I like this time at night on HBT

[Jayjay1976]

I found out today my LHBS is closing down. Brew & Grow of Roselle, IL. Those folks have become family, and I'm super depressed that this friendly oasis is closing down. I learned to brew there, and they helped me along every step of the way. If HBT is my online brew home, B&G was the real world counterpart. Through weekly bottle shares, monthly BBQ get-togethers, and countless brew classes, they've been a constant source of joy and comeraderie. I'm incredibly sad tonight. To Andy and Nate, you guys are absolute legends in my book. There will never be another place like Brew & Grow.

 

[Kent88]

Sorry for your loss, and from the sound of it a real loss for your irl brewing community.

 

[passedpawn]

Tom Lehrer is a genius and was the kind of entertainer I liked. I suspect his time is coming. For him, and for us all.

 

[Broothru]

Tom Lehrer is a genius and was the kind of entertainer I liked. I suspect his time is coming. For him, and for us all.

A musical George Carlin who bears a strong resemblance to Chevy Chase. A pianist in the style of Billy Joel. And a beautiful baritone voice with a great range (makes me jealous).

 

[passedpawn]

 

[passedpawn]

Good evening late niters. Hope all is well. FL survived another storm. That's all I got for news.

For your late nite soundtrack...

 

[passedpawn]

Anyone doing this?

OK, it's Fl, but still I have a fireplace and a pit out back. Splitting wood for the colder weather that should be coming.

 

[balrog]

Mine's done.

 

[mac_1103]

I lost three maples in a bad storm early this summer. Have split maybe 10% so far. My back is feeling a little bit better so maybe I'll get back to it next week.

 

[Jayjay1976]

I've been out of work since the end of March.

My profession is going through an upheaval right now with many senior and principal level designers being replaced by younger, less experienced staff. I've had a few freelance projects but not enough to keep the lights on, from what I've read the average time to find a new job in my field is 9-14 months. I'm looking at tangential professions where my skills can apply, but so far not getting any bites. Unemployment ran out this week so I'm feeling really down, and unfortunately my beverage consumption is up.

Former colleagues have suggested that I delete a few years of experience and all of my design awards and accomplishments from my resume, and use AI to make a younger image of myself, so I can at least get an interview. I'd rather staple my scrotum to an angry badger than degrade myself like that.

On the bright side, my wife has a connection to the head brewer/co-founder at a local brewery, and through that I managed to set up an appointment to meet with him for a tour and to talk about beer later this week. Dunno if I have anywhere near the brew chops to jump over to the dark (malt) side, but that would be worlds less painful than driving a delivery van for Amazon. Or the badger thing.

 

[Kent88]

Dang dude, sorry to hear about this. I hope you have a good interview at the brewery.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Dang dude, sorry to hear about this. I hope you have a good interview at the brewery.

Thanks Kent, I really appreciate it. I haven't brewed in more than a year, but I have a couple of kegs lagering so I'm going to bottle the Rhinestone Carboy stout and a chocolate pretzel imperial stout as samples to bring along. I've got two fruited sours ready to package but no chance I could have them bottled and presentable by Thursday. I also mentioned my foray into hobby distilling which seemed to pique his interest, though I don't know if I should risk bringing along any Apple Butter Jingle Juice.

 

[Rish]

@Jayjay1976 , sorry to hear about your situation. I'm sure you know but I'll say as a retired HR guy that networking can be very important when looking for the next opportunity. Maybe let us know your area of expertise and someone might dm you with something they know about. Best of luck in your search.

 

[Jayjay1976]

@Jayjay1976 , sorry to hear about your situation. I'm sure you know but I'll say as a retired HR guy that networking can be very important when looking for the next opportunity. Maybe let us know your area of expertise and someone might dm you with something they know about. Best of luck in your search.

Hi Rish, thank you so much for chiming in.

I'm a Chicago-based industrial designer, my focus is in designing consumer goods in the small appliance, kitchenware, and power tool industries. I have 24 years of hands-on experience taking products all the way from idea to mass production, and my work in product design, product & category strategy + innovation transforms brands. My projects have garnered a dozen design awards and earned more than 50 patents. PM me for a link to my portfolio site.

 

[ncbrewer]

Several years ago I had an engineering firm working on a design for rework of our plant potable water system. Just as the project was getting started they fired the experience design engineer that was working on it and put a relatively inexperienced guy on the project. It didn't go well at all. That trend hurts the experienced people and the clients (even if the client is the same company). It's the whole cut-throat attitude.

 

[balrog]

I've been out of work since the end of March.

My profession is going through an upheaval right now with many senior and principal level designers being replaced by younger, less experienced staff. I've had a few freelance projects but not enough to keep the lights on, from what I've read the average time to find a new job in my field is 9-14 months. I'm looking at tangential professions where my skills can apply, but so far not getting any bites. Unemployment ran out this week so I'm feeling really down, and unfortunately my beverage consumption is up.

Former colleagues have suggested that I delete a few years of experience and all of my design awards and accomplishments from my resume, and use AI to make a younger image of myself, so I can at least get an interview. I'd rather staple my scrotum to an angry badger than degrade myself like that.

On the bright side, my wife has a connection to the head brewer/co-founder at a local brewery, and through that I managed to set up an appointment to meet with him for a tour and to talk about beer later this week. Dunno if I have anywhere near the brew chops to jump over to the dark (malt) side, but that would be worlds less painful than driving a delivery van for Amazon. Or the badger thing.

Sorry to hear about it man. I retired early myself when I tried to switch gears after the company closed, and I hated the age thing so much; watching them laughably trying to cover up not wanting to hire someone who got his Masters before they were even born.

