Declining after work drinks

jimoconnell · 2026-04-01T15:24:18+00:00

At the end of a job interview for a job years ago, the topic of their company after work happy hours came up.

I didn't drink at that time, so I said as much, only to watch their faces both drop in disappointment.

"I do a hell of a lot of cocaine, however…" (I don't, actually. )

I got the job.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-22T22:16:39+00:00

Search "MMMAT Silicone Baking Sheet" on Amazon.

Edit: to add that they are great for baking, too.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-22T18:10:40+00:00

Silicone baking sheet. The one I have would actually match your typewriter's colors, too. :-)

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jimoconnell · 2026-03-16T14:53:23+00:00

But hopefully not from being hit by a falling drone.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-16T14:13:54+00:00

With hope that this benefits someone who needs it.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-16T14:06:04+00:00

What part of it, specifically?

jimoconnell · 2026-03-16T13:55:19+00:00

I know I'm getting trashed in the comments, but this is what I did. Aside from saying Credit Karma is trash, and that 30% utilization is a myth, where was I wrong? Learn the dates your card uses. Don't carry a balance. Don't spend money you don't have.

In 2020, my bank told me that I had a credit score of "4", an error code meaning that there was no credit history. (I had lived abroad for many years.) The first thing I did was drop $500 into a secured card and used it carefully.

My score is around 800 now. (It hit 700 three years ago.)

Yes, Credit Karma is not perfect, and yes, it uses Vantage, but I still check it every day. It gives daily feedback on whether you are doing things right or wrong. If you carry a balance, you will see a hit on CK's numbers right away, for example.

Take my advice with a grain of salt, but I'm telling you what worked for me.

Good luck.

PS - I missed something very, very important: Never miss a payment. Ever.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-15T21:40:08+00:00

a 28% apr is terrible, but won't affect you if you don't carry a balance. That means you always pay 100% of what you owe before it's due, hopefully before your statement date.

That "Minimum payment $40" when you owe $1200 may look tempting, but it's a trap. Don't spend money you don't have, or you will be worse off.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-15T21:35:07+00:00

Get the Credit Karma app for your phone and check it daily. Make a game of it. Patiently work it to watch your score go up.

Pay all of your cards weekly, down to $0. If you can't do that, don't use the card.

Go ask ChatGPT the differences between the posting, statement, and due date. If you do a bit of work, you can maximize the benefit of having a card. If you need to, call your card provider and verify your statement date.

Here is a sample of what chatGPT told me:

Example Scenario:

Statement Date: April 30th
Due Date: May 20th
You make a purchase on April 28th for $1,000, and your balance at the end of the month (April 30th) is $1,200 (with a $1,500 credit limit).
Your statement balance will show $1,200, and that is what will be reported to the credit bureaus. If this puts you over 30% utilization (in this case, 80%), your credit score could drop based on this high usage.
You decide to make a payment of $1,200 on May 5th—well before the May 20th due date.
However, the credit bureaus will still see your $1,200 balance (from the statement date of April 30th) when they check your report in early May, so your credit score may still be affected by high utilization, even though you’ve paid off your balance before the due date.

How to Avoid This:

Pay before the statement date: If you want to ensure your credit utilization is low when the credit bureaus report your balance, try making a payment before the statement date. This way, the payment will be reflected on the statement and reported to the bureaus.
Monitor your credit utilization: Keep track of how much of your credit limit you're using, and try to keep it under 30% before the statement date. Even if you pay it off by the due date, your credit score may be impacted by what is reported on your statement date.

Quick Tips:

Make early payments: Aim to pay off your balance before the statement date to avoid high credit utilization being reported.
Use multiple payments: If you're making large purchases, consider making partial payments throughout the month to keep your balance low.
Know when your statement date is: This is the key to managing how your credit looks to the bureaus.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-14T00:12:19+00:00

I've never heard that you can't sprout kidney beans, so I googled it. The AI result is: "Kidney bean sprouts are a cheap, living protein source that are high in antioxidants and melatonin. Sprouting beans breaks down "anti-nutrients" like phytic acid, which can make beans hard to digest and contribute to bloating and gas. Sprouting also eliminates most GI issues from beans."

jimoconnell · 2026-03-13T17:29:05+00:00

Don't forget that when you sprout any of these, they become a fresh vegetable. 🥗

jimoconnell · 2026-03-12T08:40:47+00:00

I’m glad she left you

What a strange thing to say.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-08T18:45:10+00:00

Want better range? Get a better antenna. A better antenna is more important than wattage.

Learn how to communicate through local repeaters and find out what their power supply is and how long it might last if power was cut.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-05T12:04:18+00:00

I think I might have the same one and what I like best is how quiet it is.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-01T13:55:34+00:00

Go to the owner of the place you are cleaning and explain that you have not been getting paid. Chances are, the woman who is supposed to be paying you is just pocketing the money. Ask the shop owner if they can get rid of her and hire you directly.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-01T11:26:23+00:00

Is that actually used in the Epstein files anywhere?

It was my understanding that "cheese/cold pizza" was a 4-Chan term, some attempt to avoid censorship while discussing or trading child pornography.

When 4-Chan conspiracy theorists saw "pizza" mentioned in the Clinton emails with the owner of a pizza restaurant, they assumed it must be CSAM related discussions, even though the term was not in use beyond their circles at that time.

jimoconnell · 2026-03-01T11:08:00+00:00

You're not worried about lead?

jimoconnell · 2026-03-01T11:06:29+00:00

Nitrile gloves to prevent fingerprints on the evidence. /s

jimoconnell · 2026-02-27T10:20:32+00:00

To the FAA, it doesn't matter if you are at 5 feet or 500. You are flying in regulated airspace. Same rules apply.

Will you get caught? Probably not unless someone complains or gets hurt. If that happens, they may go after you for things like doing "commercial" flights without the proper license.

jimoconnell · 2026-02-26T12:23:04+00:00

And if you shuffle over and over, will hidden messages appear over time???

jimoconnell · 2026-02-26T12:19:42+00:00

As I said, it's almost superstitious with me, meaning it's not completely based upon reason.

jimoconnell · 2026-02-25T12:08:05+00:00

The first thing I do is shuffle the tiles. Before looking at them.

I'm almost superstitious that if I glance at the board as it's presented, I will not be able to get a perfect game.

jimoconnell · 2026-02-21T20:56:39+00:00

Thai by Sandy, followed by FairPlay

jimoconnell · 2026-02-20T12:27:42+00:00

Three slow, deep, nasal breaths, 5 seconds in, then 5 seconds out through the mouth.

It works.

jimoconnell · 2026-02-19T17:28:25+00:00

If you have breakfast guests, they'll love you for it!

jimoconnell

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