@rumtscho Ping me sometime when you're around?

I've made a tweak to help/on-topic, modifying your edit from a week ago slightly to not imply that all food safety questions are off-topic (since some we answer and even the "bad" we mostly mark as duplicate), and want to make sure we're in an okay state.

@Jolenealaska, seems I was right: The flood of turkey questions has started... cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/63826/…

Morning all

mornin hon

@Jolenealaska yo

@Stephie morning to you too

talkative bunch this morning...

Morning. No, in the middle of a meta discussion over ar German SE.

@ElendilTheTall I'm about to become even less so for a while. I'm about to take a nap with a much younger (and much furrier) male. He hasn't had his normal late night walk, though. So the nap will only be long enough for me to not risk falling asleep on my keyboard.

yes, yes, I am used to it by now

go, nap

We'll be back :)

Oh, right - your temporary roommate with the biting attitude. Sleep tight (and quickly)!

CYA in a bit

yeah, that's what you always say. 14 hours later...

:P

cya

So what's new in Good Old England?

I have shown him my finger a few times tonight trying not to transmit any attitude. He can smell it, he knows. He looks away with a guilty expression.

Good night

@Stephie not much. How about guten alten Deutschland?

Same old... Most excitement atm: Feline sitting on the windowsill, watching "Bird TV". He thinks it's too cold to be outside much (wise kitty) but is too awake to sleep. Have to get started with the minors' advent calendars asap.

Do you have these, too?

SE-wise I have fulfilled my "daily goal" of good deeds: I answered a few questions, did some review, even triggered a Meta discussion. I feel so "good contributor" today ;-)

@Stephie yes, but we just buy them

what do you mean by 'get started'?

I lost the battle a few decades ago (thanks to my MIL, who did this for her kids): No pesky chocolate one for our kids, but a full-blown affair with little sachets hanging from the "hands" of two hand-painted chubby angels.

oh

sounds like work

So guess who gets to gather little goodies, pack the baggies and hang them? Yours truly, of course...

yup, work

@Stephie An ex-colleague once described his child rearing policy as "creative neglect". Apparently you aren't going that route.

@FaheemMitha Depends on how your colleague defines this. I am a proponent of "helping by putting my hands in my pockets", which means let the children do their things themselves or at least let them try. Or you end up like the mom over at Parenting SE who asked about how to zipper up her 8yo's coat. Sigh. I do watch very closely what is going on in their lives, though and try to do all the "soccer mom" taxi stuff and the "cultural traditions".

(But as I said before, ours are a bit different which requires us paying attention.)

'a bit different' = evil geniuses

;)

I protest against "evil". But might reconsider once son hits puberty.

hehe

sons aren't so bad, it's daughters you have to watch out for at that stage

I was an utter lamb during puberty, other than eating my parents out of house and home

@Stephie "a bit different"? You mean your children? Different how?

@ElendilTheTall Ah, the "can I have a second pizza please" type. That was the absolute highlight of my Mom's parties: for my 18th birthday I had invited my entire advanced course in physics and a bunch of other male friends (and girls, of course, but they don't count in this example). She kept bringing out trays and trays of food and they kept eating and eating. Her ultimate hostess' dream... She still talks of it today.

heh

I used to eat 6 bacon sandwiches every night, about two hours after dinner >.<

@ElendilTheTall You had to fuel the growth spurt, right? Bet you were skinny.

never put on any weight though. I went from being 5'6" and probably 70kg to 6'2" and 70kg between 11 and 14

@Stephie Well, I think my ex-colleague probably meant something similar. He seemed to have a somewhat amused and slightly distant attitude towards his kids. But they seemed to be doing fine, so I think he's doing Ok.

@FaheemMitha they are evil geniuses very gifted

though I hate that term

here they would officially be referred to as 'gifted and talented'

@FaheemMitha One, probably both are "gifted" - we didn't get daughter tested yet because there were no other problems so far, but as we know the "symptoms"... So both skipped first grade and are on average 1.5 years younger than their classmates. Unfortunately they tend to "overthink" exercises, assuming they must be more complicated than they are etc. Son has - as I call it - a brain like a racing car. Needs constant stimulation, has trouble winding down and trouble focusing on boring stuff.

