Minor things that bother you

[Scott5114]

And even fewer people have a computer, such as what I'm typing on right now.  Quite a number of coworkers don't have a computer or laptop at home, or even a printer, and just use mobile devices.  I've been quite astounded at that.

What's kind of hilarious is when you do something that is entirely ordinary and not a big deal on a desktop computer, and then those people look at you with amazement like you're some sort of supergenius or something. And it's like, you could do it too if you'd just stop insisting on doing everything on your hell rectangle!

So I'm just kinda stuck in an area where I'm certainly not normal, but I don't have the normal qualities of a roadgeek either.

I don't have that problem with roadgeeking, but I do in some of my other areas of interest. It's not a great situation to be in, I agree.

[Max Rockatansky]

Why are laptops becoming ancient boomer technology? I wanted to watch a live stream on a news website. The website gave a list of options, including "watch on your mobile device" and an assortment of smart TV options, but "watch on laptop" was not an option. Enshittificaiton is dumb.

And even fewer people have a computer, such as what I'm typing on right now.  Quite a number of coworkers don't have a computer or laptop at home, or even a printer, and just use mobile devices.  I've been quite astounded at that.

It took my discovery of MTR, Jim Lin's route marker gallery and James Sterbenz' US highways pages for me to know that I wasn't alone in my roadgeekery/road fandom/whatever you want to call it.

I've preferred road enthusiast myself.

I don't have any issue with 'geek' per se, but it's hard to convey roadgeek to others that, even if they are geeks for their personal hobbies, that there are some people that actually like roads.

At one of the road meets an attendee once told me that I was the "most normal" road person he had met.  I thought it was pretty amusing to hear that given that I've never once considered myself as a baseline for what a "normal person" might be.

Going thru a hard time at one point where I was trying hard to conversate in a roadgeek group setting, I was told that I was basically a normie. I never told that person that it kinda hurt.  I have a very hard time with personal conversations, and more so with written conversations.  When I've been at a roadgeek activity and see everyone talking with others, I'm often left out since I haven't been able to make the personal connections others have made over the years.  I don't have connections in other areas that would be more 'normal' either.  So I'm just kinda stuck in an area where I'm certainly not normal, but I don't have the normal qualities of a roadgeek either.

To clarify, I don't think the person who said that I was "normal" at the Philadelphia Meet intended it to be an insult.  I definitely didn't take that way either.  The impression I got was that I wasn't what was expected, especially with me being pretty extroverted during lunch and baseball game. 

Also, I've known you years and don't have anything but good things to say.  My wife enjoyed talking with during when you rode with us during the Reno Road Meet a couple years back. 

[Big John]

I was trying to get to the point that I know I am not normal and if you think you're normal, you are not.

The Far Side:

[GaryV]

Who thought it was a good idea to equip the electric Amazon delivery trucks with a backup signal that sounds like a duck with a sore throat?

[kphoger]

I'm certainly not normal, but I don't have the normal qualities of a roadgeek either.

If you did, then you'd be normal.

[vdeane]

When I went to have my car's oil change and tire rotation done, the mechanic for whatever reason decided to reset both of my trip odometers.  I have a system for them - trip A is a given journey, trip B is the entire week (or entire trip for multi-day trips, like going to a roadmeet).  Why would they muck around with a persons trip odometers?  I specifically set the car to display the regular odometer and shut off the radio when I'm having service done so that they don't need to muck around with stuff like that (they also changed my display mode, but that's a simple fix).  Clearly cars need a "service mode" that locks the car down so that mechanics can't do stuff like that, similar to how the service key denies access to the trunk.  Thankfully, this was a Monday morning, when the impact was as minimal as it could possibly be, but still.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

When I went to have my car's oil change and tire rotation done, the mechanic for whatever reason decided to reset both of my trip odometers.  I have a system for them - trip A is a given journey, trip B is the entire week (or entire trip for multi-day trips, like going to a roadmeet).  Why would they muck around with a persons trip odometers?  I specifically set the car to display the regular odometer and shut off the radio when I'm having service done so that they don't need to muck around with stuff like that (they also changed my display mode, but that's a simple fix).  Clearly cars need a "service mode" that locks the car down so that mechanics can't do stuff like that, similar to how the service key denies access to the trunk.  Thankfully, this was a Monday morning, when the impact was as minimal as it could possibly be, but still.

One thought, though I don't know why they would need to have done this for what you're describing - is it possible they disconnected the car's power systems for some reason, and that reset some stuff?

[vdeane]

When I went to have my car's oil change and tire rotation done, the mechanic for whatever reason decided to reset both of my trip odometers.  I have a system for them - trip A is a given journey, trip B is the entire week (or entire trip for multi-day trips, like going to a roadmeet).  Why would they muck around with a persons trip odometers?  I specifically set the car to display the regular odometer and shut off the radio when I'm having service done so that they don't need to muck around with stuff like that (they also changed my display mode, but that's a simple fix).  Clearly cars need a "service mode" that locks the car down so that mechanics can't do stuff like that, similar to how the service key denies access to the trunk.  Thankfully, this was a Monday morning, when the impact was as minimal as it could possibly be, but still.

