What Irked You Today?

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 hour ago, johnyrotten said:

This is the exact thing that is missing in these kinds of occupations...

Thing is, it's not just "these kinds of occupations".

Anyone who uses services on the web (and is at all critical) can see there are far more companies staffed with do-as-little-as-possible and never-check-and-verify-functionality-like-a-real-user than there are companies whose staffs really give a rat's backside about making stuff work well, and have the expertise to do it consistently.

It's rampant in engineering too, with GM's fabled ignition switch fiasco being a prime example. The early failures of a significant number of "wet-belt" systems is another, and anybody who works on production cars regularly has at least 5 "what were they THINKING???" moments every day.

American journalists who misuse words and don't know standard English sentence structure is another class whose work I frequently see exhibiting the results of the "who knows, who cares?" attitude, and even Hollyweird getting a host of technical details wrong whenever aircraft or cars or trains or scary bangy shooty things (to name just a few) are involved is part of the problem too.

     

[johnyrotten]

2 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thing is, it's not just "these kinds of occupations

All very valid points, I will say so myself. To me it's as if a culture of laziness general lack of "care"(omitting the three words) has become commonplace. And the constant "trimming the fat" to make as much coin as possible. Manufacturers now leave it up to the end consumer to do any final quality control, everything is halfway proven,throw it into production. Journalism and cinema both ,in my opinion, have failed and fallen far. You have to read or watch seven articles/programs of any particular real world topic and make your own conclusion it seems. Hollywood tries to remake every hit trying to bank on a nostalgic payday, every genre of movie follows it's same basic predictable plot. Nothing original. Wash,rinse,repeat.

[Bugatti Fan]

In the UK we now have too many universities offering too many 'Mickey Mouse' degrees that are no use to anyone !

Many of the old skills based Polytechnics and Technical Colleges became universities and gradually slid into the same old pattern.

Back when the government was pushing 'Education,education, education' and kids began to believe in the latter that a degree was the be all and end all. Millions were pumped into state high schools to become specialist schools. How many took up Engineering as a specialism? Just 6 ! Unbelievable ! Science and IT fared a bit better, but do you know what? The vast majority of schools elected to go for Arts or. Drama to get easy money. I mean, how many actors and artists does the UK need ?

Kids were not encouraged to take up jobs where they might get their hands dirty like trade apprenticeships and goodness knows we really do need those skills today!  Unfortunately loads of kids were sold a pup when it comes to university courses and many have ended up with useless 'fluffy' degrees and have to take jobs where all they need experience in is how to ask ' Would you like fries with that?'

Edited April 26 by Bugatti Fan

[Ace-Garageguy]

5 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

In the UK we now have too many universities offering too many 'Mickey Mouse' degrees that are no use to anyone !...Kids were not encouraged to take up jobs where they might get their hands dirty like trade apprenticeships and goodness knows we really do need those skills today!  Unfortunately loads of kids were sold a pup when it comes to university courses and many have ended up with useless 'fluffy' degrees and have to take jobs where all they need experience in is how to ask ' Would you like fries with that?'

The USA is in exactly the same boat. And a lot of young people who complain endlessly about "not being able to afford anything", but who consume three $8 coffees daily and can't exist without $1500 phones and $400 sneakers, are in abject panic about the prospect of manufacturing jobs coming back to the States ("ewwwww...icky!!!") even though it was exactly those semi- and highly-skilled jobs that enabled the creation of a well-paid middle class in the first place, with families who could own decent housing on one income.

"Experts" and the management classes "offshoring" manufacturing have pretty much ruined everything.

EDIT: It's my parents' generation that started us down the path to ruin after WW2, my generation that pushed to accelerate the snowball down the hill, and every one since that's been too preoccupied and entitled to do anything about it.

So here we are.   

Edited April 27 by Ace-Garageguy

[Bugatti Fan]

Some school kids were interviewed recently about what they wanted to do for a living after leaving school/college.

One claimed they were going to become a gamer. Another said they aspired to be an influencer.

