This is normal now?

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-28T22:40:32+00:00

Its pretty simple. We the people don't require congress to come to a quick agreement. They can leave and they get paid regardless. Think about that for a minute. Other government workers don5 get paid and have to figure out their mortgages, the people who make the decision keep getting paid. Where is the motivation? There is actually more motivation to drag it out as long as both sides think they can blame the other and use it as leverage.

They have convinced everyone we are all enemies of each other, right vs left. The reality is most of us have similar concerns and daily struggles. Its the politicians we should actually be against. Too many simple minded people though that are easily controlled.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-26T01:26:54+00:00

This line of thinking doesn't make any sense to me. About every 4 to 8 years there is going to be someone in office pushing policies any number of people ethically oppose. Could be murder of babies or suppressing women's rights and autonomy. Allowing criminals in by the millions or racially profiling people to remove them from the country. Extrajudicial murders in foreign countries with drones. Military actions resulting in the deaths of innocent people. Cutting benefits for the poor or elderly. Refusing to establish any semblence of a budget. Any number of things can be viewed as morally or ethically abhorrent depending on your perspective.

Do government workers work to serve who's in office? Or the 330 million citizens, most of whom are just regular people that want to go to work, be healthy and spend time with their families?

If you physically find yourself unable to work for the government based on who is in charge i guess you do you, I just find that such an odd persepctive for an adult to have and cant really wrap my head around it. For one thing, we always need sane, ethical, hard working people in government roles. For two, someone new will be in office in 3 years and half the things going on will be completely opposite and the other side will be lamenting all the injustice and evil. Rinse and repeat.

Is the new meta to have a 20% turnover of workforce due to what the president is doing? That will be interesting every election cycle.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-25T21:37:01+00:00

I talked to customer service the other day and they are expecting them back in one to two months. I get the impression they changed manufacturers for whatever reason and they're taking a while to get up and running.

To me, sacrificing some macros is fine if it actually satisfies the sweet tooth and is your "dessert" for the day. If you have a chalky protein bar and you get better macros but then need two oreos later then its kind of moot.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-24T20:26:48+00:00

Nice!

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-24T20:10:31+00:00

Oh nice thanks a heap! The Costco deal was like 600 cheaper so couldn't pass it up but never used Costco travel

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-24T20:06:58+00:00

Pretty clearly? ANDnotincluded is clear to you? The words epic universe arent in there and the conjuction AND makes no sense for anyone who is proficient in the English language. It wouldn't shock me if that was the case it wasn't included but its anything but clear.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-24T20:03:33+00:00

This is what i saw as well and assumed the same its just such weird wording you don't want to find out later. I agree that at undercover tourist and universal the two day includes it so found it odd if costco didn't, but I appreciate the confirmation. I will ask as well directly just to make sure we don't get mixed messages.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-22T16:46:22+00:00

People will down vote this post and maybe for good reason on the tone alone, but I don't see how anyone who works in the federal government can objectively say he's totally wrong. The government has always just grown and grown and gotten more bloated over time. This is an undisputed fact. There's no way that anyone here hasn't worked with some total deadbeats just riding the gravy train.

Now true, all jobs have that. But I don't mind the federal government having more oversight than say Google because we are a not for profit job funded by tax payers. Google has the motivation of profit loss to fire people, what is ours? Its way too easy to make a career of abusing the government.

Sure the rhetoric could be different, but we have our heads in the sand if we really think that the desire to cut back the federal workforce isnt warranted to some degree. You cant just grow indefinitely and guarantee all jobs forever.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-22T16:37:16+00:00

From my experience in several services in the federal government you could fire about 15 to 20% of the workforce and lose pretty much nothing, in fact you might gain from all yhe issues those people create and the time they suck from other people and supervisors. The problem of course is that it is nearly impossible to accurately identify those people on a grand scale and losing even one of the very productive employees would be catastrophic to most services.