One thought, though I don't know why they would need to have done this for what you're describing - is it possible they disconnected the car's power systems for some reason, and that reset some stuff?

That's an interesting question.  My presets, audio volume (once I turned it back on), etc. were unchanged, so I assume no, but then, I never needed to set anything up after the last battery replacement, either.

[kphoger]

That's an interesting question.  My presets, audio volume (once I turned it back on), etc. were unchanged, so I assume no, but then, I never needed to set anything up after the last battery replacement, either.

Most mechanics use a drip charger or whatever, connected to your battery cables, to keep your settings from resetting during a battery replacement or disconnect.  If your radio presets were the same, then I'm sure that's what they did—assuming they even disconnected your battery at all, which they might not have done.  Come to think of it, though, I'm not sure the trip odometer even resets during a lengthy battery disconnect anyway.

[Rothman]

That's an interesting question.  My presets, audio volume (once I turned it back on), etc. were unchanged, so I assume no, but then, I never needed to set anything up after the last battery replacement, either.

Most mechanics use a drip charger or whatever, connected to your battery cables, to keep your settings from resetting during a battery replacement or disconnect.  If your radio presets were the same, then I'm sure that's what they did—assuming they even disconnected your battery at all, which they might not have done.  Come to think of it, though, I'm not sure the trip odometer even resets during a lengthy battery disconnect anyway.

Meh.  Even when I take my car to a dealership, they sometimes reset the system.

[kphoger]

Even when I take my car to a dealership, they sometimes reset the system.

The bolded part annoys me.  Like, —I know you have the capability of maintaining a charge, because you've done it in the past, but this time you decided I wasn't worth the bother?

[1995hoo]

It's a glorious, beautiful cool morning, temperature in the 50s, no clouds in the sky, fantastic day to have the windows open for fresh air.....and naturally someone nearby has super-loud power tools running. Sounds like a tree is either being cut down or substantially trimmed back. I guess open windows were nice while it lasted.

I suppose I don't really have standing to complain because last month we had our deck rebuilt and that made a lot of noise, although Mid-August wasn't exactly "windows open" weather.

[jakeroot]

Who still buys Buicks, anyway? A quick Google search says women and Chinese people.

Scott Kozel, a.k.a. Beltway.

Wait, does that mean he's a Chinese woman?

I can sympathize with the elderly wanting Buick style button center console controls.  Modern touch screen controls in most brands are dog shit.

Buick Verano Turbo was an interesting rental car, because it was an absolute sleeper, but that's about it for the last 20 years.

I think the Regal kept the lineup pretty interesting. And none of them had any stupid touchscreens except for the radio.

The GS with the manual transmission in the early 2010s was so out of left field for Buick that I still have trouble processing that it existed. I got to drive one every month at my hotel in Tacoma when I was a valet there, thanks to a regular customer. It was a gorgeous silver with these massive brushed alloys ... just a gorgeous car and a total sleeper.

Also, the TourX wagon, while not fast or particularly agile, was one of ...or the... last American-branded wagons. It was raised like an Outback, sure, but it was still affordable and very practical. Once Opel no longer owed GM anything, that basically ended wagon production for the Big 3. Being last doesn't make it good, but in this case I think it was a great last call for the big American wagon.

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

The fact that Hispanic Heritage Month doesn't start on the first of the month like all the other heritage months.

[Max Rockatansky]

The fact that Hispanic Heritage Month doesn't start on the first of the month like all the other heritage months.

Are you Hispanic?  My wife is and she didn't even realize that Hispanic Heritage Month was a thing when I just asked her about it.  It is the first I'm hearing about also.

[I-57/Route 66 Fan]

The fact that Hispanic Heritage Month doesn't start on the first of the month like all the other heritage months.

Are you Hispanic?  My wife is and she didn't even realize that Hispanic Heritage Month was a thing when I just asked her about it.  It is the first I'm hearing about also.

No, just am a fan of heritage months

[Max Rockatansky]

The fact that Hispanic Heritage Month doesn't start on the first of the month like all the other heritage months.

Are you Hispanic?  My wife is and she didn't even realize that Hispanic Heritage Month was a thing when I just asked her about it.  It is the first I'm hearing about also.

No, just am a fan of heritage months

It reads more as though that you aren't a fan of calendar asymmetry.  Seems to me that you could use a healthy dose of asymmetrical disorder in your life and Hispanic Heritage Month is just that.

[kphoger]

The fact that Hispanic Heritage Month doesn't start on the first of the month like all the other heritage months.

