Detron has been granted unpaided time off

[sawman]

+1

[Grathr]

That would be quite funny. 

First one to walk in to that trap would get a surprise.


On a more serious note I hope they get this mess sorted soon. 

[Grant Lamontagne]

+1 vote for Gargamel

Is it possible to make the filter change some words to something, like swear words to smurf, and some other words to another, like politics related words to Gargamel?

j/k

We could, but then it would make it difficult for Mods to remind people that such discussions are banned.  New members might not understand what they were talking about.  For example, here's my earlier post Gargamelified:

While the government may be screwing everyone over (what else is new?) let's be careful that this discussion doesn't become Gargamel.

Def

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

Def

[pfrsantos]

+1 vote for Gargamel

Is it possible to make the filter change some words to something, like swear words to smurf, and some other words to another, like politics related words to Gargamel?

j/k

We could, but then it would make it difficult for Mods to remind people that such discussions are banned.  New members might not understand what they were talking about.  For example, here's my earlier post Gargamelified:

While the government may be screwing everyone over (what else is new?) let's be careful that this discussion doesn't become Gargamel.

Def

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

Def

Shouldn't it be:

While the Gargamel may be smurf everyone over (what else is new?) let's be careful that this discussion doesn't besmurf Gargamel.

 

[AlephZero]

Yeah. I can imagine it would get rather confusing real fast...

Would be fun though

[jerseydevil]

This really sucks Detron.    Hopefully this mess gets straightened out soon.  Here at the store our drivers' son is an air traffic controller.  He's not getting paid either, but he's still required to be on the job.....

[detron]

This really sucks Detron.    Hopefully this mess gets straightened out soon.  Here at the store our drivers' son is an air traffic controller.  He's not getting paid either, but he's still required to be on the job.....

I know others in that same boat,   smurfed by gargamel

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk now Free

[AHB]

+1 vote for Gargamel

Is it possible to make the filter change some words to something, like swear words to smurf, and some other words to another, like politics related words to Gargamel?

j/k

We could, but then it would make it difficult for Mods to remind people that such discussions are banned.  New members might not understand what they were talking about.  For example, here's my earlier post Gargamelified:

While the government may be screwing everyone over (what else is new?) let's be careful that this discussion doesn't become Gargamel.

Def

Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2

Def

Shouldn't it be:

While the Gargamel may be smurf everyone over (what else is new?) let's be careful that this discussion doesn't besmurf Gargamel.

 

Makes perfect sense.. 









 

[sawman]

From past experiences, can anyone recall about how long these holdouts can go on for?  I wouldn't think more than a few days but what do I know... 

[detron]

From past experiences, can anyone recall about how long these holdouts can go on for?  I wouldn't think more than a few days but what do I know... 

1996 it went for 27 days

[detron]

irritating 'ing

[Lynn LeFey]

I was in the military (Air Force) in '96, and the shut-down crippled my office, which was composed about 40% of GSs. I was Configuration Manager on a software project (cargo handling for Air Mobility Command), and the Quality Assurance guy was GS. We couldn't do any software release through that whole time.

I remember a lot of the Civilian folks had some finance problems afterward. Let's hope it doesn't last anything like that long this time.

[detron]

I was in the military (Air Force) in '96, and the shut-down crippled my office, which was composed about 40% of GSs. I was Configuration Manager on a software project (cargo handling for Air Mobility Command), and the Quality Assurance guy was GS. We couldn't do any software release through that whole time.

I remember a lot of the Civilian folks had some finance problems afterward. Let's hope it doesn't last anything like that long this time.

Lynn,  First, thank you for your service,  I did no 10 years in the Navy, so I understand the military side.

My wife HATES to spend money, (Which is why I do not have tons of SAKs & MTs)  but this pays off.  we live below our means, we have a mortgage and one car payment, that is it,  no Credit cards, no loans, no financed furniture or TVs. (this is without her working, and we have 2 kids)  so as long as this shutdown does not go for 2 months, I will be OK.  I do not like it, but I will not be late on bills.  The worst part is TSP (our 401k) has the ability to use loans when times are tough, but you have to be in a payed status to use the loans.  Furloughed employees are not in a payed status.  so some people have the emergency funds to help, but are not allowed to use them.
I manage Network security and information assurance for the Mid-west region, and I am not there, I also support Police and Fire radios, Hand-held scanners that the gate guards use to check IDs, encryption devices, etc, etc.  It is also interesting that things like Crypto could miss the small window of compliance!

