Random Thoughts That Don't Deserve Their Own Thread Go Here

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

I have absolutely no use for the Alexa/Siri/Echo/Roku voice-activated stuff, but I will admit that it's tons of fun to walk by my daughter's door and say "Alexa play death metal" and walk off and then she comes out of the bathroom to Cannibal Corpse.

This but also "play Raffi"

[cartman]

So I injured myself in a very bizarre way last night. I've been doing a lot of outdoor cooking, to avoid cooking in the kitchen until I get my AC repaired. I grilled some Italian sausages, and sauteed some peppers and onions in a cast iron skillet. Took the sausages off the grill to let them cool for a bit, and to finish cooking the peppers and onions. Put the sausage in a bun, topped it with the peppers and onions, then took a bite.

A stream of hot oil came out of the sausage and went directly up one nostril, and burned the inside of my nose. Not a very pleasant experience. Still really tender today.

[Edward64]

Sorry for your misfortune but had to laugh at the visual.

[Ghost Econ]

I think I saw a video where that happened to Mia Khalifa.

[Edward64]

Congrats kids. Well deserved!

[Honolulu_Blue]

I really miss that dancing banana emoji or whatever it was we used to have here.

I often feel like it would be a perfect response to many a text message as well.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Dola:

I recently ordered a new dishwasher from Home Depot and it's been an absolute nightmare from hell:

August 11 - The dishwasher is delivered, but no installation or installation preicheck conducted. All communications indicated that delivery, installation and haul away all would happen at the same time. No mention at all of the need to schedule separate appointments for installation or haul away. This was not communicated to me until the delivery was made. A a result, I had to make a separate installation appointment and had a large box sitting in my living room for a week. Day of work missed.

August 17 - Installers came out, but installation not done due to leaky valve that should have been checked and revealed by delivery team. Another day of work missed.

August 18 - Another guy comes out and installation complete, but done poorly. I was promised haul away that day, but was then told no haul away was possible by the guy. Installer said he would arrive between 9-1, but didn't arrive until 4:30. No call from him. Installer left a huge mess and I had to pull my old machine out to garage out myself and schedule a separate haul away appointment. Another day of work missed.

August 20 - Run the machine twice. Seemed to work fine.

August 21 - Machine stops working and produced a H20 error indicating that water was not getting into the unit after only two runs.

August 23 - Separate haul away appointment.

August 28 - Another service call scheduled (Installation check) - Maytag coming out to check. Another day of work will be missed.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I really miss that dancing banana emoji or whatever it was we used to have here.

I often feel like it would be a perfect response to many a text message as well.

[sovereignstar v2]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Dola:

I recently ordered a new dishwasher from Home Depot and it's been an absolute nightmare from hell:

August 11 - The dishwasher is delivered, but no installation or installation preicheck conducted. All communications indicated that delivery, installation and haul away all would happen at the same time. No mention at all of the need to schedule separate appointments for installation or haul away. This was not communicated to me until the delivery was made. A a result, I had to make a separate installation appointment and had a large box sitting in my living room for a week. Day of work missed.

August 17 - Installers came out, but installation not done due to leaky valve that should have been checked and revealed by delivery team. Another day of work missed.

August 18 - Another guy comes out and installation complete, but done poorly. I was promised haul away that day, but was then told no haul away was possible by the guy. Installer said he would arrive between 9-1, but didn't arrive until 4:30. No call from him. Installer left a huge mess and I had to pull my old machine out to garage out myself and schedule a separate haul away appointment. Another day of work missed.

August 20 - Run the machine twice. Seemed to work fine.

August 21 - Machine stops working and produced a H20 error indicating that water was not getting into the unit after only two runs.

August 23 - Separate haul away appointment.

August 28 - Another service call scheduled (Installation check) - Maytag coming out to check. Another day of work will be missed.

[GrantDawg]

Ugh. When we replaced ours my daughter and I did it ourselves. Thankfully everything went fine. Our big appliance nightmare was paying $1,600 for a Frigidaire refrigerator and less than two years later having to replace it. Bought the extended warranty this time by golly.
Meanwhile, we are looking at a big septic sytem repair. The price range anywhere from $5.5K to $18k.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by NobodyHere

There he is! That’s my guy!!

[Honolulu_Blue]

I just now noticed, for the first time, the “more” button on the icons. My banana guy has been hiding in plain sight all this time…

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

I just now noticed, for the first time, the “more” button on the icons. My banana guy has been hiding in plain sight all this time…

[Ksyrup]

I needed a laugh when I came here and this page did it. Thanks!

