OT: General Off Topic Thread [NO Politics, Race, Religion, etc.]

[jschligs]

I could handle commutes until I had kids. I used to commute Madison to MKE 3 days a week. There were brutal days but it was whatever. Now tho, even a 25 minute commute with zero traffic can be a pain when getting to appointments or running errands after work.
Suppose I could do it for a dream job with great pay though.

[M-C-G]

Have you tried Coffee Mate Zero Sugar creamer flavors? 1 carb per serving, zero sugars. That's what I switched to and I like it quite a bit.

Tried it, and thought it was disgusting.

I thought so too. Give Splenda creamers a shot.

Anyone else worried about what the zero sugar is made of and the potential side effects? I’ve been a diet soda drinker and the more I like in to artificial sweeteners, the more I’m thinking it’s a bad idea


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[M-C-G]

That sucks. I don't understand whose morale is boosted by being forced to go into the office. Unless you're a manager that needs to have people physically close to you so you can feel some sense of purpose and control.

Productivity? Hell, I get so much more done without being bothered by people dropping by my desk all day.

Our CEO is the definition of anti-wfh. His reasoning never seems to hit home with anyone else and he's fairly condescending about this and other topics.

I don't think he's aware that I, and others, rarely open their laptop after leaving the office and putting their 8 in but have no issue working a little later if at home.

This is how ours is too, but our CEO has so many folks drinking the koolaid and happy to come in. We've been in office since lockdown ended, but I've reached my limit and I'm looking for remote jobs as Madison doesn't have a ton of marketing director/digital openings.

You guys don’t think horrible fluorescent lights, cubicles and minimal access to the sun boost productivity and morale?

The times I have gone in almost no one has been there. It’s like a creepy corporate ghost town and I end up just back on virtual calls but taking them from in the office. Makes no sense


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[Mags FTW]

Tried it, and thought it was disgusting.

I thought so too. Give Splenda creamers a shot.

Anyone else worried about what the zero sugar is made of and the potential side effects? I’ve been a diet soda drinker and the more I like in to artificial sweeteners, the more I’m thinking it’s a bad idea


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The consensus has always been they are also bad because your body can react like it is getting actual sugar and respond accordingly. There are different types though, and some are less worse than others. I'm pretty sure all are still better for you than processed sugar though. Definitely way fewer calories.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

Curious for those that travel for work (whether ad hocly or regularly) what your expense situation is. I travel about 20% for work and recently they issued a pretty restrictive cost hotel and meal policy. It went from really loose on both to usually only 1 preferred hotel option in concur (for example, I'm staying near a site in STL and only 3 BWs show up as non-flagged with only one in a 15 minute drive). Our meals dropped to 25 lunch/60 dinner. I'm kind of in the mindset of "eh, its their company / their policy" and I consider it in my total enjoyment for working for the company but not a big deal. (I actually dont mind it since i hate long fancy dinners that I kind of have to do because I don't want to be the dick co-worker making the other person go out by themselves since we only travel in teams of 2-3). My co-worker is just pissed about as she is foodie and the type to read all the hotel reviews.

On a recent trip, due to a glitch in Concur BW was not available and I could book the Hampton without getting flagged. So I let the co-worker take the Hampton and I took the BW next door since I didn't care. The Price was hampton being 60% more (or $70 a night more). That is a lot a money throughout the year and the new policy for department alone is going to end up saving a noticeable amount in our travel budget. Not that any of it matters, but kind of conflicted. Should we be good with the BW (Kind of crappy -old carpeting, broken treadmill type of place but beds were clean/fine and good location) or is my company being cheap?

So kind of curious what everyones elses experience is like:
1. What is your Corporate Policy?
2. What is your expectation? (Should your expenses be booked as if you were paying -cheapest flight/hotel - or should they be paying a premium for you to travel?)

[crkone]

I'm kinda sick of these new Vexillology flag designs. They all look too corporate-like or something. Here is one I saw on Reddit.

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I'm kinda sick of these new Vexillology flag designs. They all look too corporate-like or something. Here is one I saw on Reddit.

Like it was cool when there is are some easter eggs in flag/jersey design, but I feel having every color or line or symbol have a deeper meaning is a little much. Like can't the bucks just add a color because it looks cool than "The Venetian Red trim represents the Italian settlers on the South East side of Milwaukee during the 1890s that was instrumental to paving the way to modern basketball"

[chonestown]

The Wisconsin flag is horrible and I don't want it changed.

