What Irked You Today?

[southpier]

never thought of tipping at the auto parts store. probably could get my gaskets quicker if I did, though.

[Harry P.]

never thought of tipping at the auto parts store. probably could get my gaskets quicker if I did, though.

Speaking of...

Why is there a tip jar on the counter at my local Chinese take-out place? If I place an order, then show up and pick up my order myself, why would I tip anyone?

[southpier]

never been to a coffee shop, eh?

barista, indeed.

[Harry P.]

never been to a coffee shop, eh?

barista, indeed.

I'm not willing to pay five bucks for a cup of coffee. To me that's insane. And I don't like those fancy shmancy latte-shmatte things. Large coffee at the McD drive-thru does the job for me. I guess I'm old school when it comes to coffee. I want coffee. Not an espresso latte double shot mocha whip with sprinkles on top...

[Tom Geiger]

Speaking of...

Why is there a tip jar on the counter at my local Chinese take-out place? If I place an order, then show up and pick up my order myself, why would I tip anyone?

I question that myself. I picked up Chinese food last week... take out place, no seating, big tip jar on the counter. Then I put the order on my debit card, and they had a tip line on the receipt too! Nope!

[Tom Geiger]

BTW Harry, I love your avatar! Got to see him in 1979 when I was in college. He played at the University of Missouri-Rolla and we actually got to meet him after the show. Very approachable man. His death was such a loss.

I saw that Harry changed his avatar to my favorite Harry! You are right, he was very approachable and met with the audience after every concert. Being in the NY/NJ metro area, I saw Harry live many times. In honor of Harry's new avatar I just started a Chapin thread... http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=92764

[Joe Handley]

I was on my way into work today and saw a firetruck was heading towards me on a devided 4 lane, so I pulled over, as did the driver of a late model Civic who was behind me. As the firetruck passed going the opposite direction, an Econoline and Camry passed myself and the Civic, with the van just a couple feet off our mirrors! The firetruck driver blew his horn at them as they passed, but I doubt it did much good.

[Rob Hall]

I was on my way into work today and saw a firetruck was heading towards me on a divided 4 lane, so I pulled over, as did the driver of a late model Civic who was behind me. As the firetruck passed going the opposite direction, an Econoline and Camry passed myself and the Civic, with the van just a couple feet off our mirrors! The firetruck driver blew his horn at them as they passed, but I doubt it did much good.

That does seem strange to pull over on a divided highway. I can understand on a street or undivided highway, but why on a divided highway? The law may vary by state, but specifically in Arizona:

• If the emergency vehicle is traveling on the opposite direction of a divided highway or street, you do not need to pull over.

Edited August 18, 2014 by Rob Hall

[91blaze]

On a divided highway (with a barrier or median between the opposing lanes) you do not have to pull over. At least everywhere I've been is that way. If they are going the same direction as you, you do have to pull over though.

Edited August 18, 2014 by 91blaze

[Harry P.]

Another close call with another clueless driver. This sort of thing is happening to me every 2-3 days now... I'm beginning to think there's a huge target painted on my car that clueless wonders can see, but I can't.

Here's the situation: I'm coming up to an intersection where I'm going to want to turn left. The light is red as I approach and swing into the left turn lane and come to a stop. I'm sitting at the red light, eastbound, in the left turn lane, first in line, waiting for my green arrow.

The cross traffic gets their red and stops, I get my arrow... so me and the guys across the intersection, facing me (east bound) in their left turn lane, begin to make our turns.

And as I'm turning left, the idiot across the intersection, eastbound, who had been sitting at the light in the regular lane (not the turning lane) starts driving! Thank God I was able to finish my left as this maniac was coming right at me! I couldn't stop... he would have rammed right into me, and/or the guy turning left behind me would have wound up in my trunk. My only "defense" was to hit the gas and finish that left turn fast, before he hits me. He was maybe a foot from my car as I swept past right in front of him.

Once I had finished my turn, I looked in the rearview mirror to see what was happening. The clown had stopped and was sitting there, in the middle of the intersection, not moving, and blocking everyone else who had been behind me from making their left turns. Then I saw him slowly back up to where he had been in the first place. At that point I stopped looking.

Sheesh...

[Rob Hall]

Speaking of intersection annoyances, I often walk to lunch from work. Which usually involves crosswalks at intersections, with timers and well-painted lines..it is so annoying how often people are blocking the crosswalk w/ their cars...like they can't see the painted lines..or the drivers that pull out while the cross walk sign is still go (white stick figure or the countdown) and people are using it...

Edited August 18, 2014 by Rob Hall

[my80malibu]

Although you don't need to pull over on the divided roadway. I still move over when traveling in the opposite direction.Because you just never know when that fire truck,may need to jump the curb and drive on the opposite side.

[Tom Geiger]

agreed. In both NJ and PA, my world of influence, you don't have to pull over for emergency vehicles on a divided highway. Here, a highway is usually divided with tall concrete barriers that you will bounce off upon contact. That also holds true for school busses and 'frozen dessert trucks'.