Both headed for a reality check soon I guess !

 

[Ace-Garageguy]

My ISP is one of the most hated companies in the USA, and for good reason.

It's unreliable, overpriced, and engages in illegal throttling even on the highest available data plan...but it's the only available cable hookup at my current address.

Oh, I'll be such a happy boy when I can kiss their miserable 3rd rate service goodbye forever.

Being stuck in the office chair for a week with broken ribs (and nothing to do but live online or read) has let me see what an entire and total POS these people actually provide.

[TonyK]

When we had some remodeling done I had some good conversations with the older plumber and the lack of interest from the younger generation doing any physical work. Much of what has been mention earlier on this very subject. All these kids go to college to learn how to sit in a cubicle. The plumber emphasized we need to fill positions in the field and they can make very good money and the work isn't all that tough.

Interesting thing was the electricians I had were fairly young and loved their job. Good money and decent work conditions.

So many younger folk don't explore what's needed out in the real world. They just keep following in the footsteps of the ones before them.

[Engine 51]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

The USA is in exactly the same boat. And a lot of young people who complain endlessly about "not being able to afford anything", but who consume three $8 coffees daily and can't exist without $1500 phones and $400 sneakers, are in abject panic about the prospect of manufacturing jobs coming back to the States ("ewwwww...icky!!!") even though it was exactly those semi- and highly-skilled jobs that enabled the creation of a well-paid middle class in the first place, and families who could own decent housing on one income.

"Experts" and the management classes "offshoring" manufacturing have pretty much ruined everything.

EDIT: It's my parents' generation that started us down the path to ruin after WW2, mine that pushed to accelerate the snowball down the hill, and every one since that's been too preoccupied and entitled to do anything about it.

So here we are.   

As a side note, the Packard plant in Detroit, where my dad was a forman. Years ago we drove around it and he was telling me what was done in each area, and the places he oversaw. I sure wish I could have recorded that trip.

[Tim W. SoCal]

Got rained on during work today, (I work outside) got rained on while restocking my service truck, got rained on walking to my vehicle after work, got rained on during my drive home, and I don't know about the rest of the world, but these deficiently skilled drivers on the Southern California freeways tend to panic when a little water falls from the sky, got rained on while I was headed to my mail box and then walking into my house. Now that I'm safe and warm and cozy and dry inside my humble abode, the sun is shining BRIGHTLY!...

[stavanzer]

TMI, but....My wife wanted Tacos. She made lunch from scratch, so I said Why not?

Just got back from Taco Bell.

One Dozen Tacos,$23.80 with Tax.

Almost $25.00 for 12 tacos.

I'm done!

🤬

[Ace-Garageguy]

1 minute ago, stavanzer said:

TMI, but....My wife wanted Tacos. She made lunch from scratch, so I said Why not?

Just got back from Taco Bell.

One Dozen Tacos,$23.80 with Tax.

Almost $25.00 for 12 tacos.

I'm done!

🤬

I feel your pain. I still really like TB occasionally, but the prices are just flat nuts now.

A bag o' stuff I used to be able to get for around $10 before the Bat Flu is now over $25.

[johnyrotten]

My wife and I looked forward to the racetrack opening up today, yearly thing we do. Usually a big swap meet, catching up with people and just getting out of the house after winter. Mother nature had other plans, wind,rain and cold. The track called off racing, the swap meet was 1/4 of the usual. I hope next weekend is better, we've got 3 days planned at Rhinebeck, it's an absolutely huge car show and swap meet. I really don't want a season of disappointment. 

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 4/25/2025 at 8:01 PM, Ace-Garageguy said:

Thing is, it's not just "these kinds of occupations"...

SEE: Iberian blackout

 

 

[Jim N]

On 4/24/2025 at 10:55 PM, stavanzer said:

A two part, First World Irk!