[emunney]

The Wisconsin flag is horrible and I don't want it changed.

The idea that we should somehow *symbolize* 'Forward' rather than simply writing it on the flag has got me feeling desperate. Plus the current flag includes the four pillars of Wisconsin society: anchors, plows, communism, and of course baking soda.

[chonestown]

The Wisconsin flag is horrible and I don't want it changed.

The idea that we should somehow *symbolize* 'Forward' rather than simply writing it on the flag has got me feeling desperate. Plus the current flag includes the four pillars of Wisconsin society: anchors, plows, communism, and of course baking soda.

Hell, don't even need a good excuse to post this. It's all gravy.

Watch on YouTube

[BUCKnation]

All of these new flags just look like copies of the current flags for island countries in the pacific. Don't get me wrong, I like most of them, but these new state designs dont seem original.

[trwi7]

Read on Twitter

[MickeyDavis]

No problem for Topuria

[Prez]

No problem for Topuria

I am dead inside.

[JayMKE]

Yeah I feel like the flag redesign people are the same people behind the new Nike jerseys with the convoluted explanations about how it represents our river & lake or whatever. That flag is legitimately ugly af too.

The self styled vexillologists have a weird form of zealotry and rules. I hate almost all modern minimalist flat design

[Mags FTW]

I soured on all the flag stuff after the debacle over the Milwaukee Sunrise People's Flag.

[MickeyDavis]

Meh, this is just some goober on reddit, it's not like there's a chance this abomination would replace the current flag.

[MoreTrife]

I'm getting tired of my podcasts - feel like all I listen to are celebrities (actors, comedians, sports people) talking to other celebrities.

Any interesting podcasts to recommend? I'd prefer non-fiction (though I have enjoyed the Magnus Archives that someone on here recommended).
I love Hardcore History but have listened to them and not always in the mood for something that heavy.
I really loved Lost Debate podcast (and it's still decent) but the format changed a bit.
THANKS!

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I'm getting tired of my podcasts - feel like all I listen to are celebrities (actors, comedians, sports people) talking to other celebrities.

Any interesting podcasts to recommend? I'd prefer non-fiction (though I have enjoyed the Magnus Archives that someone on here recommended).
I love Hardcore History but have listened to them and not always in the mood for something that heavy.
I really loved Lost Debate podcast (and it's still decent) but the format changed a bit.
THANKS!

I read half the post and was going to suggest Hardcore History.****

If you are interested at all in the markets, I really like Animal Spirits. They are 2 40-year-old dads thinking out loud on news stories. One guy is from Grand Rapids and the other is self-deprecating balding guy from NY. They don't take anything too seriously and admit when they are/were wrong.

I also like listening to earnings calls of some major travel and credit card companies. I find it interesting where Hilton and others are putting their resources on travel trends. Choice hotels attempt at a hostile takeover of Wyndham is fun listening to both sides smear each other during their prepared remarks.


****I was on a long drive with a co-worker and since I was driving I was totally past the point of giving the person any choice of choosing the podcast (they have a phone, if they are bored, use it) and put on Carlin's audit book "The end is always near." Of course, it was on the chapter of how much children were physically and sexually abused in the past. His was going on a thought tangent of how if this happened to a kid today, we would consider them very emotionally damaged and how it affected their leadership style. He was asking to himself if all 18th/19th/early 20th leaderships extremely emotionally damaged or did it not affect them at all. If you were hopping into the book or his talks cold like my co-worker was, you definitely thought this guy was promoting child abuse. I'm sure the co-worker was thinking WTF is wrong with these people.

[KidA24]

I'm getting tired of my podcasts - feel like all I listen to are celebrities (actors, comedians, sports people) talking to other celebrities.

Any interesting podcasts to recommend? I'd prefer non-fiction (though I have enjoyed the Magnus Archives that someone on here recommended).
I love Hardcore History but have listened to them and not always in the mood for something that heavy.
I really loved Lost Debate podcast (and it's still decent) but the format changed a bit.
THANKS!

Have you listened to the Dollop? Yes, it's comedy, but it is also real events from American history.