn't an issue on newer phones. 

[Thrik]

Bluetooth headphones in general seem like an excellent idea for outdoor use. iOS at least can easily stream to any accepting Bluetooth device via a button in the slide-up control panel. I have a receiver in my living room sound system that will accept any sound coming from my iPhone (games, music, videos, etc).

[Badfinger]

Do you maybe need just a longer cord, or a cord extension to keep it from yanking? Are you an in-ear or over ear for cycling?

[Griddlelol]

Hmm bluetooth sounds like a pretty good idea. I'd be a little worried about my phone dying, but it seems like a decent solution.

 

It's not chord length, I think it's how when I cycle the wires at the jack get constantly moved back and forth in my pocket to the point they break. I tried switching what pocket it's in (jeans front, jeans back, jacket outside, jacket inside), but that didn't have an effect. I am in ear (for everything). 

 

I'd really like to buy some nice headphones for music/games but the way mine always break I'm terrified of spending more than £20. Even that sounds like a lot. I'm currently buying http://www.tweakedaudio.com/parcour.html'>Tweaked audio in ear ones. They're super comfortable, have good sound quality and best of all they do 1/3rd off with free international shipping, along with the exchange rate makes them cost me £10 a set, which is an absolute steal. 

[Mawd]

If you're just talking about the male input why not simply buy more for home use? I usually keep a couple audio cables spare because my old headphones went through one every few months.

[JonCole]

Maybe buy a really short audio extension cord so that it's the part that's taking the hit from the jerking instead of the headphones?

 

Otherwise, I can't recommend the LG Tone HBS-700/730 enough for a Bluetooth headset. There are some better ones specifically for exercise or active people, but they're generally just two earbuds with a cord between them and thus not great if you only want one earbud in. The Tone headphones have a neckband with a little magnetic terminal to hold the free earbud , which I almost always use because I want to hear ambient sounds in most things that I do. Plus it gets great battery life, enough that I only have to charge it every couple days.

[Badfinger]

I definitely think Jon's idea is worth a try. If the wires are getting moved, then the cord length maybe IS an issue.

 

I asked in-ear or over because the Wirecutter (it is a good website ok?) has a recommendation for in-ear and I'm not that sort of person.

 

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-exercise-headphones/

[deleted user]

_

[Dewar]

Personally, I buy sets of cheap Blackberry ear buds 10 at a time from Amazon for using when I'm riding a bike or generally out and about, and then have a nice set of Logitech headphones for when I'm at home and don't have to worry about things breaking as much.

 

Edit: That reminds me, I need to buy a new set of Logitech G930s so I can give my wife her headset back.

[eot]

I've had it with cords breaking, so now I use a pair of headphones where the cord is detachable on both ends. They were pricey but I figure it'll pay off in the long run.

 

 

Maybe buy a really short audio extension cord so that it's the part that's taking the hit from the jerking instead of the headphones?

I've tried that and it helps, but they're generally stiff enough that the cord breaks eventually anyway,

[SuperBiasedMan]

Have you ever tried to just run the wire up the inside of your shirt so it's more insulated and jerks about less.

[Griddlelol]

 I know there are ways to fix wires if you have loads of free time and soldering skills but I have neither.

 

That's the first thing I looked in to. I don't have the skill nor time to do that. I do run the wire under my shirt (and jumper and jacket and scarf because it's freezing), but that doesn't make a difference.

 

I think I'm going to buy some more of the same, if I can get a cheap extension. If not, expensive high quality ones will have to do, and I'll deal with a silent bike ride. 

[Ben X]

 

I am literally a lone wolf ... (My supervisor has a fondness for calling women bitches)

 

Is it only the ones who are literally canines?

[Apple Cider]

Yes and that is a joke I have never heard before. 

 

Edit: okay, because I ranted about this elsewhere, I'm going to break this down. I know what you were getting at, and I know you didn't mean to be malicious, but this is what comes up every time I talk about someone calling me or other women bitches. It's a really tired joke and it detracts from how hurtful being called a bitch is. Yesterday, I had to sit through a meeting where two dudes out of a room of mostly women in my department made jokes about an inflatable Stay-Puft Man we have in our office was a "really good Valentine's Day date" because "she" doesn't talk back and also can be stuffed in a trunk. One of my coworkers even piped up, "More women should be like that."

 

It's extremely unfun to sit in a corporate environment that is run by mostly women, staffed by mostly women but the men can still get away with that shit because sexism is just normalized. It makes me feel like shit. 

[SecretAsianMan]

I ran out of allergy pills yesterday and didn't have time to pick up more.  Now I'm a stuffy, congested, sneezing mess.  It sucks.

[SuperBiasedMan]

I keep forgetting to tell you Thumbs, but the show I have been drafted in to work on is called

Puffin Rock.

(only REAL Thumbs fans will get this reference)

[N1njaSquirrel]

And where might we see this show?

[dibs]

By the seashore I'm guessing.

 

How goes the job SBM?

[Apple Cider]

Biased Man is working on a show all about vaping, apparently.