But hey, there's AC, caffeine, and broadband

Almost everything that makes life worth living.

I am not at work, but have work angst. HR is prepared to make an offer to the person we picked, but they lowered the salary by about $6K, and will be offering less than what she's making at her current job. The big boss is unwilling to fight them on this at this point, because he says they've done him a few favors lately and he doesn't want to press for more.

So I'm mad because I don't think she should have to pay for the favors HR did for him, and I'm wondering if it's kosher for me to get word to the candidate through the backchannel of mutual acquaintances that she should ask for more money (it's there in the budget, and the Dean is okay with it, so don't ask me why HR gets to call the shots).

I would do that, Sparky. Most subtly, you could encourage mutual acquaintances to remind the candidate about what a good idea it is to negotiate your salary.

But hey, there's AC, caffeine, and broadband, so I'm pretty ok with it.

Yeah, I'm definitely most grateful to have a full-time desk job in the summer! Due to having heat but not central air where I live.

Due to having heat but not central air where I live.

You have a window unit, though, don't you?

I would spontaneously combust without a/c of some sort. I am a delicate fleur.

Yeah, I'm definitely most grateful to have a full-time desk job in the summer!

Me too! I've worked on highway crews during the summer and it was not fun for someone like who doesn't do heat well anyhow. Setting a survey marker in a Kansas cornfield during a day with 115 degree heat index would literally make me sick.

You have a window unit, though, don't you?

I do, but only in my bedroom, and I only use it when I'm in bed. I am a cheap and/or hearty Yankee.

Yes, I am a huge fan of AC. My apartment has central air, and it's on the bottom floor, surrounded on three sides by trees and a building. I do not envy my upstairs neighbor her summer power bill.

I've lived around here for nearly 26 years. You'd think I'd be use to it.

My apartment has central air, and it's on the bottom floor, surrounded on three sides by trees and a building. I do not envy my upstairs neighbor her summer power bill.

During the brief time I lived in an apartment building I was able to make it through winter with my heat completely turned off. The other units warmed my place enough for someone like me who likes the cold.

I would spontaneously combust without a/c of some sort.

I have a shrine to Willis Carrier.

I was never any good in the heat, to the point of fainting a number of times in my youth, before I was old enough to insist that I was not going to stand in the heat. Now I'm on medication that causes hot flashes. One virtue in living in the South is that it's the land of central air.

The Folklife Festival has started; one of the featured cultures/countries is Wales. I can't help wondering if there's going to be any Tom Jones involvement ... he IS Welsh, isn't he?