So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

Edward · Mar 23, 2020

If I could find a mechanical one, I'm very tempted by one of those one-hand, 24 hour dial watches that box you in to telling the time to within five minute increments.

Interestingly, I remember reading a peice of research a couple o years ago that suggested those woh keep time to the nearest five miuntes or so are much more likely to be punctual than those who insist on being accurate to the last minute / second.

tonyb · Mar 23, 2020

^^^^^
I don’t know who first observed that 90 percent of success is showing up on time (or something to that effect), but I’ve found that in many endeavors it’s true.

It’s not the punctuality alone, of course. But those conscientious enough to reliably show up on time are generally reliable in most other regards.

Trenchfriend · Mar 26, 2020

Are fixed showerheads really that common in the US?

3fingers · Mar 26, 2020

Trenchfriend said:
Are fixed showerheads really that common in the US?

As in rigid, non swiveling or swiveling but permanently attached to the shower arm? The answer to both is yes, with the swivel type being more prevalent nowadays than the rigid type. Showerheads on a hose or some similar arrangement are not rare but not as common as the other types.

tonyb · Mar 27, 2020

^^^^
Shower wands — which can be had cheap and which any knucklehead can install himself — are among the things that have a guy slapping his forehead and saying, “What took us so long to come up with this?”

Wheels on suitcases is another.

Edward · Mar 27, 2020

tonyb said:
^^^^^
I don’t know who first observed that 90 percent of success is showing up on time (or something to that effect), but I’ve found that in many endeavors it’s true.

It’s not the punctuality alone, of course. But those conscientious enough to reliably show up on time are generally reliable in most other regards.

TBH, I think it's also basic politeness. I've encountered a few high flying lawyers, both professional and academic, in my time who made a point of showing up five minutes late for everything to imply that they were so important they were always busy and you were lucky to have their time. Most often this was a complete pose and they looked the worse for it.

Zombie_61 · Mar 27, 2020

Trenchfriend said:
Are fixed showerheads really that common in the US?

Yes, because broken showerheads usually get replaced.

Trenchfriend · Mar 28, 2020

Bruised my left ankle very hard, yesterday in my kitchen. Ouch! New experience for me. Little swollen and feeling numb at the moment. But it's getting better. Rinsing promptly and extensive with cold water, was the right decision.

tonyb · Mar 28, 2020

Zombie_61 said:
Yes, because broken showerheads usually get replaced.

He’s here all week!

Hercule · Mar 30, 2020

Annoyance du jour: Modern "slim" suit / jacket styling. I'll never understand the attraction of wearing a suit that looks like you outgrew it. Looks ridiculous in my opinion.

KILO NOVEMBER · Mar 31, 2020

Any time I see someone in a suit like that "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" leaps immediately to mind.

GHT · Mar 31, 2020

Hercule said:
Annoyance du jour: Modern "slim" suit / jacket styling. I'll never understand the attraction of wearing a suit that looks like you outgrew it. Looks ridiculous in my opinion.

KILO NOVEMBER said:
Any time I see someone in a suit like that "Pee Wee's Big Adventure" leaps immediately to mind.

You can add to that, no shirt, no shoes, just a 'T' shirt and trainers. Our press would disagree though, David Beckham, seen here, was described as dapper.

tonyb · Mar 31, 2020

You could throw a stained, threadbare bedsheet on some guys and they’d look good.

A thin — unusually thin — guy can pull off that slim-fitting suit look. For the rest of us, wearing anything even remotely snug-fitting just draws attention to the unfortunate lumps and bumps.

Hercule · Mar 31, 2020

No, they pretty much all look stupid if you ask me. My son's high school music teacher subscribes to that style. A man in his 40s and he looks like he's wearing the same suit he wore in high school.

tonyb · Mar 31, 2020

^^^^^
You’re absolutely right.

Feel better now?

BegintheBeguine · Mar 31, 2020

LizzieMaine said:
I've come to think that writing skill is an inborn talent. It can be nurtured by education or not, but an education can't really give that skill to someone who doesn't already have a strong aptitude in that area. And if everybody had that talent, we'd all be (insert your favorite author here.)

If you look at a lot of old letters from ordinary people, you begin notice how many of them are made up of the same trite phrases taken from "phrase books" and "model letters" without actually expressing original thoughts. "Thought I would write you a few lines to say I am thinking of you. How are Aunt Bess and the kids. We all here are fine. The weather here has been cold but what can you do ha ha. Ed is getting more hours down to the foundry but he thinks they will put on a new man soon. The dog got sick the other day and we had to put her down. It was too bad she was a good dog except for biting the milkman. He got better but he was some mad. Well, that is all I have to say from here. Write soon, we like to hear from you." Sure it's clear, but does it actually say anything?

My niece went to the same school system I did, but thirty years later. I had 1940s-era Dick and Jane readers in elementary school. She was taught "whole language." She published a book a couple years ago and made more money with it than I did with mine. So I guess that's something.

As for math, I think Tom Lehrer said it best...

I don't know what book your niece wrote but I thoroughly enjoy your Amos 'n' Andy book every time I read it.

BegintheBeguine · Mar 31, 2020

LizzieMaine said:
When your cat kneads her feet on your pillowcase and makes all sorts of little cigarette-burn type holes in the cloth, and then you run that pillowcase thru the wringer when it's full of water, the water will squirt out those little holes under high pressure and hit you in the face. I bet a lot of people don't know this.

Why was this never in a slapstick movie?

KILO NOVEMBER · Mar 31, 2020

Hercule said:
No, they pretty much all look stupid if you ask me. My son's high school music teacher subscribes to that style. A man in his 40s and he looks like he's wearing the same suit he wore in high school.

Mid-forties, high school, no, he's far too young to have worn a suit in that cut when he was in high school. The last time suits cut like that were fashionable, that teacher's father was in high school.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...AIQjRxqFwoTCNiFyIHExOgCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE[/IMG]

Trenchfriend · Mar 31, 2020

Now, it's out! Not a bad thing!

Germany got the plan to buy 90 new EF Typhoon AND up to 45 F18 Super Hornet to replace the aging Tornado and the first series of EF Typhoon!

GHT · Mar 31, 2020

KILO NOVEMBER said:
Mid-forties, high school, no, he's far too young to have worn a suit in that cut when he was in high school. The last time suits cut like that were fashionable, that teacher's father was in high school.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url...AIQjRxqFwoTCNiFyIHExOgCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE[/IMG]

The suit without lapels, some did slavishly copy The Beatles, but in my experience most of my cohort found the look far too gimmicky.

So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

Edward

tonyb

Trenchfriend

3fingers

One Too Many

tonyb

Edward

Zombie_61

Trenchfriend

tonyb

Hercule

Practically Family

KILO NOVEMBER

One Too Many

GHT

I'll Lock Up

tonyb

Hercule

Practically Family

tonyb

BegintheBeguine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

BegintheBeguine

My Mail is Forwarded Here

KILO NOVEMBER

One Too Many

Trenchfriend

GHT

I'll Lock Up

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