But I never got to the point of the badger thing, luckily.

 

[passedpawn]

I've been out of work since the end of March.

My profession is going through an upheaval right now with many senior and principal level designers being replaced by younger, less experienced staff. I've had a few freelance projects but not enough to keep the lights on, from what I've read the average time to find a new job in my field is 9-14 months. I'm looking at tangential professions where my skills can apply, but so far not getting any bites. Unemployment ran out this week so I'm feeling really down, and unfortunately my beverage consumption is up.

Former colleagues have suggested that I delete a few years of experience and all of my design awards and accomplishments from my resume, and use AI to make a younger image of myself, so I can at least get an interview. I'd rather staple my scrotum to an angry badger than degrade myself like that.

On the bright side, my wife has a connection to the head brewer/co-founder at a local brewery, and through that I managed to set up an appointment to meet with him for a tour and to talk about beer later this week. Dunno if I have anywhere near the brew chops to jump over to the dark (malt) side, but that would be worlds less painful than driving a delivery van for Amazon. Or the badger thing.

Badger thing. Post pics.

But yea, sorry to hear that. I went through a bunch of startups when I was a pup and I kept bouncing back, no prob. As you're aware, when you're a young gun, it's pretty easy, regardless your true knowledge. The last one that toppled (after an FDA raid, literally), I staid F that and started consulting. That has been the key for me. It might be too late for you to start that, not really sure what you do. PM me if you want to discuss this further.

 

[passedpawn]

Boo! Happy Halloween, late niters.

 

[Kent88]

Badger thing. Post pics.

Direct messages to Double-P, preferably off-site.

 

[passedpawn]

Direct messages to Double-P, preferably off-site.

Oh no, right here. Mods here got it SOOOO easy after all the kspam we used to get blasted with. Daily inundations. Now it's so humdrum, though I do my best to keep things interesting.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, after I retired the first time in 2010 (lasted 3 years before I ran out of property rehabs and improvements and got bored AF) I got back in the game as a contractor and did 6 years (doing SSD designs from home) before I retired for good in March 2019 when Covid arrived. All I can say is if you have a good reputation, use it!

Cheers!

 

[Kent88]

Oh no, right here. Mods here got it SOOOO easy after all the kspam we used to get blasted with. Daily inundations. Now it's so humdrum, though I do my best to keep things interesting.

 

[passedpawn]

lol. Is that a MAGA hat? Not sure that's kosher here.

 

[day_trippr]

"Igloo League" hat

 

[passedpawn]

For your late night soundtrack, late niters. Remember when you were young? You could wait for 8:30 for the lyrics to start in a song.

 

[Kent88]

I gotta stick with Kate Stark.

Edit: I like this one better, but it doesn't fly around here
Nope

 

[day_trippr]

Remember when you were young? You could wait for 8:30 for the lyrics to start in a song.

Welllll....PF existed in their own space and time, conventions did not apply.
But you're right, "Shine..." literally has one of the longest lead-ins in all of modern music

Some songs with long intros include:

• Shine On You Crazy Diamond: By Pink Floyd, this song has an intro that lasts 8.40 minutes
• Papa Was a Rollin' Stone: By The Temptations, this song has an intro that lasts 3.53 minutes
• Theme From Shaft: By Isaac Hayes, this song has an intro that lasts 2.41 minutes
• Where the Streets Have No Name: By U2, this song has an intro that lasts 1.46 minutes

I had musician friends who got antsy if a song stretched the lead-in beyond 4 bars...

Cheers! [And I noticed what you did there ]

 

[passedpawn]

Welllll....PF existed in their own space and time, conventions did not apply.
But you're right, "Shine..." literally has one of the longest lead-ins in all of modern music

Some songs with long intros include:

• Shine On You Crazy Diamond: By Pink Floyd, this song has an intro that lasts 8.40 minutes
• Papa Was a Rollin' Stone: By The Temptations, this song has an intro that lasts 3.53 minutes
• Theme From Shaft: By Isaac Hayes, this song has an intro that lasts 2.41 minutes
• Where the Streets Have No Name: By U2, this song has an intro that lasts 1.46 minutes

I had musician friends who got antsy if a song stretched the lead-in beyond 4 bars...

Cheers! [And I noticed what you did there ]

Oh come now. You missed this one... one of the best. 5.45.

Late niters, Sir EJ for your late nite soundtrack.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Oh no, right here. Mods here got it SOOOO easy after all the kspam we used to get blasted with. Daily inundations. Now it's so humdrum, though I do my best to keep things interesting.

This is about as close as the AI will go.
Don't ask me why the lederhosen, apparently the AI knows my kinks.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Dang dude, sorry to hear about this. I hope you have a good interview at the brewery.

It went really well! Both the head brewer and his assistant started out in homebrewing, so they were really receptive. I was anxious about being able to recall so many details since I haven't brewed in a while, but luckily once we started talking it all came back pretty easily. At one point they introduced me to another employee, referring to me as "huge into homebrewing" which felt really good to hear. We talked a lot about process, base malts, intricacies of recipe design, water building, etc. He mentioned that they use Brewer's Friend to build their water and calculate pH adjustments, which started a pretty granular discussion on chemistry. They were also intrigued that I started out in all-grain brewing, and have been creating my own recipes since the beginning. I'll bring along some of my beer to the next meeting, they were definitely interested in my Rhinestone Carboy stout.

Great guys, and the assistant brewer will be moving on soon to take over as head brewer at another local brewery, so there will be an opening. I hope I came across as knowledgeable enough that I wouldn't take long to train. I know the pay will be quite different from my past career, but I'm hoping to continue consulting on the side to help make up the difference.