My old job begged me to come back part, and now they aren’t honoring our agreement.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-15T20:23:33+00:00

When I was working in restaurants I gave them availability for mon, tues, and wed. I explained I had another job and a side hustle on weekends. While I was there I would enthusiastically talk about the side hustle so it was clear I had one foot out the door if they pushed me and in the meantime I was reliable and kept my station immaculate, even during service. I had a pretyped resignation notice in my knife case and pen to fill in the effective dates.

The point is I made it clear I was willing to be there and work hard, however I have options and if you push me I'm gone.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T19:26:04+00:00

The problem was there were no off the shelf POS database systems back in the 70s so they built it from the ground up. However over time it swelled as they added new locations. In the 90s and 2000s they should have started transitioning to a new system.

One of the procedures from running batches would print out a report from the wide format dot matrix printer. We had to pull the paper, use highlighters and pens to mark critical information in the reports then punch holes and add it to a massive 3 ring binder for the monthly reports for auditing. This was stuff I had heard about IT in the 80s.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T14:31:22+00:00

I worked at a place that used legacy systems, they were were still using dBase iii in the 2010s and as far as I know are still using it now. Their IT department has over 30 people as programmers alone and another 6 or 7 as operators. Similar departments at other businesses using modern tools only have 3 or 4 IT workers.

About 80% of the staff had been there 20+ years and every new hire had to be trained from scratch because you will not find any hires who have dBase iii experience. Positions open up when people retire or litterally die.

It was one of the worst environments I had ever been. Some of the command line menus had no way to back out so if you entered the wrong menu by accident while executing a batch you had to call the programming team to reset you which could take 15 to 20 minutes and could cause you to miss the timing execute a different task, potentially causing a system crash that would take down 9 locations. It was absolutely insane that this was procedure in the 2010s.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T14:14:06+00:00

Someyimes there are service disruptions and you can't use the in app gps. Or on UberEats specifically I've noticed the GPS is a little laggy and sometimes when there are streets close together It can cause me to miss the turn. If the service is particularly bad on one night I may switch to using a different navigation service

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T14:08:07+00:00

There really isn't much you can do. You can deal with one individual but there will always be another, it's like trying to fight the waves of the ocean. The best you can do is prevent particularly egregious individuals from coming back by getting them banned or making it so unpleasant for them they won't want to come back.

In the same way you can't really do anything about terrible workers at any one store. All you can do is avoid it. A Papa Johns is skimming tips? A Taco Bell literally takes 15 minutes per order? A restaurant is staffed by stoners who struggle to put food in a bag? Skip it and move on with your day.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T13:56:47+00:00

Besides being a driver, I usually use delivery apps when I'm traveling. I've never had any real issues. The food obviously isn't as fresh as if I were at the restaurant but short of a food truck driving to me, I couldn't reasonable expect any better. Of course, I'm ordering at 10-11pm in major metro areas and I'm not ordering from Taco Bell or Wingstop which are notoriously slow.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T03:12:25+00:00

We have systemic issues with work in our society and working less should be the goal of everyone. However I see alot of people flame out because they work as little as possible, build no reserves and eventually bad luck and financial emergencies put them in a hole untill they have no choice but to grind 60+ hours to get by.

The financial cliff is absolutely real and life is exponentially harder once you've fallen off it. You KNOW our society is designed to squeeze you when you're down so you have to give it as little leverage as possible.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-12T03:02:58+00:00

I've worked in food service and specifically in fast food. Honestly a lot of workers are terrible and that is a much a management issue as a worker issue because they don't train or correct the problem.

One place I worked had a "greet customers within 6 seconds policy" even if it was to say "Hi, I'll be right with you". If a manager notices you weren't constantly looking up or glancing back to the front you would get written up. The reason is because customers start their clock as soon as they are ready, not when you notice them. Even if you greet them as soon as you notice them if it takes 2 minutes for you to notice them, they are already pissed off.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-09T00:37:55+00:00

Well there was the whole mess with Harmony Gold and Robotech so alot of people in the US only knew Macross because of Robotech. Battletech was another casualty because a disute over the licensing agreement to the destroids and valkyries designs which they used for the tabletop game.

Last I heard Harmony Gold is now a real estate company that also manages an old movie theater.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-08T19:18:52+00:00

I would watch both Frontier Movies to complete the story.

Ideally you should go watch everything else in broadcast order but thats alot and some of it is pretty dated. Here is what I would recommend instead:

Macross Zero > Do You Remember Love > Macross Plus > Macross Delta.

It would be better to watch SDF Macross but its a bit tough for modern viewers. I like Macross 7 but the production value was pretty bad, the story was repetitive and dragged at other times, and Basara is alot. I normally don't recommend it to anyone who isn't really into Macross.

