Minor things that bother you

[GaryV]

Our house is second from the corner on our block.  For a long time, Google directions ended on the side street, not on our street (even though Google knew the address).  I guess they expected people to jump the fence into the neighbor's yard and then jump again into our yard.  Beware the large white dog.

[Scott5114]

I have a colleague who for some reason single-spaces everything and doesn't include blank lines between paragraphs. It makes written work product borderline illegible. I don't understand why he doesn't just format his work the same way the rest of us do. Plus he manually formats everything in Word's "Normal" style, making it impossible just to correct it quickly by applying the proper style. I'm going to have to get IT to put the correct default document template on his PC instead of whatever weird one he's using now. I have no idea why some idiot at Microsoft thinks Calibri is a remotely acceptable default typeface for software intended for business use.

Well, their justification is:

Joe Friend, a program manager on Word for Office 2007's release, explained that the decision to switch to Calibri was caused by a desire to make the default font one optimised towards onscreen display: "We believed that more and more documents would never be printed but would solely be consumed on a digital device", and to achieve a "modern look".

Problem with going for "a modern look" is that it doesn't stay modern–Microsoft is already jonesing for a new typeface to replace Calibri. There are far more attractive fonts that are optimized for on-screen display, like Georgia, but I have a feeling they're going to go with a more "modern" one.

Really, using the default typeface, even when it was Times New Roman, is to me a glaring signal that whoever created the document didn't care enough about it to ensure that the document looks good. At the very least, it often shows that the composer doesn't know when it's appropriate to use serif (long, running text) or sans-serif (for displaying small amounts of text, like on signs) fonts.

[J N Winkler]

I have a colleague who for some reason single-spaces everything and doesn't include blank lines between paragraphs. It makes written work product borderline illegible. I don't understand why he doesn't just format his work the same way the rest of us do. Plus he manually formats everything in Word's "Normal" style, making it impossible just to correct it quickly by applying the proper style. I'm going to have to get IT to put the correct default document template on his PC instead of whatever weird one he's using now. I have no idea why some idiot at Microsoft thinks Calibri is a remotely acceptable default typeface for software intended for business use.

When I encounter situations like this, I often wonder not just about workflow but also about things like office culture and individuals protesting passively against demands they feel are unreasonable.

I belong to a writing forum where snippets are often shared for critique.  I draft my own submissions in plain text (Windows ANSI) with double CR-LF as a paragraph separator, but most others use either Word or LibreOffice with typical book manuscript formatting:  double-spaced with CR-LF followed by tab for paragraph breaks, often with a font other than the default for whatever combination of software and version they are using.

In contradistinction to our forum, which allows posts to be composed in source view only, this forum allows users to compose in either WYSIWYG view or source view, with the former being the default.  Many members simply copy-paste text directly from Word into the compose box in WYSIWYG view and hit Post, even though the result is painful to read:  no visible paragraph breaks, text that is full black rather than 80% gray (interferes with hinting and triggers contrast sensitivity), font size smaller than the default, font that clashes with the forum default, etc.

The forum administrators have tried to cure the problem by making available a text cleaner that removes Word formatting.  But it is hard to use, since the following procedure must be followed exactly:

*  Copy-paste from Word (or similar) into compose box in WYSIWYG view

*  Toggle compose box from WYSIWYG view to source view

*  Copy-paste from compose box to text cleaner input box (text cleaner is on a separate website)

*  Run text cleaner

*  Copy-paste from text cleaner output box to compose box

Moreover, the text cleaner only removes formatting tags for font, text color, and the like--it doesn't insert an extra CR-LF after each paragraph to generate visible paragraph breaks.  This has to be done manually.

I've had the sense that many members simply skip the text cleaner because they'd rather apologize for redundant formatting if they are called on it than accept the extra work that is created for them through the administrators failing to devise an intuitive solution.

[jeffandnicole]

I have a colleague who for some reason single-spaces everything and doesn't include blank lines between paragraphs. It makes written work product borderline illegible. I don't understand why he doesn't just format his work the same way the rest of us do. Plus he manually formats everything in Word's "Normal" style, making it impossible just to correct it quickly by applying the proper style. I'm going to have to get IT to put the correct default document template on his PC instead of whatever weird one he's using now. I have no idea why some idiot at Microsoft thinks Calibri is a remotely acceptable default typeface for software intended for business use.

