Clubhouse Grille (*** NO LIV DISCUSSIONS ***) (*** NO POLITICS/RELIGION ***)

[Soloman1]

14 minutes ago, SnowbirdTom said:

 

I'd like to meet the engineer that thought having to pull the entire intake system off my Jeep to change the spark plugs was a brilliant cost saving move.  My BFH would like to teach him a few things.  These guys need to spend time actually working in the service department of their local dealership for a year as an apprentice.

 

 

it was too easy to change plugs before.

 

 

 

 

probably an executive decision to add time and complexity to raise the costs to the user. why charge $X, when you can charge $3X? dealers or other mechanics makes more money. convenience and efficiency is not a feature in the car business.

 

why do a filling if you charge for a root canal?

[Conrad1953]

3 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

It's that hot there already?

 

Yep, mid 80s to low 90s. The good thing is it's not a humid heat this early. We're still having

lows in the high 50s to low 60s. The humidity cranks up later in July and August and then

we'll have lows in the low 70s with highs in the 90s. 

[Soloman1]

there are only 3 mobile carriers in the usa - verizon, t-mobile, and at&t.

everyone else just pays to access their systems.

 

it's against the law, but they did it anyway and got caught. all three sold your phone data to anyone who wanted to buy it. where you go, who you call, what you access on the internet - texts, emails - everything to anyone. years and years of it is stored.

 

the fcc fined them some pocket change. for example, if you did it and made a $1 million selling it, you were fined $2,000.

 

the message being that it's profitable. keep doing it and we'll fine you again. and again. and again.

 

some members on the fcc thought the fine was too much. the ones who used to work for the companies, or were lobbyists for them, and are now supposed to oversee.

 

it doesn't matter anyway, fines are always paid by the customers. just raise the rates or add a fee.

 

this is where the market argument falls flat again. the market people will say, "just use another company." there are no other companies who follow the law. the market is rigged.

 

[Double Mocha Man]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

 

 

it was too easy to change plugs before.

 

 

 

 

probably an executive decision to add time and complexity to raise the costs to the user. why charge $X, when you can charge $3X? dealers or other mechanics makes more money. convenience and efficiency is not a feature in the car business.

 

why do a filling if you charge for a root canal?

 

I had a Mercedes once... you could go in the trunk and there were panels with big thumbscrews so you could remove them and easily get to the brake lights, turn signal bulbs, etc.  User friendly.  Same with the headlights.  Not anymore.

[bscinstnct]

1 hour ago, Soloman1 said:

there are only 3 mobile carriers in the usa - verizon, t-mobile, and at&t.

everyone else just pays to access their systems.

 

it's against the law, but they did it anyway and got caught. all three sold your phone data to anyone who wanted to buy it. where you go, who you call, what you access on the internet - texts, emails - everything to anyone. years and years of it is stored.

 

the fcc fined them some pocket change. for example, if you did it and made a $1 million selling it, you were fined $2,000.

 

the message being that it's profitable. keep doing it and we'll fine you again. and again. and again.

 

some members on the fcc thought the fine was too much. the ones who used to work for the companies, or were lobbyists for them, and are now supposed to oversee.

 

it doesn't matter anyway, fines are always paid by the customers. just raise the rates or add a fee.

 

this is where the market argument falls flat again. the market people will say, "just use another company." there are no other companies who follow the law. the market is rigged.

 

 

Sure, the whole planet knows where I buy my socks 🧦 but remember when there was 

 

One phone 📞 company!

 

Cost like $900 to make a few call to another state 

 

You call to complain and they like,

 

Oh yeah? How bout we disconnect your phone and you send smoke signals?

 

🤣 🍻 

Edited May 2 by bscinstnct

[miamistomp]

 Shot 7 over on the par 3 today. Holes between 100 and 175 yards. Tiny greens and found that Pro v1 stops well on there

 

If you like guitar at all - listen to this Irish young lady

 

 

[Conrad1953]

8 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Sure, the whole planet knows where I buy my socks 🧦 but remember when there was 

 

One phone 📞 company!

