Minor things that bother you

[kkt]

... If anything, it annoys me more when a business closes at noon on 12/31, because who makes New Year's Eve plans for the early afternoon?

I was rather annoyed that there is a Capitals game at 12:30 this afternoon because today is not a holiday, although ultimately I somewhat unexpectedly wound up with the day off. I feel like 4:00 or 5:00 would have been a better time for it because many offices do close early, or even if they don't it's generally not a big deal to leave early on New Year's Eve. But 12:30 seems a little extreme.


In the vein of vdeane's comment, the trash company that services our neighborhood quite rightly gives the garbage men the day off on New Year's Day, July 4, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Neighborhoods that get serviced on those days have their pickups slide one day, which in turn means other neighborhoods also slide a day. Friday is one of our trash days, so this year that meant we had Saturday pickup after July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and we will again this week. It's always eminently clear that at least 75% of residents have no clue about it because they rush to put their trash out on Thursday anyway, but what I find annoying is that they then complain about the rescheduled pickup. Some say they weren't given adequate notice (which isn't true—they just ignore the communications about it), whereas others complain about the "inconvenience" and object that the trash company "shouldn't be allowed" to delay pickup. Give me a break. Talk about arrogant self-centered attitudes. Of all the thankless jobs most people would never want to do, trash pickup has to be near the top of the list. How much of an asshole do you have to be to begrudge the garbage men Christmas Day off work?

(I wonder, come December 2026 when Christmas falls on Friday, how many people are going to insist on putting their trash out for pickup that day.)

Our trash collectors get a pretty generous schedule.  Most trash collection days are scheduled for Monday through Thursday.  If the Monday through Thursday trash collections happen to fall on a major holiday, or if trash collection is impossible due to weather or a blocked alley, or if they goof and miss a spot, that collection happens on Friday instead - but that means that they work 4 day weeks about 47 weeks of the year.

[kkt]

As for New Year's Eve, how late do people stay up? 

I'll probably go to bed around 10.  Then at midnight, when people's fireworks wake me up, I'll swear at them until they STFU.

[vdeane]

I've already been panicking over the logistics of fixing the wheel bearing when that comes to ...

Wait, what?  Do you have a known wheel bearing problem and are still driving around on it?

When I took the car in for the oil change/tire rotation/transmission fluid replacement last Monday, the recommendations for future work listed on the invoice included "driver's front wheel bearing, possible hub".  Mind you, if it had been urgent, the mechanic would have mentioned it at some point, either when we stopped by to see how things were going, when he called to say the car was ready, or when I picked it up.  Since it didn't get mentioned at any of those and is listed in the same place as his recommendation to service the brake calipers and sliders every spring and the mileage interval for the next oil change, it's probably not particularly urgent, especially as I can barely feel it.  The last one was much more noticeable when I had it fixed, generating an unmistakable vibration and hum; this one, by contrast, is currently more paranoia fuel, with 90% of any vibration I felt last week being attributable to pavement or snow (and the car returning to normal once I got on the Thruway and the snow around the tires had a change to melt).  So it doesn't appear urgent in the short term, but I should probably try to get to it before the spring roadtrip season.

I wonder if the dealer would let me combine this with the aux jack issue.

[kphoger]

When I took the car in for the oil change/tire rotation/transmission fluid replacement last Monday, the recommendations for future work listed on the invoice included "driver's front wheel bearing, possible hub".  Mind you, if it had been urgent, the mechanic would have mentioned it at some point, either when we stopped by to see how things were going, when he called to say the car was ready, or when I picked it up.  Since it didn't get mentioned at any of those and is listed in the same place as his recommendation to service the brake calipers and sliders every spring and the mileage interval for the next oil change, it's probably not particularly urgent, especially as I can barely feel it.  The last one was much more noticeable when I had it fixed, generating an unmistakable vibration and hum; this one, by contrast, is currently more paranoia fuel, with 90% of any vibration I felt last week being attributable to pavement or snow (and the car returning to normal once I got on the Thruway and the snow around the tires had a change to melt).  So it doesn't appear urgent in the short term, but I should probably try to get to it before the spring roadtrip season.

Yes, you absolutely need to address any wheel bearing issue before going on a roadtrip.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to go far out of town at all.

Of course, this is the guy who had a return trip from Mexico delayed by half a day because of a broken wheel bearing in the middle of the desert in July...

[kphoger]

Neighborhoods that get serviced on those days have their pickups slide one day, which in turn means other neighborhoods also slide a day. Friday is one of our trash days, so this year that meant we had Saturday pickup after July 4, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and we will again this week. It's always eminently clear that at least 75% of residents have no clue about it because they rush to put their trash out on Thursday anyway, but what I find annoying is that they then complain about the rescheduled pickup. Some say they weren't given adequate notice (which isn't true—they just ignore the communications about it), whereas others complain about the "inconvenience" and object that the trash company "shouldn't be allowed" to delay pickup.