When I encounter situations like this, I often wonder not just about workflow but also about things like office culture and individuals protesting passively against demands they feel are unreasonable.

I belong to a writing forum where snippets are often shared for critique.  I draft my own submissions in plain text (Windows ANSI) with double CR-LF as a paragraph separator, but most others use either Word or LibreOffice with typical book manuscript formatting:  double-spaced with CR-LF followed by tab for paragraph breaks, often with a font other than the default for whatever combination of software and version they are using.

In contradistinction to our forum, which allows posts to be composed in source view only, this forum allows users to compose in either WYSIWYG view or source view, with the former being the default.  Many members simply copy-paste text directly from Word into the compose box in WYSIWYG view and hit Post, even though the result is painful to read:  no visible paragraph breaks, text that is full black rather than 80% gray (interferes with hinting and triggers contrast sensitivity), font size smaller than the default, font that clashes with the forum default, etc.

The forum administrators have tried to cure the problem by making available a text cleaner that removes Word formatting.  But it is hard to use, since the following procedure must be followed exactly:

*  Copy-paste from Word (or similar) into compose box in WYSIWYG view

*  Toggle compose box from WYSIWYG view to source view

*  Copy-paste from compose box to text cleaner input box (text cleaner is on a separate website)

*  Run text cleaner

*  Copy-paste from text cleaner output box to compose box

Moreover, the text cleaner only removes formatting tags for font, text color, and the like--it doesn't insert an extra CR-LF after each paragraph to generate visible paragraph breaks.  This has to be done manually.

I've had the sense that many members simply skip the text cleaner because they'd rather apologize for redundant formatting if they are called on it than accept the extra work that is created for them through the administrators failing to devise an intuitive solution.

All of that seems ironic in a forum where it apperas the very basis of it is to try to present the best work possible.  If they can't bother to care how its presented, and the presentation is less than stellar, do members still provide good feedback on the actual writing?

[Big John]

Addresses on the curb won't work here because of snow. In addition, many streets don't even have a curb.

curb probably isn't the end-all for this problem, but there's other 'standard' places one could put it  --- highest point of the house, directly over front door.. million ways to do it, we just need to pick one.

In some rural parts of Wisconsin, they're are poles about 4 foot poles with the alphanumeric address on it and is colored coded to which fire department serves it.

[thspfc]

Addresses on the curb won't work here because of snow. In addition, many streets don't even have a curb.

curb probably isn't the end-all for this problem, but there's other 'standard' places one could put it  --- highest point of the house, directly over front door.. million ways to do it, we just need to pick one.

In some rural parts of Wisconsin, they're are poles about 4 foot poles with the alphanumeric address on it and is colored coded to which fire department serves it.

I live about 15 miles from Madison, and that's how mine is. The pole is by the mailbox.

[ZLoth]

I belong to a writing forum where snippets are often shared for critique.  I draft my own submissions in plain text (Windows ANSI) with double CR-LF as a paragraph separator, but most others use either Word or LibreOffice with typical book manuscript formatting:  double-spaced with CR-LF followed by tab for paragraph breaks, often with a font other than the default for whatever combination of software and version they are using.

Quick ideas:

• Which browser are you utilizing? I know that Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge has a right-click → Paste as plain text. Firefox doesn't have that functionality built in, but there are several "Copy Plain Text" extensions available.
• If you are on Windows, the free Ditto Clipboard Manager has a function to paste as plain text as well. I use that function constantly.

[formulanone]

Ever feel like the lone Terry in a bunch of Jerrys?

Here's the problem, here's the solution, it's easy to implement, but the folks that need to "enforce it" are lollygagging and dismissive. Problem continues.

[hbelkins]

Saw this one today in a news headline and story. The use of the term "K9" as a shortcut for "canine."

MY AP Stylebook is from 2010, and it uses "K-9."

I know AP preaches brevity, but I'd much rather use "canine" or "canine unit" or "police dog" than the coded abbreviation of "canine."

[Scott5114]

Saw this one today in a news headline and story. The use of the term "K9" as a shortcut for "canine."

MY AP Stylebook is from 2010, and it uses "K-9."