 

Cost like $900 to make a few call to another state 

 

🤣 🍻 

 

Ya, I don't care what is known about me or my buying habits etc. 

 

5 years ago we were paying $200 a month just for our 2 cell phones with Verizon.

 

Now we are paying $198 month total for our 2 phones, internet and internet TV with Spectrum.

 

Spectrum's been doing some good deals the past few years.

 

 

[Soloman1]

35 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Sure, the whole planet knows where I buy my socks 🧦 but remember when there was 

 

One phone 📞 company!

 

Cost like $900 to make a few call to another state 

 

You call to complain and they like,

 

Oh yeah? How bout we disconnect your phone and you send smoke signals?

 

🤣 🍻 

 

yes, they broke up into baby bells and nothing changed! 🙂

 

ok, from now on, i’m only posting happy stuff.

 

its thursday martini night. (2 x per week) and making fried chicken, mashed potatoes, stuffing (it’s not just for thanksgiving, ya know), gravy and some random green stuff to keep from being starch shamed.

 

using tempura for the chicken coating. yum!

[braincramp52]

9 minutes ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Ya, I don't care what is known about me or my buying habits etc. 

 

5 years ago we were paying $200 a month just for our 2 cell phones with Verizon.

 

Now we are paying $198 month total for our 2 phones, internet and internet TV with Spectrum.

 

Spectrum's been doing some good deals the past few years.

 

 

Whoever watches what my habits are is going to be very bored.😅

[Conrad1953]

26 minutes ago, braincramp52 said:

Whoever watches what my habits are is going to be very bored.😅

 

Same here. Bored as a hosel.

[bscinstnct]

1 hour ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Ya, I don't care what is known about me or my buying habits etc. 

 

5 years ago we were paying $200 a month just for our 2 cell phones with Verizon.

 

Now we are paying $198 month total for our 2 phones, internet and internet TV with Spectrum.

 

Spectrum's been doing some good deals the past few years.

 

 

 

Yo C-Money! 
 

How is the spectrum cell service? We have spectrum cable and Those deals are insane they keep promoting them but we afraid they got no history with cell phones. But I guess they just buy the bandwidth or whatever and take  a loss as they try to sign customers.

 

And do you know how much the service will cost after the promotion price runs out? 

[BIG STU]

13 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Read this morning that some father son team has figured out how to replace single cells in ev battery’s when they go dead.  ( Tesla only replaces the whole pack for $20k) Has a 376 car long appointment list.  Estimated to take 3 years to get caught up.  But then - supplier of the cell parts he sourced magically dried up.  As in can’t get the parts.  So he’s only left with the option of scavenging for used parts.  Taking one car to fix 4-5 cars. 🤣. Now the wait list is 5 years long.   
 

either the chickens are coming home to roost , or…. This is planned obsolescence by an industry that doesn’t want guys like ME horning in.
 

cited reason for cell loss. “ direct correlation to the number of times it had been on a supercharger “   Went on to say “ slow charging will prolong life by 80-90 %.  Or more “    Folks who’ve dealt with batteries already knew this. 🤣. 
 

this is like burning $100 bills to stay warm , in a house where the ac is stuck on 55….when you could just walk outside.  Where it’s 80 I just can’t deal with this level of stupid.  

LOL it is like us and the wood stove in the winter. We can run the stove and be comfortable all winter. I always shop around for wood. I can buy a long bed pick up full of wood split and delivered for like $110 a load. Cheaper than that this time of the year when people have wood cut and need money. Yesterday I was at Kroger and they have those bundles that the yuppies burn to stay cute I guess. In the winter those bundles sell for $8 or so. They were down to $3 a bundle. I bought all 10 bundles and as SOP for me loaded them into the Caddy. Of course got stares from the idiots that have evidently not seen anything in their life. Hey was not going to go across the street and get the van no need. They also had a sale on some canned stuff and I got like 10 cans of Beenie Winnies and some other canned stuff. Hey hurricane season is approaching. When we get hurricane watches you ought to see these idiots running around like mad stocking up on stuff.