I don't understand the complaint to begin with.  How is a delayed pickup inconvenient?  The bin just sits out there one extra day.  If you fill another bag, then just put it in there—same as you would otherwise.  There's literally no difference, other than having to walk a few extra yards to the bin.

Personally, I don't even pay attention to what days the garbage men have off.  I just put the bin out on the usual day and, if it doesn't get picked up till the following day, then so what.  So, for example, I put the bin out last night, and it doesn't matter to me one bit if they pick it up today or tomorrow.  If pick-up were bumped forward a day, then that would be a totally different deal, but that's not how they do it.

Several weeks ago, we received notice that our neighborhood's trash pick-up day was changing from Monday to Thursday.  Most of our neighbors put their trash out Sunday night, and then it sat on the curb till Thursday.  Sure, they were probably wondering why it wasn't getting picked up, because they probably threw the notice away without opening it, but it's not like they were terribly inconvenienced or anything.

[1995hoo]

What I find particularly annoying is the idiots who don't secure their trash or recycling properly and then leave it out there for multiple windy days so that it blows into everyone else's yards, but of course they can't be bothered to clean up after themselves.

[Beltway]

When I took the car in for the oil change/tire rotation/transmission fluid replacement last Monday, the recommendations for future work listed on the invoice included "driver's front wheel bearing, possible hub".  Mind you, if it had been urgent, the mechanic would have mentioned it at some point, either when we stopped by to see how things were going, when he called to say the car was ready, or when I picked it up.  Since it didn't get mentioned at any of those and is listed in the same place as his recommendation to service the brake calipers and sliders every spring and the mileage interval for the next oil change, it's probably not particularly urgent, especially as I can barely feel it.  The last one was much more noticeable when I had it fixed, generating an unmistakable vibration and hum; this one, by contrast, is currently more paranoia fuel, with 90% of any vibration I felt last week being attributable to pavement or snow (and the car returning to normal once I got on the Thruway and the snow around the tires had a change to melt).  So it doesn't appear urgent in the short term, but I should probably try to get to it before the spring roadtrip season.

Yes, you absolutely need to address any wheel bearing issue before going on a roadtrip.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to go far out of town at all.
Of course, this is the guy who had a return trip from Mexico delayed by half a day because of a broken wheel bearing in the middle of the desert in July...

My past wheel bearing problems always developed over several hundred miles or more with a steadily increasing smooth rumbling sound that became quite noticeable.

If I didn't hear that I would question the claim and get it evaluated somewhere else. I have had a couple try to sell me unnecessary work.

[vdeane]

To update on the car aux port situation - I worked at it some more and managed to pry off the cover and remove the port from the car to take a closer look at it.  The cable tip is wedged in very tight - I can see it from both ends but it won't move at all.  On the plus side, now that it's out, the simpler solution appears to be getting a new one, which should take all of two minutes to install once I get my hands on one.

When I took the car in for the oil change/tire rotation/transmission fluid replacement last Monday, the recommendations for future work listed on the invoice included "driver's front wheel bearing, possible hub".  Mind you, if it had been urgent, the mechanic would have mentioned it at some point, either when we stopped by to see how things were going, when he called to say the car was ready, or when I picked it up.  Since it didn't get mentioned at any of those and is listed in the same place as his recommendation to service the brake calipers and sliders every spring and the mileage interval for the next oil change, it's probably not particularly urgent, especially as I can barely feel it.  The last one was much more noticeable when I had it fixed, generating an unmistakable vibration and hum; this one, by contrast, is currently more paranoia fuel, with 90% of any vibration I felt last week being attributable to pavement or snow (and the car returning to normal once I got on the Thruway and the snow around the tires had a change to melt).  So it doesn't appear urgent in the short term, but I should probably try to get to it before the spring roadtrip season.

Yes, you absolutely need to address any wheel bearing issue before going on a roadtrip.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to go far out of town at all.
Of course, this is the guy who had a return trip from Mexico delayed by half a day because of a broken wheel bearing in the middle of the desert in July...

My past wheel bearing problems always developed over several hundred miles or more with a steadily increasing smooth rumbling sound that became quite noticeable.

If I didn't hear that I would question the claim and get it evaluated somewhere else. I have had a couple try to sell me unnecessary work.

Yeah, that's how the first one developed.  By the time I had it looked at and discovered what it was, there was a loud hum and noticeable vibration at highway speeds.

