Really trivial stuff that bugs you

[Trebuchet]

I absolutely HATE getting new computers. Probably that's why ours are about six and twelve years old. The latest one couldn't have been set up at all without WiFi internet. We had that, but it's a pretty big assumption. Isn't it?

And then there's this, which seems trivial but bugs the heck out of me. I got a call this morning from the doctor's office. It was a reminder that I have a routine appointment next week and should have fasting labs done the day before.
We're getting old. We have LOTS of medical appointments. As in around one a week. We are somewhat obsessive about putting the into the calendar on our phones as we are making them. Our lives pretty much revolve around appointments with the primary doctor, the neurologist, the dentist, the dermatologist, the rheumatolgist (saw that one yesterday), the orthopedist, etc., etc., etc.
And I had NO IDEA I had an appointment next week. How did I miss that? Fortunately, there don't seem to be any conflicts. Unless I missed something else.

[The Backroad Astronomer]

A couple of things, there is no coke in house, I mean the pop, maybe mom and sister are going on shopping trip to where they get a better deal on it.
And I missed a talk I would of liked to see but that is life.

[The Backroad Astronomer]

Trying to do summary on a book just can't get the flow right in my head, usually a do right my hand then type but instead doing it straight from the book and notes. But no matter what about 5 people will say I have no clue I am writing about.
(There is other pop in the house a and I have no way of knowing when they go to the city to get supplies. The car is gone for a long time and coke is in the back, it can be double the price here.)

[Gillianren]

For the first time in possibly ever, Graham forgot to pay rent this month. The office is closed on weekends, and neither of us remember what the late fee is.

[SeanF]

...there is no coke in house, I mean the pop...

Well, as long as you've got the other kind...

[The Backroad Astronomer]

Well, as long as you've got the other kind...

Well played, sir. The problem has been resolved.

[Torsten]

About new computers and software... I used to groove on new stuff in this field. Now I dread it.

Somewhere along the line I realized that just because you can make a change does not mean that you should. How often I've wished I could make some programmer suffer a tangible consequence for foisting shallow, gimmicky changes on me.

[Swift]

About new computers and software... I used to groove on new stuff in this field. Now I dread it.

Somewhere along the line I realized that just because you can make a change does not mean that you should. How often I've wished I could make some programmer suffer a tangible consequence for foisting shallow, gimmicky changes on me.

Yes

For example, the last several upgrades of the MS Office programs (Excel, Word) seem to be essentially pointless. The one or two minor things that are improvements are completely balanced (if not exceeded by) by the things that are made worse and by the learning curve of figuring the new things out ("OK, where did they hide that setting?").

[grant hutchison]

New hardware and software used to be genuinely exciting, because they were delivering huge increments in my ability to do worthwhile and interesting things. But there's a real problem of diminishing returns nowadays.
At present my enjoyment of a new computer with a new operating system comes entirely from the grim satisfaction of removing or killing all the stuff I don't want (or actively resent) and then of creatively cajoling it into running all the legacy programs that I actually find useful. Last night, I downloaded a little bit of software that made my antivirus package become positively hysterical, but which (after a prolonged tussle) got some of my more ancient graphics software talking to my new graphics card. It's sort of sad that I find these little victories so satisfying, but that's how it is.

Grant Hutchison

[Trebuchet]

I was amused last week about wondering where the spare tire on my RAV4 was. Now I'm bugged because the low tire light is on again, meaning I've probably actually got a leak and will have to get it fixed.

So I spent an hour at Les Schwab yesterday so they could check the tires. No problems. Light still on. I'd noticed it was blinking when I first turn on the car and finally dug out the manual. The blinking means the sensor system has failed.

About new computers and software... I used to groove on new stuff in this field. Now I dread it.

Somewhere along the line I realized that just because you can make a change does not mean that you should. How often I've wished I could make some programmer suffer a tangible consequence for foisting shallow, gimmicky changes on me.

Yesterday's XKCD seems appropriate.

[Jens]

Anyway, nearly two-and-a-half years after that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity expired, it turns out you can still upgrade for free, if you have the product code for your Windows 7/8 installation.

This is in "reply" to a post from another thread, just because it made me think of something. It really bugs me (as I'm sure it does everybody else) when you get hysterical emails telling you it's the "last chance" to upgrade, and then after the date passes, you start getting emails saying there's a new deadline, and then week after week after week after week passes, and they just keep doing it, without apparently understanding how it makes them look.