One of the big problems is people not stopping for the school bus. And many people don't know that a 'frozen dessert truck", which I guess is the legal definition of an ice cream truck, rates the same as a school bus! So when one of those have their little stop sign extended.. stop! In my NJ town the cops were hiding behind ice cream trucks to snag people.

[Guest]

School buses are a problem here too and I can't understand why. They've been around forever yet every year when school starts up people don't seem to understand they can't pass a school bus. And it has nothing to do with the age or gender of the driver either, they just have brain cramps.

[southpier]

unfortunately 'round these here parts, most school bus drivers gained their position after failing the entry qualifications for greeter at the big box store.

[Harry P.]

School buses are a problem here too and I can't understand why. They've been around forever yet every year when school starts up people don't seem to understand they can't pass a school bus.

In my neighborhood we have a "special needs" kid that rides the school bus every day. And I've been caught by that school bus more times than I can remember.

What happens is that the bus driver pulls up in front of the house and turns on the red flashers and the Stop sign... then sits and waits... and waits......... and waits................. for the mom to bring out the kid. They are always late. And to make matters worse, the mom walks the kid into the bus, says her elaborate goodbyes, and then only after a few minutes of doing God-knows-what in that bus, she finally comes out so the bus can leave.

And all this time... from the bus sitting there waiting, to the mom and kid finally making their appearance, to the long, drawn-out onboard goodbye... the driver has the dang flashers and Stop sign going the whole time.

Why can't she just sit there at the curb and wait for the kid without turning on the flashers and sign? Why can't she just turn them on when the kid finally appears in the driveway, and not the whole time she's waiting?

I have been stuck sitting behind this bus, waiting, more times than I can remember. In fact, several times the driver has apparently seen me sitting there and she turned off the flashing lights so that I could pass. So again I have to ask, why turn them on before the kid ever comes out of the house???

[Krazy Rick]

Good question Harry, what's really disturbing, is the fact there are people who will actually put money in it

[Guest]

Why can't she just there at the curb and wait for the kid without turning on the flashers and sign? Why can't she just turn them on when the kid finally appears in the driveway, and not the whole time she's waiting?

I have been stuck sitting behind this bus, waiting, more times than I can remember. In fact, several times the driver has apparently seen me sitting there and she turned off the flashing lights so that I could pass. So again I have to ask, why turn them on before the kid ever comes out of the house???

I know of a similar situation with hearing impaired students and or parents, the flashing lights are what parents look for as a signal to bring the kids out to the bus. Edited August 18, 2014 by Modeltruckbuilder

[Harry P.]

I know of a similar situation with hearing impared students and or parents, the flashing lights are what parents look for as a signal to bring the kids out to the bus.

This kid isn't hearing impaired, though.

Seems to me that there is a schedule in play, and the bus pretty much comes at the same time every day. There's no excuse to be late to the bus all the time. IMO the mom ought to have the kid ready to go before the bus arrives... and when the bus does arrive, get the kid out there and on the bus–without all the theatrics.

I have three kids, all of whom rode the bus to school. My kids were out there, on time, every morning. The bus never had to wait for them to make an elaborate appearance.

If I was able to get three kids off on time every morning, this woman can get one kid out on time.

[Dirt Demon]

What Irked me today.... Well .... A guy that makes and sells brass parts for dirt cars.... He doesn't like me ..... But is using my latest build to promote his products ..... What a joke he is!

[Joe Handley]

Although you don't need to pull over on the divided roadway. I still move over when traveling in the opposite direction.Because you just never know when that fire truck,may need to jump the curb and drive on the opposite side.

I think we have to here in Illinois unless it's divided by large barricades or walls, but even when divided by undersized curbing, I'd prefer to give room for just such an occasion, no matter what type of emergency vehicle it is.

[Mike Kucaba]

Man Harry, it seems like you get out of the wrong side of the bed every other day

[Joe Handley]

Hey Harry, is that child Autistic by chance? I've seen and heard of autistic kids that can be difficult to work with.

[Rob Hall]

I'm not willing to pay five bucks for a cup of coffee. To me that's insane. And I don't like those fancy shmancy latte-shmatte things. Large coffee at the McD drive-thru does the job for me. I guess I'm old school when it comes to coffee. I want coffee. Not an espresso latte double shot mocha whip with sprinkles on top...

Ah, $5 a cup is just mainstream Starbucks..some of the local gourmet places charge $9-11 a cup for custom cups--rare beans or speciality brewing methods like cold-press.. I love coffee, so of I course I've tried them...good stuff... (I also like McDonalds or Dunkins some mornings, though).

Edited August 19, 2014 by Rob Hall

[Rob Hall]

Speaking of...

Why is there a tip jar on the counter at my local Chinese take-out place? If I place an order, then show up and pick up my order myself, why would I tip anyone?

For good service...I tip at my local take out Chinese place, if the service was good..just like tipping at Starbucks, the cleaners, the parking attendant, the pizza delivery guy, my hair trimmer, my dog groomer, my yard guy...

Edited August 19, 2014 by Rob Hall