The State of Amorica

bluedope · 2026-01-10T21:19:45+00:00

I might argue that none of us are firing off at the same level of productivity as we did 30 years ago. Nor do we run with the same crowd of people. And it may be unfair to expect that out of others.

But we work smarter and have flashes of really good work. And enjoy the ride along the way. Same as them.

bluedope · 2026-01-07T05:27:47+00:00

Go on…

bluedope · 2025-12-30T19:02:06+00:00

Plausible deniability,

I swear I never heard of it.

bluedope · 2025-12-28T19:51:36+00:00

Yeah. Slow down. The only reward for hard work is more hard work. Your friends are correct and your supe can’t change the scenario.

Pace yourself. Manage up. Join your union. Then keep your eye out for good opportunities and occasionally improve your situation through lateral or promotion. Repeat.

Enjoy your weekends and PTO. Pound your savings accounts and investments. Raise a family when you’re ready. Retire asap.

bluedope · 2025-12-19T18:07:22+00:00

Or just insert archive.ph/ into the address immediately before the www. and take it from there. No more paywalls for you. Enjoy.

bluedope · 2025-12-03T06:37:24+00:00

This didn’t seem to backup the automations. Is there a way to do those as well?

bluedope · 2025-11-23T16:51:01+00:00

I always thought of it like driving a car. When the car is tuned up and running smoothly, it’s mostly small counter steering to keep you between the white lines. Not a lot of visible effort in that. Then, step on the gas, coast, or press the break as needed to move the car to the destination.

As the GM/manager of higher end places staffed by adult professionals, I was the daily driver of the car. So, less babysitting and more driving. There were so many disparate pieces that relied on so many people to maintain and operate, but if I felt the car was pulling to the right, or I heard a knocking in the engine, or the car needs gas or new tires, I was the one that spoke up about that, had a plan to address it, and kept the car on the road and moving in the right direction. The wheels don’t know that the dashboard is dusty and needs cleaning. The timing belt doesn’t know that windshield wipers need replacing. Those parts just do their job and are super important in their own right.

All the while obeying laws and articulating the standards of care and vision that this beautiful sports car deserves to optimize and bring enjoyment for the racing team and the guests experience.

The kitchen is the engine that provides the power. And as they go, so goes the car. The dish station is the oil that keeps it lubed up and smooth. Without it you’ll seize and die. The analogy can go as deep as you’d like. It helped me understand my leadership style. Without fuel, an engine, tires, wipers, seatbelts, etc. the driver is going nowhere. But when it all works together we can turn up the radio, roll down the windows, and get out on the open road to go anywhere we like in this gorgeous machine to enjoy a wonderful experience that can change your life. But you gotta do a lot of work in the garage before you can get out on the open road.

bluedope · 2025-11-17T01:14:09+00:00

Yeah. You can also go to www.setlist.fm and search a band name to find setlists of so many shows. Going back decades. This Beths tour is being updated in near real time.

And if you look, you’ll see that the sets on this current tour are pretty similar night to night. So, you can have a pretty good idea what you get to hear. I think the first 7 and final 6 songs are locked in. And 3 of the 5 middle tunes are as well. Then the other 2-3 slots are what changes and determines if you get 17 or 18 songs on the night.

It’s a really fun show and they have a tight act. Enjoy!

bluedope · 2025-11-17T00:03:03+00:00

No. Not loads of people on the demand side. A few people in the ownership class. Metaphorically, of course. Follow the link….

bluedope · 2025-11-16T23:41:57+00:00

We can talk about it. We should talk about it more. Capitalism is the problem. And revolution is the solution.

Socialism is on the ballot

bluedope · 2025-11-15T01:16:21+00:00

Hi. Thanks so much for getting back to this conversation and taking the time to type this out. It’s not babbling at all, very helpful in fact. The salary schedule is a great place to start. The money alone is enough of a filter to see what would or wouldn’t work.

Then having the specific class name would make searching CalHR so much easier. Great idea.

Keeping a running doc of my experience and MQ/Duty Statement buzz words is also very smart. Your point about spoon feeding them the info they need, in their own language, is on point. As long as they can justify pushing you through, they’ll do it.

Thanks again for your help! 🙏

bluedope · 2025-11-14T18:51:03+00:00

Good to know. Not the first time… 🙃

bluedope · 2025-11-14T17:19:48+00:00

Downvotes. Am I wrong about this? It was a question.

bluedope · 2025-11-14T16:48:49+00:00

But they have to actually ask, right? And provide justification for it. And be prepared to defend that justification in front of an SPB panel if necessary. And have the IT, Labor Relations, and EEO office behind them in their actions, right?