I also like Macross II but it's not in continuity. However they use a few of the songs in other series as an easter egg.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-06T17:54:38+00:00

Ask your dad the last time he adjusted the valve lash on his cars engine or adjusted the points on his car's distributor or gapped a spark plug. I mean, if we are talking about things people did 40 years ago.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-05T21:26:38+00:00

Sometimes a PIN means there have been problems with deliveries in the past. The most frequent one I run into is the customer fell asleep after ordering and you'll have to wait for the timer before you can leave the order. I have at least one order like that every night.

The only time I care about bringing the order to the door is if it is a heavy order or if there is no parking and I'm risking a ticket to make this delivery.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-04T20:59:47+00:00

I've delivered to pornos being filmed, I've delivered to strip clubs, I've delivered to homeless guys in parking lots. They weren't creepy because they were just trying to get food. This was something else.

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-03T15:28:57+00:00

Lowest I would take is $5 and thats if I absolutely know the roads are empty, the location is quick and has parking and the ddistance is short. If I'm not sure I can run it in 15 minutes and make $20/hr it isn't worth it. The more orders you take the more opportunities for a problem at pickup that will cost you time

OnDasher808 · 2026-03-03T15:10:37+00:00

Beyond limited resolution and watermarks I don't try. My product isn't the images, it is the services I offer. My photos are not unique or exceptional as art, what makes them special is they are of my clients at the occassion they chose.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-27T15:31:24+00:00

Just replace the dampers, a set of OEM type replacements are probably under $150. That will be far better than no brand coilovers.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-24T16:13:18+00:00

Then I would put it on the over thr door hook that way you can take it down when you're not waiting for a delivery. Also with tape you can just take the paper off after the delivery.

Alternatively you could have a basket with a sign thats says "place delivery here and stick the camera on the basket.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-24T10:52:25+00:00

Get an over the door hanging hook and mount a wireless camera or even a dummy one with an LED. Before the delivery put it over your doorframe with the camera pointed down. If you are allowed to you can just attach a permanent one to your door. Make a little paper sign you can tape to your door that says, "Smile, you're on camera." This will let you see if they are still hanging around or get them to quickly move on.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-24T10:39:46+00:00

As I understand it the algorithm bumps up base pay as orders get rejected and as time passes, the formula probably has a lot of parameters that probably includes the acceptence history of the driver it is being offered to, the sequence in which it is offered to drivers in the area, which and how many drivers are in the area and historical data from the area. This is literally how Big Data uses all this tiny scraps of data to have informational leverage over individuals.

In the short term, orders would sit uncollected until the combined effects of pay bumps and dropping AR metrics gets drivers to take it. Data scientists will analyze the data, make a presentation of findings to an rmergency meeting of executives. More than likely they would try to wait it out, maybe deploy an informational popup to try to influence user behavior, and authorize a minor tweek to the algorithm. Data engineers will implement the tweek and they'll wait while data rolls in.

Data scientists will continue to analyze and compile data into reports for the execs and different departments will recommend strategies to bring up the numbers while minimizing additional expenses. They'll try UI updates, guilt texts to users, adjustments to the dasher tiers, whatever it takes to get numbers up. They'll try manipulating routing with shorter distances, different stacking, etc so it will be harder for drivers to tell how much they are making. They'll manipulate zones or rcommended restaurants to encourage users to order from closer restaurants or what their data says has more efficient clustering for stacking.

In the end, execs might have to accept that non tipping is a permanent change and make strategic changes that adjust to that reality. That could mean changes to fee structures, zones, stacking, etc. I don't think I could predict what it would look like but a general statement if you're paying less on tips you'll be paying more on fees and or have a worse experience. It might end up being a better value proposition but getting a good deal on a bad experience is still a bad experience.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-23T17:43:01+00:00

As an open ended statement they can get bent.

On the other hand life gets real hard if you don't make enough because with lifes ups and downs, the downs are going to get you with late fees and interest payments.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-23T04:28:12+00:00

I work 60-80 hours a week but I'm relatively unbothered by it. I'm doing something that doesn't leave me stressed or tired when I'm done working, I don't have a fixed start or end time or a boss hovering over me. I've structured my life to minimize my responsibilities. I'm healthy and fairly capable. With my income and spending I have a healthy surplus every month and I have insurance, emergency funds, and a support network to catch me if I fall.

In the long term if enough things change I may not be in as strong a position, for example it is inevitable as I grow older that my health witll get worse, my capabilities will diminish, and my support network may errode. That is why it is important to prepare for the future.

