Kevin's Watch

Lately I've been spending a little extra time in Hile Troy's Think Tank forum. As many of you know my allegiance lies with In Pursuit of Mallory forum but you can't spend all day there, I feel you have to diversify your experiences here at Kevinswatch.

One thing I've noticed is that the working environments in the two forums are markedly different.

At Mallory's we foster a relaxed attitude. Semi-business casual with a touch of whimsy. Formal attire finished off with a Howard The Duck T-shirt is just fine. A tux and sandals works too. Heck a tank top and shorts is pretty much a uniform in our forum. The place is clean, well ventilated and illuminated by rather cool LED lights that run along the ceiling and the floor. We have fun but we're not tragically messy. Music and laughter defines the daily experience. Everyone has something cool on their desks. I have lots of Star Wars and Star Trek action figures crowding my (3) monitors. There's a pool table, fooseball and a whole row of pinball machines. Mostly large format movie posters line the walls and the floor is a giant carpet shaped like the Millennium Falcon. All of the furniture is contemporary and in like-new condition. There is a fresh box of donuts laid out every morning with fresh coffee and lunchtime is frequently punctuated by the smell of our own gas barbecue right outside on the patio that leads to the miniature golf course.

At The Tank things are a little different I must admit.

First of all the place smells of dry sweat and broken dreams. The air conditioning is constantly being repaired so its unbearably hot most of the time. I don't know where they got their office furniture but it looks like it was discarded from the set of a Humphrey Bogart film. Nearly all of the garbage cans are full of crushed half empty paper cups and wadded up printer paper. All of the computers have floppy disc ports...all of them. The drawn shade of the only window has a stain on it that is either chocolate or blood and I don't care to know which. The only thing on the wall is a black and white signed picture of J. Edgar Hoover with a broken frame and looks like someone threw a stapler at it from across the room. Instead of laughter you generally hear moans of pain, physical and emotional. On every desk sits a nearly empty bottle of bourbon or vodka. The lighting consists of one buzzing and flickering fluorescent light that bathes the whole room in an eerie blue tint. I don't know how people get in and out of there because I don't recall seeing a door. I think you just lose consciousness and find yourself elsewhere. Its entertaining, I'll give you that.

Anyway I hope I was able to give everyone that is planning to visit either the Tank or Mallory's a little preview that you might find helpful.

Enjoy your day.

-Tom

Mallory's in located in your parent's basement.

The Tank is located in a luxury bunker deep within the Colorado Cheyenne Mountain Complex.

High Lord Tolkien wrote:Mallory's in located in your parent's basement.

The Tank is located in a luxury bunker deep within the Colorado Cheyenne Mountain Complex.

That doesn't sound anything like what I saw. I think you are making it up.

Tom, I think I've worked at both places you've described.

Dunno where you're going TOM, but doesn't resemble my experience at all.

Mallory's is more like the carnival that Pennywise hangs out in, all fun-house mirrors and bad hot-dogs. For the 'Tank, I sorta like the underground bunker. Cheyenne Mountain is a bit too exposed though...that's the decoy 'Tank. The real one is in an undisclosed location.

--A

Cags, I am glad we share similar experiences.

Av, lets agree that we all take something different from our experiences here. Let me just point out that your experience in Mallory's is extremely limited. Just sayin.

Hashi, speaking as the unofficial chairman of the Kevinswatch Chamber of Commerce/Home Owners Association/Tourism Board I'd like to thank you for your input. You have a gift for making a point and driving it home right up to where only the arrow's feathers can be seen sticking out of the target.

MALLORY'S



THE TANK

aTOMiC wrote:MALLORY'S



THE TANK

hahaahahahahaaa....................

Tom, I love the idea of, "What would this subforum be like if it was a literal physical place?"!

When reading your description of Mallory's, I accidentally cut off one of those sentences mid-sentence, and got this:

aTOMic wrote:...and lunchtime is frequently punctuated by the smell of our own gas...

Hope you don't mind.

