Things I've learned the hard way . . .(Part 2)

[bluflaam777]

^was gonna say that most 12v (cig lighter) are live without the car running.
My 2013 Taco p'up and the 2015 Camaro SS and the POS 2010 Hyundai Sonata (surf vehicle) has a USB that is live even when the car is off.

but yea, the 12v cig lighters are usually live.

 

[The Hawk]

Question, please, if I may --
Don't wanna' start a whole new thread here.

With cars built since about year 2000,
can ANY of them Charge a cellphone or similar device
WITHOUT the engine running ? ? ?

Let's ignore electric vehicles.

Thank You for your input !

Some of them can. I know my Corvette has a 12 volt plug that stays hot. Also, our 2022 Murano has a couple outlets for cell phone charging that can be turned on by pushing the start button without having your foot on the brake.

 

[leeholaaho]

Watch Cash Jordan's videos. They chronicle the descent of New York City into a desolate craphole. Businesses are fleeing or having to lock up everything behind tough barriers or hire security. In some stores the clear plastic cabinets haven't deterred thieves. They walk in with a propane torch and burn holes through the plastic to steal stuff.

The courts there are 100% pro criminal. Cops arrest 'em and the judges send them right back onto the streets. Got a bunch of muggings in a park? Cops come and patrol for a while and the criminals move elsewhere for a while. It's crime whack a mole because the size of the police force has been reduced so much they cannot patrol everywhere often enough to be proactive. The chance that a cop will happen to cruise by while a crime is in progress is one of the biggest deterrents - if the judges don't flip them right back out without bail.

He used to do videos on apartments available to rent at various price points. Real estate agents and building owners liked him doing videos, especially when he'd come in to show off a newly renovated apartment. Then he switched to walking around the streets, reporting on how bad things were becoming. Lots of videos on the luxury hotels turned into illegal immigrant / refugee housing and the crime associated with them. For the past few months he stayed home doing videos from his apartment.

Now he and his family are moving out of their apartment. Rent's too high, neighborhood is too noisy. The place has a large balcony they never used because it was always too hot/sunny, too windy, raining, or snowing. He also mentioned other reasons why they're moving.

Dunno if they're staying in NYC or getting the hell out.

True story here. I know a guy that went out with his his 5 yo to the corner store. NYC. 15 years ago already. There was some kind of gunfight. He went back home and told his wife they were leaving NYC that night. Came to the Allentown area.

 

[PhotonWrangler]

If you're going to wash your face in a public restroom, make sure the paper towel dispenser works before you start.

 

[Monocrom]

If you're going to wash your face in a public restroom, make sure the paper towel dispenser works before you start.

This is one reason why I always carry a sheet or two of paper-towels in my pocket. Along with an extra-large bandana or both, as EDC items. Also, if you ever come to NYC, the subway public rest-rooms are either chained and locked, or open and covered in liquid feces. Those are your only two options.

 

[dc38]

This is one reason why I always carry a sheet or two of paper-towels in my pocket. Along with an extra-large bandana or both, as EDC items. Also, if you ever come to NYC, the subway public rest-rooms are either chained and locked, or open and covered in liquid feces. Those are your only two options.

the whole city used to be a toilet...but now all the poop is in city hall!! jk

 

[Monocrom]

Well, a sizeable chunk of it anyway.

 

[Monocrom]

Always go to where you're constantly treated well. Screw new places.

I forgot that, yesterday. Tried to save some gas. Knew I'd be wasting a couple of hours of off-time from work. Ended up wasting even more time!

Mailing a package to my best friend of nearly 35 years. Whole process turned out to be a minor headache. Though doing so caused me to find an excellent new work-bag. Had replaced my old one of nearly 8 years, a couple of weeks back. But the replacement backpack was just inappropriate for work purposes. New one is perfect.

Anyway, final step was to take the HUGE but light-weight box to the post office and mail it off. I decided to save gas by simply going to the one 2 blocks away from my 3rd shift job. Instead of the one in Western Long Island that I usually go to. Why? Well, I usually drive there, wait for it to open at 9am. Then drive to WalMart in Long Island (nearest one to my home) and then to Roosevelt Field mall. Walk around at the mall. Relax a bit. See if there's anything worth possibly buying. But, this was just supposed to be a post office visit ONLY day. So, why drive out that far?