Actually his two daughters seemed like quite attractive young ladies, the last time I saw them. They're Chinese.

@Stephie I see. So gifted means, a bit brighter than the average, basically?

Do you do anything special with them regarding travel, cultural activities, that sort of thing?

I know the overthinking thing. As a child and for a while afterwards, I was a neurotic mess, constantly thinking about stuff. Most of my concerns were misplaced, of course. As as adult, I've realised that mostly people don't think or care about stuff very much. And in most cases, you're better off trying to match what other people are doing.

Unless lives or on the line, or something.

@FaheemMitha It usually is defined as the right three or 2.5 % of the Gaussian curve. Translates as IQ if 130 or higher. (Scaley and meassurements vary a bit, but you get the idea.) And no, we shared our life with them, answered questins and travelled, but no special "early education" or similar. You can't "train" that really.

@Stephie So, no playing Mozart as babies? :-)

@Stephie People do love those Gaussian curves. It's practically a religion.

@FaheemMitha Does Metallica count? No, no Mozart for them.

The usual justification is the central limit theorem, but the CLT doesn't really justify all the uses that poor distribution is subjected to.

@Stephie I like some Metallica. E.g. "Nothing Else Matters".

@FaheemMitha Well it's quite tangible even for those with little interest in Maths.

@FaheemMitha I've seen them live. Twice.

@Stephie True. Also often an inaccurate description of reality. But, hey, statisticians are as lazy as everyone else.

@Stephie Cool. Was it good?

ironically it was their 'Metallica Does Mozart' tour

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik on electric guitar works surprisingly well...

@ElendilTheTall I didn't know that was a thing.

He's pulling your leg again....

And, nitpick, Stat is not Math. They're completely different animals. But I realise nobody cares, so I'll shut up now.

@Stephie Oh, I didn't notice it was him. Your icons are not that dissimilar, and I'm not that observant.

@FaheemMitha You bet it was. One was the Black Album jubilee tour in 2013. Open Air, great stage videos and I was probably five meters from the stage...

@FaheemMitha Colour-blind?

@Stephie No, I can tell the difference. I just wasn't paying attention. Like I said, they don't look that different. Now, if it was Arrowfar's current incarnation, I would have noticed...

@Stephie I've rarely been to live concerts, but it's usually too loud for me. Not to mention all the screaming fans.

@FaheemMitha (－‸ლ)

I did go to a live performance of the Mass in B Minor once. Good concert. Fortunately there were no screaming fans at that one.

@ElendilTheTall I have no idea what that means.

@FaheemMitha The screaming fans, the noise and - in case of a festival - the dirt and the beer are part of the experience. It is supposed to be very different from listening to the CD in your livingroom, over the good expensive, carefully set up sound system.

Or why do you think there are the so-called "Live Albums"? For those who missed the event and now get a meager substitute....

@Stephie I guess. I'm sensitive to noise, though. And I don't have a "good expensive, carefully set up sound system". I usually listen on my computer via headphones.

The trouble with screaming fans is then you can end up with more screaming and less music...

@FaheemMitha it's a textual representation of...

Not if the music is really good. And if you are at a live concert you don't only hear the music, but feel it. The sound waves make your body resonate. The term "my heart skipped a beat" gets a whole new meaning.

@Stephie nothing like Metal-induced arrhythmia eh?

@ElendilTheTall Ah. Well, back at you, sonny boy.

Hi Cindy.

@ElendilTheTall Admit - you like it, too!

@Stephie not really, not into metal

Led Zeppelin is about as hard as I go

I've never been to a live music gig

A friend who like that Swedish metal group lent it to me. It was quite good - "Black Diamond" and stuff.

I think it was Swedish.

Stratovarius, that's the one.

No, Finland.

@Jefromi I am here now, should be reachable for a couple of hours at least. Just try again when you are online, we'll find each other.