I would say that both have things to give the world, and both have their weaknesses.
I'm a Christian, not a Moralistic Therapeutic Deist, so I would say that being comfortable - even a communal comfortability where we make each-other comfortable - is not the goal.

Oh, speaking of that, there was a period some years back where mentally, I described Mallory's to myself saying:
The first rule of Mallory's is: You do not talk about Mallory's. The second rule of Mallory's is: You do not talk about Mallory's.
My reaction was, "Huh. This is not 100% great, but dang, conflict-resolution is tough, and there is something to this."

As far as your description of the Tank...
...I dunno... ideology seems kind of life-or-death some days.

I can't speak to the 'Tank, but I remember my days of burning myself out on The Close... not like yesterday, but like a distant memory.
I thought the rusmeister was the Lone Ranger, and I was kinda like Tonto. (except not as consistently at his side)
We burned ourselves out, and certainly burnt others.

EVERYTHING about the enterprise of "Linna posting in The Close" was serious.
Laughter and playfulness were not to be seen nor conceived of in that land, because it was a harsh, arid environment.

Avatar wrote:
Mallory's is more like the carnival that Pennywise hangs out in, all fun-house mirrors and bad hot-dogs.

Please no clown-based analogies, you'll give Sarge ideas.

Sorus wrote:

Avatar wrote:
Mallory's is more like the carnival that Pennywise hangs out in, all fun-house mirrors and bad hot-dogs.

Please no clown-based analogies, you'll give Sarge ideas.

Noooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Linna Heartlistener wrote:EVERYTHING about the enterprise of "Linna posting in The Close" was serious. Laughter and playfulness were not to be seen nor conceived of in that land, because it was a harsh, arid environment.

Wow, I never saw the Close that way, even when I was much more zealously atheist than I am now.

I sorta see the Close like this:





--A

That looks right to me, Av.

Avatar wrote:Wow, I never saw the Close that way, even when I was much more zealously atheist than I am now.

I sorta see the Close like this:

Well, maybe, when it comes to the stuff discussed in The Close, you're not this:


And I am.
So there.


And now for something completely different...
GUYS!!
The description of a working environment like Mallory's - I've SEEN that BEFORE...
...in satire!

Eve Tushnet, in 'Amends' wrote:"Make yourself at home away from home!" the receptionist chirped. She had a Splenda voice and wiry, muscular arms.

The receptionist didn't step out from behind her teeth-desk, but she waved her arms to indicate all the things Ana could do in the lobby. "This is what we call our quirkspace. It's no ordinary workplace! We believe play is just another word for work. So feel free to provoke your creativity with foosball, Skee-Ball, or mini-golf! If you punch the clown's nose," indicating a trollish, painted plastic thing, which came up to Ana's shoulder and leered at her from her nightmares, "fair-trade gorp with M&M's will pour from its mouth!"

"Fair-trade M&M's?"

The receptionist went from Splenda to Sanka. "No, real ones," she said sharply. "Bentley will be out in a minute."

Complete with clown reference... which I would like to point out was NOT my idea, but, nonetheless ...you're welcome!

I'm thinkin'... in Mallory's we Get Stuff Done.
Especially if what we're lookin' to do is produce art.
Double-especially if it's Bad Art.

And that's probably why it's like that "quirkspace."

That is hauntingly similar indeed.

Somehow, I don't think likening yourself to Don Quixote does your arguments any good...

--A

This week come on over to Mallory's Bar and Grill.
The Friday specials are endless nachos, cinnamon glazed word puzzles and half priced side splitting laughter.
Come as you are. No reservation required.

If that is not to your liking let me suggest Hile Troy's Think Tank and Torture Chamber. Friday drink specials include two for one shots to the rib cage and a healthy dose of migraine salad with a complimentary serving of debates about statues. Dress is undertaker formal and reservations, though not necessary, are recommend to get the best seats in front of the soap box.

Kevin's Watch has something for everyone.

aTOMiC wrote:Kevin's Watch has something for everyone.

Indeed we do. Consider the working environment of The Galley!



OK, maybe sometimes more like this...

I like it.

--A