[detron]

Detron has been ordered back to work tomorrow, even though gargamel is still chasing smurfs      

still no idea when we will get paid, but I am back to work   

This is good news, I think

[Monrogue]

Well that's good news I guess, provided you'll be getting paid I hope. 

[3rdpig]

If I remember right last time this happened when it was over all .gov employees got paid for the time they were off, which is more than I can say for any of the times I did unscheduled vacation time at any of the jobs I held.

But not to worry, I suspect it won't last much longer, Boehner will explode in a shower of man tears, apologize profusely and let our glorious leader take us down the shining path to everlasting happiness.

Oh darn, did I just go full gargamel? 

Sorry!

[nuphoria]

What a big old mess

I hope you get backpay when this is over? Sounds like you and your lady have been living with a very smart financial plan, and not being in tons of debt must be a better position than most.
I always try and keep a little something in the pot too, we call it the "drop dead fund"... as in, if I do, my expenses should be covered

[Chako]

I am actually surprised it has gone on this long. I hope everything gets back together soon for you detron.

[Sazabi]

Yay for work again, Detron.

[Syph007]

I was in the military (Air Force) in '96, and the shut-down crippled my office, which was composed about 40% of GSs. I was Configuration Manager on a software project (cargo handling for Air Mobility Command), and the Quality Assurance guy was GS. We couldn't do any software release through that whole time.

I remember a lot of the Civilian folks had some finance problems afterward. Let's hope it doesn't last anything like that long this time.

Lynn,  First, thank you for your service,  I did no 10 years in the Navy, so I understand the military side.

My wife HATES to spend money, (Which is why I do not have tons of SAKs & MTs)  but this pays off.  we live below our means, we have a mortgage and one car payment, that is it,  no Credit cards, no loans, no financed furniture or TVs. (this is without her working, and we have 2 kids)  so as long as this shutdown does not go for 2 months, I will be OK.  I do not like it, but I will not be late on bills.  The worst part is TSP (our 401k) has the ability to use loans when times are tough, but you have to be in a payed status to use the loans.  Furloughed employees are not in a payed status.  so some people have the emergency funds to help, but are not allowed to use them.
I manage Network security and information assurance for the Mid-west region, and I am not there, I also support Police and Fire radios, Hand-held scanners that the gate guards use to check IDs, encryption devices, etc, etc.  It is also interesting that things like Crypto could miss the small window of compliance!

I hate spending money too so I know how that feels.  Living below your means is just plain smart.  We probably have the smallest house of anyone I know around me... but it also means the smallest mortgage and Im fine with that.

I heard a financial guy say this one time and it made me rethink how I spent and saved.  Paraphrased cuz I cant remember exactly, but something like:  Most people think they need to not spend more then they make so they wont go into debt, but in reality, you must spend less then you make or you will never get ahead.  It seems obvious but its a subtle shift in thinking that makes a big difference.

[Aloha]

good for you and all the other workers that are back to work.  glad it didn't last to terribly long.   

[detron]

good for you and all the other workers that are back to work.  glad it didn't last to terribly long.   

well, the sad part is the shutdown is still going, and some people are not back to work.

They will pay me, but they cannot do so until the shutdown is over (then it will take another week or so to get payroll done), and we have no idea how long this will go on.  I am OK, but some people are being asked to spend money on gas, food, etc, and are not sure when they will get paid again.  landlords and mortgage companies do not stop asking for money.  some people are in a real bind.

I am very grateful that I live below my means, so don't worry about me, just worry for those who are at wits end, trying to decide what to pay first.

[AimlessWanderer]

Glad to hear you personally are OK, and you have been assured of a full pay settlement. I know if I was ordered back to work without pay, my response would not be very polite 

[Chako]

Syph007, my house may not be palatial, but she is mine mortgage free now going on 5 years. I may not drive the fanciest vehicle...but I paid for it in full as well. I am a firm believer in owing nobody anything. This way, if misfortune befalls, I think I can weather most storms. That was a philosophy that my father taught me at a very young age. I am sure he has the right of it. I agree with you fully.

Detron...hopefully it won't last much longer.

[sawman]

Syph007, my house may not be palatial, but she is mine mortgage free now going on 5 years. I may not drive the fanciest vehicle...but I paid for it in full as well. I am a firm believer in owing nobody anything. This way, if misfortune befalls, I think I can weather most storms. That was a philosophy that my father taught me at a very young age. I am sure he has the right of it. I agree with you fully.

Detron...hopefully it won't last much longer.