It was either last winter or the winter before. We had a big cold snap. About 3 months later it was chilly but I was working in the shop. The meters for like 6 trailers are on the back of my property. The power guy was checking mine. I asked what was going on (even though I knew) He goes these people their electric rates are down pointing at my meter. I laughed and said I know as I pointed to the smokestack on my trailer smoking some. Yep in the coldest weather our bill is around $35 to $45 a month. Now summer it is higher with the AC going. I can run my house darn near all winter off of wood for what it costs me a month with electric heat going. Yeah it is a little work bringing wood in and cleaning out the stove but hell I need the exercise.  

[BIG STU]

8 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Ya, I had to take a day off from golf to mow the lawn and vacuum the pool. Tough day in the

heat. I miss the cool breezes of winter already.

 

I wish I could engineer a reversal where the long hours of daylight are in the cool season

and it gets dark at 4:30 in the hot season.

I did the grass last week and we have not had rain so I am good on that for now. Got to do the annual "House Bath" as I call it. Going to Home Depot and get the stuff today. Need a new brush because mine is like 10 years old and worn out. Like my yard work I do it in pieces. Work get tired and rest. Like I told one of the nosy transplant neighbors. I own and run this job and this is my Union and my rules I run it like I want to. 

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

Retirement is highly underrated!  Hurry up and join the rest of us slackards.  We’ll wait for ya on the first tee. 😁🏌️‍♂️

LOL really enjoying it for now. My body is now finally getting back to where I was before my accident in 2020. Back on my diet not really doing anything exotic just cut back on eating habits some and getting exercise. I am back playing my steel shafted blades and putting conventual style again with a short putter. Even played my Hickory shafted clubs on the Par3 last week. First time for those in 3 years.

I am usually over at Kroger at 6:00 on my golf days. Used to be I was at the Circle K getting a Bacon Cheeseburger or a Burrito for breakfast with a bag of meat skins or chips. No more I am at Kroger getting a fruit, nut and cheese bowl. Sometimes get pre cut Cantaloupe or Melon. Snack on fruit or grain bars during the round. I have plenty of energy during and after the round. Quit eating the post round 2 hot dogs. Feel 110% better.

LOL the other morning had a nice lady ask if I was headed to work? I told her I was headed to the golf course. She said well nice you work at a golf course. I said well I do I work at shooting the lowest score possible and beating everyone i can out of money. She had the Deer in the Headlights look. One of the cashiers that knows me and the wife said "Stuey I think she was trying to pick you up". I told her well you know me and know darn well that ain't going to happen.

[BIG STU]

13 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Check this out.  Man.  I forgot how good he was.  Rip Jeff. 

 

 

I was always a fan ever since Roadhouse. Yep playing down that cut down guitar like a Dobro with only 3 strings. Maybe @aenemated can check in and give us some insight on it. I am a big fan of that song no matter who plays it. i consider that song one of the musical masterpieces of all time.

Now I was never a big Prince Fan but he knocked it out of the ballpark in his Tribute to George Harrison. Accomplished guitar players I know say that is one hard song to learn and play correctly.

[BIG STU]

9 hours ago, SnowbirdTom said:

 

I'd like to meet the engineer that thought having to pull the entire intake system off my Jeep to change the spark plugs was a brilliant cost saving move.  My BFH would like to teach him a few things.  These guys need to spend time actually working in the service department of their local dealership for a year as an apprentice.

Not quite as bad as late 60s mid 70s Corvettes with a Big Block and A/C had to take the engine loose and rotate up to get to the back 2 spark plugs on the passenger side. Drivers side you had to take the steering shaft loose. My first 1969 was a big block no A/C but you had the same steering shaft problem. With just the heater core on that one it was a PITA but doable.

