Minor things that bother you

[JayhawkCO]

I went to register for a conference today.  Instead of sending the confirmation as an email like normal, they send it as a calendar invite.  I'd rather not have it that way, since I set up my own calendar events for these that incorporate drive time and whatnot.  Plus how am I supposed to remember to check there instead of searching for an email (which I would normally just keep in my inbox until the conference)?

Honestly, calendar invites kinda suck in general.  Sure, their purpose of allowing RSVPs is necessary, but I often like things formatted neater than others bother to and it's annoying.

I text and email myself far too often in these kinds of cases. Makes it much easier to search for later.

[Scott5114]

I went to register for a conference today.  Instead of sending the confirmation as an email like normal, they send it as a calendar invite.  I'd rather not have it that way, since I set up my own calendar events for these that incorporate drive time and whatnot.  Plus how am I supposed to remember to check there instead of searching for an email (which I would normally just keep in my inbox until the conference)?

Honestly, calendar invites kinda suck in general.  Sure, their purpose of allowing RSVPs is necessary, but I often like things formatted neater than others bother to and it's annoying.

Lately I've been getting spam emails that somehow are formatted in such a way that Google automatically puts them on my calendar. And then I get a phone alert at 2:13am saying it's 5 minutes until [spam event]. I don't think anything should be able to put something on my calendar automatically at all (this wouldn't be useful behavior even for legitimate events because I don't use my phone calendar), but I am not even sure where the setting for this to turn it off would even be.

[jeffandnicole]

Lately I've been getting spam emails that somehow are formatted in such a way that Google automatically puts them on my calendar. And then I get a phone alert at 2:13am saying it's 5 minutes until [spam event]. I don't think anything should be able to put something on my calendar automatically at all (this wouldn't be useful behavior even for legitimate events because I don't use my phone calendar), but I am not even sure where the setting for this to turn it off would even be.

I've been getting these as well.  I have no clue how to stop them.

[kphoger]

Plus how am I supposed to remember to check there instead of searching for an email (which I would normally just keep in my inbox until the conference)?

This.

I keep e-mails in my inbox until I've taken care of them.  At that point, then, I move them into the appropriate folder.  But, as soon as I accept a calendar invitation through the e-mail, the e-mail disappears.  Definitely a minor thing that bothers me.

My solution is to simply not accept the invitation till about five minutes before the event.

[Scott5114]

When the trash truck sets the empty trash can so that it blocks my driveway. I keep my trash cans in the garage, but the garage is so small it's impossible to get them inside if both cars are in the garage. So normally I wait to bring them in until my wife goes to work. But if the can is blocking the driveway, she can't actually leave so I can bring the can in, meaning one of us has to move it to a different location so she can leave, so it can be moved a second time into the garage.

Is it that hard for the trash truck to just set it back in the same spot I left it in for them to pick up??

[kkt]

Why don't these 3 words all rhyme?
Love
Move
Clove

Because English is riddled with inconsistencies -- half the language follows rules, the other half is a collection of historical leftovers.

'Love' comes from Old English, 'move' from French, and 'clove' from Germanic roots. Different origins, different vowel histories. English is basically a linguistic interchange with no signage standards.

Rules?
20% Norman French rules
20% Anglo Saxon rules
60% loan words of miscellaneous other languages - Latin, Greek, modern French, Hindi,,,

[formulanone]

Until the end of last year, there were two people who used A.I. to make alternate covers of existing well-known tunes. One channel had 1970's hard rock versions of songs like "The Humpty Dance," by Digital Underground and "Safety Dance" by Men Without Hats, 80's girlie techno-pop versions of "Black Hole Sun," by Alice in Chains, Pointer Sisters-type R&B versions of "Talk Dirty to Me," by Poison, and dozens of others.

That's theft, and I find it morally reprehensible. I'd be irate if somebody stole music, photographs or other things I created from me. AI=plagiarism. I hate AI with every fiber of my being. There's nothing good about it.

"Black Hole Sun" is by Soundgarden, not Alice in Chains. Those two bands sound nothing alike.

