I live in a large condo community, probably a few hundred units with golf, tennis 3 pools and some restaurants. I live on the 2nd floor and considering to buy a bike for some exercise but there aren't any bike racks near me. My choice is the drag the bike up the stairs or use the elevator. The problem with the elevator are signs restricting people only (they complain if you are carrying luggage) and a weight restriction.
I called the president of the HOA and asked if there would be a chance to install one rack by the courtyard entrance. She said no. They decided that no one living there is young enough to ride a bicycle. I thought WTF... no one is young enough?
So I brought up the subject of permission to take the bike into the elevator. She didn't have an answer and asked the weight of the bike... Less than 50 pounds was my response and she said she would place a call to the elevator company.
I assured her the woman in the electric wheelchair at the end of the building wouldn't be restricted access to the elevator! That's one of the reasons they were installed.
She said she would get back to me on that.
It's been 4 days and I've heard nothing.
No one living there young enough to ride a bike??
I was going to add a comment to my 'arrogant' blog but this story deserves a blog of it's own.
About 6 years ago, I did a job with a client who is the top of the list of a-holes.
He described to the salesman everything he wanted for his new kitchen.
Let's say it was $100,000 and he didn't to pay that much.
He told the salesman his budget was $50,000.
Okay, the salesman told him to get to that price, substitutions and value-engineered design changes would have to take place. For example, select cherry was no longer being used. Sequenced grain match to the doors and drawer fronts wouldn't be done either. He agreed to those terms. We went to contract and drawings with specifications was prepared. He picked apart every facet of the details and disputed what he was getting. For example he insisted on select, sequenced grain and the stain & glaze finish to the back side of the doors to be equal to the face.
Again, the salesman brought up his budget. If he wanted select and matching grain the price would be different and he would have to sign a change order. He declined and we proceeded to fabricate.
The job had delays in the flooring. He rejected the materials and installation and the floor contractor had to do the floor again.
We delivered and installed. I inspected the work and it was excellent. It was the kind of project someone would put into their portfolio. The complaints started. Mis-matched grain, stain color unacceptable, cabinets not installed level, seams on the crown moulding were visible. The list was several pages. I hadn't been on the project in a week... it was beautiful, what could have gone wrong?
The installer said "Man, you won't believe what they did with blue tape"
Normally, clients and contractors use small pieces of blue tape to make a few spots that needed touchup or in a bad case a damaged door that needed to be replaced. It's expected to see 3, 4 maybe 5 pieces of tape.
I walked in and a 'blue tape blizzard' of easily 50 spots marked unacceptable.
The client backed up his story with a letter from his attorney and a statement from the General Contractor that it was the worst job he has ever seen. Remove all the doors and mouldings and replace them or he would sue. We did and he rejected them again. He had a meeting with his attorney and the owner of the company I was working for.
They agreed the client would pay the difference from regular cherry doors to select grade and we went a third round of door replacements. Weeks had passed and the clock was running out as the client had a deadline to move in or we faced paying his rent on the apartment we was staying at during the construction.
They never asked for my opinion, I was told order the select doors. I did and again he rejected half of the doors. I stopped and told the owner 'This guy is out for blood. There is nothing we can do to satisfy him' and we should have given him his money back after he rejected the 2nd round of replacements.
It went to court. Despite our multiple attempts to make this right, to my surprise, the judge sided in with the client. They settled for giving him nearly all of his money back.
All that time wasted trying to appease the client was stealing valuable materials and factory time we could have been working on profitable jobs.
This week, I dropped off samples to the same design firm I did that project with.
The office manager remembered me and the company I was working for at the time.
We agreed the client was an a-hole and the design firm actually did another project with him.
No different, the manager said. I'm told he rejected more than half of the work in his house and ended up suing many of the sub-contractors.
A 26 year old woman blamed her GPS when her SUV got stuck going down a flight of stairs at a parking garage. Police seem to think it was her excessive blood alcohol level!
Sad but funny...
Story link here:
May I start a new month with you?
I submitted my quarterly corporate tax returns yesterday... before the deadline.
Corporate and personal taxes are on extension.
Nothing new.
In my business I often come in contact with people who are extremely wealthy. Sometimes it's not direct, as in the case of a client who hires a designer and I only deal with the designer (or design firm) never having a one-on-one experience with the end user. However, it's close enough to know some things about the client, their business, and personality quirks.
Some examples when more direct contact meeting with a client is when they are business first and you cannot get their attention. Usually, they are focused on (cell phone) conversations that interrupt the meeting. Sometimes, it's 40 minutes late to a meeting and they make their 'grand entrance' with important (to them) reasons for the delay while 3 other people are waiting on them to begin.
My car is under manufacturers warranty and I'm entitled to some free oil changes. I booked an appointment about a week in advance and they confirmed by email.
The email also contained an advertisement.
The next day, I received another confirmation of the appointment and like the first, it contained an advertisement. The third day... you guessed it. Another reminder of the appointment along with an advertisement. Okay... Enough.