1. Ultrashort power cords on Small Countertop Appliances. Since the Safety-for-All folks decided that small appliances (mixers, blenders, toasters, can openers, small grills, and such-like) are at risk of causing Death and Destruction from the long cords getting tangled or causing mayhem some other way, now all the S.C.A.s have ridiculously short cords. My Small George Foreman Knock-off grille has an 11" cord. So short, I can barely Plug it in to use. The Can Opener? A generous 14" long cord. My house was built in the 1980's and "Blessedly" has huge counters. But, these new appliances can only be plugged in at a couple of outlets. Most of the outlets are on the backsplash (as is normal) but the counters are so wide, that you can barely reach to use the appliance. A minor, but continuously frustrating Irk.

2. Modren Distracted Drivers.....All of a sudden, folks (esp. in left Turn Lanes) are leaving a whole car length between cars. It really makes getting a left turn harder. I've had to wait a whole 10 seconds for a car to clear in front of me before I can turn. 10 seconds sounds like nothing, but many of our local Left Turn lanes are calibrated for on 35-40 seconds. I see it at regular lights now too, much more frequently than I used to.  Folks stop 10' away from the crosswalk, and never pull forward. I see lots of drivers, stop at a light, and then look down at their phones. Some times these same drivers, then miss the light when it turns green......(argh)

However, I don't see phones all the time. I think many drivers, are just worse than they used to be. Distracted, Not paying attention, or just plain old Bad Drivers. There sure seem to be more of them......

Alan, I might have an explanation for the gap between the cars.  People are being advised to leave more of a gap between their car and the car in front.  The reason for this is that if there is an attempted carjacking, the person has room to escape.  You are correct that this does not help when the light is not calibrated for this kind of a gap, but people have to protect themselves as best they can.

[stavanzer]

1 hour ago, Jim N said:

Alan, I might have an explanation for the gap between the cars.  People are being advised to leave more of a gap between their car and the car in front.  The reason for this is that if there is an attempted carjacking, the person has room to escape.  You are correct that this does not help when the light is not calibrated for this kind of a gap, but people have to protect themselves as best they can.

I have not ever heard of that. It is an explanation. Somehow I doubt most of the drivers in Bakersfield are aware of that advice, but it could be true.

[Mark]

I used to question "leaving more space" between me and the vehicle in front of me, but did a rethink a few years ago and started doing it myself.  It "paid off" in November 2023, when someone rammed the back of my car.  Hit hard enough to push one of the rear wheels forward, totalling the car, but didn't push me into the car in front of me.  At least I didn't have to deal with a third party.

Another thing to watch for, if there's a truck in front of you, is a trailer towing ball on an extension attached to their hitch.  They're hanging out there just waiting to poke a hole in the front of your car.  Most of them look to be easily removable, yet these numbnuts won't take the thing off and toss it in the bed or tool box.

[Ace-Garageguy]

On 4/24/2025 at 11:55 PM, stavanzer said:

A two part, First World Irk!

1. Ultrashort power cords on Small Countertop Appliances. Since the Safety-for-All folks decided that small appliances (mixers, blenders, toasters, can openers, small grills, and such-like) are at risk of causing Death and Destruction from the long cords getting tangled or causing mayhem some other way, now all the S.C.A.s have ridiculously short cords.     I'd bet anything the short cords are done in the name of "cost-engineering" to save a few pennies per unit, and marketed as being done for "safety". Sure as H wouldn't be the first time. 

2. Modren Distracted Drivers.....All of a sudden, folks (esp. in left Turn Lanes) are leaving a whole car length between cars...    I started noticing this some years back around here, mentioned it on the board, and was shouted down by people claiming it was "safer" in the event somebody plowed into your butt. I personally believe that most of the dozy phone-obsessed drivers can't multitask well enough to keep a foot on the brake while they're texting, and leaving a car length in front of 'em makes it that much less likely they'll oopsie-roll into the car ahead. That, and I'm seeing a growing number of drivers who seem to have zero sense of spatial awareness, either stopping 10 feet behind the white line at a traffic signal for no reason, or poking their car noses well into the cross-traffic lane when stopped at side streets.

