What Irked You Today?

[Tom Geiger]

You may have been joking, but the gas station analogy is the perfect example. Why pay people to pump the customers' gas when the customers can just as well pump their own?

I think most folks just think it's 'normal' because it's been that way for so long in most states. I lived in Europe and moved to New Jersey so I always thought it normal to have gas pump attendants. But when you stop to think about self service from an EPA and OSHA standpoint, there are greater restrictions on the handling of much less volatile substances. I find it interesting that it hasn't been addressed, no doubt due to the deep pockets of large oil companies.

I too remember the gas station premiums, mostly drinking glasses and remember collecting the aluminum coins of the presidents? And that was 1968-9 era that I was in the states. Then we moved to Germany in the fall of 1969. The big change I saw between the US and Germany was that older people were gas attendants and even waiters, like it was a real profession, not just something pimply kids did. And that was no doubt what the US was like decades earlier.

In Germany they gave full service, and the premium was a sealed envelope full of stamps... collectible stamps, not Green Stamps! That was probably the thing that got me interested in stamp collecting. Every time my father would get gas, I'd get the little packet with about 5 world stamps in it. The one thing about Germany back then was that stores and gas stations kept regular hours and then closed. There were no 24 hour operations. On the Autobahn rest stops they had coin operated gas pumps for overnight travelers. I remember those worked with 10 Mark coins. So when we were on a trip my father would have a sack full of those coins!

Then getting back to self serve gas, I've been in PA for 4 years now and it still is odd to me. I dislike watching old ladies pumping fuel. And it seems the stations on the highway near me are in an eternal cold wind tunnel, and although under canopies, the rain still comes in with the wind. I still find it a distasteful experience.

Now that I'm back to working in New Jersey, I buy most of my gas there. It gets pumped while I sit on my duff and check my email in the warmth of my car. And somehow that gas is consistently 30 cents a gallon cheaper than PA! (gas tax is 32.9 cents per gallon in NJ and 60.2 in PA. So the pump prices are the same) So the pumpers salary is coming from oil company profits.

So if Obama was serious about creating jobs, all he has to do is enact a federal law outlawing self serve. Instantly that would create maybe a million jobs? And since most stations are now owned by big oil, who is flush with absurd profits, it could be legislated to come out of their profits.

Edited April 18, 2014 by Tom Geiger

[Scott Colmer]

My first job while in high school was at a "service" station. My main job was pumping the fuel. If I remember right the gas was around 35 cents a gallon ( I may be wrong on that ). Anyway, yes in addition to pumping gas I had to clean the windows and check the oils and ask if they wanted to have me check the air in their tires. We did have promotions where we gave away something like glasses or dinnerware that would change every two weeks or so. When one of our deliveries of the new dinnerware was late you took your life in your hands telling the women coming in for gas. On top of that we had stamps we gave away. One page out of the book for every two dollars of gas. That was real fun when it rained and there wasn't a canopy over your head. It was a fun job however.

Did that job in high school. Me and all the other gearheads. I started in 78 or 79. It was summer during the gas crisis. Lines down the street. Remember odd and even days? While the gas pumped we: washed the windshield and mirrors, checked the oil, coolant, transmission, air in the tires and filled what was low, and emptied the ashtray. My favorite was the people who tapped on the windshield if you missed a spot.

[Harry P.]

Waa waa.... I want my MTV....

Be careful... someone might write a song about that...

[Harry P.]

In Germany they gave full service, and the premium was a sealed envelope full of stamps... collectible stamps, not Green Stamps! That was probably the thing that got me interested in stamp collecting. Every time my father would get gas, I'd get the little packet with about 5 world stamps in it. The one thing about Germany back then was that stores and gas stations kept regular hours and then closed. There were no 24 hour operations. On the Autobahn rest stops they had coin operated gas pumps for overnight travelers. I remember those worked with 10 Mark coins. So when we were on a trip my father would have a sack full of those coins!

Interesting stuff, Tom! Very cool.

[Modelmartin]

My favorite was the people who tapped on the windshield if you missed a spot.

Been there! I worked at a Clark station in high school and an Amoco in college.

[Ramfins59]

I worked a second job pumping gas back in the early 80's and it always seemed to rain on the nights that I was working. Those would be the times when all the buttheads would want you to check their oil...... in the pouring rain,,!!

Then you'd get the dork who would pull up to the pump and give you a handful of loose change and tell you to give him that much gas,,,,,, of course you'd have to count it first 'cause the dumbbutt had no idea how much change he gave you.

I hated that job.