Pontiac had a SNAFU with the big block Firebirds and Trans AMs in the late 70s. You had to cut a hole in the inner fender to get to the back 2 passenger side plugs. People (rightfully so) were raising hell about holes being cut. They ended up doing a retro fit on the inner fenders with a pull out plastic plug slot. They actually did a recall on those to replace the inner fender

Ford had them too. The main one I remember there was on the Pinto besides the gas tanks blowing up was starter replacement. You had to take the motor mount off the passenger side and jack the engine up to get the starter on and off

[SnowbirdTom]

2 hours ago, BIG STU said:

Not quite as bad as late 60s mid 70s Corvettes with a Big Block and A/C had to take the engine loose and rotate up to get to the back 2 spark plugs on the passenger side. Drivers side you had to take the steering shaft loose. My first 1969 was a big block no A/C but you had the same steering shaft problem. With just the heater core on that one it was a PITA but doable.

Pontiac had a SNAFU with the big block Firebirds and Trans AMs in the late 70s. You had to cut a hole in the inner fender to get to the back 2 passenger side plugs. People (rightfully so) were raising hell about holes being cut. They ended up doing a retro fit on the inner fenders with a pull out plastic plug slot. They actually did a recall on those to replace the inner fender

Ford had them too. The main one I remember there was on the Pinto besides the gas tanks blowing up was starter replacement. You had to take the motor mount off the passenger side and jack the engine up to get the starter on and off

I knew there was a few BB engine equipped cars that the plugs were like that.  Just never owned one.  My ‘66 Chevelle SS396 had a huge engine bay. I could stand in it to get at everything. 

[SnowbirdTom]

Grumpy this morning. Been a bad week for golf.  Tried to play yesterday, got hung up behind some seriously bad players and ended up just walking off the course after an hour for three holes.  No marshals to keep pace of play in reasonable order.

 

Woke to steady rain this morning for our weekly Friday gathering of course co-workers. (Work one shift a week for free golf all week)

 

It’s actually been a bad spring with regular rain storms keeping courses super saturated.  Shots are even plugging on the greens!

[bladehunter]

Ok. I’m sitting in the recliner. First coffee of the day and I see this headline scroll across the bottom of the screen.  This is local to us in a way.  I almost spit out my coffee. I’ve heard no national news about this.  Coincidence this great doesn’t exist.  Right ?  

[Fellaheen51]

9 hours ago, Conrad1953 said:

 

Ya, I don't care what is known about me or my buying habits etc. 

 

5 years ago we were paying $200 a month just for our 2 cell phones with Verizon.

 

Now we are paying $198 month total for our 2 phones, internet and internet TV with Spectrum.

 

Spectrum's been doing some good deals the past few years.

 

8 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Yo C-Money! 
 

How is the spectrum cell service? We have spectrum cable and Those deals are insane they keep promoting them but we afraid they got no history with cell phones. But I guess they just buy the bandwidth or whatever and take  a loss as they try to sign customers.

 

And do you know how much the service will cost after the promotion price runs out? 

 

Spectrum here as well.  They use the Verizon cellular network.  We've been on AT&T forever, but strongly considering it's time to make a change.  The deals they are promoting are just to good,  I get an email weekly touting the latest promo.    My old iPhone is beginning to have battery issues, so needing an upgrade (to LiDAR so I can measure my putting distances). Been a few minutes since I've researched it all, but one issue would be if one is a high data user.  Spectrum's 'unlimited' plan isn't, they start throttling speeds after a point (30gb?).  A non-issue for us, we don't come close to that level of data use, wi-fi is pervasive these days.  Our monthly bill is $130 for two phones and 12GB data (used 3 gb last month).  Gotta convince the Mrs. is time for a change.  She doesn't do tech changes or upgrades very well.  I've broached the subject with her, and get blowback.  Thinks she'll have to relearn how to make a phone call, send a text.  Least little hiccup, I'll catch heat.    

 

IIRC, can opt out immediately if not happy with the service.  Been satisfied with Spectrum's CS and Support when I've had to contact them.  There's a large support center 10 miles away when I've had reason to go there (like switching out a faulty box).   I not going to get myself all worked up if the cell companies are watching, selling my usage patterns.  Don't like it, but not much I can do about it.  Other than go off the grid.  I'll leave the getting lathered up about the state of modern affairs to the rest of ya'll.  

