What Irked You Today?

[Ace-Garageguy]

Comcast. I hate Comcast. I have no alternative at this address other than AT&T, and I hate them worse.

[SfanGoch]

Comcast. I hate Comcast. I have no alternative at this address other than AT&T, and I hate them worse.

I'm glad that the Comcast-TWC merger didn't happen. TWC service sucks as it is; a Comcast-TWC combo would just compound the misery. My neighborhood in Brooklyn didn't get cable until 1989, btw. Remember before cable, you could always find something to watch (at least, on any one of the seven VHF stations in NYC) on regular TV? Now, I have 500+ channels available and even less to watch. I also wonder why TWC offers music channels. None of the genres are to my tastes; and, besides, if I want to listen to music, why would I want to listen to it via my TV? I have a stereo for that.

[slusher]

My last boss died this week and the memorial service was private Friday. as I  worked some with my wife he was on my mind.  He was 76 and retired 14 years ago 2 years after I did with my disability. The man never raised his voice and thought me many thing some I have quoted on here. The best one I ever had. He always called me Spanky with a grin. The one thing that really upsets me is he was dead 4 days before they found him. Two sons close by and never checked on him even after missing Church. I had some terrible bosses over the years and I feel he deserved better. He was 76. I call my mother every day she is 83...

[disabled modeler]

My last boss died this week and the memorial service was private Friday. as I  worked some with my wife he was on my mind.  He was 76 and retired 14 years ago 2 years after I did with my disability. The man never raised his voice and thought me many thing some I have quoted on here. The best one I ever had. He always called me Spanky with a grin. The one thing that really upsets me is he was dead 4 days before they found him. Two sons close by and never checked on him even after missing Church. I had some terrible bosses over the years and I feel he deserved better. He was 76. I call my mother every day she is 83...

My condolences Carl buddy....its hard to loose a friend or anyone for that matter.  Same on the 2 sons...there the ones that have missed out and will have to live with it.  Family and our extended family and friends are everything to us so we treat them as they should be. 

[High octane]

I know I'm a bit old fashioned and somewhat of a dinosaur, but I was at a wake today for a very good friend of mine, and it seems like some of the people there were dressed for a picnic instead of a wake. Jeans, Hawaiian shirts, white sneakers, shorts, and the temps were near 80 degrees and one woman wore boots up to her knees. My how times are changin' and not for the better in my book.

[Tom Geiger]

I know I'm a bit old fashioned and somewhat of a dinosaur, but I was at a wake today for a very good friend of mine, and it seems like some of the people there were dressed for a picnic instead of a wake. Jeans, Hawaiian shirts, white sneakers, shorts, and the temps were near 80 degrees and one woman wore boots up to her knees. My how times are changin' and not for the better in my book.

I agree.  I seldom wear a suit or even a tie, but I do so out of respect at a wake or funeral. 

[slusher]

I know I'm a bit old fashioned and somewhat of a dinosaur, but I was at a wake today for a very good friend of mine, and it seems like some of the people there were dressed for a picnic instead of a wake. Jeans, Hawaiian shirts, white sneakers, shorts, and the temps were near 80 degrees and one woman wore boots up to her knees. My how times are changin' and not for the better in my book.

I agree.  I seldom wear a suit or even a tie, but I do so out of respect at a wake or funeral. 

I do agree with you guys. Your there to pay respect. 

[High octane]

I most always wear a suit and tie for wakes, weddings, funerals, and even a baptism too. A few people asked me how I could wear dress clothes for a number of hours and aren't they uncomfortable. I answer no they're not uncomfortable if they fit right. I often can wear dress clothes all day long at above mentioned events. If "dress clothes" are uncomfortable, you need to see a tailor. When I got my first job at 16 I had to wear a white shirt and tie under my apron at a grocery store. I worked there for two years part time so that I could buy my first car, as my parents couldn't afford to buy me one or send me to college either.

[MrBuick]

I most always wear a suit and tie for wakes, weddings, funerals, and even a baptism too. A few people asked me how I could wear dress clothes for a number of hours and aren't they uncomfortable. I answer no they're not uncomfortable if they fit right. I often can wear dress clothes all day long at above mentioned events. If "dress clothes" are uncomfortable, you need to see a tailor. When I got my first job at 16 I had to wear a white shirt and tie under my apron at a grocery store. I worked there for two years part time so that I could buy my first car, as my parents couldn't afford to buy me one or send me to college either.