<soaring violins>

<rumi and jef run towards each other across a field vibrant with wildflowers>

<rumi stumbles at the last minute, headbutting jef and driving his nasal bone in to the base of his brain, killing him instantly>

<with her usual rational efficiency, rumi begins digging a grave>

well, that got dark quickly

need more coffee

Your fantasies leave us one moderator short - are you running in the next elections? ;-)

Random poll-type question. Do extended appliance warranties ever make sense? I think not.

/me wonders whether Elendil is wanted for questioning in real life.

That would explain a lot.

@Stephie you attribute me with too many fucks

''/';']'][[[/]\gfg

(cleaning my keyboard)

<hands @ElendilTheTall a pack of cotton swabs and a small vacuum cleaner>

I thought I had seen all turkey questions, but no:

@Stephie a combination of smacking it repeatedly on the desk and a little elbow grease with poster tack usually works thank you

The keyboard at your office, I presume? "Oh, dear, my keyboard broke, I have to leave work early today."

we have about 300 spares, alas

better get started 'cleaning' them all I guess...

Washing keyboards is usually a good way to clean them.

yes, a good dunk in hot soapy water

@Stephie are you here?

I am. Just in case I am wanted too (′︿‵｡)

@rumtscho on and off... yes, I'm here.

Hi @ElendilTheTall. I would like to talk to someone who is aware of typical intercultural pitfalls when people versed in German business culture are communicating with Americans. Do you think you are this person?

@Stephie I am preparing my job application for SE, I think I have mentioned before that I will be applying. This is the first time I am applying at a US company, and I'm not sure about all intricacies concerning the application papers. Do you have experience in that area?

Not much, but with the help of a few fellow Americans here we should be able to get you going? What does @Cindy think? Not only has she been through the process (and and we got to watch), I think she knows "the other side" too.

Any specific issues?

I have a typical Bewerbungsmappe, and wondered how to reconstruct it properly

I wrote a cover letter, that one is more or less clear

then I used my normal resume, but removed the picture - it is a legal problem in the States, right?

In Germany, I then add a sheaf of Arbeitszeugnisse and then my university diploma and my highschool diploma, both of which are in German.

So I now translated the Zeugnisse and letters of recommendation I had, except for two which are already in English

then I translated the diplomas, mostly keeping the format

then added the German originals of the translated stuff at the end

I wonder if this sounds OK or if it is somehow confusing

I kept the translations very literal, so they sound slightly off in English. Of course they are in the German grading system, 1.00 - 4.00 in the university diploma, 5-15 points in the Allgemeine Hochschulreife

and to top it off, I have a Diplom degree, not a Master's, so I suspect this is doubly confusing. But it is probably a kind of fraud to try to call it otherwise.

is this just for an application or are you past the application stage?

@ElendilTheTall for an application

I had sent them a few questions, including asking what application format they require, but no answer

@rumtscho when you say you're adding your diplomas, do you mean actual copies?

so I want to send it now

@ElendilTheTall yes, copies of my diplomas including lists of grades

this is the standard thing to do here

Well, I'm not sure about the US, but here that is unnecessary

you just list your education and grades on your resume

I would imagine the US is more that way inclined as well

If they want proof, they'll ask for it

I also wouldn't list my high school grades, I'd just list my degree

Hmm. I don't have the grades in the resume. I can add them there, of course. The final grades, at least. In the diplomas, they are listed per subject.

No recruiter trawling through 250 applications is going to take the time to go through all your diplomas etc

they will just scan the resume for key points

not during the trawling stage. But once he has 10 people chosen and wants to know which 5 of them to interview, they can be important. I think.

So send them if he asks for them

All right, removing them will shave off a significant amount of pages, especially because they are doubled now with the translation

2 sides of A4 is the standard recommended maximum length of a resume

Letter in the US of course

you can always put a line either on the resume or in the cover letter 'copies of my diplomas are available upon request' or the like

Ah yes, letter sized paper.