 

 

[SnowbirdTom]

We went to T-Mobile three years ago with their Magenta Max 55+ plan.  $45 unlimited per phone.  No issues so far. No contract, no issues dropping without penalty.  We looked hard before switching from ATT'$ contract.  Cut our bill by 2/3 with no change in quality.

[dashanks]

Hey, does anyone else do the puzzles on Sudoku.com and, if so, do they seem to be getting easier?   The only other explanation is that I'm getting smarter and I don't see that happening.

[Soloman1]

you think you’ve had a bad boss? here’s a blast from the past of one i had.

 

i had worked my way through as an engineer, then engineering manager, then a great mentor moved me over to marketing as the next step to eventually being a factory gm. i was still under 30 years old.

 

we were very profitable, thanks to this mentor. a separate division was shut down. it was a financial nightmare with crappy quality and operations. the guy who was that division manager had our good boss fired and he was going to move and run us.

 

the old boss’s office wasn’t good enough. he had to have an 800’ office added to the building with his own bathroom.

 

i’d been working for months to get a new oem customer - siemens. we’d build some of their products, nameplate them for them according to their specs. siemens is huge in the electrical business.

 

siemens moved from wisconsin to raleigh, north carolina. the buyer loved it because he was a golf nut. really nice guy, professional, smart, classy.

 

i’d fly down for meetings on fridays, then take him to play golf on the weekend. we played every course at pinehurst over time and others.  hey, that’s marketing.

 

we built their first couple of orders perfectly. i shepherded those every step of the way. they would give us enough orders in a year to cover the entire overhead of the factory. everything, so it was a big deal.

 

the buyer flies up to the factory and the new big boss wants to meet him, in his new office. i was petrified, because he was such a jerk.

 

he had a huge desk and two tiny chairs in front of it with all of the stupid tricks, like the chairs were 6’ from the desk, and were like dining table chairs with no arms.

 

i take the buyer in to meet him. the jerk boss had a giant ashtray filled with butts and was lighting up one after another. he had his feet on the desk to show off the nasty soles of his shoes after greeting us.

 

the first thing he said to the buyer was:

 

”i hope you’re here to give me more f)@(($ing orders!”

 

so there i was on the titanic. called my old mentor boss the next day, who had been snatched up by a competitor and had about 1,000 people under his wing. I had a factory gm job within 3 weeks.

 

the jerk boss ruined the place and they were sold off within a year and half the people lost their jobs. there were some great, skilled and good people in that factory and i felt bad for them.

 

one jerk with some power can ruin a lot of lives.

 

 

[braincramp52]

4 hours ago, BIG STU said:

I was always a fan ever since Roadhouse. Yep playing down that cut down guitar like a Dobro with only 3 strings. Maybe @aenemated can check in and give us some insight on it. I am a big fan of that song no matter who plays it. i consider that song one of the musical masterpieces of all time.

Now I was never a big Prince Fan but he knocked it out of the ballpark in his Tribute to George Harrison. Accomplished guitar players I know say that is one hard song to learn and play correctly.

The guitar he's playing is just regular Fender Strat Stuey. I t looks like it only has 3 strings because of the angle that the video was shot. I could be wrong but I think he was a good sized dude also which with the strat on his lap makes it look small. He was a monster guitar player and great singer.

[bscinstnct]

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

Ok. I’m sitting in the recliner. First coffee of the day and I see this headline scroll across the bottom of the screen.  This is local to us in a way.  I almost spit out my coffee. I’ve heard no national news about this.  Coincidence this great doesn’t exist.  Right ?  

 

2nd one this year ya know

 

Boeing whistleblower John Barnett found dead in US

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-68534703.amp

[Soloman1]

2nd one died from an infection.

[bscinstnct]

We always talk about how different things are now from “back in the day”

 

But this is interesting,

 

1885 Van Gough “Sale of Building Scrap” vs a scene that commonly plays out today

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 3 by bscinstnct

[nitram]

20 hours ago, bladehunter said:

Check this out.  Man.  I forgot how good he was.  Rip Jeff. 