I'm somewhat disappointed to have received an e-mail that my Kindle will no longer be supported, and will no longer be able to download books, after the middle of next month. I've had it since 2010 (my parents gave it to me that Christmas) and it still works just fine other than the cellular capability having gone defunct a few years back because of the 3G shutdown. They did give me a 20% off code for a new one, at least.

'

There are sites like Anna's Archive on the open seas if you want to download books. Sure, it isn't exactly kosher, but if Amazon is going to do that to their customers, they get what they deserve.

So you're supporting the rights of one type of artist (music) but not another (writing)?

Disclosure, I download form Project Gutenberg but they're public domain works.

[Scott5114]

So you're supporting the rights of one type of artist (music) but not another (writing)?

I almost commented something like this, but then I realized I'm pretty sure he has a problem with plagiarism but not copyright infringement. I can see how the former could be considered as much more dishonest than the latter.

[1995hoo]

When the trash truck sets the empty trash can so that it blocks my driveway. I keep my trash cans in the garage, but the garage is so small it's impossible to get them inside if both cars are in the garage. So normally I wait to bring them in until my wife goes to work. But if the can is blocking the driveway, she can't actually leave so I can bring the can in, meaning one of us has to move it to a different location so she can leave, so it can be moved a second time into the garage.

Is it that hard for the trash truck to just set it back in the same spot I left it in for them to pick up??

Is it at all possible that someone else is moving it? For example, sometimes the lady next door puts our trash can up by our garage door if she brings hers in before we retrieve ours. The garbage men always leave it by the curb.

[thenetwork]

I live in an area that is technically within the county jurisdiction, while newer subdivisions surrounding us are annexed by the city, who have one trash provider by the city.

In the county, you had a choice of about 4 or 5 providers of local trash service providers.  About 5 years ago, Republic came into town, bought out all the locals, except Waste Management, then raised the basic rate, while nickel and dimeing for everything else.

Within a year, 3 or 4 new local startups came into town.  So many people were sick of Republic already, many left for the cheaper, local flat-rate providers and Republic was begging for us to come back.

[hbelkins]

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

[The_Ginger]

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

This is a thing?

[Rothman]

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

Heh.  I take it you prefer to dump your trash in a turnout on a mountain road like many other people down my grandparents' way.

[Scott5114]

When the trash truck sets the empty trash can so that it blocks my driveway. I keep my trash cans in the garage, but the garage is so small it's impossible to get them inside if both cars are in the garage. So normally I wait to bring them in until my wife goes to work. But if the can is blocking the driveway, she can't actually leave so I can bring the can in, meaning one of us has to move it to a different location so she can leave, so it can be moved a second time into the garage.

Is it that hard for the trash truck to just set it back in the same spot I left it in for them to pick up??

Is it at all possible that someone else is moving it? For example, sometimes the lady next door puts our trash can up by our garage door if she brings hers in before we retrieve ours. The garbage men always leave it by the curb.

I don't think so. My neighbors usually put their trash out after I do and take it back in after I do.

The trash can is still roughly in line with the curb, they just sometimes move it a few feet south after emptying it, as though the driver is letting their foot off the brake while the can is being emptied and the truck is rolling forward:



I could avoid this if I could put my trash can on the south side of my driveway, but my neighbors to the south always have a vehicle of some kind parked where that white car is in the image, so I don't think I could guarantee the trash truck could get to the can if I put it there. Nor could I put it any further north, as that is where my neighbors on the north put their cans (and if I put mine on the other side of their cans, it would be blocking their driveway).

I live in an area that is technically within the county jurisdiction, while newer subdivisions surrounding us are annexed by the city, who have one trash provider by the city.

In the county, you had a choice of about 4 or 5 providers of local trash service providers.  About 5 years ago, Republic came into town, bought out all the locals, except Waste Management, then raised the basic rate, while nickel and dimeing for everything else.

Within a year, 3 or 4 new local startups came into town.  So many people were sick of Republic already, many left for the cheaper, local flat-rate providers and Republic was begging for us to come back.

