What Irked You Today?

[Pete J.]

Just a interesting number to throw into the mix. According to the last census data around 80 out of 100 illegal immigrants in the US are from North America(the majority are Mexican and Caribbean Islanders. About 14 of the remaining are Asia and the rest are European with probably 1 or less from elsewhere.

[Harry P.]

Just a interesting number to throw into the mix. According to the last census data around 80 out of 100 illegal immigrants in the US are from North America(the majority are Mexican and Caribbean Islanders. About 14 of the remaining are Asia and the rest are European with probably 1 or less from elsewhere.

Immigrants seem to come in ethnic or geographic waves. There was a time when almost every immigrant was from Europe... it seemed like every immigrant was Irish, then there was the huge influx of Italians, and eastern Europeans, etc. I guess it's a Hispanic wave these days.

Of course, the fact that they don't have to cross an ocean like the Irish and the Poles and the Germans and the Slavs and the Greeks and the Swedes and the Lithuanians, etc, did, has a lot to do with it.

[Ace-Garageguy]

ever try finding someone who wants to WORK for a living?

a substantial amount of the workforce wants top pay to show up when it's not inconvenient and do as little as possible until it's time to sneak out early.

Right you are sir, and that's also a very great part of the problem bringing low-cost illegal laborers into the country.

There seems to be a widespread sense of entitlement among many Americans, thinking that if they can't "work" in air-conditioned comfort making a living wage for doing essentially nothing, they won't work at all.

What we're ending up with is a "workforce" that has few manual or physical skills, a growing number of un-employables who don't really know how to DO anything, and a fantasy idea that somehow, everyone is magically going to become computer programmers, web-designers, software developers, marketing mavens, or CAD-based engineers in some mythical "service economy" that has no need of tangible reality.

[Guest]

Just a interesting number to throw into the mix. According to the last census data around 80 out of 100 illegal immigrants in the US are from North America(the majority are Mexican and Caribbean Islanders. About 14 of the remaining are Asia and the rest are European with probably 1 or less from elsewhere.

That is interesting and somewhat surprising to me. In my dealings South Americans make up a very large part of the illegal labor force.

[Harry P.]

a substantial amount of the workforce wants top pay to show up when it's not inconvenient and do as little as possible until it's time to sneak out early.

True for some. There will always be slackers and people trying to game the system any way they can. But I think most people wouldn't fit that description.

[Harry P.]

That is interesting and somewhat surprising to me. In my dealings South Americans make up a very large part of the illegal labor force.

That's odd. You never hear about South Americans coming here in any large numbers. Isn't the economy in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, etc. going pretty good these days?

[Guest]

That's odd. You never hear about South Americans coming here in any large numbers. Isn't the economy in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Chile, etc. going pretty good these days?

The amount of Brazilians living in Massachusetts and Rhode Island is "staggering". We also have a very high amount of Southeast Asians in my city as well

[southpier]

I was working with a mason a bit back. we were comparing life notes and trying to make it to 4:30. he was telling me his girlfriend, from Brazil, had a house there which she rented and a business here selling.

I innocently asked what she sold, and his response "... Brazilian fashion clothes to housekeepers and strippers."

I say:" let them all in! "

[martinfan5]

FedEx sort of irked me today , but they also pleased me today(see that thread), had a shipment of plastic goodness coming from Japan, I pre signed for so if, well, I guess the delivery lady did not see that in the notes, so since I never heard the door bell, I got a door tag.

This story continues in the "what pleased me thread"

[Guest]

I say:" let them all in! "

As long as their legal and pay taxes.

[bobthehobbyguy]

The fact that with unerring precision people can manage to stop to talk on their cell phone, have a group conference, or many other things and manage to find the bottleneck point.

People who cannot manage to put their vehicle into a diagonal parking spot without taking up 2 spaces.

People who go cross country in a parking lot and ignore the lanes.

[Danno]

What we're ending up with is a "workforce" that has few manual or physical skills, a growing number of un-employables who don't really know how to DO anything, and a fantasy idea that somehow, everyone is magically going to become computer programmers, web-designers, software developers, marketing mavens, or CAD-based engineers in some mythical "service economy" that has no need of tangible reality.

You forgot video game designers, rock stars, NBA superstars, and movie stars.

[Pete J.]

That is interesting and somewhat surprising to me. In my dealings South Americans make up a very large part of the illegal labor force.