[cartman]

for the first time in nearly 4 weeks, I have AC again

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by cartman

for the first time in nearly 4 weeks, I have AC again

[albionmoonlight]

My son's middle school just called with a canned fundraising call.

Why the hell do you send that in the middle of the school day?

You see the school's caller id on your phone, and your thoughts range from my-kid-is-sick to active-shooter

Just send the robocall at 5PM

[albionmoonlight]

Heh. They just sent a text apologizing. I imagine several pissed parents thought the same thing I did and decided to call and yell at them about it.

[bob]

I’m not a jealous person by nature, but I am incredibly jealous of friends of mine whose wives take the kids and head to the in-laws for a week in the summer. I can’t remember the last time I had even a 24 hour period where it was just me and I could do whatever I wanted without constant compromise.

[flere-imsaho]

Right there with you, bob. Especially:

I can’t remember the last time I had even a 24 hour period where it was just me and I could do whatever I wanted without constant compromise.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by bob

I’m not a jealous person by nature, but I am incredibly jealous of friends of mine whose wives take the kids and head to the in-laws for a week in the summer. I can’t remember the last time I had even a 24 hour period where it was just me and I could do whatever I wanted without constant compromise.

Earlier this spring, my wife was going to take the kids to see her sister in South Carolina for a few days. I was quite excited for the days to myself. The morning they were scheduled to leave, my wife got an ear infection and the whole trip was cancelled. Dreams deferred…

They scheduled another trip in November. If that materializes, they’ll leave Saturday and come back Wednesday. I plan to take those days off work and revel in the solitude. Poor choices will be made. Up too late. Bad diet. All that stuff.

[Ksyrup]

When I worked in a law firm, that happened at least 1 week a year if not 2 but it wasn't so I could sit around and enjoy life. Yes, I had nights to myself but it was a working "solitary vacation" I guess.

[cuervo72]

My wife would occasionally take the kids to the in-laws in FL if I didn't have the extra vacation days. And while the kids are now both out of the house, she took a similar trip for a handful of days to visit them at their summer condo in NC earlier this month.

Of course, with the kids gone and my wife still working nights, three days a week are basically me getting up to work, working until 4:30 or so (just about when she is getting ready for work), us eating dinner and then she leaving for work at 6PM. So three nights a week are basically to myself.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Caught Instacart pulling an annoying obnoxious little trick today. I'm pretty sure it's new because my eye caught it immediately during checkout and I have a hard time imagining I missed it fifty times previously.

There's a "priority" option for grocery delivery -- I see it for Publix, Kroger, whoever -- and for $2 you usually get delivery in about an hour as opposed to a 2-3 hour window. Worth it to me usually since it reduces the amount of time I have to sit & monitor the order.

For the first time I noticed that $2 fee is now _really_ $4 ... they charge you $2 in the fees menu and another $2 listed as Priority fee. One of those is for the priority, the other is listed as "processing fee for upgrading to priority".

That's just tacky as hell.

[PilotMan]

Along that line I caught something similar. I was at a Reds game at Great American Ballpark, ordered food, and put my card in, and when it was done, the cashier pushed a button on the card reader screen and it went quickly to the end of sale. Said thanks and left. Except that I knew what screen that was from buying beer at another vendor. That was the tip screen. He hit 10%, and didn't say anything. So on my order, I was upcharged that 10% without my approval. I actually ended up emailing the ballpark the next day and explained what happened and said I had verified the higher expense, and that they could probably corroborate that happening over and over again at that cashier.



They were very receptive and apologetic, refunded my money, said we take this seriously, and I assume, fired the ever loving shit out of everyone involved.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

For the first time I noticed that $2 fee is now _really_ $4 ... they charge you $2 in the fees menu and another $2 listed as Priority fee. One of those is for the priority, the other is listed as "processing fee for upgrading to priority".

What the fucking fuck?

[thesloppy]

I would still like Ticketmaster to explain to me why/how the cost of processing a ticket somehow fluctuates according to the value of the ticket.

[Lathum]

Fewer days are more stressful for a kid than today. She found out who her teacher would be then the flurry of communications learning who everyone else has.

Happy to report she got the teacher she wanted, and on of her 2 best friends are in her class, plus 4 other very close friends. She has also for the most part avoided kids she doesn't like. She is very happpy.