Yeah, this is Republic. I am surprised they don't get themselves mixed up with the rest of the garbage they handle and throw themselves away.

[thenetwork]

When the trash truck sets the empty trash can so that it blocks my driveway. I keep my trash cans in the garage, but the garage is so small it's impossible to get them inside if both cars are in the garage. So normally I wait to bring them in until my wife goes to work. But if the can is blocking the driveway, she can't actually leave so I can bring the can in, meaning one of us has to move it to a different location so she can leave, so it can be moved a second time into the garage.

Is it that hard for the trash truck to just set it back in the same spot I left it in for them to pick up??

Is it at all possible that someone else is moving it? For example, sometimes the lady next door puts our trash can up by our garage door if she brings hers in before we retrieve ours. The garbage men always leave it by the curb.

I don't think so. My neighbors usually put their trash out after I do and take it back in after I do.

The trash can is still roughly in line with the curb, they just sometimes move it a few feet south after emptying it, as though the driver is letting their foot off the brake while the can is being emptied and the truck is rolling forward:



I could avoid this if I could put my trash can on the south side of my driveway, but my neighbors to the south always have a vehicle of some kind parked where that white car is in the image, so I don't think I could guarantee the trash truck could get to the can if I put it there. Nor could I put it any further north, as that is where my neighbors on the north put their cans (and if I put mine on the other side of their cans, it would be blocking their driveway).

I live in an area that is technically within the county jurisdiction, while newer subdivisions surrounding us are annexed by the city, who have one trash provider by the city.

In the county, you had a choice of about 4 or 5 providers of local trash service providers.  About 5 years ago, Republic came into town, bought out all the locals, except Waste Management, then raised the basic rate, while nickel and dimeing for everything else.

Within a year, 3 or 4 new local startups came into town.  So many people were sick of Republic already, many left for the cheaper, local flat-rate providers and Republic was begging for us to come back.

Yeah, this is Republic. I am surprised they don't get themselves mixed up with the rest of the garbage they handle and throw themselves away.

The one thing that sucks being in the "county" surrounded by city-annexed streets is that once a year, people within the official city limits can put out anything and everything on the curb in April for free.  And what the Fred and Lamont Sanfords don't pick up first, the city trash hauler does.

So there is a long cross-street the next block over and it alters between city and county.  It's weird to drive one block and see piles of unwanted junk while the same street/next block can't do a damn thing.

[kphoger]

When the trash truck sets the empty trash can so that it blocks my driveway ... meaning one of us has to move it to a different location so she can leave, so it can be moved a second time into the garage.

The trash can is still roughly in line with the curb, they just sometimes move it a few feet south after emptying it, as though the driver is letting their foot off the brake while the can is being emptied and the truck is rolling forward:

Send a complaint next time it happens.  It will definitely land on the driver.  Be sure to include the phrase "blocked my wife in".

[kphoger]

My own minor trash thing...

Our neighbor across the street passed away on Good Friday while she was visiting family in Tulsa.  Some of her kids and grandkids have been up over the week-ends since then, to start the process of going through the house.  We told them we'd put the trash bin out on the curb on pick-up day.  A couple of days ago, the landlord came by, looked at the 16,450 black trash bags in the driveway, got in his car, and drove away again.  Anyway, this morning before work, I pulled the trash bin out from behind the 16,450 bags and set it against the curb.  I have no idea how many extra bags are allowed to sit next to the bin, as that sort of thing depends on what type of plan the landlord has with the trash company.  So I didn't set any of them out.  This evening, I suppose, I'll need to put a bunch of them in the bin again, to wait until next week.  But here's the annoying part:  I saw this morning that animals have started chewing into the bags and looking for food, so now I'm going to be dealing with rain-soaked, ripped-open bags later on.

Fortunately, this is just a minor thing to bother me.  Dealing with an unexpected death in the family from out of state has got to be a much more major thing.