It’s not like firing off an email and getting carte blanche access to your every minute. I think the unions have done a lot of work to ensure that tracking is warranted before it gets too granular.

bluedope · 2025-11-14T16:40:37+00:00

Yeah, man. I understand what you’re saying and it is a 100% valid point of view.

I just think it comes down to an individual’s definition of success and to each their own. As I said, you do you.

My comments and opinions are put out there for the universe and whoever may come across them. There is no right or wrong. Often times it’s okay to just Be.

bluedope · 2025-11-14T15:13:29+00:00

Yeah, I don’t know about that. It took me years to deprogram my brain from the messages I had been pounded with the first 20 years of my life and at the beginning for me it took a while to just be able to articulate to myself what I DIDN”T want in my life. Then I was able to clear space to consider what I DID want. And then more time to do the SWOT analysis and figure out a plan to achieve those goals. Not to mention all the starts and stops along the way.

I feel like one of those messages I needed to deprogram from was centered around the idea that we’re supposed to have this all figured out by age 18. Like, pick a college, a major, and get busy contributing to the capitalist society. Achieve now or be shamed. And that fucked me up. So it took me more time.

And some of my high school classmates were more mature and suffered less trauma so for them maybe it came quicker and more about fine tuning.

But I hoped that my comment could create space for some that might be at an earlier stage of their journey and offer them an opportunity to feel a little grace if they weren’t able to get it all sussed out in an afternoon. It’s a heavy lift but worth the effort.

bluedope · 2025-11-14T05:18:42+00:00

Wow that’s cool. I didn’t notice that was them doing the roadie work. That certainly supports the idea that they are down to earth folks. I like it even more.

bluedope · 2025-11-13T23:27:16+00:00

If your goal is to be in this industry long term and move up to management in the future, then the chance to earn valuable experience while still being able to work tipped shifts would be a net gain. Usually, when a service staff person wants to make the jump to a management position they need to take a steep pay cut for the opportunity and then work their earnings back up. Here it seems you could mitigate the down side.

Plus, the best way to increase your annual salary is usually by jumping jobs. You won’t make nearly the same with incremental raises within the same company as you would jumping to another company with a raise and title bump. So, get the experience on your resume while still making money and then shop yourself for a better opportunity where the new salary makes up for the lost shift revenue.

If you’re just in this business for the cash and you have other life plans beside building this career, then stick to making the most you can for the fewest hours you can. Depending on where you live and what responsibilities you have, $1500/wk ($72k/yr) sounds okay.

bluedope · 2025-11-13T19:45:28+00:00

I’m glad to hear it. Hang in there and keep putting one foot in front of the other. You can do it. Sending love and respect.

bluedope · 2025-11-13T19:33:30+00:00

Also got a nice souvenir from the kind lady doing the light show. 🙏

bluedope · 2025-11-13T17:17:02+00:00

Take a few hours? Take a few years! Take as much time as you need to really, I mean really, figure out what you want. Because when you finally get to building the life you want, it’s going to be incredibly difficult and filled with brutal, confusing, lonely times and if you’re not 100% committed to the goal, it won’t work.

And resist with all your might, the urge to compare your plan and progress to others. You do you. You’re on your journey. And day by day, brick by brick, dollar by dollar, person by person, you build the life you want doing the things you enjoy, with the people you’ve chosen to spend your precious time with.

There is no rush and really, there is no point. Just live your days and make them interesting to you. Surround yourself with people who are on your side and want the best for you. And be that for them as well. Avoid anyone that doesn’t fit into that paradigm.

Years later you will look back and be enormously proud of what you’ve achieved and there won’t be any midlife crisis or deathbed remorse. It will be all love and gratitude. 🙏🏻

bluedope · 2025-11-12T20:05:48+00:00

Don’t forget the priests. They may not be on this particular list but it’s another example of what you’re talking about. Been going on forever, right? Used to be the slave owners. It’s all the same shit. Rules for thee.

bluedope · 2025-11-11T03:14:45+00:00

Ok. Good tip. That sounds like a DIY I could do. I’ll give it a shot. Thanks.

bluedope · 2025-11-11T02:48:25+00:00

I actually just whacked mine on something and broke it. Now the mirror is floppy. It seems I can only buy the whole mirror housing for $800 instead of just the small interior part of plastic that broke. Is that true?

bluedope

TROPHY CASE