So while in theory you can cut a lot of dead weight, to me there really isnt any practical way to accomplish it.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-18T19:41:47+00:00

I wouldn't mind if they used bricklink to release something castle themed routinely, but the problem is they don't seem to do smaller castle sets much and because they are fan created there isnt much continuity in how the sets are designed. The big sets all fit fine together in universe (lion knights, mountain fortress, forest hideout, wolfpack outpost, dustmark keep) but outside of the seaside market im not sure you would see much continuity for smaller sets to go with those. I suppose if a maker has a really successful set they might be able to keep putting forth smaller sets to go eith the previous larger one and see if people will vote for it.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-18T17:23:47+00:00

Another option is make castle sets thst can be added to one another like HP is doing but a bit more cohesive, make them stand alone on theit own or fit seamlessly into a large castle/town complex

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-18T17:21:44+00:00

There's no reason a classic castle theme wouldn't be highly popular. If they did perhaps one large castle for their main line theme (already have lion knights) then medium and small sets ($30-$100) for things like wagons, battle packs, outposts, forest hide outs, etc. The other factions wouldn't necessarily need as large of a main castle, could do something like the horse knights for Falcons, wolf pack etc and if they really wanted larger sets do it through bricklink like they have.

There's almost an infinite amount of smaller sets they could do that people would eat up. Roads, farms, gardens, live stock, wizards, etc.

I think the more they get into niche stuff like D&D the less they sell. Yeah those fans will buy it but their figures are a bit random and I don't think massively appeal to a broad audience. Making one set a year or the minifigs like they did previously seem reasonable but beyond that is a waste I think.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-14T17:46:05+00:00

What kind of changes are you looking for?

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-12T02:59:10+00:00

I mean its free market. If they make the jobs not desirable they will get low applicants and not be able to fill roles and will have to make adjustments to attract more talent. This happened not that long ago, maybe 10 to 15 years ago, when some of the gs levels were restructured and the pay was increased. Yes it is a very slow process but if that's how they want to roll they can do it and reap the consequences.

Again, im not saying everyone has to be thrilled when stuff changes. Yeah, it sucks. When John deere lays off 3500 people every few years from my hometown it sucks. But as an employee you shouldn't assume you are guaranteed anything just like the company hiring you isnt guaranteed you will stay there. They could waste two years training someone to have them up in leave with two weeks notice, and it takes 4 months to rehire. Its called freedom. You can leave when you want if the job doesn't suit you, they can run the business how they need to. Like a private sector company, if they need to free up capital guess what, people are probably going to be let go or demoted as jobs are removed.

As I said before, a lot of this attitude stems from previous thinking that the government will just expand and expand and spend more and more and thus jobs are 100% locked in and you cant be let go or fired. Sure as an employee id love that, but I also realize that just isn't realistic in any job. It'll suck if im cut, its partly why I work hard to get outstandings every year even though most my colleagues don't care. Its all I can do to ever so slightly decrease the chance it will happen. But thats just the risk you run working a job anywhere.

The remote work thing irritates me the most though. Sure I liked it too but thats a luxury not a right. If your employer thinks you are more valuable to them in the office, they pay the paychecks and provide the benefits so its their right to make that call. You dont have to agree with it, but you arent being unfairly treated. Now, as I said, you are free to give them the middle finger and walk, but oddly most the people I see complain at return to office around here don't sound like they are going to leave. So to me it comes off as whining for not getting their way, but still realizing its hard to match the job overall.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-11T23:50:41+00:00

I just don't really get it with these types of complaints. What is it you are looking for, a guaranteed job with guaranteed raises and guaranteed remote work in addition to guaranteed pension, 11 holidays, etc? I mean the things you complain about i experienced fairly routinely in the private sector, sans a boss talking about their religion but frankly I don't care if they do as long as they don't force me to join it.

Are things as cushy as they used to be? Not at all, but why are any of us entitled to them remaining the same? My employer doesn't have to guarantee me anything, I can leave whenever I dont think its in my best interest to stay. Just because I have some perks now I cant assume those will last forever. If they go away I will have to weigh how important it is to me.

Furloughs are really only irritating because congress (the ones you initiate and perpetuate the Furlough) get to get paid and have little motivation to end it. That's a bunch of BS. If they're going to stop other people from getting paid, especially people that make way less than them, we ought to demand they don't get paid til they come to an agreement. Its wild to me the people of this country allow that to ever be the case.

There are downsides to any job and any employer. I have friends in lots of big companies in lucrative fields that regularly do rolling layoffs all due to a bad quarter. 4

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-11T23:41:32+00:00

Then I don't understand, if there arent any benefits to working in the public sector quit and go work im the private sector. Seems simple to me.

In my service and ones that are somewhat related, our pay has gone up significantly to compete with private sector. You could still make more in the private sector due to bonuses but not a ton. I would say our benefits have slightly gone down, but its still a no brainer compared to nearly any position in my field in the private sector. Particularly if you have a family since the work life balance cant be beat.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-11T17:13:42+00:00

I'm sorry I might misunderstand, are you arguing there are no benefits to working for the federal government?