[Ghost Econ]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I would still like Ticketmaster to explain to me why/how the cost of processing a ticket somehow fluctuates according to the value of the ticket.

It's sad, but we're lucky places like Amazon or Walmart don't tack on processing fees... because they're actually processing things. It's like if I was literally controlling a person's fingers on the other end of the computer who was inputting my ticket purchase... at least then a processing fee would make sense.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

I would still like Ticketmaster to explain to me why/how the cost of processing a ticket somehow fluctuates according to the value of the ticket.

This is a corollary of some sort to another of my pet peeves: online ordering that adds the junk fees (delivery charge, service charge, etc) to the amount they recommend you tip on.

No m'fers, that ain't how this works.

$38 worth of stuff is the amount my tip is based on ... they worked not one iota more because you added on $9 worth of crap that's all digital. Fuck you, no.

[Edward64]

Reminds me of airbnb where the rental price is shown on the first screen (map) but when you go a couple more clicks, there's the "cleaning" fee. I get a cleaning fee but it is not a standard %. Essentially, an arbitrary charge an owner can add, so a $70 rental can turn out to be a $90 rental.

And also for hotel search websites. Room rate on first page, and then 2 clicks down the tax (valid charge) and arbitrary service fee. Just combine them all.

Basically BS way to get you to look at their room/hotel on the first page because it's "cheaper".

[bob]

Originally Posted by bob

I’m not a jealous person by nature, but I am incredibly jealous of friends of mine whose wives take the kids and head to the in-laws for a week in the summer. I can’t remember the last time I had even a 24 hour period where it was just me and I could do whatever I wanted without constant compromise.

I feel like if I had 4 full days - 2 week days while things are open and then the weekend days - I could knock a lot of things off the to do list and also have a mental break and reset. But alas…

[HerRealName]

Originally Posted by Edward64

Reminds me of airbnb where the rental price is shown on the first screen (map) but when you go a couple more clicks, there's the "cleaning" fee. I get a cleaning fee but it is not a standard %. Essentially, an arbitrary charge an owner can add, so a $70 rental can turn out to be a $90 rental.

And also for hotel search websites. Room rate on first page, and then 2 clicks down the tax (valid charge) and arbitrary service fee. Just combine them all.

Basically BS way to get you to look at their room/hotel on the first page because it's "cheaper".

airbnb has a very prominent toggle where you can display total price instead.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by HerRealName

airbnb has a very prominent toggle where you can display total price instead.

I see it. It wasn't there previously ...

Starting December 2022, Airbnb users will see the total price in search results, as well as on the map, price filter, and listing page.

[Edward64]

Originally Posted by HerRealName

airbnb has a very prominent toggle where you can display total price instead.

I see it. It wasn't there on the first page previously ...

Starting December 2022, Airbnb users will see the total price in search results, as well as on the map, price filter, and listing page.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Had been who knows how long since I'd gotten one but when did McDonald's shrink their sundae down to Wendys-keychain-frosty size?

I feel like fucking Gulliver holding this thing.

[Edward64]

Shrinkflation hits again.

Fast Food Restaurants That Are Receiving Shrinkflation Complaints

Haven't been to a McD, Burger King, Wendy's in a while. And only to CFA for the Lemonade and soft serve ice cream.

I appreciate Five Guys for good burgers & the amount of "free" excess fries and the free peanuts. Honorable mention goes to Cracker Barrel and Waffle House for keeping prices reasonable. Also the Chinese Buffet near us. Not big on Chinese buffets but went because wife heard good things about it and wanted to check it out. For $13, the food was pretty decent.

[Ghost Econ]

This is basically an ad but Barkeepers Friend is an amazing product. Was getting something out of a cabinet when a bottle of Angostura bitters fell on the quartz counter and shattered into a billion pieces. Once I cleared the glass I worked on cleaning the liquid. Massive stain was setting in everywhere: counter, cabinets, wall, floor...

Nothing was working on the counter or cabinets after about 15 minutes of scrubbing and I was freaking out. Meanwhile I also had burgers on the grill and fries in the air fryer so I'm running around. Finally took a second to Google and saw a reddit post suggesting Barkeeper's Friend. Thankfully we had a bottle hidden under the sink.

Used as directed and after 1 application the stain nearly disappeared. 2nd application and it was like new. The wife never would have known if I didn't have a guilty conscience.