[grant hutchison]

This is in "reply" to a post from another thread, just because it made me think of something. It really bugs me (as I'm sure it does everybody else) when you get hysterical emails telling you it's the "last chance" to upgrade, and then after the date passes, you start getting emails saying there's a new deadline, and then week after week after week after week passes, and they just keep doing it, without apparently understanding how it makes them look.

I'm a particular fan of the ones that come back with an even better offer after the old deadline expires.

Grant Hutchison

[Gillianren]

Went out to a buffet with some friends last night. The food was okay, but not great, but we'll never go back again--it was at a local casino, and there's smoking allowed at those. We all came home feeling wretched from all that cigarette smoke. Though I was amused at the signs everywhere about being considerate of others' health by using hand sanitizer regularly and wearing masks if you're sick.

[Jim]

Went out to a buffet ... it was at a local casino, and there's smoking allowed at those. ...

Well, casinos play to a person's vice (gambling), so why not play to a few more (drinking, smoking, swearing --- according to George Carlin).

[KaiYeves]

This is in "reply" to a post from another thread, just because it made me think of something. It really bugs me (as I'm sure it does everybody else) when you get hysterical emails telling you it's the "last chance" to upgrade, and then after the date passes, you start getting emails saying there's a new deadline, and then week after week after week after week passes, and they just keep doing it, without apparently understanding how it makes them look.

I'm a particular fan of the ones that come back with an even better offer after the old deadline expires.

Grant Hutchison

Must... resist... political... joke...

[Jim]

We have a Media Room. Okay, it's the spare bedroom with a computer and television in it.

Earlier today I turned on that tv and … no sound. I played with the volume and mute but nothing. We're on cable so I rebooted the DVR. No sound. I tried this several times and gave up. I put the tv on an external channel, saw snow, but heard no static. It looked like the tv needed to be replaced.

My wife asked if I had checked the connections. No, 'cause sound and picture go through the same cable.

I had to go to Target anyway and while there I found a 24" smart tv on sale. Seemed like a good deal so I bought it.

Got home and started to unhook the old tv.

Oh. The cable from the DVR is three plugs … and the two for sound had come unplugged. Plugged them back in and the tv has sound again.

The new tv can go back, but the crow I'll have to eat when I tell my wife about this will leave an aftertaste.

[Trebuchet]

In a similar vein, we have a fancy automatic faucet for the kitchen sink. Just wave your hand and the water goes on or off.
Except a couple of days ago I was doing dishes and it started acting wonky. On or off when I didn't expect it. Eventually it started just going on and off every couple of seconds and I turned it off with the handle.
Well shoot. I told my wife about it and figured we'd have to get it replaced.
A few minutes later she came out, phone in hand and said "Have you cleaned the sensor?"
"What sensor?"
"The one up under the top."
Oh. Its optical. I thought it was capacitive or something.
A quick swipe to clean it and all is well.

[ozduck]

Punctured tyres. For a couple of years I had a good run with the tubes on my bicycle but I have now had 3 in about 2 months - luckily I have not had to walk more than about 1 km to get home. Both my tubes have already been patched at least once so I will buy a new, "thorn proof" one.

When I used to regularly ride about 18 km each way to work punctures were the bane of my existence. I ended up with the , laughingly called, "thorn proof" tubes and an extra liner but still got them Once I managed three punctures in the one 18K trip - I was not happy that day.

[Extravoice]

I’ll try not to sound like an advertisement, but I found a dramatic reduction in flats when I stopped buying “store brand” tires and switched to a more expensive brand. I’m currently riding Continental Gatorskins, and riding 1000 miles flat-free is not unusual.
I still carry a spare tube & patch kit, but would probably resort to a phone call to Mrs. Extravoice to fetch me if I got 3 flats over 18 km.


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[ozduck]

Thanks, I had a look at the Gatorskins and liked the sound of the "Hardshell" version. Unfortunately, as far as I can see, they don't make the for my size wheel - I use 700 x 38C and it seems Gatorskins only go up to 32. The Schwealbe Marathon also looks interesting and is cheaper and available in my size so I will have to have a think. Currently my bike has Giant tyres - same as my bike.

When I had the 3 flats both of us were working so I had to use the spare tube and patching kit. The only time I had to ring for help was when I hit a patch of loose sand washed onto a corner and ended up with multiple broken bones in my hand.