Even a tailored suit is fairly uncomfortable in my opinion. I have a pretty thick neck, so it's extremely difficult to find a dress shirt that fits the rest of my torso without being tight in the neck if the top button is done...if I find one that fits my neck, it's way too big everywhere else. I don't get my shirts tailored, because I have to wear slacks and a dress shirt every day to work, and I'm not going to pay extra for my shirts just so they fit better in the neck when I wouldn't button the top few buttons anyway...my suit was expensive enough for something that I wear maybe once a year. And I don't really like wearing the jacket, simply because I don't...kind of a "just because" situation there. That being said, if I have a funeral, wedding, etc to attend, I can deal with being moderately uncomfortable for a few hours, though I don't even own a tie, partially because of the reason I mentioned above with the shirts, and partially because I don't think they look any better than going without one. It always baffles me when people show up to "dress up" events in their shorts. I went on a cruise in January, and on the boat they have a formal dining room and an informal dining room. "We" chose to dine in the formal dining room most nights because my girlfriend LOVES to dress up (and if I'm being honest, I love seeing her dressed up). There were so many people showing up in shorts and sleeveless shirts, it was pathetic. I thought they'd make people go and change, AT LEAST the ones in sleeveless shirts, but they didn't. It sort of defeated the purpose of having a formal dining room in my opinion. That was a Carnival cruise...a few years ago we took a Royal Caribbean cruse and they were pretty good with it...they made people change and had jackets for those who didn't have one...we probably won't take a Carnival cruise again (many reasons, but that's among them).

[High octane]

Even a tailored suit is fairly uncomfortable in my opinion. I have a pretty thick neck, so it's extremely difficult to find a dress shirt that fits the rest of my torso without being tight in the neck if the top button is done...if I find one that fits my neck, it's way too big everywhere else. I don't get my shirts tailored, because I have to wear slacks and a dress shirt every day to work, and I'm not going to pay extra for my shirts just so they fit better in the neck when I wouldn't button the top few buttons anyway...my suit was expensive enough for something that I wear maybe once a year. And I don't really like wearing the jacket, simply because I don't...kind of a "just because" situation there. That being said, if I have a funeral, wedding, etc to attend, I can deal with being moderately uncomfortable for a few hours, though I don't even own a tie, partially because of the reason I mentioned above with the shirts, and partially because I don't think they look any better than going without one. It always baffles me when people show up to "dress up" events in their shorts. I went on a cruise in January, and on the boat they have a formal dining room and an informal dining room. "We" chose to dine in the formal dining room most nights because my girlfriend LOVES to dress up (and if I'm being honest, I love seeing her dressed up). There were so many people showing up in shorts and sleeveless shirts, it was pathetic. I thought they'd make people go and change, AT LEAST the ones in sleeveless shirts, but they didn't. It sort of defeated the purpose of having a formal dining room in my opinion. That was a Carnival cruise...a few years ago we took a Royal Caribbean cruse and they were pretty good with it...they made people change and had jackets for those who didn't have one...we probably won't take a Carnival cruise again (many reasons, but that's among them).

I've always liked the "formal nights" on cruises even though my better half can do without them. I've never done a Carnival cruise as they strike me as being on the bottom of the totem pole. However the Princess Cruise line belongs to Carnival and I've been on a couple cruises with them and really liked it, especially the Panama Canal cruise back in 2001 as it was a blast. If you haven't been on a cruise with a balcony attached to your stateroom, I recommend it. 

[MrBuick]

I've always liked the "formal nights" on cruises even though my better half can do without them. I've never done a Carnival cruise as they strike me as being on the bottom of the totem pole. However the Princess Cruise line belongs to Carnival and I've been on a couple cruises with them and really liked it, especially the Panama Canal cruise back in 2001 as it was a blast. If you haven't been on a cruise with a balcony attached to your stateroom, I recommend it. 