Post office near work, hadn't been there in a decade. Also opens at 9am. I get off work by 7am. I drive to Burger King to get breakfast. It's close to work. Eat, then drive to the shopping center that the post office is in. I wait over an hour for the post office to open. No choice. One employee, and I can feel the attitude just wafting off of him. He's being overly polite. The type that you can just tell he's BSing everyone. Screw it! I want to mail this box. First in line. He looks at it. Says it's too big. Tells me to try fitting it through the window. It's 1/4" too big to fit. Normally, they'll tell you to go to the door they use for employees to enter into the post office interior. They take the box, weigh it, measure it; complete the process.

Nope! He directs me to a sign hanging up at the counter. Tells me I have to take it to another post office that can accommodate the size of the box. I very politely ask him if he's frickin' kidding me. No, he's not. I tell him how great the customer service is, considering I was waiting out there for over an hour for the place to open. He politely says he's sorry and wishes me a good day. I politely and sarcastically tell him I hope he has one too.

No, I don't bother going to the post office listed on that ridiculous note. I go to the one quite a bit out of my way where I get treated well on each visit, for years! Wow! What a massive difference! An older Asian lady behind the counter bends over backwards to help me get the package shipped. I profusely thank her, and drive home. Having spent the gas I tried to save, and having used up over an extra hour to get the package mailed off.

Yeah, never again! I'm never going to use that post office right by work ever again!! Never going to waste my time with that unprofessional joke of a postal worker who sucks at pretending to be polite and professional. Don't care that I'm wasting gasoline. That other post office is what all of the post offices in New York should be like. I'll happily waste fuel in exchange for not having to deal with 2-legged trash.

 

[dc38]

Always go to where you're constantly treated well. Screw new places.

I forgot that, yesterday. Tried to save some gas. Knew I'd be wasting a couple of hours of off-time from work. Ended up wasting even more time!

Mailing a package to my best friend of nearly 35 years. Whole process turned out to be a minor headache. Though doing so caused me to find an excellent new work-bag. Had replaced my old one of nearly 8 years, a couple of weeks back. But the replacement backpack was just inappropriate for work purposes. New one is perfect.

Anyway, final step was to take the HUGE but light-weight box to the post office and mail it off. I decided to save gas by simply going to the one 2 blocks away from my 3rd shift job. Instead of the one in Western Long Island that I usually go to. Why? Well, I usually drive there, wait for it to open at 9am. Then drive to WalMart in Long Island (nearest one to my home) and then to Roosevelt Field mall. Walk around at the mall. Relax a bit. See if there's anything worth possibly buying. But, this was just supposed to be a post office visit ONLY day. So, why drive out that far?

Post office near work, hadn't been there in a decade. Also opens at 9am. I get off work by 7am. I drive to Burger King to get breakfast. It's close to work. Eat, then drive to the shopping center that the post office is in. I wait over an hour for the post office to open. No choice. One employee, and I can feel the attitude just wafting off of him. He's being overly polite. The type that you can just tell he's BSing everyone. Screw it! I want to mail this box. First in line. He looks at it. Says it's too big. Tells me to try fitting it through the window. It's 1/4" too big to fit. Normally, they'll tell you to go to the door they use for employees to enter into the post office interior. They take the box, weigh it, measure it; complete the process.

Nope! He directs me to a sign hanging up at the counter. Tells me I have to take it to another post office that can accommodate the size of the box. I very politely ask him if he's frickin' kidding me. No, he's not. I tell him how great the customer service is, considering I was waiting out there for over an hour for the place to open. He politely says he's sorry and wishes me a good day. I politely and sarcastically tell him I hope he has one too.

No, I don't bother going to the post office listed on that ridiculous note. I go to the one quite a bit out of my way where I get treated well on each visit, for years! Wow! What a massive difference! An older Asian lady behind the counter bends over backwards to help me get the package shipped. I profusely thank her, and drive home. Having spent the gas I tried to save, and having used up over an extra hour to get the package mailed off.

