Piss and Moan

Music and explicit lyrics

Posted on January 8, 2019 by backuphill

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What is the deal with music and explicit lyrics these days? It seems as though, as a listener, it is becoming harder and harder to avoid. If you look at the top 50 on iTunes and on Amazon (“Best of What’s New to Prime”), at least 30% of the music has the [Explicit] tag with the title. So what gives?

Why does an artist feel the need to express themselves this way? Yes, I know about the whole Freedom of Speech thing, but that isn’t really the issue. The issue is the fact that the explicit lyrics aren’t necessary. It doesn’t improve the song. It doesn’t make the message of the song more meaningful. Music sold without the inclusion of such language in the past and music did well without it.

Perhaps it is just a genre thing? Maybe. I looked at the “50 Great Modern Country Songs” on Amazon music and there was only ONE with explicit language in it. Interesting.

All I know is that it is irritating to me. It perhaps should be irritating to you as well.

Dress code angst

Posted on January 7, 2019 by backuphill

models posing an and woman standing next to each other looking upward

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Working in an office isn’t so bad, some of the time. However, there are still some things that just don’t make sense and are rather irritating.

One such illogical irritation is the dress code.

I work in software support and thus I spend about 90% of my time working with clients behind the scenes, meaning I am unseen. I answer calls, test software, create training materials, and suggest areas for improvement so that teacher’s lives can be made just a little bit easier instead of having to struggle with software. Anyway, most of my interaction is not directly in the physical presence of the client.

However, I am forced to dress as though I work with clients directly. I have to participate in “business dress,” even though I am unseen and work in a cube all day. Casual dress is only allowed on Fridays. This doesn’t make sense to me.

Anyone else have do deal with this situation? Does it irritate you like it does me?

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Just jump on this bandwagon

Posted on January 4, 2019 by backuphill

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Friday.

Of a three day work week.

Why can’t they all be this way? I mean I could really get used to this since it has been a fairly regular practice of as of late. How so?

Because of the holidays, there have been (at least for me) THREE weeks of three day work weeks. Whew! Say that fast 10 times!

Let’s break it down. In the last 7 weeks, three of them have been three day work weeks. I say we just make that the regular schedule. Like forever.

Now that is a bandwagon I can get on!! Who is with me??

Work Email Syndrome

Posted on January 3, 2019 by backuphill

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I bet after describing this you’ll know you have it too. It should be a real affliction, if it isn’t already. I don’t know. I didn’t look. All I know is that I have it.

I don’t know about your place of employment, but mine uses all sorts of forms of communication. Skype, Zoom, Outlook, video chat, messenger, paper, notes, etc etc. But one thing that I really dislike is going back to work…wait, I almost stopped there. Because, I mean, really, who likes going to work?

But I digress. Anyway, going back to work because of all the email that has filled up my inbox. I mean really!! Do we need to send this much email in ONE DAY? I don’t like being sick because I get back to work and have 300 emails to wade through. It takes me days to catch up!

So, I fear going back to work simply because of email. That’s a syndrome, right? It has to be. I probably need a counselor for this. Maybe I need a doctor’s note to take more time off. Maybe I’ll sue my managers and the company for emotional distress related to email. It’s overwhelming.

I think I better start a support group.

“Hi, my name is _______________ and I suffer from WES.”

Hmmm, why don’t I feel better yet? Oh wait, because I have to work and have 314 emails to go through. DANG IT! If I close my eyes and wait a few seconds, will they be gone?

When is it enough?

Posted on January 2, 2019 by backuphill

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Question of the day: When is it enough?

Let’s put some context into the question…

When is it enough charity? Gifting? Generosity? Especially, when it comes to adults who should, by now, be able to fend for themselves and stop making choices in life that keep them from being able to do it? Thus, requiring additional help (on a seemingly regular basis).

Does the answer of “enough” matter if they are a stranger? An acquaintance? A good friend? Family…children, grandchildren, parents, siblings? Sure, I understand every circumstance is different and have their own complexities, but there has to be a line, right?