[kphoger]

Our eldest son just got a job.  Orientation was yesterday evening, and his first real day is today.  He takes the bus to work, then I can pick him up later when he gets off.  There's no reason to get a monthly bus pass, because that would cost significantly more than just paying cash every morning.  The fare is $1.75, and the fare machine doesn't give change.  So this means he'll have to maintain a regular flow of loose change every week.  Even if he only works three days a week, that's still more than $2 in coins he'll have to have ready to use.

Back when I was taking Pace bus in the Chicago suburbs, they had a 10-ride punch card.  That was great, because I could use it as frequently or infrequently as I needed, unlike a monthly pass, with no need to keep coins on hand.  (Well, I do remember using one on a couple of occasions on routes closer to the city—closer to CTA territory—and the drivers had obviously never or almost never seen a 10-ride punch card before;  they didn't even keep hole-punches on hand, and had to stick a ballpoint pen tip through instead.)  But that's not a thing here, nor do I think it's even a thing back in the Chicago suburbs either.

[hotdogPi]

Usually, even if they don't give bills or coins as change, they will give a paper receipt with stored value. This means that you put in $5, then the next time you put that paper in, then the third time you put that paper in plus a quarter.

[kphoger]

Usually, even if they don't give bills or coins as change, they will give a paper receipt with stored value. This means that you put in $5, then the next time you put that paper in, then the third time you put that paper in plus a quarter.

They used to do that here but stopped in 2016.  At that time, they stopped giving change cards, stopped accepting pennies, and eliminated transfers.

[hbelkins]

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

This is a thing?

Yes, unfortunately. My county charges $22 a month for garbage pickup, and it's added to the municipal water bill.

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

Heh.  I take it you prefer to dump your trash in a turnout on a mountain road like many other people down my grandparents' way.

Actually, I would prefer to either burn my garbage in a controlled area, or dump it in an isolated spot on my rural property, the way we used to do it.

Or bring it to work and place it in the dumpster there -- which I actually ended up doing several years ago, when I put a bag of trash in the back of my now-defunt Saturn Vue to place in the Herbie at the bottom of my driveway, forgot to place said bag of garbage in said Herbie, and went out to my car to leave work with the foul stench of a bag of garbage assaulting my olfactory senses.

My dad avoided paying for garbage pickup for several years by taking his trash to a  relative's house in the city limits, where they did have mandatory collection.

[Rothman]

Actually, I would prefer to either burn my garbage in a controlled area, or dump it in an isolated spot on my rural property, the way we used to do it.

Eesh.  There's good reason that the old way is no longer considered the best way.  Shoot, when I lived in Russia, preschools would bury their trash...

Much more hygienic and safe to send it to the dump.

[JayhawkCO]

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

This is a thing?

Yes, unfortunately. My county charges $22 a month for garbage pickup, and it's added to the municipal water bill.

Mandatory garbage pickup for rural areas is a minor thing that bothers me.

Heh.  I take it you prefer to dump your trash in a turnout on a mountain road like many other people down my grandparents' way.

Actually, I would prefer to either burn my garbage in a controlled area, or dump it in an isolated spot on my rural property, the way we used to do it.

Rural spots in my state are under burn bans, so certainly wouldn't work out here at least. The closest controlled area would be hours away. Obviously might not apply in Kentucky, just wanted to provide a data point.

[1995hoo]

.... to place in the Herbie at the bottom of my driveway, forgot to place said bag of garbage in said Herbie ....

What is a "Herbie" in this context? I can't say I've ever heard that word used in connection with trash pickup. The first thing that word calls to mind is a series of four movies about a Volkswagen that were popular when I was a kid, but I'm reasonably certain that's not what you mean here.

[Rothman]

.... to place in the Herbie at the bottom of my driveway, forgot to place said bag of garbage in said Herbie ....

What is a "Herbie" in this context? I can't say I've ever heard that word used in connection with trash pickup. The first thing that word calls to mind is a series of four movies about a Volkswagen that were popular when I was a kid, but I'm reasonably certain that's not what you mean here.

Just wait until you hear about Rosie...