No idea what kind of cancer causing chemicals are in that bottle, but damned if it wasn't worth it.

[albionmoonlight]

I have a similar view of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It can get stuff clean when other things don't work. And I don't really want to know the details.

[Ghost Econ]

My fingers feel so weird after using a magic eraser... Like its dissolving my soul starting with my hand.

[21C]

I am going on a work-subsidized pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan in a couple of weeks. I work for a Catholic school system and, while I am Catholic, I am not really religious. I even wrote on my application that I am non-practicing so I was surprised to get accepted.

Yesterday we had our final meeting to cover basic requirements and we were to be told our designated roommates. We could either pair up with someone we knew or get allocated a person to share a room with. I didn't know any of the other men in the group so I waited to find out who I would partner with. It turns out that there was an odd number of men so I was assigned a room to myself. Ordinarily I would have had to pay a supplement for this but was told that the diocese would take care of it.

You could not wipe the smile off my face after I was told this. I am a loner and an introvert normally and shun travel tour groups but thought this trip was too good to pass up. The fact that I got a room to myself made my day.

[Edward64]

Nice.

Visiting Jerusalem is on my bucket list. I've also wanted to visit the West Bank but not sure if that's wise.

(Also on my bucket list is Iraq where the 3 rivers supposedly met, but I know that won't a happen in my remaining life time).

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I have a similar view of the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. It can get stuff clean when other things don't work. And I don't really want to know the details.

You DO want to know the details, because it's called melamime and you can get 10-50 generic melamime sponges for the price of a magic eraser.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by 21C

I am going on a work-subsidized pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan in a couple of weeks. I work for a Catholic school system and, while I am Catholic, I am not really religious. I even wrote on my application that I am non-practicing so I was surprised to get accepted.

Yesterday we had our final meeting to cover basic requirements and we were to be told our designated roommates. We could either pair up with someone we knew or get allocated a person to share a room with. I didn't know any of the other men in the group so I waited to find out who I would partner with. It turns out that there was an odd number of men so I was assigned a room to myself. Ordinarily I would have had to pay a supplement for this but was told that the diocese would take care of it.

You could not wipe the smile off my face after I was told this. I am a loner and an introvert normally and shun travel tour groups but thought this trip was too good to pass up. The fact that I got a room to myself made my day.

I had something on a smaller scale happen to me the last two times I went to an overnight training. The person that was sharing a room with me had to drop last minute both times. Took a stressful trip to a fun trip pretty quickly.

[NobodyHere]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

You DO want to know the details, because it's called melamime and you can get 10-50 generic melamime sponges for the price of a magic eraser.

This is sponge-worthy information.

[dubb93]

Last night was my annual fantasy football draft. 12 team no PPR $1200 pot league I've been in for almost two decades at this point. The last three years have taught me a hard lesson in not having an elite QB. The way this league awards points to QBs is kind of crazy.

For instance:
412 yards 4 TDs 0 INTs = 50 points
282 yards 1 TD 1 INT = 15 points
(25 yards = 1 point, TD = 6 points, 5 points for over 300 yards and then 5 more for over 400 yards, -2 for an interception)

It's really hard to win a game when you have the 2nd QB. I drafted Mahomes in the first round and people acted like I was crazy. I've had that 2nd QB for 3 straight years and missed the playoffs twice and went out in the first once while those guys with the top QBs played for the championship.
It also sort of set off a rush on QBs and by the end of the 2nd Burrow, Allen, Lamar, and Hurts were all gone too.

[PilotMan]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

You DO want to know the details, because it's called melamime and you can get 10-50 generic melamime sponges for the price of a magic eraser.

This is correct. We bought a big box from alibaba years and years ago and we still have them. A fraction of the cost of we'd bought them in the store.

[CrimsonFox]

[Ghost Econ]

My wife hired her best friend a few months ago.
She is firing her former best friend tomorrow.
As you can tell, it went swimmingly.
I should have been more forceful in saying DO NOT DO THIS.
As I told her, coworkers can be friends, but friends cannot be coworkers.

[GrantDawg]

Originally Posted by Ghost Econ

My wife hired her best friend a few months ago.
She is firing her former best friend tomorrow.
As you can tell, it went swimmingly.
I should have been more forceful in saying DO NOT DO THIS.
As I told her, coworkers can be friends, but friends cannot be coworkers.

That's got to be tough. Once we get older, it is so much harder to make friends especially close ones. Losing one can be devastating.