 

 

One of the best musical events I've ever been fortunate enough to witness was when Healey was part of a Blues ensemble hosted and headlined by Kenny Wayne Shepherd, held at "The Strand Theater" in Shreveport. The encore had Healey, KWS, and Tab Benoit collaborating on a half-dozen songs, including Roadhouse Blues, Night Train, Statesboro Blues, and I can't quit you baby. It's the only time I've ever willingly sat in my seat for an hour after a show, because I didn't want it to be over.

 

Sadly, Healey passed about a year later.

[Conrad1953]

10 hours ago, bscinstnct said:

 

Yo C-Money! 
 

How is the spectrum cell service? We have spectrum cable and Those deals are insane they keep promoting them but we afraid they got no history with cell phones. But I guess they just buy the bandwidth or whatever and take  a loss as they try to sign customers.

 

And do you know how much the service will cost after the promotion price runs out? 

 

1 hour ago, Fellaheen51 said:

 

 

Spectrum here as well.  They use the Verizon cellular network.  We've been on AT&T forever, but strongly considering it's time to make a change.  The deals they are promoting are just to good,  I get an email weekly touting the latest promo.    My old iPhone is beginning to have battery issues, so needing an upgrade (to LiDAR so I can measure my putting distances). Been a few minutes since I've researched it all, but one issue would be if one is a high data user.  Spectrum's 'unlimited' plan isn't, they start throttling speeds after a point (30gb?).  A non-issue for us, we don't come close to that level of data use, wi-fi is pervasive these days.  Our monthly bill is $130 for two phones and 12GB data (used 3 gb last month).  Gotta convince the Mrs. is time for a change.  She doesn't do tech changes or upgrades very well.  I've broached the subject with her, and get blowback.  Thinks she'll have to relearn how to make a phone call, send a text.  Least little hiccup, I'll catch heat.    

 

IIRC, can opt out immediately if not happy with the service.  Been satisfied with Spectrum's CS and Support when I've had to contact them.  There's a large support center 10 miles away when I've had reason to go there (like switching out a faulty box).   I not going to get myself all worked up if the cell companies are watching, selling my usage patterns.  Don't like it, but not much I can do about it.  Other than go off the grid.  I'll leave the getting lathered up about the state of modern affairs to the rest of ya'll.  

 

 

 

Switching cell carriers is a breeze. When I retired we switched from Verizon to Consumer

Cellular. Then a couple years ago we switched from them to Spectrum.

 

You can keep your same number so no having to deal with a number change.  Your new

carrier will walk you through the steps. They may vary slightly depending on which phones

you have and who the carriers involved are. 

 

It's a quick and simple process the day of. Just make sure your old carrier has already

unlocked your phones. 

 

As far as Spectrum's service, they have been great. No issues at all.

 

Since we already had Spectrum internet and TV at home (with a wireless router) we went

into our phone settings and set our phones to look for a wi fi connection first before

using the cell system.

 

Since we are home most of the time that saves us money. We don't need an unlimited

data plan. We opted for 3 Gigs of data for each phone. That got our rate down to $28

per month for BOTH phones, or $14 each.

 

In the 2 years we've had Spectrum, doing that, my wife went over the 3 gig limit once.

It cost us an extra $10 that month I think. I have never gone over the limit on my phone.

 

Now, after 2 years they did increase our price from $28 to $39.98 for the 2 cell lines.

 

 

 

[huskydawg]

Remember in the 90s it was easy to find a job and get trained to do it?  
 

Nowadays, jobs have a big laundry list of requirements. They still receive 100 applications. Some lie and embellish to get their foot in the door.  Maybe they can fake it through an interview. Can’t hack it on the job or not a good fit.  HR decides maybe they need to hire someone with even more years of “experience.” Rinse and repeat.

 

There’s a common problem in IT where you need x years of experience with a tool. But sometimes the tool has been around for less than that amount of years.  Sometimes even the maker of that tool can’t qualify for the demands of these HR departments!  Your application will also probably get lost in the maze of auto-screening programs or AI.  At this point it’s 90% who you know and they’ll push you through the system.