I am under 2 pages, especially now that I don't use a picture.

great stuff

@rumtscho Do you have a "Diploma Supplement"? Your university should have given you one or provide you with one. Makes the "translation" of grades etc. much easier.

(Sorry, got distracted...)

@Stephie I think I have one, but it is somewhere at home. And I'm at my parents' for ten more days.

I am now removing the whole diploma stuff from the file at Elendil's suggestions. If they request it later, I'll send the supplement, if I'm already at home.

Sure, I'm with Tall here. Just a side note. US applications are basically a list of "what I did so far", further information/ proof on request.

And ditch the "personal" stuff like age, marital status etc. for the US.

(They will be able to guestimate your age from your CV anyway...)

Oh and another thing @ElendilTheTall and @Stephie. Jolene mentioned that she might write me a letter of recommendation from the Cooking.SE users point of view. Do you think this would make a good or a bad impression? It is very unusual, but this is for Stack Exchange after all.

@Stephie Oh. I list the date of birth right under my address. It is listed in all my letters of recommendation too. I have removed the marital status from the German version too, I find it a bit nosy/irrelevant.

Why not? Depends a bit on what the job you are applying for is about. But having served as mod and having happy "users" probably won't hurt.

@Stephie I am applying for a product manager for stack overflow

I guess it depends how much the role of mod is applicable to that of product manager

but it would basically be a character reference

At least it shows dedication?

Being a mod, yes. Letter of recommendation from basically a random person who is also a friend of the applicant... not so much...

And who happens to be a very high-rep user doesn't count?

that just says she knows a bit about cooking

my point is that of course jojo/any of us will say how lovely and wonderful rumi is

they can already see what rumi does in terms of modding

i don't know, to be honest. if I was a recruiter, a supporting letter from an applicant's friend wouldn't cut much mustard with me.

that's all I'm saying ¯\ _(ツ)_/¯

All right, I now have a cover letter, a CV, 2 letters from previous employers in translation, 2 letters from a previous employer and a university professor in English, and the originals of the translated letters.

The cover letter is separate, all the rest in a single PDF file.

Does it sound about right?

you don't need the references

those are supplied afterwards on request

you just need a CV and cover letter

Interesting. In Germany, they are always supplied with the application.

It feels better to have them in there :)

up to you.

it's by no means necessary or expected

Of course, there is the problem that I don't yet have letters from the two places where I am still not finished - the mouse database job and the research/dissertation job at the university

but I think this is normal for everybody

yes

here, they wouldn't even expect written references much of the time

they would just phone the references in question

The "references in question"? They call my old bosses?

Good to know it beforehand :)

2 letters from a previous employer

that's in the UK of course

they might expect letters in the US

and it naturally depends on the organisation too

oh yes, i havent had to deal with written recommendations since perhaps high school

most places asks for 3 professional recommendations which just includes the name, relationship, and contact info(email, phone, address)

That was the format of my references

I see.

A German letter of recommendation contains a very glowing description of the person, so I decided to include them. I can't imagine that they could be damaging.

I haven't included the exact name and address of my previous employers though. At least not the current ones - the earlier ones have written their address on the letters of recommendation.

@rumtscho Hey, I'm around for a bit.

@ElendilTheTall um nice to see you too

@Jefromi hey, don't blame me, blame rumi's clumsiness

@ElendilTheTall My little nap turned into 9 hours

The little shit pooch is looking at me like if we don't go out NOW, I may regret it.

@jolenealaska just like I said it would... :P

@ElendilTheTall Yes, I should have known; I was really tired.

And I am always right, so...

;)

I forgot to bring my keys to get into the building when I took shit-for-brains on his walk, so we stood there for a while waiting for someone to come through.

It took a few minutes, but a guy let us in and reached down to pet the dog.

I've been warned that Rylee is particularly not nice with large, dark black men.

The guy was exactly that.

I warned the guy without any adrenaline, or pulling back on Rylee. Sure enough, the little shit snarfed. It was a great training experience, I slam dunked Rylee pretty hard and the guy never stopped smiling.

And no blood was shed.

That needs to happen about 1000 more times.