One interesting thing I noticed in hindsight is that it was also causing some weirdness in stopping where the car would seem to roll backwards and forwards while braking, similar to the rotation of a wheel, and that it went back to normal after the wheel bearing was replaced.  I have actually noticed that (very slightly) once in a blue moon the past few months, so I expect that the recommendation is genuine, even though the hum isn't there yet and the vibration is barely noticeable and just showed up in the past couple weeks (I think I first noticed it right as we were dropping the car off for the other work, in fact).  That and my parents and I have trusted this mechanic for 30 years now.

On the other hand, I went through my records, and it's been on every invoice from this mechanic back through when we had that first checked in 2022 (all three of them) - exact same phrasing and all, so it's possible that this is the first one (since he first diagnosed that issue but I had it fixed when I was back in Albany since I didn't want to wait for another trip to Rochester to get it done, so his records wouldn't have the repair on them).

Seem like I have some phone calls to make.  But between these things and ABC making up their New Year's segment after it got preempted by football last night, it feels almost like my bad luck streak from 2024 and 2025 might finally be broken.  Almost.  My neighbors and I have been hearing some banging/thuds in the building the past few days, so I hope that isn't a harbinger of major problems.

[kphoger]

Yes, you absolutely need to address any wheel bearing issue before going on a roadtrip.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to go far out of town at all.

Of course, this is the guy who had a return trip from Mexico delayed by half a day because of a broken wheel bearing in the middle of the desert in July...

My past wheel bearing problems always developed over several hundred miles or more with a steadily increasing smooth rumbling sound that became quite noticeable.

If I didn't hear that I would question the claim and get it evaluated somewhere else. I have had a couple try to sell me unnecessary work.

I don't know if you were around the forum when I shared the story the first time.

We were driving to Mexico in two vehicles—our family's minivan, and our friend's extended cab pickup truck—on a Christian mission trip that I was leading.  Our friend started to notice a concerning noise in the parking lot on the Mexican side of the border, 800 miles into an 1100-mile southbound trip, and after we had already completed the vehicle importation process and were pulling away from the immigration office.  400 miles and a few days later, about 50 miles into our return trip, he got on the walkie-talkie and shouted, "We have to stop, now!"  This was southern Coahuila, in the Chihuahuan Desert, in July.  We pulled off, I asked if it would be possible to limp it to the nearest village, he gave it a try, and I could see the whole front passenger-side wheel wobbling under the vehicle as I followed.  Nope, not gonna make it.  Pulled off onto the hardpan again.  Enlisted the help of two hitchhiking migrant farm workers we'd picked up to help us find a mechanic.  Several villages down the highway, we found one.

The mechanic had apparently had a tracheotomy and couldn't vocalize, just communicated by clicking the consonants.  The hitchhikers spoke ranch Spanish that I could only understand a few words of.  The "shop" was a shady spot under a tarp attached to a mud-brick house out in the middle of nowhere, with what looked to me like small piles of random car parts rusting in the dust all over the yard.  He followed us back to where the pickup truck was parked.

We left our friend with the pickup, as well as his fiancée (to whom he had proposed marriage the day before) and one other man who was with us.  The rest of us piled into our minivan and drove to Saltillo.  Dropped the hitchhikers off, called our bank to make sure our debit card wouldn't get locked, bought a new wheel bearing at AutoZone, picked up some sandwich supplies, drove back to the mechanic, and told him we were ready.  He followed us back, and our friend had by this time gotten the wheel off.

The bearing came off in pieces.  The mechanic didn't have a big enough breaker bar, but our friend had packed a bigger one.  The mechanic didn't have a heavy enough sledgehammer, but our friend had packed a bigger one.  The only tool they didn't have between the two of them was the right size of Torx bit but, just at that point, one of the Ángeles Verdes (roving mechanics who assist with minor things like flat tires and such) drove up, and he had one in his toolbox.  I didn't even realize they patrolled the free roads, but apparently they're not limited to just the toll roads.

All in all, looking back, it was a godsend.  Labor, including same-day roadside assistance from 15 miles away, came to only about 40 to 50 dollars plus a sandwich.  And we were on our way just five hours behind schedule.  But, in the moment, under the hot desert sun, we sure didn't feel all that fortunate.