Yeah, it was the first Carnival we've been on, probably will be the last. They seem to cater a lot more to people with kids and the party crowd. That said, we got a 7 day cruise for less than $800 for the two of us, so I suppose you can't expect too much. We had a balcony on the Royal Caribbean cruise and it was okay...it was nice to have a somewhat private balcony, but we don't spend that much time below deck, so short of a cruise with 3+ sea days, I wouldn't pay for it again. I'd like to take a Panama Canal cruise...our next one with either be that or an Alaskan cruise. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

Frankly, I'm baffled at the whole "dress clothes are uncomfortable" idea. Over the years, I've worked in capacities and environments where I needed to wear a suit, a good suit as opposed to some baggy POS off the rack at Sears, and I enjoyed it. 

Dressing like you respect yourself and your associates enough make an effort to ditch the tees with advertising, team numbers or "I'm with stupid--->" BS (and the doofy shorts that go with them) gives you a sense of presence in the moment, a sense of purpose and position, and always made me feel like getting serious about what we were there to do.  

Frankly, I'm tired of the sloppy, lazy approach to everything these days, an almost universal lack of effort that's so eloquently reflected in the dress standards of the common folk.

You just don't go to dinner or to a funeral or to court looking like you're dressed to mow the lawn.

Or maybe you do. 

[charlie8575]

Frankly, I'm baffled at the whole "dress clothes are uncomfortable" idea. Over the years, I've worked in capacities and environments where I needed to wear a suit, a good suit as opposed to some baggy POS off the rack at Sears, and I enjoyed it. 

Dressing like you respect yourself and your associates enough make an effort to ditch the tees with advertising, team numbers or "I'm with stupid--->" BS (and the doofy shorts that go with them) gives you a sense of presence in the moment, a sense of purpose and position, and always made me feel like getting serious about what we were there to do.  

Frankly, I'm tired of the sloppy, lazy approach to everything these days, an almost universal lack of effort that's so eloquently reflected in the dress standards of the common folk.

You just don't go to dinner or to a funeral or to court looking like you're dressed to mow the lawn.

Or maybe you do. 

To wit...

In 2012, I was subbing. 

As was my usual custom, I arrived in a blazer, dress slacks and a tie. That day was dress-down Friday for the faculty. They did not disappoint! 

Honestly, those silly "People of Wal-Mart" photos had better looking customers in a couple of cases.

I had a mixed-bag day that day, so I was doing a bunch of different things.

My first class was a 7th grade social studies class; the teacher had a meeting that period so I was in for him.

I walked in and I was horrified.

Now, I can work with somewhere wearing a decent golf shirt and a pair of Khakis. I've been known to do that on very hot days, myself, especially considering most of the schools here have no a/c. 

This joker- untucked golf shirt, dungarees that looked like they went through a brush chipper and flip-flops. And he had a parents' meeting that day?!

If I was the parent, I would've been screaming at the principal (not that it would do any good in her case- dead from the neck up,) for a teacher not having respect enough for me or his job to dress presentably. 

Another teacher in that group of teachers- a younger woman of about 30, was wearing a shirt and tight white pants that left little to the imagination- dangerous with pre-pubescent boys around, and her "tramp stamp" fully on display.

Look- if they want to wear a decent pair of dungarees and a presentable casual shirt one day a week- I'm not a big fan of it, but I can work with that. 

Perhaps one more reason I don't fit in schools anymore. 

When I show up and look like I mean business- I was treated with respect and dignity by the students more than not. It was clear who was in charge. I wasn't there to be someone's buddy, I was there to do a job and exercise the control and authority therein.

Charlie Larkin

[charlie8575]

Well, the whole last week upset me.

My job with Block ended- I don't really miss the job, but I do miss the paycheck. Trying to get something else now.

And, topping it all off- I finally lost my grandmother. She had 104 years and died peacefully in her sleep. 

Because of my useless, insane, twit of an aunt, we actually had the funeral at the wake because she refused to be around the rest of the family (most of whom refuse to be around her,) and I ended up having to do a eulogy of sorts. 

It was rather amazing when you stop to think about it- born before World War I and look at all the changes the world had seen. 

The only good thing- I never have to see my aunt again, and her behavior has pretty much soured my mother on her, too. 

Charlie Larkin

[slusher]

Well, the whole last week upset me.