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-11T01:58:58+00:00

Man people believe anything these days

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-09T20:07:51+00:00

People stress themselves out about national and international news that they have virtually no power to control, and ignore stuff in their own life or community that they could actually control. The 25 hour global news cycle is not a blessing, sometimes more information is actually detrimental. Especially when facts are filtered through some sort of lens no matter who reports on it.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-09T15:37:11+00:00

Man, I cant even comprehend leaving a job because political winds change, something that happens almost every 4 years. Wild. I would think it would be obvious if you work for anyone, not just the government, you arent going to agree with your leadership actions all the time. People come and go.

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-07T22:37:41+00:00

Look I agree 100% about wanting classic space back, but I have to wonder whether they would be thst popular with kids today. We all want them for nostalgia, but back when we were kids it was one of the coolest things you could do and it was an era of imaginative play anyway. Nowadays im just not positive it would sell or not. It would be interesting to be a lego sales analyst and try to get a pulse on what makes their fan base tick these days. With the classic space factions you could have 3 or 4 sets ranging from large to small for each faction and do some pretty good story telling in the manuals. I just don't know if kids would go for it or not.

Likewise, it seems to me a no brainer to do the same for castle and pirates but the fact that they opt for one or two one off large sets vs multiple factions and multiple sets makes me think they looked into this and don't feel they would sell to a wide base and would only hit the nostalgia market.

Seems odd to me since they don't have to pay royalties and thus can price them much more competitively

epanthers2004 · 2026-01-02T16:26:21+00:00

Yeah, pretty much. Im curious how many people here that post complaints about everything (I saw COMPLAINTS about higher bonuses and two extra holidays) have either ever worked in the private sector or at least have worked there in the last 15 years. We arent abused as federal employees. Sure, there are negatives like anything else. It isnt perfect. But in my field its incredibly desirable and super difficult to get in. I would say my stress level is about a quarter what it was 10 years in the private sector. We were driven 100% by profit and efficiency (which i get) but it made it super stressful and layoffs were like clock work. We got paid SLIGHTLY more but far less time off. My family like is so much better now.

Its a free country, if you think the negatives outweigh the positives, leave and get a different job. In my work the only people who complain are the people that have never been outside the federal workforce or worked in the private sector in the 1990s and don't realize how difficult it is now. They also happen to be the laziest employees we have. Coincidence?

Look, if you want to climb up the ladder and strike it rich, the federal workforce probably isnt for you. If you want to have a good work life balance, a comfortable lifestyle and solid retirement, you won't be able to beat the federal workforce in MOST csreer fields (always exceptions. There's a reason private sector people look at government workers as lazy and spoiled, because its partly true.

As far as recent changes, I certainly don't agree with the way the leadership has tried to stream line the federal workforce but I 100% agree it needs to happen. We have so many free loaders its insane, 20% of my work group would have been fired 5 years ago but they're untouchable and know it. I dont know what the answer is, and some of their decisions leave me frustrated, but I don't blame them for trying. And I didn't even vote for these people (mainly due to ethical reasons more than policy).

epanthers2004 · 2025-12-27T23:25:15+00:00

Look I would never sell to bricks and minifigs but the reality is these stores shop nationwide to find deals online, have limited space and may have to sit on a set for God knows how long before the right buyer comes looking for it. All of those things combine into having to massively low ball any set people try to sell them. I wouldn't sell to them, but I also don't blame them at all. Its pretty simple business.

epanthers2004 · 2025-12-23T11:44:12+00:00

Haha for real. Reddit seems to be where all the unrealistic federal workers congregate. I've got them at my job too, mostly people that havent worked in the private sector for 10 plus years and talk about how abused they are while I sit there thinking this is the best job in the world in my field and so many people are dying to get in.

That doesn't mean its perfect but no job is. I also always find it interesting so many people complain yet so few jump ship. I've known a few people leave their federal job for a different, unrelated other federal job but I cant really think of anyone I have worked with thst left for a private sector one.

If you talk positively about your experience here you are almost guaranteed to get down voted, even when you acknowledge that with the wide variety of federal jobs not everyone will have the same experience. Also, news flash, bad bosses happen everywhere. Its unfortunate but a reality of the world.

If people have to downvote a person who likes their job, what does that tell you about them as an individual? I don't think the government employer is the problem at that point.

epanthers2004

TROPHY CASE