+1 - Finances are difficult for my family lately but our vehicles are both paid off and that helps a boatload! Chako hit the nail on the head about not owing anyone anything 

[detron]

Syph007, my house may not be palatial, but she is mine mortgage free now going on 5 years. I may not drive the fanciest vehicle...but I paid for it in full as well. I am a firm believer in owing nobody anything. This way, if misfortune befalls, I think I can weather most storms. That was a philosophy that my father taught me at a very young age. I am sure he has the right of it. I agree with you fully.

Detron...hopefully it won't last much longer.

I have a mortgage, but moving around in the Military did not make it easy to own a house, so I waited until I got out,  and I overpay on it every month (minimum of 10% over) . I have one car payment, but 1.5% interest, and I overpay on it.  Not to mention it is a budget car.

I have no credit cards at all, I have a debit card/check card, but no line of credit.  this is one of the smartest things you can do.

[Whoey]

I'm a firm believer of living within your means, I tend to be very cautious shopper and look around until I not only find what I'm looking for, but the best price that makes sense, unlike most of the credit yahoos who have caused this global financial crisis by overextending and borrowing money they could never pay back, all to have the nicest/newest house, car, iphone, macbook, etc (and then lose it all when the bottom fell out of the lending market)

When we got our car last year we could have used the money we spent as the deposit on a new car, but I felt it was better to own outright as we were already unsure of my work contract (which ended 6 months after we got the car). So I'm happy that although I'm jobless there's no chance they can take our car from us. We spent what we could at the time and got a 5 year old car.

I also have no other debt, but then again we do not own property :<

[ironraven]

My roommate works for the FAA. They told him to show up for work or don't show up again, and by the way all leaves were cancelled. But they aren't getting paid until congress pulls their heads out of their butts.

Ya know... I think I'd rather get no wages for no work than slave wages for full work. But I know it makes me feel all kinds of eager for the election cycle to start so soon.

[detron]

My roommate works for the FAA. They told him to show up for work or don't show up again, and by the way all leaves were cancelled. But they aren't getting paid until congress pulls their heads out of their butts.

Ya know... I think I'd rather get no wages for no work than slave wages for full work. But I know it makes me feel all kinds of eager for the election cycle to start so soon.

Gargamel (my Political replacement word) has me in the same boat. 
the worst part is to try to fund gas, and other expenses when you do not know how long you have to fund that with no income.

[Grant Lamontagne]

Kim and I experienced a similar problem a number of years ago- I was still recovering from a foot injury that left me unable to work for about a year when her union decided to go on strike.  They were out for almost six months, with less than half of her normal pay being given to her, and the union treating members like crap.  In fact, the union was pulling all kinds of crap that the company never would have, and as it turned out, the strike bankrupted the union.  In the end, when everyone went back to work, the union folded and Kim and her co-workers were absorbed into another union.  In the meantime the part time work I'd started to do built into full time work because the couple I worked for wanted to help us out.  We didn't owe anything significant (no mortgage, no credit cards and only a few car payments left before our Sunfire was paid off), and our landlord at the time was very understanding with late rent, plus the phone company (Kim works for the phone company so they understood the strike! ) was willing to suspend phone bills until things were resolved.  We had a lot going for us fortunately, especially compared to many families where both husband and wife worked for the company and were out on their butts.  Losing one good income was bad for us.  Losing both incomes was disastrous for others.

The lesson that this taught us wasn't to shrink down, but instead to expand.  Yes I have a HUGE debt load right now- I am making payments on two relatively new vehicles and my mortgage is higher than average but not overly huge.  What this means though is that if another strike were to happen and Kim was to be out of work for an extended period (or if I was to get hurt again, or any other calamity) we'd be ok because we have decentralized our income.  We are no longer reliant on Kim's income entirely, my income entirely or the household income entirely.  Any one of those could fail for whatever reason and we could tighten our belts a little and still manage quite well.  And, it's working for us, because after having no pot to pee in five years ago, we are now in a position to comfortably purchase another building.  Three years after that we should be in a position to purchase another, two years after that another and so on until both of our jobs are the minor part of our income rather than the major part.  At that point it won't be working until we reach retirement age, we'll be working as long as we feel like it.

There are good arguments for going small, and good arguments for going big.  It's up to each person to decide what works best for them, but for me, I learned long ago that you should never let others dictate how your future will go, and never put all your eggs in one basket.  Start an eBay business, buy some property, repair small engines and resell them for profit.... whatever you have to do, don't ever depend on one revenue stream.  There are always options.

And for me?  Well if things somehow do manage to go completely south and it's bigger than my safety net, well, I have a lot of equity built up in my house and I can sell that below market value now, pay off everything else and still have some feathers for a new nest.

Def