[Solfe]

My doctor's office called to schedule an appointment because my "A1C is a little off". It was the secretary calling, so she has no idea I'm diabetic, but it made me laugh. HIPAA is great, but maybe a little information sharing at the doctor's office would be... less awkward.

On the upside, I've lost a lot of weight since I had surgery 2 years ago. I feel a lot better. Once I tackle this next part of getting my diet and meds in order, I expect to feel great.

[Extravoice]

This actually amuses me, but fits with the previous post.
My doctor’s office has an electronic system for communication with patients. All my lab results can be found there, and I get an email alert if there is an update.

So, I will often see my test results at the same time as (sooner than?) my doctor, stealing her thunder.



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[Gillianren]

My electronic responses from my doctor's office never work. They don't seem to keep my appointments in there, either.

[grant hutchison]

My doctor's office called to schedule an appointment because my "A1C is a little off". It was the secretary calling, so she has no idea I'm diabetic, but it made me laugh. HIPAA is great, but maybe a little information sharing at the doctor's office would be... less awkward.

So what was amusing and awkward? It sounds like exactly the sort of phrase a doctor might use when asking the secretary to make an appointment, and which would be understood by most diabetic patients nowadays. If I were diabetic and got a call like that I wouldn't even blink (though I suppose I'd be keen to know what my HbA1c level was).

Grant Hutchison

[Gillianren]

The only "package film" not available on Disney+ is also the only one I don't own on DVD.

[Gillianren]

Selective child vision. "I can't find my other shoe!" "Simon, look down."

[The Backroad Astronomer]

Still haven't been paid for working the election, almost a month later. Hopefully I will get paid before Skywalker rises.

[Trebuchet]

Last night we watched, from the DVR, a PBS broadcast about the USS Oklahoma. I've long been a fan of both naval historical fiction and actual naval history, so of course needed to watch. I am very familiar with the events at Pearl Harbor on Dec 7, 1941; and with the ships there on that date, especially the battleships.

Almost from the beginning of the show I started seeing historical inaccuracies in the graphics and reconstructions they used. Like a guy escaping next to a 20mm Oerlikon autocannon, a weapon not in use by the USN until the latter part of 1942. Worst of all was a CGI rendering of the Oklahoma capsizing which included the ship next to her, USS Maryland. Except the graphic was clearly (to me) not of Maryland, but of a Pennsylvania class ship. Perhaps they reused a model they'd made for a show about the Arizona.

Obviously 99% of viewers aren't going to notice the difference. But it bugs the heck out of me.

[Extravoice]

I just spent a fortune for the annual replacement of batteries in our smoke detectors, flashlights, etc.
I hate replacing batteries that are probably still good, but don't want to get stuck in the dark, have a smoke detector fail, etc.

Still, the cheapskate in me hates replacing "good" batteries.

[Solfe]

So what was amusing and awkward? It sounds like exactly the sort of phrase a doctor might use when asking the secretary to make an appointment, and which would be understood by most diabetic patients nowadays. If I were diabetic and got a call like that I wouldn't even blink (though I suppose I'd be keen to know what my HbA1c level was).

Grant Hutchison

It was a little strange that she had some information, but not a lot of information like what my numbers were.

I'm stuck in a rough patch where my glucometer seems to be dying while I am trying to start up with a new doctor who has only seen me once. My machine was throwing random numbers like 27 and 1200 mg/dl on the same day (thankfully the last one in the doctor's office), while I am correctly taking my medicine and eating a profoundly boring diet. For two weeks, I have been eating the exact same foods in the exact same amounts. I purchased a cheap glucometer and my numbers seem stable and relatively normal, but it's nothing like the last machine because it isn't the company or model machine. That is annoying.

I can believe my blood sugar isn't right, average or normal, but this is the first time I've done testing for this doctor. He has little to go on right now, except for medical records from someone else. I'd like him to have more data and my device isn't really helpful at this point.

The secretary wasn't an issue, just the last time I thought about it. She referred me to their website to look at my numbers.

The website is where I can pull down my medical records like tests, but it seems horribly broken. I took screen grabs of my user name and password and one of them is wrong. I don't see how that is possible. So I hit "forget password". That results in the system mailing me my user name and a new password, which also didn't work. Maddening because not only do I have screen grabs of what I really typed in, they mailed me my login info on paper, and that doesn't work either.