[Craig Irwin]

I worked a second job pumping gas back in the early 80's and it always seemed to rain on the nights that I was working. Those would be the times when all the buttheads would want you to check their oil...... in the pouring rain,,!!

And check the air in their tires! I always made sure one had about 50 pounds in it on rainy nights.

I too hated that job.

[charlie8575]

My brand-new sheet of BMF is MIA.

A little short this week....but I have some super-thin cheap kitchen foil and Micro-Mark foil adhesive, so homemade BMF it is.

Charlie Larkin

[Mike Kucaba]

I pumped gas in '69-'70.... cleaned windshields too...THAT was my favorite as the mini-skirt fashion was getting going

[FASTBACK340]

Just had a private conversation with a board member over a personal opinion that didn't jive with mine and was told he was sorry for ever doing something for me in the past…. How does ones opinion change your entire perspective on someone? You did me a favor and I appreciated it. Just because you now find out you like Vanilla and I like Chocolate makes me a different person? Kind of goes against what your original belief and views are, huh?

This will probably get yanked, but just had to vent. Don't I have "rights" too for MY opinion? Hypocrite….

[Craig Irwin]

It sounds like life today, you have the right of free speech as long as you think the right way, otherwise expect problems, some have even recently lost their jobs.

[bobthehobbyguy]

Its one of the scarier aspects of the world today. The attitude is my opinion is all that counts. Makes for pretty narrow minded people. I believe in listening to what others say. I may disagree but we all have the right to our opinions. Shutting off others because they don't agree your opinion is not very productive.

We can't grow intellectually if we are unwilling to listen to others opinions.

Edited April 20, 2014 by bobthehobbyguy

[cobraman]

Sorry if this is just weird but has anyone else noticed that rolls of toilet paper are getting more narrow ? Used to almost fill the roller side to side and now there is 3 inches of play side to side. Or............ is my wife just buying cheap toilet paper ?

[bobthehobbyguy]

Not the case for me. I get my tp at costco and the rolls are full size. Sounds like the typical ploy to sell kess for the same price.

[Rob Hall]

Haven't noticed any change in my TP...I get the 48 roll packs of Quilted Northern from Amazon..

[Greg Myers]

[Tom Geiger]

Sorry if this is just weird but has anyone else noticed that rolls of toilet paper are getting more narrow ? Used to almost fill the roller side to side and now there is 3 inches of play side to side. Or............ is my wife just buying cheap toilet paper ?

and the Sears catalog has gotten much thinner too!

[Rob Hall]

and the Sears catalog has gotten much thinner too!

Do they still print physical catalogs?

[Joe Handley]

More importantly, what is the count of the non-shiney pages in that catalog now?

[1930fordpickup]

Sorry if this is just weird but has anyone else noticed that rolls of toilet paper are getting more narrow ? Used to almost fill the roller side to side and now there is 3 inches of play side to side. Or............ is my wife just buying cheap toilet paper ?

The rolls are smaller in Diameter also Ray. The brand I buy is 3\4 of an inch shorter than they used to be. I have a shelf that I put my TP on and there is a 1.500 space were there used to be no space at all when I have a double stack . Yes I measured it. LOL The paper towel that I buy have become smaller in Diameter also.

[Craig Irwin]

I pumped gas in '69-'70.... cleaned windshields too...THAT was my favorite as the mini-skirt fashion was getting going

That was the ONLY plus!

[Harry P.]

The rolls are smaller in Diameter also Ray.

It depends on the brand you buy, they vary. But they are all the same dimension left to right.

[1930fordpickup]

It depends on the brand you buy, they vary. But they are all the same dimension left to right.

I have been buying the same brand . They are shorter. The shelf has not moved in the 19 years I have lived here. Now I have an 1.5 space that was not there a few years ago. This is with two rolls stacked on top of each other. So the rolls are 3/4 inch shorter.

[tubbs]

the fact that I have been side tracked and have been letting my fellow MCM members down that are involved in trades with me. I have let things get in front of my responsibilities here and it irks me that it took a very nice PM to me asking if I had found a simple part that I have promised someone. yes, life has handed me some lemons lately, but if I promise someone something, I should deliver it with some sort of urgency. so, anyone that I owe parts, kits, whatever is reading this, your stuff will be shipped out by Thursday.

[Harry P.]

I have been buying the same brand . They are shorter. The shelf has not moved in the 19 years I have lived here. Now I have an 1.5 space that was not there a few years ago. This is with two rolls stacked on top of each other. So the rolls are 3/4 inch shorter.

I looked it up. Scott used to be 4.5 inches wide, now it's 4.1. So you're right, it did shrink. At least Scott brand did.