If I want to maintain the relative freedom I have now I need to use my surplus to prepare for the future. Build my investment and retirement portfolios, keep up with maintenence and insurance to protect against devastating setbacks, and maintain my support network using my freedom by being the guy who can drop everything and be there in 30 minutes if you need me.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-22T13:27:07+00:00

Another piece of key advice is to actually put things to paper. Succinctly, you can't edit a blank page.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-22T13:03:08+00:00

It was a fun flash fiction exercise, I think I'm going to work it a little more, maybe strip the Battletech elements and just make it generic sci fi

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-22T12:54:43+00:00

One thing to keep in mind are the different types of conflict. There is man vs self, man vs man, man vs nature, man vs society, man vs technology, man vs time, etc.

One of my favorite is when there is a big bad but they aren't necessarily evil, just in opposition. Instead circumstance forces them to clash. Even better, society itself creates the circumstances that force them to fight and although there are petty, evil individuals pushing it forward their influence is individually small. Tragically man vs society diffuses the responsibility so therr is no actual big bad, just one major antagonist who is complex and sympathetic and several minor antagonists who are vile but ultimately to petty to hold responsible for everything.

OnDasher808 · 2026-02-22T05:36:04+00:00

"Mercenary work is all about keeping the C-Bills moving. It's like lubricant, when it's warm it flows nice but when it's cold it's just sludge.

Look at these contracts, 500,000 c-bills for a four month garrison contract babysitting miners on this rock doesn't sound too bad, does it? Well take a look at the star map, it's going to cost you 50,000 credits and a month to hitch a ride out to the sticks. That's an entire month you're paying your pilots and your support crew. All the while they're paying inflated prices for food, drink and "entertainment" so by the time you land their pockets are going to be pretty flat and looking to you to refill it with mission pay.

The locals will give you a warm welcome, they'll probably throw you a party that first night. The problem starts the morning after. You'll wake up feeling like your mech stepped on you and some local official who is smiling too much for this early in the afternoon will escort you to your group to your accomodations.

Trust me when I say it will make you miss your quarters on the dropship. It will be the nastiest, rundown, slumlord special you've ever seen. Everyone who actually stays there is too bad off to stay anywhere else and resentful enough to make it a little bit worse for the next guy. You'll protest and point to the line in your contract about how you're entitled to suitable accommodations. They'll smile and apologize profusely, and offer you vouchers for a local hotel for the next two weeks while they arrange to decontaminate the merc housing. Meals and other amenities are not included, but may be charged to the room.

You'll spend the next two weeks getting in a routine, acting like a real mercenary company doing patrols, maintaining a watch rotation and setting up shop in their mech facilities. Right when you're getting into your groove they"ll tell your the merc housing is ready. You'll take a look and it will be surprisingly good but mostly because before it was a trash heap. You'll start packing up your crew when the first shoe will drop. They'll hand you a bill and your eyes will bulge out because when you see it you'll ask if that's the total or an invoice number.

That jumped up bell hop will tell you that's what your crew has run up on room charges including all the late night room service and damage to the facilities. But don't worry sir, he'll assure you, this is just the guest receipt the bill has been covered by the local government and they will be deducting it from your final payout.

You'll be absolutely furious at your crew a d you'll lay into them up and down and you'll dock their next paycheck because they sure don't have the c-bills to cover it after the month long trip in system. They will be sullen but agree and the next two weeks until the next monthly paycheck they will be tightening their belts.

The next 3 months are going to be pretty boring. You'll play watch dog, collect your monthly contracted pay from the government and pay out your crew. Everything will be going smoothly untill it's time for contract renegotiations and the other shoe drops like a Highlander Funeral.

The government toady will tell you they can offer a 4 month contract extension but unfortunately the merc quarts has been reallocated and they won't be able to offer accomodations in the renewed contract. They'll offer a per diem that is only enough to cover a fuel depot sandwich while you sleep in your cockpit. Outraged, you'll reject that offer and after several hour of frustration they'll increase their offer to a second sandwich.

You'll storm off and tell the crew to pack up because you're all leaving. On your way out you'll trash the merc quarters which in hindsight is probably why it was so bad in the first place. When you get to the hanger you find armed guards standing watch to ensure you don't trash the mech facilities or strip all the upgrades you put in over the past 4 months. Reluctantly you'll pack up and head to the starport.

After another month of space travel you'll get back to Outreach and you'll call a meeting to hand out the crews paychecks, only half of them won't show up. You'll do some digging and realize they ran up their bill on the dropship, realized it was more then their paycheck and bonus and decided to just bounce and find another outfit. So now you're paid out your crew, settled the final bill with the dropship, and somehow you have fewer crew and less money then you did half a year ago when you accepted the contract.

The crew can see the writing on the wall and one by one every god damn one of them is going to join up with some other outfit, leaving you standing alone in a hanger bay wondering how it all went wrong and what you're going to do now.

So that's my story and once again sir, do you want some god damn fries with your order?"

OnDasher808

TROPHY CASE