[TheCatalyst31]

When I took the car in for the oil change/tire rotation/transmission fluid replacement last Monday, the recommendations for future work listed on the invoice included "driver's front wheel bearing, possible hub".  Mind you, if it had been urgent, the mechanic would have mentioned it at some point, either when we stopped by to see how things were going, when he called to say the car was ready, or when I picked it up.  Since it didn't get mentioned at any of those and is listed in the same place as his recommendation to service the brake calipers and sliders every spring and the mileage interval for the next oil change, it's probably not particularly urgent, especially as I can barely feel it.  The last one was much more noticeable when I had it fixed, generating an unmistakable vibration and hum; this one, by contrast, is currently more paranoia fuel, with 90% of any vibration I felt last week being attributable to pavement or snow (and the car returning to normal once I got on the Thruway and the snow around the tires had a change to melt).  So it doesn't appear urgent in the short term, but I should probably try to get to it before the spring roadtrip season.

Yes, you absolutely need to address any wheel bearing issue before going on a roadtrip.  Honestly, I wouldn't want to go far out of town at all.

Of course, this is the guy who had a return trip from Mexico delayed by half a day because of a broken wheel bearing in the middle of the desert in July...

A couple years ago, I had a brake pad wear out while I was traveling out of state for Christmas, so I had to squeeze in an appointment to get it fixed on the 26th before driving home. The mechanic replaced the brake pad, but he also insisted that I had a wheel bearing issue that needed to get fixed ASAP. He did say I should be able to drive home on it, and I had work the next day, so I drove home and took it to my regular shop - which didn't find anything wrong with the wheel bearings. I'm still not sure if the first mechanic was trying to rip me off, or if my shop just missed something that never materialized into a bigger issue.

[vdeane]

I called the mechanic today and he agreed that this was probably a carry-over from when he diagnosed the one back in 2022 and that I shouldn't worry about it if I don't hear the hum.

But for a new minor thing that bothers me: my phone's headphone jack is on the bottom.  It will not rotate to have the screen upside-down.  So if I have headphones in, I cannot use it in the stand unless it's horizontal.

[LilianaUwU]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

[Plutonic Panda]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

THANK YOU!

[Plutonic Panda]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

I also wanted to steal your post and put it in the major things that bother you thread, but I see that thread has been locked. This AI crap makes my blood boil. I'm not generally for government overreach, especially when it comes to things like getting involved in the art arts but when it comes to AI crap I think I'm might be willing to make an exception.

[kphoger]

This forum is basically the only engagement I have with online roadgeekery.  In what ways is A.I. slop coming in and being defended?

[Max Rockatansky]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

I saw the post you are referencing.  The author throwing "IT professional" at you to qualify using AI was extra lame.

[formulanone]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

I saw the post you are referencing.  The author throwing "IT professional" at you to qualify using AI was extra lane.

...just one more lame man.

Another group goes AI, great. Soon everyone will pump their armchair creations into the group.

[Max Rockatansky]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

I saw the post you are referencing.  The author throwing "IT professional" at you to qualify using AI was extra lane.

...just one more lame man.

Another group goes AI, great. Soon everyone will pump their armchair creations into the group.

What I'm not getting is that the group Admin in question was very much against AI usage in the past.  His response tone was far less harsh today than it has ever been in the past.  At least the poster was up front about the images being AI generated and they don't look all that bad.

[LilianaUwU]

AI slop in the hobby. More specifically, people defending AI slop in the hobby.

I saw the post you are referencing.  The author throwing "IT professional" at you to qualify using AI was extra lame.

Don't forget the American being blatantly racist against me for being Canadian.

[kphoger]

Don't forget the American being blatantly racist against me for being Canadian.

1.  I don't think "Canadian" is a race.

2.  Aren't you blatantly racist against America?  (if it were a race)

[SSOWorld]

Coupon shows for a product when I have it scanned in the "loyalty program" pad. But I have to wait to use it until next time.

DUAAFAFO Proctor and Gamble.

[LilianaUwU]

Don't forget the American being blatantly racist against me for being Canadian.

1.  I don't think "Canadian" is a race.

2.  Aren't you blatantly racist against America?  (if it were a race)

1. You're right. They were xenophobic.

2. I don't have much issue against Americans themselves.

[vdeane]

The fact that annual physicals are supposed to be free but as soon as you bring up any health issues (ie, the point of having an annual physical in the first place), you owe a small amount for "diagnostic services".

Also, lab work that is part of a visit is supposed to be free, but since these are fasting labs and my doctor doesn't have an in-house lab, suddenly I owe a co-pay.  And and some point my endocrinologist changed how they code the labs so they get billed as hospital work, which has a co-pay twice as large.  It's as if the entire medical industry is conspiring to make co-pays as large as they can.  And this doesn't even include the influence of health insurance companies, since I work for the state and the companies are only payment processors and not deciders.

[SSOWorld]

You mean there's no Russian equivalent of a "bleat"?

[Big John]

You mean there's no Russian equivalent of a "bleat"?

Or a bip?