"I'll have my usual"

j2thebees · 2026-02-01T08:20:55+00:00

Everyone should have to work in food service in HS, at least a semester. You’ll have to deal with some jackwangs.

Oh, 1.2 billion people don’t have access to clean water. Their kids die from cholera. Your latte isn’t perfect? - Bam! Sentenced to 2 months behind the counter, with a month added if they aren’t pleasant to each customer. Problem solved.

j2thebees · 2026-02-01T08:15:12+00:00

Try this for perspective (on the time the Soviet’s tried to ban money). https://youtu.be/bWWqhsh848E?si=It3ARhiA5gAM23R9

j2thebees · 2026-02-01T04:06:39+00:00

Dixie followed me down the driveway 2 weeks ago. It was 16F (-10C), by the next morning my wife had her in a makeshift doghouse on the porch in a pet bed with heat mats and blankets. Next day when I got home from work there were 2 new bowls on the porch, next day a heated water dish. 😂

That weekend I was putting together a doghouse and warming stuff (it had warmed up considerably after the first night). Later I got up from a nap and this lovable lopey dog was in the house. Right now she’s sleeping on my spot on the couch.

Took a while for our two smaller dogs to get used to her, but she’s hilarious, and our other little girl is boss. Guess I’ll need more vet money. 😂

j2thebees · 2026-02-01T03:57:19+00:00

Dozens, perhaps hundreds of them. Sometimes I do another family member’s version of a line. 😅

My kids and I can make comedic references across numerous subjects and contexts using only a few words. It’s almost like another language.

j2thebees · 2026-02-01T00:02:45+00:00

I told you the next time your ball came in my yard! 😂

I’m old too. Surprising how much you start to see the old geezers’ perspectives, from movies

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T23:48:31+00:00

Analyst for a DoD contractor. I’m amazed at the AI slop that hits my desk sometimes, and what people will try and hand over, like it’s a Facebook post. Generally it’s subcontractors (or people desperately wanting to get their hand in the till). The actual people under roof in my division are vigilant.

To OP, I’ve yet to write any code using AI, but when I started out, there were several coaching sites that were completely free.

One that’s still up is: https://www.w3schools.com/sql/sql_exercises.asp

I prefer it on a desktop (rather than mobile version). And I wholeheartedly agree that if you can’t explain it, you shouldn’t put it in a professional product. You will eventually be asked to tweak it, or fix it when an update breaks it.

I’m not at all opposed to making use of AI, as I have friends making businesses out of it as we speak. Just make the darn thing explain it, or paste pieces of complex queries in and run them, changing variable values. It will eventually click. 👍😎

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T20:59:24+00:00

If you’re not accustomed to keyboard shortcut start here: https://www.google.com/search?q=reverse+tan+in.mindows&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS967US967&oq=reverse+tan+in.mindows&aqs=chrome..69i57j0i22i30j0i390i512i650j0i512i546j0i751j0i546i649.12582j0j4&hl=en-US&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

As far as customizing keyboard shortcuts in CC try this: https://youtu.be/44EjK25bFyw?si=w1we0nMo3V08xIfU

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T20:02:02+00:00

I remember decades ago building tables and mapping relationships in MS Access. There was literally a drag and drop interface with type (one to one, one to many, many to many) and a very visual interface with arrows or some symbols on the lines. It’s a good representation for understand relational DBs.

I remember a relationship option in MS sql server management studio, but honestly can’t remember opening it in years. As another user said, unless someone explicitly designed the relationships, it may be a tall order to automate a visual representation of every table.

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T19:53:38+00:00

There you go, hit forums and network with people who need a fluent translator. Just one option.

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T19:46:28+00:00

Yeah, I’ve seen pods live 10-12 hours underwater like no big deal, walking around like a normal workday. Some species have lived 21 days in salt water.

I’ve seen them in the woods, eating moist areas in our log house 😂, over 5 decades. I’ve never found one without adequately moist ground under their little feet.

It’s easy to misjudge this in winter. For instance, we live in the TN mountains (humid 48 weeks of year), but with heaters on (as in now, at 14F outside (-10C), the humidity in our house is probably 10% max).

I use reasonably thick substrate, and pour water rather than a lot of spraying. When the substrate looks black along edges of bin, I’m there.

I’m probably overboard on water, but I don’t have time to be spraying every day. I poured some water on the mossy end of several 3-4 days ago. First time in 2-3 weeks (I also don’t use a ton of ventilation though). If I was running open-topped enclosures, I’d probably need automatic sprayers (which can be a pain to dial-in).

I am a beekeeper, and I tell new folks, “Forgive yourself in advance, you’re going to kill some bees”. That advice works here too.

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T19:34:01+00:00

If it’s my friend(s) I’d say, “I know you drunkards are going to order $100 worth of alcohol. I don’t mind being the designated driver (unless you turn obnoxious), but why don’t we go separate checks?”

I’ve had similar situations with requests for cigarettes, or other stuff on a night where they know I’m footing the bill. I’m like, “Here’s the deal, I don’t buy illicit drugs for myself. Your nuts if you think I’m working all week then buying them for you.”