I know AP preaches brevity, but I'd much rather use "canine" or "canine unit" or "police dog" than the coded abbreviation of "canine."

Roadgeek joke: Check out this picture of a dog I saw in Kansas.

(photo by formulanone)

[ZLoth]

Two things that bothered me this week...

Since I'm working from home, I have an office VoIP phone. That phone does not ring when I am sitting at my desk working away (except on Fridays), but when I am on the other side of the house, the phone rings, having me run across the house to pick it up.

Of course, the phone call is a extended warranty spam call from a number identified as local.

[hbelkins]

Saw this one today in a news headline and story. The use of the term "K9" as a shortcut for "canine."

MY AP Stylebook is from 2010, and it uses "K-9."

I know AP preaches brevity, but I'd much rather use "canine" or "canine unit" or "police dog" than the coded abbreviation of "canine."

Roadgeek joke: Check out this picture of a dog I saw in Kansas.

(photo by formulanone)

It's a snow dog. Where's By-Tor?

[zachary_amaryllis]

Saw this one today in a news headline and story. The use of the term "K9" as a shortcut for "canine."

MY AP Stylebook is from 2010, and it uses "K-9."

I know AP preaches brevity, but I'd much rather use "canine" or "canine unit" or "police dog" than the coded abbreviation of "canine."

Roadgeek joke: Check out this picture of a dog I saw in Kansas.

(photo by formulanone)

It's a snow dog. Where's By-Tor?

he was in a rush.

[CNGL-Leudimin]

I don't see any puns. That route is styled by me as KS 9, regardless of the official formatting.

[CtrlAltDel]

I don't see any puns. That route is styled by me as KS 9, regardless of the official formatting.

So, ¿la ceguera deliberada?

[kurumi]

I don't see any puns. That route is styled by me as KS 9, regardless of the official formatting.

... which sounds like a Spanish speaker who hasn't yet learned German for "no"

(there's always a pun, but it's usually bad)

[Scott5114]

I don't see any puns. That route is styled by me as KS 9, regardless of the official formatting.

How's the weather in Storkslapper?

[J N Winkler]

I had to look up Storkslapper.

In regard to how numbered routes are referred to in Kansas, I've had the sense that the K-XX nomenclature is gradually falling into disuse.  Google Maps appears to have standardized on USPS two-letter abbreviations for primary state routes in all states, and there is an increasing lack of uniformity in the news media that I think is traceable to cub reporters not receiving any grounding in how highway systems work and how to decode highway references in official documentation.  I've seen "Kansas 13," "K-13 highway," "Kansas 13 highway," and so on in newspaper articles.  Recently there was a report of a fatal accident on "highway U-40"--I guess US 40 was meant, but KDOT and, presumably, the KHP seem to be transitioning to single-letter identifiers for all route systems, including the US highways.  (KDOT had long insisted on hyphenating US highway designations:  hence "US-50," "US-183," etc.)

[1995hoo]

... KDOT had long insisted on hyphenating US highway designations:  hence "US-50," "US-183," etc. ...

Nothing wrong with that. That's how our electronic signs in Virginia sign them. It's consistent with hyphenating Interstate highway designations (I-95, I-395, etc.). I've never really understood why some people don't hyphenate them.

[LilianaUwU]

"highway U-40"

So... Utah State Route 40 (which would also be US 40)? Makes no sense to change what has been previously estabilished for decades prior.

[hotdogPi]

U-240 has a half-life of 14.1 hours. Surely the road lasted much longer than that?

[SSOWorld]

U-240 has a half-life of 14.1 hours. Surely the road lasted much longer than that?

[Mapmikey]

U-240 has a half-life of 14.1 hours. Surely the road lasted much longer than that?

Great news - K-40 has a half-life of 1.3 billion years...

[Scott5114]

U-240 has a half-life of 14.1 hours. Surely the road lasted much longer than that?

Great news - K-40 has a half-life of 1.3 billion years...

Of course, there's not a K-40, because US-40 runs through Kansas.

[LilianaUwU]

U-240 has a half-life of 14.1 hours. Surely the road lasted much longer than that?

Great news - K-40 has a half-life of 1.3 billion years...

Of course, there's not a K-40, because US-40 runs through Kansas.

But is Kansas one of those states that classify all their routes as state routes regardless of shield (such as California)?