changing workforce...
The last time the four George Brothers were seen together was at a wedding reception at Plum Creek Country Club in Indianapolis. It was early May of this year.
Ken's daughter, Mollie, and her husband, Danny, tied the knot during a beach ceremony in Mexico last April and their reception was held a few weeks later in their hometown.
It was about an hour into the celebration when Ken drifted over to Carl, David, and me as the three of us were standing by the bar. The bride's dad had been greeting guests but found a few minutes to chat with us. The band had not yet begun to play.
This could have been the transcript of the conversation as we started the dialogue by complimenting our youngest brother on his part in planning the reception.
Thanks, boys. I hope you are all having a good time at my expense., he laughed. As I was walking over here to join you, I was just wondering how long those jobs will be around?
What jobs are you talking about? David inquired.
Bartenders, Ken answered. How long will it be before we see robots behind the bar?
I'll bet they are out there now, Carl guessed. I've seen robotic waiters and servers, so, a bartender has to be somewhere in the mix.
Robots? Dave exclaimed. You've got to be kidding. Robots can't mix drinks. How're they even going to hear your order or remember it?
David, we are in the world of AI, I offered. Robots can do anything.
Here's a theoretical for you boys, Carl brought up. Would you tip a robot? Look at this guy's tip jar. Would you do the same for a robot?
Tip a robot? David repeated. Why would I do that? I don't tip a bartender, so, why would I tip a robot?
You don't tip a bartender? Ken asked.
No, why should I, Dave explained. I just get a Coke. Tipping is for you guys that drink the other stuff.
So, you don't think serving you a soft drink takes the same effort as getting someone a beer? Carl wondered.
Naaw, not even close, David shook his head. Besides, that bartender is paid to do a job and he should just do it. But, I will say Trump had it right when he said waiters don't have to claim tips on their future taxes.
Oh, no. Here we go, I muttered.
Come to think of it, I'd be hard pressed to come up with anything that he hasn't gotten right and that goes back to his first four years, David added.
Did you know some convenience stores are testing computers at checkouts? It won't be long before cashiers are outdated like a lot of other jobs, I stated.
There will be a day we won't even recognize half the jobs we see, bartenders and cashiers included, Ken said as both brothers tried to divert the inevitable political discourse.
You mean like jobs that we don't see anymore? Carl joined in in hopes of keeping David from beating Trump's drum.
Yeah, you know, there must be a lot of them just because of technology, Ken said.
You guys talking about jobs is right on, David suggested. By the time this president is finished, we will have the lowest unemployment rate in history.
I told a group of students once about guys that delivered milk to our house every week and they couldn't believe it, I said. They couldn't imagine milk in glass bottles either let alone a man driving a milk delivery truck and going through neighborhoods to deliver those bottles.
Did you tell them about the metal box by the backdoor the milkman put the milk in? Ken chipped in.
Do you guys think that bartender is better off today than he was a year ago? David persisted. Of course he is! He doesn't pay taxes on that glass jar with those tips in it now.
What, all of twenty dollars? Carl interjected. He probably never claimed it anyway.
But, you miss the point, David insisted. His life is definitely better than it was a year ago or even six months ago.
When you think about it, robots have taken over as telephone operators, Ken said as he continued to push on. Today, it's a computer that places all of our telephone calls, not a person at a switchboard.
Back when we were teenagers, we would pull into a real, live, gas station, not a convenience store. Carl recalled. A gas station guy would come out and pump our gas for us. Then, we'd go into the station's office and pay. The place always reeked of engine oil, old cars, and anti-freeze. Can you imagine that today? And, three dollars filled it up!
Now it is more like thirty dollars thanks to that empty suit that was in the White House for four years, claimed David.
The White House doesn't really have a lot to do with gas prices, Carl declared. It is a lot of factors from around the world.
When was the last time you guys got into an elevator and an operator was there to take you to the floor you wanted? Ken said as he tried again to change the subject. You don't see those guys around anymore.
And they always wore a uniform, I smiled. What about that round, metal stool inside the elevator the operator sat on?
That's back when those stools were made right here in the good ol' U S of A like Trump is trying to get done today, David suggested.
Boys, I have to go. I am positive Jody is looking for me. There must be something she needs me for. Maybe it is time for the father-daughter dance? Ken asked hopefully. Thank goodness that hasn't changed over the last 100 years. You boys know how some things will never change, right?
Amen, brother, Amen. Carl said.
Coming up: a conversation with the owner of a dog bakery; another oddities, observations, & ?'s; a POS, and; a job$ somebody's gotta do.
Happy Birthday, Ruth.
And, finally: Joey Jaws Chestnut reclaimed his hot dog title last July 4th when he consumed 70 1/2 Nathan's hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes.
The victory gave him $10,000 prize money, the coveted, Mustard Belt, and a three year contract with Nathan's.
According to Nathan's website, here are the numbers Joey ate using the company's nutrition facts.
In that 10 minute window, Joey swallowed: over 20,300 calories, over 1,260 grams of fat, over 420 grams of saturated fat, over 2,100 grams of cholesterol, and, over 55,300 milligrams of sodium.
And, that's not counting the buns!
HUH? What's up with that?
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