Offer the guy a job

Also, the owner needs to be put down for calling their dog 'Rylee'

I will actually ask that guy and another big black guy in the building who I am friendly with to help me really rock Rylee's world once the basket muzzle arrives.

so

no luck in the bluetooth stakes

we'll repeat the above experience as often as necessary for Riley to accept being pet and eventually being picked up and loved upon (which he really likes) by the guys.

Nope. It appeared that eventually I did get it to pair, but it still didn't work.

*Rylee that is. Worse, the owner's (my friend's) name is Troy. You KNOW how I always want to spell that.

very odd

well, if you can, try a new dongle

if that doesn't work, you know it's something to do with the computer

I will, but it won't be until next week. My dongle is bargain-basement. I will try to get a hold of tech support for the headsets to get a recommendation.

It's so frustrating because my television is now working as a monitor, so I can pace and write (or write while washing dishes) except that now I don't have a working headset.

Hi @Arrowfar, how are you today?

Me too, but probably for different reasons. Why are you stressed out?

our fault probably :)

@Jolenealaska have you had any enquiries through the website?

@ElendilTheTall Nope, just by phone. I expect an uptick of inquiries after the holidays.

hmmm, could probably do with a bit of SEO

well, I really am looking for clients from a very limited geographical area.

hey, as long as they come to you, they can come from Florida!

ah, i see

well, even searching for 'dog training alpine meadows anchorage' puts you third

that should be top!

You've got a point there. Actually, I'd like "dog training Anchorage" to put me at least in the top three.

I will do house calls elsewhere (as long as I have a running car), I will just charge extra for it.

well, there's lots more competition for Anchorage than Alpine Meadows of course

but we will see what we can do

@Jolenealaska doing anything for Thanksgiving?

@ElendilTheTall Absolutely nothing special. I've got a turkey to cook, but I may do that today, I may do that on Friday. I'm actually going to try to kind of put it out of my mind that it is Thanksgiving. For reasons I can't quite explain, Thanksgiving always makes me a bit misty that I'm not with family that day.

It's kind of weird, because I have no warm and fuzzy memories of Thanksgiving with family.

well, you can always spend the day with us :)

ie no Americans

:)

that is probably what I'll do! :)

Americans: who needs 'em?

Europe during the 40s?

Arguable

;)

I'm going to cut my turkey into pieces to cook.

I like breast meat for sandwiches and I do not want it even a tiny bit overcooked.

very sensible

I usually get a crown when I do turkey

I'm going to do pulled turkey with the thighs and legs, so cooked much longer than they would be for a roasted turkey.]

I think I'll like the dark meat much better that way. It will freeze well too.

I don't think my kitchen shears are up to the task of cutting out the backbone, so I don't even think I'm going to try. My turkey breast will just look a little funny in the oven.

For Thanksgiving, Americans are far too into the look of the whole roasted turkey.

The different parts are best cooked differently!

@Jolenealaska yes

@Arrowfar what is the date of your exams?

what subjects?

That you find it boring is why you find it difficult.

I think I'm even going to use a crockpot for the dark meat. I'm going to treat it very much like pork.

sounds like a plan

Do you just have to study the papers, or are you expected to turn something in?

@Arrowfar Yes, or any kind of "homework".

@Jolenealaska it's just exam based

and there's a lot of on-the-job training

@Arrowfar as always ;)

well, on that cheekily arrogant note, I am going to retire

Jojo, try not to be eaten alive by any canines in my absence

Goodnight sweetie

Arrowfar, get to studying

YES!

Your chatroom mom and dad have spoken young man

What else would he do now that you are leaving ;-)

@Stephie exactly

you've always been thoroughly sensible stephie

Have Momma @Jolenealaska and Daddy @ElendilTheTall considered to send him to bed? Must be getting really late at @Arrowfar's place...

So @Arrowfar, listen to Auntie Stephie and make sure you get enough sleep. Studying without sleeping is like scooping water with a sieve.

And on that note: Good night, guys, see you tomorrow!

CYA @Stephie!