In other news (apolitical thread)...

[utee94]

I see a lot of your Trump posts on FB for some reason.

Cincy seems to enjoy stirring the political pot on FB

not often, but...........

OK, OK-- I'm sorry I said the word "political" on the apolitical thread.  Let's move any further similar talk to the politics thread, before bwar's head explodes in a fit of rage!

[Cincydawg]

Cincy seems to enjoy stirring the political pot on FB

not often, but...........

Yeah pretty often, it's my thing.  

[utee94]

I post stuff about my kids' marching band on Facebook.  I find it useful for that.

Of course at this point I use the term "marching band" pretty loosely.  Nowadays you have a massive percussion section consisting of xylophones, marimbas, vibraphones, timpani, gongs, and other stationary pieces, that doesn't march at all.  There's also a lot of shows with elaborate sets and dramatic activity that's more like theater than marching band and, of course, my personal least favorite-- vocal solos in the midst of the marching band's show.  So it's now band, theater, and choir all mixed in together.

Oh and synthesizers and pre-recorded music, which I also think should have no part in a marching band show.

Now get off my lawn.

[utee94]

Oh and I should point out that I actually really enjoy this modern style of marching band show, complaints aside (except for the singing, that's just awful).  

I just don't think it's particularly marching-band-y anymore.  When you're marching instruments that can't be heard from the field without electronic amplification, then I'm not sure it's really marching band.

All that said, I still am really proud of my kids' band that has now won the 5A State Championship 6 times in a row, and gunning for #7 next fall.  Their shows are super-entertaining, the kids' talent level is off the charts compared to what we were doing 35 years ago when I was in band, and their dedication and commitment is also far above where we were decades ago.

[FearlessF]

Oh and I should point out that I actually really enjoy this modern style of marching band show, complaints aside (except for the singing, that's just awful). 

Karaoke 

[utee94]

But one of my main concerns with it, is that it has become so expensive to produce a top-quality competitive show, that the fees associated with marching band are exorbitant.  It costs $1,000 per kid per year just to cover the basics like uniforms, instrument cleaning, transportation, etc.  Then on top of that, the kids (and by kids, I mean parents) are being asked to raise another $150,000 in a normal year through various fundraisers.  And then last year, when our band went to Grand Nationals competition in Indianapolis, it cost another $750,000 to send the 300+ kids up there for 3 days and 4 nights.  That's a band budget of over $1 million for one year.  That's just crazy.

And the problem is, that it has made participating in band just completely unattainable for people with lower incomes.  We are literally pricing kids out of the arts, with the hysteria and the mania involved in these massive marching band productions.  I find that to be troubling, and sad.

[Gigem]

But one of my main concerns with it, is that it has become so expensive to produce a top-quality competitive show, that the fees associated with marching band are exorbitant.  It costs $1,000 per kid per year just to cover the basics like uniforms, instrument cleaning, transportation, etc.  Then on top of that, the kids (and by kids, I mean parents) are being asked to raise another $150,000 in a normal year through various fundraisers.  And then last year, when our band went to Grand Nationals competition in Indianapolis, it cost another $750,000 to send the 300+ kids up there for 3 days and 4 nights.  That's a band budget of over $1 million for one year.  That's just crazy.

And the problem is, that it has made participating in band just completely unattainable for people with lower incomes.  We are literally pricing kids out of the arts, with the hysteria and the mania involved in these massive marching band productions.  I find that to be troubling, and sad.

I wonder how the school foots the bill for football compared to something like Band.  Do the football players get uniforms, shoes, pads, etc?  Obviously football will always take precedence but it's just funny how some things are just accepted and some things brushed aside.  

[Cincydawg]

Occasionally I read some "career advice" thing "in the news", and nearly always think "I guess I was out of touch, or something."

HR exec: Avoid this job interview mistake that makes it look like you don't care
HR exec: Avoid this job interview mistake that makes it look like you don't care

[utee94]

I wonder how the school foots the bill for football compared to something like Band.  Do the football players get uniforms, shoes, pads, etc?  Obviously football will always take precedence but it's just funny how some things are just accepted and some things brushed aside. 

Yeah I have no idea.  My son did football up through middle school but didn't continue into high school, I don't know anything about how it works.

[betarhoalphadelta]

Occasionally I read some "career advice" thing "in the news", and nearly always think "I guess I was out of touch, or something."

HR exec: Avoid this job interview mistake that makes it look like you don't care
HR exec: Avoid this job interview mistake that makes it look like you don't care

The "reading the job description and figure out how your experience translates to each facet of the role" is how I got a job back in 2002, after the dot com bubble burst and I was laid off. 

My cover letter was tailored to the specific attributes in the job posting and how my experience translated directly to the role. 

Given that there were a LOT of out of work people in my industry, I am quite certain that's how my resume got noticed and got the first foot in the door. 

[Cincydawg]

I went on maybe five job interviews after I got my first (and only) job, each a full day after flying out somewhere.  A couple were through head hunters and I was mildy curious about them.

The nature of the jobs for which I was applying was never very specific.  Even after the first step, if a step two was warranted, I had little information about what the job actually entailed.  I didn't know what the job I got really entailed.  I had maybe five interviews before I accepted one offer.  

I could not have told anyone, nor was I ever asked, how my skill set matched their job.  

I also interview, and hired, I don't know how many folks, and they had little idea what the job entailed either.  I would not have asked this question.

[betarhoalphadelta]

I went on maybe five job interviews after I got my first (and only) job, each a full day after flying out somewhere.  A couple were through head hunters and I was mildy curious about them.

The nature of the jobs for which I was applying was never very specific.  Even after the first step, if a step two was warranted, I had little information about what the job actually entailed.  I didn't know what the job I got really entailed.  I had maybe five interviews before I accepted one offer. 

I could not have told anyone, nor was I ever asked, how my skill set matched their job. 

I also interview, and hired, I don't know how many folks, and they had little idea what the job entailed either.  I would not have asked this question.

Well, they didn't have monster.com when you were hired, did they? It takes a lot of taps on the telegram wire to give a detailed job posting... 

These days a job posting will typically have a fairly detailed list of qualifications and of the nature of the job role. I agree with the article that in today's world, responding to questions like you haven't actually paid attention to that and can't articulate how your qualifications apply to the job posting, would be a red flag. 

[Gigem]

Well, they didn't have monster.com when you were hired, did they? It takes a lot of taps on the telegram wire to give a detailed job posting...

These days a job posting will typically have a fairly detailed list of qualifications and of the nature of the job role. I agree with the article that in today's world, responding to questions like you haven't actually paid attention to that and can't articulate how your qualifications apply to the job posting, would be a red flag.

Monster.com was a huge deal when I graduated college, ca. 2000.  Although I haven't actively seeked out many jobs in the last 20ish or so years, it seems to have faded out completely.  Indeed and a few others have taken it place.  I wonder why?  

[medinabuckeye1]

It takes a lot of taps on the telegram wire to give a detailed job posting...

LoL, @Cincydawg isn't THAT old.