Yeah, never again! I'm never going to use that post office right by work ever again!! Never going to waste my time with that unprofessional joke of a postal worker who sucks at pretending to be polite and professional. Don't care that I'm wasting gasoline. That other post office is what all of the post offices in New York should be like. I'll happily waste fuel in exchange for not having to deal with 2-legged trash.

There are miserable situations, then there are miserable people...I feel like alot of the service industry is paid for how politely they can say no to someone...

 

[pnwoutdoors]

Always go to where you're constantly treated well. Screw new places.

Yup. A life lesson. Sometimes, with some things, a survival lesson.

Of course, with shippers, it's largely just an inconvenience. The more I contend with the USPS hacks that often get hired at that organization, the more I realize the definition of "customer service" pre-dated the lives of all the critters there. And most don't seem to have studied the history or utility of it.

Sign of the times, in a "disposable" society.

Nicely, that old "Invisible Hand" plays a solid part. Generally there are others who do get it, and who behave accordingly. As you say: discard the ones who don't, and stick with those who do.


One thing I miss, from a year in Taiwan years ago: that great little restaurant a few blocks up the road, tucked behind on a puny little side street. Dang, but did they make great stuff, mostly family recipes, and they valued their neighborhood residents like they were extended family.

What a place. Have long wished that every business operated in such a way, whatever their niche product/service. Everyone could learn a thing or two from that little family and their operation. Top-notch food, exceptional service, highly-valued customer base ... and never failing on any of these. They "got" it. In every way.

I've used them as an occasional anecdotal story, when I've been particularly rubbed wrong by a failing in customer service. Comes down to focus, attention to detail, respect for the task they're performing, immense respect for the customer, with an eye toward what can occur when failing on those things. Doesn't take much, but "business" isn't for everyone.

 

[Monocrom]

There are miserable situations, then there are miserable people...I feel like alot of the service industry is paid for how politely they can say no to someone...

I agree. It's sad that this guy couldn't even fake it though.
Plus, he's better off than others. He has a Government job.
Those still come with great benefits and pay, last time I checked.

 

[dc38]

I agree. It's sad that this guy couldn't even fake it though.
Plus, he's better off than others. He has a Government job.
Those still come with great benefits and pay, last time I checked.

As a miserable person, I have to actively see my blessings many times...life is terrible, but it's not so bad...and if it's not so bad, it's pretty good, and anything that's pretty good must be pretty darn good. I'm gonna ask a question that not many people (rich or poor, healthy or sick) have the option to think about...what's for lunch?

 

[Monocrom]

I have a gourmet sandwich-making machine.
Sounds fancier than it is.
Ham and cheese gourmet toasted sandwiches.
Just finished eating those several minutes ago.
Quite delicious. You have to put the cheese in the middle.
Make sure none of it is remotely near the edge of the bread.
Or, it'll leak out and make a mess during the cooking process.
The irony is, it sits on my kitchen counter.
But it's been more years than I can remember since the last time I used it, until today.

 

[bluflaam777]

...what's for lunch?

I love my a good sammy! If I can call a burrito a sandwich, I'm having a sandwich. If you say I can't call it that, SHUT UP!

I'm having a sandwich.

 

[Monocrom]

A sandwich where the contents need a hug.

 

[dc38]

I have a gourmet sandwich-making machine.

my mind went the "mysoginist" route, LOL...then I read this and said, nope, he means an actual machine

Sounds fancier than it is.

 

[pnwoutdoors]

I have a gourmet sandwich-making machine.
Sounds fancier than it is.
Ham and cheese gourmet toasted sandwiches.
Just finished eating those several minutes ago.
Quite delicious. You have to put the cheese ...

I don't often make grilled cheese sandwiches. But when I do, I attempt to duplicate the effort done in the 2014 film Chef (Jon Favreau), sort of blended with a nod to the effort shown in the 2006 film The Devil Wears Prada. Jarlsberg cheese, uber-thinly-sliced ham, a tart mustard, a bit of mayo, a wonderfully-crispy yet -tender sourdough bread ... and (my addition) a quick swipe of horseradish sauce. Yum.

Good stuff, when done right. Brings back memories, a decent grilled ham and cheese sandwich.