"Learning Curves and Other Shiznit..."

Learning Curve: (n) learning curve (a graph showing the rate of learning (especially a graph showing the amount recalled as a function of the number of attempts to recall))

I've mentioned  my family's business several times... a scrap metal recycling plant.  I worked with my brothers and my Dad there before setting out on a different Life Course.  It was difficult working with two brothers who refused to allow the business to operate as a business... they were insistent on it running as an extension of the 'Family'...

Not Necessarily my Brothers...

Several years ago, when scrap metal prices reached record highs, the theft of copper and other non-ferrous metals soared... and so did the theft rates of these metals.  As a means of trying to combat rising theft rates, the State of Mississippi (as well as other states) passed laws requiring extensive record keeping and reporting methods that could only be met by purchasing expensive and complicated computer systems.  We spent around $50,000 for the systems and soft ware... 


When problems arise, they tend to call me... I will go down and help them straighten out their problems.. which mostly consist of... "How do I send an email?"

Learning Curves are Hell...

A Typical Learning Curve...

A Rather Atypical Learning Curve...

About a month ago, They needed me to come down and show them how to email photos of some material that had possibly been stolen to Law Enforcement.  This really is a two-sided Learning Curve because most of our Law Enforcement here in the County don't understand the technology either.  They are supposed to be able to go on-line to this bureau to whom we report the material, and download the information that they need.  But I digress...


One of the brothers call me today, tell me that they need help with the computer... when in reality, they need help sending an email... While I'm at the office showing them again how to do this, I ask him to open his email so we can check something...


Brother:  "How do I do that?"


Shoes: "You don't remember? I wrote the instructions down in a note book for you..."


Brother:  "What note book?"


Shoes: "Never mind..."


So I open the email folder... and discover that he hasn't gone into his email since the last time I was at the scrap yard helping them with these problems... Hell, he had email from scrap purchasers concerning the quality of some material that had been shipped... very timely material, and because they shun technology, they aren't aware of things that are going on every day with their business...


Watching them work on a computer is like watching a monkey use a typewriter... Just not pretty...

Not Necessarily My Brother...

They have been insanely successful with the business in spite of themselves, I fear... but I do love them... if I had to work with them, well... I just don't think I could...

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There were three things I learned this past weekend...

#1:  There is no such thing as a 'neener second'... I was trying to convince someone that a 'neener second' was a shorter period of time than a 'nano second'... in order to prove my point, I asked a waitress at a restaurant about 'neener seconds...

"No such thing as a neener second" she said as she popped her chewing gum... She was smarter than I gave her credit for being...

#2:  There is such a thing as a 'Coot'... but of course, I knew this... I couldn't convince others of this, however...

A Real Coot...

An Old Coot...

... and #3:  "It's not cheating if you put peanut butter on your testicles and your dog licks it off..."

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No Alcohol was consumed during the creation of this post... 

although there should have been...

Hmmm... Redheads...

~shoes~