My job with Block ended- I don't really miss the job, but I do miss the paycheck. Trying to get something else now.

And, topping it all off- I finally lost my grandmother. She had 104 years and died peacefully in her sleep. 

Because of my useless, insane, twit of an aunt, we actually had the funeral at the wake because she refused to be around the rest of the family (most of whom refuse to be around her,) and I ended up having to do a eulogy of sorts. 

It was rather amazing when you stop to think about it- born before World War I and look at all the changes the world had seen. 

The only good thing- I never have to see my aunt again, and her behavior has pretty much soured my mother on her, too. 

Charlie Larkin

Sorry about your loss Charlie. Your grandmother was blessed with a long life. Seems almost every family has a family member like your aunt. My family has 3 or 4...

[MrBuick]

Frankly, I'm baffled at the whole "dress clothes are uncomfortable" idea. Over the years, I've worked in capacities and environments where I needed to wear a suit, a good suit as opposed to some baggy POS off the rack at Sears, and I enjoyed it. 

Dressing like you respect yourself and your associates enough make an effort to ditch the tees with advertising, team numbers or "I'm with stupid--->" BS (and the doofy shorts that go with them) gives you a sense of presence in the moment, a sense of purpose and position, and always made me feel like getting serious about what we were there to do.  

Frankly, I'm tired of the sloppy, lazy approach to everything these days, an almost universal lack of effort that's so eloquently reflected in the dress standards of the common folk.

You just don't go to dinner or to a funeral or to court looking like you're dressed to mow the lawn.

Or maybe you do. 

I think it's just an extension of the general attitude of so many people today..."why should I do ____ if I don't wanna?" I doubt there are many who would argue that a pair of shorts\pants and a tshirt\polo is more comfortable than a suit, but that doesn't make it appropriate for many situations. If your work, event your attending, etc requires or encourages you to dress nice, you should. Plus, I don't know how they're not uncomfortable attending...let's say a wedding, and being one of the only people dressed like a homeless person...just being the under-dressed a-hole of the room would make me uncomfortable. It also bugs me when people try to make excuses; "I might have to touch something dirty, etc." Heck, in my job there's no telling what I'll be doing that day. I may be sitting in the office all day with little/no human contact, I may be out of the office, interfacing with other people all day, I may be racking 100lb servers in the Data Center, I may be crawling around in a drop ceiling running network cable, or I may be cleaning up toner out of a copier that some moron dumped all over the place. But, because my job frequently requires me to interact with students, staff, faculty, upper administration, or even administration of different Colleges, it's imperative that I dress professionally, and you know what? It's not that big of a deal. I keep a pair of jeans and a polo at work for the "dirty days" as I call them and change as needed, and I quickly got used to the "less than super-comfortable" attire. But, I think you hit it on the nose with "dressing like you respect yourself." How am I to be convinced you have self respect when you're standing in line at the grocery store in your pajamas at 2 o'clock in the afternoon? Or if your juvenile "suns out guns out" attitude leads to you being at a sit down restaurant in a sleeveless shirt and camo-patterned cargo shorts? But heck, people pay EXTRA for jeans with holes already in them, or pre-faded\worn, so sometimes it's clearly a style choice some of us just don't understand.

[High octane]

Yeah, it was the first Carnival we've been on, probably will be the last. They seem to cater a lot more to people with kids and the party crowd. That said, we got a 7 day cruise for less than $800 for the two of us, so I suppose you can't expect too much. We had a balcony on the Royal Caribbean cruise and it was okay...it was nice to have a somewhat private balcony, but we don't spend that much time below deck, so short of a cruise with 3+ sea days, I wouldn't pay for it again. I'd like to take a Panama Canal cruise...our next one with either be that or an Alaskan cruise. 

We went on the Alaskan cruise on Celebrity Cruise Lines two years ago, and the trip was great. We also had a balcony so we could see a lot like whales, glaciers, float planes,and the Inside Passage. My better half would never book a cruise without a balcony.

[crazyjim]

When I retired in 2001, I got rid of the ties and suits.  Normal attire nowadays is shorts and T-shirts.  Dressing up is a shirt with buttons and a pair of clean blue jeans.  I broke down a few years ago and bought a sport coat to wear over the jeans and button down shirt (mostly the flowery Hawaiian type of shirt).