Edited April 29 by Ace-Garageguy

[Rodent]

Two things they taught us in driver training last century:

1. Make sure you can see the rear tires of the car in front of you when stopped at a light. That way, if you get rear-ended, you are less likely to hit the car in front of you.

2. When stopped in a suicide left turn lane, keep your wheels straight. If you turn them to the left anticipating your turn, you will get booted into oncoming traffic if you get rear-ended.

Aside: The teacher that taught me that rear-ended another car right in front of our high school while he was on the way to the other nearby high school that had the cars and facilities for driver training. Messed up his very nice 428-powered '66 Country Sedan 😞 

[mk11]

31 minutes ago, Mark said:

I used to question "leaving more space" between me and the vehicle in front of me, but did a rethink a few years ago and started doing it myself.  It "paid off" in November 2023, when someone rammed the back of my car.  Hit hard... but didn't push me into the car in front of me. .

That seems to be the best reason, as an officer friend explained it to me years ago.

Try to stop where you can still see the bottom of the rear bumper of the car ahead of you.  I've even seen bumper stickers on Las Vegas cabs thanking people for doing so.

[stavanzer]

1 hour ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

 I started noticing this some years back around here, mentioned it on the board, and was shouted down by people claiming it was "safer" in the event somebody plowed into your butt. I personally believe that most of the dozy phone-obsessed drivers can't multitask well enough to keep a foot on the brake while they're texting, and leaving a car length in front of 'em makes it that much less likely they'll oopsie-roll into the car ahead. That, and I'm seeing a growing number of drivers who seem to have zero sense of spatial awareness, either stopping 10 feet behind the white line at a traffic signal for no reason, or poking their car noses well into the cross-traffic lane when stopped at side streets.

It's becoming a Crime to "Notice Things". 

I agree about lack of spatial awareness. It is worse. Look at cars in parking lots. Angled, over the lines, flat out badly parked. There is more and more of it. I fear that many younger generations are lacking in Spatial Awareness due to not learning it as youngsters. I won't pretend to know why this is happening, but I see more and more evidence of it.

[Tim W. SoCal]

54 minutes ago, stavanzer said:

Look at cars in parking lots. Angled, over the lines, flat out badly parked. There is more and more of it. I fear that many younger generations are lacking in Spatial Awareness due to not learning it as youngsters. I won't pretend to know why this is happening, but I see more and more evidence of it.

Not only that, but I am encountering more and more of the younger generations that have been nurtured and indoctrinated to believe that they are most special and no one in the world is as important as they are, if they realize that other people exist at all...

[peteski]

4 hours ago, Jim N said:

Alan, I might have an explanation for the gap between the cars.  People are being advised to leave more of a gap between their car and the car in front.  The reason for this is that if there is an attempted carjacking, the person has room to escape.  You are correct that this does not help when the light is not calibrated for this kind of a gap, but people have to protect themselves as best they can.

That sure is an odd reason I never heard of before now. But whatever  . . .

I assume that this is to prevent damage to the car being hijacked and the car in front and behind it.  Well, that's all well and good, but think about it - how often the hijacked car (not damaged during the initial part of hijacking) is recovered undamaged?  From what I see, when a hijacker is finally apprehended, most of the times the car gets seriously damaged anyway.

My mother also used to do this, but her reasoning was that if she leaves large enough space between her and the car in front of her, if she gets rear-ended she will be far enough not to hit the car in front of her. I thought that was also a silly reason, but what do I know . . .

[A modeler named mike]

Individuals who turn on their blinker to switch lanes and just proceed to come over, I guess they think that gives them the ultimate right to take your right of way, also those who use the merge lane as their personal quick pass everybody so I can be first lane. 

[NOBLNG]

Gullible people got duped again.😕

[rattle can man]

leaving space between cars when stopped is to allow people a chance to get away from carjackers, kid nappers, etc. (or a pickup sliding at you on ice-- been there; I no accident because I had enough space to turn into a parking lot). But a full car length is more than what is needed for evasion, if you actually know how to drive. I guess that is where the lack of spacial awareness comes in?