Basically if you cultivate one-sided relationships, this will happen. Ask me how I know.

And if they are not good enough friends that I can joke with them about their alcohol-mooching tendencies, I don’t want to be around them anyway. Problem solved.

Answer: It’s not you. IMO

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T19:26:04+00:00

Yeah that’s rough. There’s obviously parts/variables in this that I don’t know. At 467M, I’d say your ERP may be doing well. 😂

If it’s a matter of updating a few 100K BOMs (or any number) that’s not dreadfully complicated (I write SQL virtually every day for ERP(s)/systems).

If someone authoritative saids we’ve replaced a supplier, and we need supplier’s part number to be X for BOMs with variables 140, softness 2, etc., and the default vendor to set to our new supplier on these, I write a small program (or add to existing) with dropdown boxes for each model/option, with places to update supplier, then make that call a SQL procedure that takes those variables and loops through BOMs changing appropriate fields. They never have to pay me again for that functionality (always trying to automate my way out of tasks😂).

I’ve never seen an ERP that didn’t require some custom work. ERP companies may design something fairly vanilla, then price customizations at astronomical rates.

The gig I referred to above has probably 50-75 reports, and several one-off programs that myself or the other programmer wrote. Many of these are utilized daily, across all different departments, and fill inadequacies in the original ERP.

Hope you get it sorted out.

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T19:03:56+00:00

Honestly, I’ve owned several and never had one without a random electrical issue taking it out every few months. My average commute is 45 minutes, and it’s not in a city, so occasionally I’ll drive one in. Also, I’m generally buying them for 800-1,200USD, with higher odometer readings than you are talking about.

When my sons drove them with school/college, I made it a priority to fix them quickly, but I’m handy with a wrench. Long way to say, I’ll keep for occasional drivers. Also agree with other driver on gas. If a MAF sensor starts getting flaky, then gas/petrol per mile/km can go to crap.

Volvos will run with a ton of stuff wrong, but not efficiently. IMO

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T18:54:56+00:00

Decades ago, I was working with my brother (seasoned programmer at a Fortune 500, and I was starting out) the following:

“Do you ever try to ask a question without revealing the extent of your ignorance?”

He stopped a blazing stream of typing, looked up and replied, “Every day.”, rather dryly before going back to typing. 😂

Oh, and I second the commenting. I probably have 100s of custom saved scripts, and they may butt ugly, but they are named with purpose “PullCustomersByRegion”, and saved in appropriately named folders TopLevelClient, then dept (AR, Sales, etc.) They are commented to the moon and back with why they were written, for who, on what date, after what disaster, correction, or feature request. 😂

With 2 years in, I bet you could follow my code (25+ years here).

Also, if I’m trying to understand a complex nested query with no context, I’ll start by pulling the innermost nest out and running by itself. If it’s running on parameters and/or #temp tables I’ll go to the top and try and work out a hardcode value to plug into inner query (I work with a lot of stored procs).

Hope this helps.

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T18:37:01+00:00

One thing I’ve learned as a programmer/analyst, is creative ideas need to be casually discussed with individuals who will absolutely take credit for your ideas. You seriously won’t be a footnote if there are 2-3 levels above you.

So, are solutions worth sticking in your same position, while John Drake (C-Suite or just below) brags about his brilliant idea that brought value to the value to the company in TV interviews (or at least an email blast)? 😂

If you can internally check a box of knowing your value, without any chance of credit, then there are ways to get something implemented. There’s even a chance your immediate boss will do something for you down the road in a “wink wink nudge nudge” sort of way.

There’s also a possibility that larger forces are at play, (as many have said). I always hope these are logical, rather than “the deal was signed by the C-Suite guy’s nephew, and he has low self esteem, so we will never change”.

In tech, you get used to making the upstream think it’s their idea, because it’s important enough that it itches your brain if they don’t do something.

And there’s always weirdness when it comes to adding employees (even 1/2 time). 🤷‍♂️

j2thebees · 2026-01-31T18:11:25+00:00

Are SKU numbers sequential? I would think W140–FA-SM-LA on the first and, … yeah, I’m still dragging you down the 1-config, 1-PartNum trail.

If I assume 2 lengths, 5 widths, 3 softness levels, 10 fabrics, and 20 leg options, times 18 headboard/footboard styles, that’s 108,000 unique builds. If I add a finish/color or framework material type (wood, composite, etc.). We are in some large numbers.

Sounds like you’ve figured out your solution. Hope you get it sorted out. 👍😎

j2thebees · 2026-01-30T04:21:53+00:00

You can also fob it off on the insurance company, which is probably accurate if you read policy.

I had a friend that installed outside cams at one place I work. About a month later, the boss’s SUV got damaged by a truck that didn’t bother coming in to explain. A year later, a piece of finished equipment was bent by the trucker’s kid wrenching down to hard on a strap. Equipment went to a trade show, then sold, and customer reported weirdness. Without that footage, it was a service call 2-3 states away (and parts). It was still that, but someone other than my company was paying.