[Agent G]

About half of my 36 year career was spent in a detective bureau of some sort. Most of that time I was in an assignment where coat and tie were required. Other that actually going out and buying the clothing, I never minded one bit. Of course there's always the one suit that, when worn, brings additional work. I had one beautiful custom made affair that every time I wore it, we got the call for a fire death. I was finally ordered to never wear it to the office again. 

G

[crazyjim]

I've had double vision since the first part of April and have spen 2 full days up at the Gainesville VA.  The 1st day was in the ER all day and the 2nd was for an optomologist.  They wanted to do a special blood test that takes 2 weeks to get the results and then schedule an appointment with a neurologist.  They think I might have myasthenia gravis.  The blood results are back.  I called the neurologist trying to get my May 20 appointment moved up and was told she has only 2 clinics a month and she's already overbooked for May 6 & 20.  Next available date is in July.  I called the patient advocate to see if there's anything she can do to help.  I really can't believe the VA has only 1 neurologist.  And if that's the case, then send me to 1 across the street at Shand's since the 2 places work togther all the time.

 

Building models with 1 eyed closed is not fun or easy - no depth perception.

[SfanGoch]

How am I to be convinced you have self respect when you're standing in line at the grocery store in your pajamas at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

Well, that's how Harvey Keitel dressed whenever he strolled down to Tribeca Wine Merchants to pick up some wine. He'd stroll the four blocks to the wine shop wearing pajamas, a beat up robe and old man slippers. With his money, he doesn't need to  convince anybody about anything. Pajamas were also preferred professional attire for Vincent "The Chin" Gigante, former head of the Genovese crime family. Nobody questioned his self-respect because he wore PJs. If you did, you'd end up under four feet of concrete as part of an office building foundation. Vinnie appreciated a good gag.

 

[Tom Geiger]

Where did our society go wrong? Back in the old days, people wore a suit for outings like walking on the boardwalk. This postcard is postmarked 1907 in Asbury Park, NJ. Walk that same space today and you will see a lot of skin!    I remember going on an airplane when I was a kid, circa 1966 and everyone was dressed in a suit.  Of course I had one on too. That signified to me that this trip was something special.  

My grandfather was of that era and if he was going out to dinner, he put on a suit.  In fact in his retirement when he was living with my parents he'd get up each day, get dressed and put on a tie.  I don't want to go to that extreme, but that's how old customs were.

The one that drives me nutz today is when you go to a good restaurant and there are guys in there wearing baseball caps.  What ever happened to the standard that a gentleman didn't wear a hat indoors?   

 

Edited April 25, 2016 by Tom Geiger

[Harry P.]

Where did our society go wrong? Back in the old days, people wore a suit for outings like walking on the boardwalk. This postcard is postmarked 1907 in Asbury Park, NJ. Walk that same space today and you will see a lot of skin!    I remember going on an airplane when I was a kid, circa 1966 and everyone was dressed in a suit.  Of course I had one on too. That signified to me that this trip was something special.  

My grandfather was of that era and if he was going out to dinner, he put on a suit.  In fact in his retirement when he was living with my parents he'd get up each day, get dressed and put on a tie.  I don't want to go to that extreme, but that's how old customs were.

The one that drives me nutz today is when you go to a good restaurant and there are guys in there wearing baseball caps.  What ever happened to the standard that a gentleman didn't wear a hat indoors?   

Agreed. When a society has "standards," it's a better society IMO. Call me old-fashioned... and maybe I am. But when we had standards, we were better off.

[Ace-Garageguy]

To quote Harry: When a society has "standards," it's a better society IMO. Call me old-fashioned... and maybe I am. But when we had standards, we were better off.

 

Shopping when I was a kid...            

 

...and now.  

  

Edited April 25, 2016 by Ace-Garageguy

[SfanGoch]

Ballplayers used to dress formally, too. Take a gander at the 1851 New York Knickerbockers:

Why, folks in the 19th century dressed properly for a day at the beach. Check out all the gorillas with dicers on their nuts.

 

Edited April 25, 2016 by SfanGoch