I am sure it is a regional thing, but unless you have actually checked immigration status, it might surprise you who is here legally and who isn't. There was a big stink here some time back about a hospital having to let a doctor go because he was here illegally. He has all the licenses and certificates to practice, but through a misunderstanding his work permit expired and nobody did anything about it for years.

[Guest]

I am sure it is a regional thing, but unless you have actually checked immigration status, it might surprise you who is here legally and who isn't. There was a big stink here some time back about a hospital having to let a doctor go because he was here illegally. He has all the licenses and certificates to practice, but through a misunderstanding his work permit expired and nobody did anything about it for years.

I wouldn't have expected that from a well educated person such as a doctor. I agree with it being a regional thing.

Edited September 16, 2014 by Modeltruckbuilder

[Draggon]

Where I live there is a distinct lack of assimilation. What irks me is that english is now a second language. There is a strip mall a half mile from my home that doesnt even have any signs written in english.

[Rob Hall]

What we're ending up with is a "workforce" that has few manual or physical skills, a growing number of un-employables who don't really know how to DO anything, and a fantasy idea that somehow, everyone is magically going to become computer programmers, web-designers, software developers, marketing mavens, or CAD-based engineers in some mythical "service economy" that has no need of tangible reality.

I'm a software engineer...I DO create things, but they exist within computers and computer networks..in the virtual world. And the job market values my skills. STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are in high demand and the market puts a high value on them...software is increasingly important to control the devices and systems of the modern world. I went to college and grad school, I'm certainly not going to be employed doing physical labor.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Rob Hall

[southpier]

remember that next time the ol' pooper's plugged up and the guy wants $150 to reach down there ....

[Rob Hall]

remember that next time the ol' pooper's plugged up and the guy wants $150 to reach down there ....

Yeah, that's always fun...I keep a plunger on each side of my toilets, one of those long screw thingys with a crank, and several bottles of Liquid Plumr nearby...

[Harry P.]

Yeah, that's always fun...I keep a plunger on each side of my toilets, one of those long screw thingys with a crank, and several bottles of Liquid Plumr nearby...

Wow... you must be a really heaver user...

[Rob Hall]

Wow... you must be a really heaver user...

It pays to be prepared...had too many stopped up toilets in the past. I think I use too much paper..and I do like spicy food

[Joe Handley]

LOLOLOL

[Chuck Most]

Comic.

Sans.

[Ace-Garageguy]

I'm a software engineer...I DO create things, but they exist within computers and computer networks..in the virtual world. And the job market values my skills. STEM skills (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are in high demand and the market puts a high value on them...software is increasingly important to control the devices and systems of the modern world. I went to college and grad school, I'm certainly not going to be employed doing physical labor.

I have a great deal of respect for what you do, Rob, but that's not the point.

Nobody is diminishing the value of what smart guys like you do to move the world forward.

What I'm saying is that not everyone is able to produce at the intellectual level you're on, and SOMEBODY is still going to have to do the dirty work. There's NO SHAME in working up a little sweat to put bread on the table, but nobody wants to do it any more.

My work is a combination of the two. I have to evaluate problems and design solutions and then physically implement those solutions. Besides physically creating steel engine and trans mounts, headers, brackets and drives, frame members, suspension parts, etc., I'm currently integrating electronic vehicle systems that were never intended to be compatible to work together in a single car.

BUT, we've tried to hire entry-level apprentices to start by sweeping the floor, putting things away, cleaning parts, all while being exposed to a high-tech-low-tech environment that can evolve into a good income-producing technical career for someone who's not college-bound. We've had no takers. The kids who do come in think they'll be building 1000HP hot rods like on TV the first week, but haven't the mastery of "quality workmanship" required to sweep the floor well.

Add to that that we don't have AC in the shop, phones get left at the door (because I've spent all the time I'm going to spend chasing down dweebs to get a little work done, only to find they're hiding somewhere furiously texting the girlfriend) and OMG...we actually get dirty...well, nobody wants the job.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Ace-Garageguy

[Rob Hall]

Yes, in any career you have to start out w the basics and work your way to more complex or higher responsibility positions...a path from novice to master. It seems the age old apprentice system for craftsmen and trades is no longer around, or people aren't willing to put in the effort today? A strong, sustainable economy requires a lot of different skill sets. Seems to be many shortages in some areas today.

Edited September 17, 2014 by Rob Hall

[Joe Handley]

Picked up a set of massive new tires for one of my crawler trucks and it turns out that they're too massive and grab the front control arms as well as shocks when turned full lock...........