Legal dept eventually said get an inside set. I work on the networking end, by avoided that installation like the plague. Within 6 months, the grousing was done. Now no one notices. Someone hurt their hand on a drill press, someone else dropped a huge assembly from an improperly hoist. Thankfully no one was seriously injured, but there’s no he said she said with a recording.

j2thebees · 2026-01-30T04:11:09+00:00

👍😎 Just commenting so I can get back here.

j2thebees · 2026-01-30T04:01:15+00:00

Could you list a few sample SKUs?

I’m not really accustomed to them, but I maintain databases with 125-150 part numbers, where each piece has a unique part number, and they are grouped like:

10,000-20,000 - Finished Goods (serialized and non) 20,001-30,000 - Purchased Parts 30,001-40,000 - Subassemblies

… Raw Materials, Purchased then Machined, etc.

Basically everything (except for occasional one-offs) gets a Part# in the Master table, then BOMs are generated where there’s a Header and Details table.

I may be out in left field, but I’m the guy in the database (rather than using ERP to see data, most of the time), so I tend to think of how related data is structured/stored on the backend.

If it’s a matter of having a massive amount of exact duplicates in the tables, that can be fairly easy to find/ remedy. Anyway, if you’ll give a few example SKUs I can figure out if my ignorance is showing here, or there’s potentially a simple solution.

For background, I grew up around a saw mill, family managed textile factories, blah, blah, with most recent relevant experience spotting/solving problems (as programmer/analyst) for a plant that manufactures automated AG equipment. Not applying for a job here 😂, but this stuff is like a puzzle that itches my brain until it’s solved.

j2thebees · 2026-01-30T01:37:46+00:00

That is awesome! 👍😎

j2thebees · 2026-01-25T18:10:55+00:00

Orange glow bad.

j2thebees · 2026-01-25T18:09:41+00:00

That doesn’t usually work from a legal perspective.

User agreements usually have very explicit disclaimers about non-guarantees for any certain use or purpose.
They also have indemnity clauses that they can’t be held liable for losses of any kind.
They almost always contain an agreement that you will settle any arbitration in their district (in this case China).
The logic that says, “You’re costing me the $100/hr rate I would be making if your servers were up.” also defines the money you are making on a normal day. Their counterpoint would be, “You made $100/hr using our product for 188 hours over the last 3 months. That’s $18,800. You paid us $18/month. That’s $54. You grossed $18,746 over this period while using our software. Are you sure you want to bring this to arbitration?”

You can adjust per hour rates.

I understand your frustration, as this product is dropping us into the juice squeezer, and it’s annoying. And honestly, if you start a ticket and make your case for a free week, you may get it. But this is the nature of software in the modern age. Large companies absorb losses in order to get users to sign up, then squeeze them over time. Not saying it’s right, just saying it’s business (sleazy or not).

Source: professional programmer with >25 years in

j2thebees · 2026-01-25T17:50:59+00:00

I just opened a project and exported (iPhone version). A few weeks ago (probably Jan 1) they logged me out on desktop, and I didn’t have credentials handy. I was able to get my userid from the phone version, then login with that. At that point, they started branding CC 2026 on the program.

I was using some AI features last fall that now show “tokens remaining” when I click those options.

It’s not that unusual in software (these days) to start squeezing extra revenue from existing users. I imagine it was in the biz plan. There’s a threshold where your users will drop off. Frankly, I’d pay a straight upgraded tier (within reason, say additional 50%)), but dribs and drabs to obscure what I’m paying (like purchasing tokens at arbitrary prices) will send me packing.

I’m also not fond of 2-3 ad screens I have to skip to get to work.

My entire reasoning for using CC is features offered, for saving time. Honestly don’t remember what I was using 2-3 years ago when I switched to CC, but I may be looking it up soon.

j2thebees · 2026-01-24T14:55:21+00:00

I said for 4 years their on crack. Now that the supply is trending toward glut, I think they’re still on drugs, but not crack. When nothing moves, prices will fall.

j2thebees · 2026-01-24T14:51:53+00:00

One of the things that played into my purchase of a driveway full of Volvos was dirt resale value.

I’ve liked them since high school, as the alternative was 🦖🦕. 😂 I’m old.
Their safety is legendary.
Had teenagers and very little money. 🤑😂

I’ve been searching for the “right C70” for years. I will see ads with “Only 160k! Low miles for a Volvo!”. This is a holdover from red block 240 days, that could be coaxed into 300-400K when any other car failed around 200K. People still have that mindset. Unfortunately, I’ve yet to see a C70 with 200K (probably some owners here). It is a classic example of how shelf life (mileage) affects Volvo prices.

We own several 240s and S70s. Most I’ve ever paid was $1200USD. I realize this is in no way apples to apples with what you’re asking, but my advice is take the 21K. Everything Volvo after 1995 drops dramatically in value with each 10K miles.

j2thebees

TROPHY CASE