I clicked the unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email and 2 more days of emails and advertisements. Obviously they are unaware I clicked the link to unsubscribe.
We're past the oil change. While I was there, I looked at one the the new models for 2022. It's not what I expected, nor am I inclined to pay $6,000 over sticker price, give a deposit and wait 4 to 6 weeks for a car to arrive. However a few emails came through from the dealer... sales rep and one from the sales manager. That unsubscribe button is getting lots of use so I actually replied formally requesting they stop sending me emails.
Sheesh!
Don't call me, I'll call you...
I check a site called giveawayoftheday that offers free software each day. Typically, it's less known authors looking for feedback to better their products. Usually the products are offered without technical support or updates, some are only free licenses good for a year and after stop working or continue with less functionality. I avoid about 98% of these offers and uninstall the trial ones if they don't suit my needs. Over the years, I've found lots of nice free programs, mostly in the music, graphics or utility areas.
Being free comes with a catch as they usually have a nag screen to get you to upgrade to the paid version. Some try to sell you on other selections they offer. I make it a point to uncheck other free offers when installing the one I want to try as many installations have rogue software that mysteriously come with the package. I'll go back to the original offer and give a bad review explaining the unwanted software bundled in the package.
Three months ago, I installed a basic program that saves YouTube videos to disc. Works great and doesn't leave it's name (watermark) on the video it saves. Now ads are popping up when I boot my computer as this selection is in the startup of Windows. I close the program and all is well... except this morning a few minutes after I closed the program, a browser window opened with an offer to upgrade to their latest paid version. If this nag upgrade becomes habitual, I feel a divorce will be sooner than later.
Despite complaints from the muscle car enthusiasts, car manufacturers are moving forward with high-power all wheel drive hybrids and electric models too!
So I'm told, only in America do adults drink milk. That doesn't happen in other countries/cultures. Okay, I could believe that statement.
I like milk and limit it's intake. Fat free milk is too bland so I drink 2% milk.
There is a sophisticated coffee system in my office that pumps refrigerated milk into a heater for different coffee styles. It uses whole milk... if not, you cannot get the frothy top on cappuccino or whatever exotic selection you choose.
They ran out of milk so I bought some during lunch.
I didn't want hot coffee. Instead of sending my selection to the heater, I poured cold milk to black coffee. Yeah, I like it better.
Whole Milk...
The 1962 cartoon series The Jetsons is a look at what family life could/would be in the future where every family had their own flying vehicle. YouTube has dozens of videos of experimental one-man drones labeled eVTOL. Vertical Takeoff and Landing.
While they all make lots of claims like no-license, ultra-safe, long flight times, I haven't actually seen any production models flying around my neighborhood.
This morning another eVTOL popped up on my technical radar. It's called the Jetson ONE. At a cost of $92,000 production for 2022 is already sold out and they have taken lots of orders for 2023.
All but one or two of these concept flying vehicles have the rotor blades at knee level and my first thought is they fail miserably with regard to safety.
While they have a cool 3 minute video of the Jetson ONE, it's promoted as a fun vehicle.
The website calendar shows they booked one per month in 2022 and a list of more than 100 orders booked for 2023. Yeah, maybe lots of people have $92,000 to spare.
Official site:
Someone reminded me that yesterday was 4/20/22. That's significant to people who smoke... dope. Not on my radar. Okay, I've blogged about things like this before.
I once worked for a guy who smoked a few times a day. Actually it was more than a few times. I did freelance work for him on nights and weekends and had to go outside when he lit up as it bothered me.
Anyway, I've read lots of profiles that say they are 420 friendly.
The normal selections ask if you smoke (cigarettes) and drink.
I've seen other sites having a selection for recreational drugs.
That would eliminate surprises dating someone who assumed you took drugs because they do.
If CS does some programming updates asking if someone is 420 friendly could be a selection. The same goes for Tattoos and piercings.
Some people are turned on seeing their mate 'inked up' and having a field for that would allow members to search on tattoos as easily as looking for a redhead.
Years ago I blogged about patenting a device that when pointed at a vehicle and pressing a button it would send a burst of energy knocking out the computer control of the vehicle.
My state of mind at the time was to fry the control making the car (truck, etc.) useless and the person would have buy a new computer chip.
Computer chips are very expensive and in most cases very difficult to replace when basically, all I want to achieve is a simple 'don't cut me off' approach... maybe a more sophisticated jamming device would be suited for this purpose.
When would I use it?
Lots of places. Tailgaters for example. No matter how fast you drive, which lane you use, there are some people who will actually change lanes to follow you and stay 2 car lengths at 70 miles per hour.
One click and Zaaaappp... the computer in their car resets causing the motor to shut off! Good bye tailgater...
I should be in the way to the patent attorney's office, instead I'm heading to work.
(NOTE: For those who don't understand humor in a blog... creating, owning or using such a device would probably be in trouble with the law)
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