Where does the line get drawn and how do you draw it? Do you just continually allow it to happen?

Happy New Year, blah blah blah

Posted on January 1, 2019 by backuphill

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The new year has begun and for some reason everyone is back to being cheerful again.

I don’t get it.

Did they get a reset button somewhere that magically made their lives better over night? Did they get a reset that changed the daily reality? Or, did they see into the future and have no problems? Me thinks not.

So why all the cheer? What makes today different than any other day?

Happy New Year, blah blah blah.

Wait, the end?

Posted on December 31, 2018 by backuphill

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I see lots of people paying their last respects to 2018.

There’s no reason to do that. Yeah, it is over, but it’s kind of a waste of time I think. You see, life goes on. There is no reason to look back but there is a good reason to look forward.

There is no reason to look back and recount the failures and there is no reason to recount the success. It was just another year. The only thing to do with 2018 is be thankful.

I know this doesn’t sound like the usual Piss and Moan way, but I am thankful. For another year. For more time. That was 2018 wasn’t horrible. I am thankful. Today.

You should be too. The last day of the year is not a dead end. It leads to the first day of a new year. That is all.

Can I just stay in bed?

Posted on December 28, 2018 by backuphill

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It’s cold out.

It’s dark out.

It’s raining….still.

It’s Friday.

It’s the last day of a short week and the day before a four day weekend.

Can I just stay in bed and call it a day? OK, I’ll get up and go pee have some coffee just so I can say I got up today BUT really, can I just stay in bed and call it a day?

I’ll phone it in.

I’ll telecommute (as long as I can stay in bed).

How about we just pack it up and quit.

I’ll start again next year. (LOL, like that joke isn’t as old as the ages).

Today, well, today is just dumb.

No one should have to work today.

I hereby grant all of you a day off. Congrats! NO go home and do no work.

Noisy road

Posted on December 27, 2018 by backuphill

If only my commute was this nice to look at. Photo by Nextvoyage on Pexels.com

You probably don’t think about it much because you are driving and paying attention to the other drivers around you, which you should be. However, there is probably one thing you don’t notice you’re doing as a result of a noisy road.

The surface of the roadway is kind of an important thing when it comes to highways. I mean, it gets thousands and thousands of cars driving over it every day/week/month/year. It has to be durable, but also something that withstands heat, cold, weight, collisions, rain, etc. So, I am sure there is science behind why they do what they do when they make roads. But, really, I don’t care.

I just want a road that is smooth and quiet. Road noise should be a low hum that you really don’t notice unless something is wrong with the car. Instead, half of half of my commute is across 40+ year old concrete that has been worn down to the pebbles used to make it and it sounds like a jet engine starting up as you drive over it as high speeds.

Thus, I have to listen to the radio really loud. All to hear the traffic report. And if there is another person in the car, well, you just have to yell, even if they are just sitting right next to you. That is annoying.

What small things do you notice as you drive the same route and sit in the car for hours each day? Anything only you would notice and have to point out to others when they ride along with you?

Unwrapping the aftermath

Posted on December 26, 2018 by backuphill

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Well, folks, the stockings are down and the presents opened. It was chaos from the start and there is a ton to do now that all are gone.

Not sure about your family, but mine appears to just swoop in to open presents and consume food before jetting off to other places and people to visit, which leaves a tornado of debris scattered about the house and hours of cleaning after the fact. That isn’t to say that there weren’t also hours of prep before everyone even showed up…so when taken all into account there were probably four times as many hours preparing for and cleaning after than there was actual time spent with family.

Don’t get me wrong, time spent with family was great and the joy did finally come as the smiles and laughter filled the room. It did finally come. BUT, it was soon lost in the time spend cleaning floors, dishes, the fridge, taking out the extra 100 pounds of garbage, and putting the furniture back where it belongs.

Does anyone else have that feeling after Christmas where the “What did we just do?” dread of having to put life back to normal appears that it will take an inordinate amount of time? Like maybe you’re the only one that will be working into the wee hours of the night just so there will be some resemblance of normalcy the day after?