Interesting.  I see why now, though:  a lot of countries (including Mexico) have an independence day in mid-September.  It started out as just the week, to include those independence days, but was then later expanded to include Columbus Day as well—which is a Hispanic heritage holiday for many Latin Americans.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

later expanded to include Columbus Day as well—which is a Hispanic heritage holiday for many Latin Americans.

Hm. I didn't realize that day was also important to Latin Americans - I only knwe it for the Italian-Americans (also unsure if, for example, Italian-Argentines celebrate, where Italians had a large diaspora)

[Max Rockatansky]

later expanded to include Columbus Day as well—which is a Hispanic heritage holiday for many Latin Americans.

Hm. I didn't realize that day was also important to Latin Americans - I only knwe it for the Italian-Americans (also unsure if, for example, Italian-Argentines celebrate, where Italians had a large diaspora)

Things like the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs are viewed very differently in Mexico.  I had to help one my wife's high school age family members while visiting Jalisco with writing up a paper on the siege/destruction of Tenochtitlan in 1521.

[kphoger]

Hm. I didn't realize that day was also important to Latin Americans - I only knwe it for the Italian-Americans (also unsure if, for example, Italian-Argentines celebrate, where Italians had a large diaspora)

In Spanish, it's called Día de la Raza (Day of the Race).  What race?  Well, with a majority of Mexicans being mestizo—a mix of Spanish and indigenous ethnic heritage—it's pretty easy to guess.  In 2020, Mexico officially changed the name to Día de la Nación Pluricultural (Multicultural Nation Day) because that's the kind of thing to do these days, but it's still a civic holiday.  It's not a federal holiday, however, and students still have classes as usual.

[Scott5114]

When I went to have my car's oil change and tire rotation done, the mechanic for whatever reason decided to reset both of my trip odometers.  I have a system for them - trip A is a given journey, trip B is the entire week (or entire trip for multi-day trips, like going to a roadmeet).  Why would they muck around with a persons trip odometers?

They may have had to do some kind of reset to correctly associate which TPMS sensor goes with which tire. (My car has a display that shows the TPMS readings in PSI, each labeled LF, LR, RF, RR, so if a tire is running low I know which one to check.)

[formulanone]

Who still buys Buicks, anyway? A quick Google search says women and Chinese people.

Scott Kozel, a.k.a. Beltway.

Wait, does that mean he's a Chinese woman?

I can sympathize with the elderly wanting Buick style button center console controls.  Modern touch screen controls in most brands are dog shit.

Buick Verano Turbo was an interesting rental car, because it was an absolute sleeper, but that's about it for the last 20 years.

I think the Regal kept the lineup pretty interesting. And none of them had any stupid touchscreens except for the radio.

The GS with the manual transmission in the early 2010s was so out of left field for Buick that I still have trouble processing that it existed. I got to drive one every month at my hotel in Tacoma when I was a valet there, thanks to a regular customer. It was a gorgeous silver with these massive brushed alloys ... just a gorgeous car and a total sleeper.

Also, the TourX wagon, while not fast or particularly agile, was one of ...or the... last American-branded wagons. It was raised like an Outback, sure, but it was still affordable and very practical. Once Opel no longer owed GM anything, that basically ended wagon production for the Big 3. Being last doesn't make it good, but in this case I think it was a great last call for the big American wagon.

My wife almost considered the TourX when we went car shopping, but it was out of production for a few years by then. I'm still skeptical of used GM's Opel offerings unless I work at a Buick dealer.

[kphoger]

I think the Regal kept the lineup pretty interesting. And none of them had any stupid touchscreens except for the radio.

The GS with the manual transmission in the early 2010s was so out of left field for Buick that I still have trouble processing that it existed. I got to drive one every month at my hotel in Tacoma when I was a valet there, thanks to a regular customer. It was a gorgeous silver with these massive brushed alloys ... just a gorgeous car and a total sleeper.

Also, the TourX wagon, while not fast or particularly agile, was one of ...or the... last American-branded wagons. It was raised like an Outback, sure, but it was still affordable and very practical. Once Opel no longer owed GM anything, that basically ended wagon production for the Big 3. Being last doesn't make it good, but in this case I think it was a great last call for the big American wagon.

My wife almost considered it when we went car shopping, but it was out of production for a few years by then.

Which one?  The GS or the TourX?  You quoted a post that referred to both.

[formulanone]

Even when I take my car to a dealership, they sometimes reset the system.

The bolded part annoys me.  Like, —I know you have the capability of maintaining a charge, because you've done it in the past, but this time you decided I wasn't worth the bother?

For some makes/models, you reset the maintenance light by using the trip odometer switch while holding another button. But...it sounds like they screwed up a little. Might have been a new mechanic.

I used to use Trip A for the fuel tank distance and Trip B for the oil change mileage, but since my present vehicle only has three digits for trip mileage, Trip B is mostly unused.

Which one?  The GS or the TourX?  You quoted a post that referred to both.

TourX wagon, for the official record of my memory.