Things that annoy me (1 Viewer)

[jazzeum]

After spending hundreds of millions on "infrastructure" it is still apparently too expensive to bury the power lines. Even in places where they are a hazard. Some of the recent deadly fires have been started by downed power lines. Billions in damage and heavy loss of life in Hawaii and California. Those are places where there are high fire risks and wind. Not a good combination. How about getting the military to bury the power lines in those places if it is too expensive? It seems like a national security issue that justifies the cost.

The amount of unburied power lines is staggering. To bury them would involve not just burying them but securing leases or rights of way. The cost would be quite expensive. It’s a big problem in the NE. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we had linemen from the South working in our area and they were surprised by the amount of overhead lines. It’s not that way where they come from.

 

[GICOP]

I use the self scan and/or check out in two supermarkets I use regularly, Tesco and Aldi here in UK, yes there is occasionally something that you need help with or approval of, as in Booze, but I seldom have to queue, unlike for the cashiers, which is why I use them. Though as you say Matt, they're not into conversation ! :wink2::tongue:

I use the hand held Smart Shop in Sainsbury's + you get the bonus of NECTAR points and personalise cut price offers every week :salute::

 

[Horus]

I use the hand held Smart Shop in Sainsbury's + you get the bonus of NECTAR points and personalise cut price offers every week :salute::

And those Nectar points come in handy when buying K&C etc on ebay !

 

[Combat]

The amount of unburied power lines is staggering. To bury them would involve not just burying them but securing leases or rights of way. The cost would be quite expensive. It’s a big problem in the NE. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we had linemen from the South working in our area and they were surprised by the amount of overhead lines. It’s not that way where they come from.

We need an FDR-like government program to bury them. At the very least in the high fire and storm risk areas. The cost of this most recent event in Hawaii will be billions - not to mention the death toll. The electric companies will be sued and driven into bankruptcy as they were in California recently. The disruption and national security implications justify the cost. Think about how much money was spent or wasted on COVID relief. And they have no second thoughts on sending hundreds of millions to Ukraine. The money is there. Unfortunately, our government is reactive. They would rather pay billions after the disaster rather than millions before.

 

[Terp152]

The amount of unburied power lines is staggering. To bury them would involve not just burying them but securing leases or rights of way. The cost would be quite expensive. It’s a big problem in the NE. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, we had linemen from the South working in our area and they were surprised by the amount of overhead lines. It’s not that way where they come from.

But there could be a rqt to bury new power lines. Some cities and states, Maryland since 1968, have mandated that.

 

[Terp152]

After spending hundreds of millions on "infrastructure" it is still apparently too expensive to bury the power lines. Even in places where they are a hazard. Some of the recent deadly fires have been started by downed power lines. Billions in damage and heavy loss of life in Hawaii and California. Those are places where there are high fire risks and wind. Not a good combination. How about getting the military to bury the power lines in those places if it is too expensive? It seems like a national security issue that justifies the cost.

THere was a discussion to do that in Louisville yrs ago after a huge ice storm knocked out the power for two weeks in some places. Determined to be cost prohibitive. Something over $1M per mile. A ridiculous amount to dig a trench with a backhoe and lay cable (I know I'm over simplifying the process).

 

[Combat]

James Harden is making over $30 million per year with the 76ers and he is calling the owner names in the press. This is the same guy who sided with China when the owner dared to criticize it. The same guy who just had a lousy season. You have to wonder at these guys. Harden makes more money for bouncing a ball than almost any person in the world will earn in a thousand lifetimes. And he is unhappy.

 

[OzDigger]

We need an FDR-like government program to bury them. At the very least in the high fire and storm risk areas. The cost of this most recent event in Hawaii will be billions - not to mention the death toll. The electric companies will be sued and driven into bankruptcy as they were in California recently. The disruption and national security implications justify the cost. Think about how much money was spent or wasted on COVID relief. And they have no second thoughts on sending hundreds of millions to Ukraine. The money is there. Unfortunately, our government is reactive. They would rather pay billions after the disaster rather than millions before.

In 2009 a power line failure caused the largest loss of life from a Wildfire in Australia at 119 people and over 2000 homes destroyed. I believe the Hawaii loss will be higher by the time they finish the searches.

The sad fact is that risk assessment versus cost means they won't change to installing All power underground, especially high voltage lines as it requires additional infrastructure underground. In Australia all new housing developments use underground power but converting earlier installations is hugely expensive, many billions of dollars.

It's more cost effective to make homes less vulnerable to fire.

 

[Combat]

In 2009 a power line failure caused the largest loss of life from a Wildfire in Australia at 119 people and over 2000 homes destroyed. I believe the Hawaii loss will be higher by the time they finish the searches.

The sad fact is that risk assessment versus cost means they won't change to installing All power underground, especially high voltage lines as it requires additional infrastructure underground. In Australia all new housing developments use underground power but converting earlier installations is hugely expensive, many billions of dollars.

It's more cost effective to make homes less vulnerable to fire.

We just sent another $200 million to Ukraine. The US could afford a New Deal-like program to at least bury the power lines in the high-risk areas. It will never get done, though. Our politicians only act when it is in their own interest. Money to the military comes back to them in terms of political campaign donations, jobs for supporters. That is why the US has been involved in continuous wars for almost 100 years. A corrupt system.

 

[tdubel]

I was at our local grocery store when an employee tried to get me to get out of a regular line to try self-checkout.

I politely told him no to which he responded I’d be doing the same thing my cashier was doing.

I told him that the difference was my cashier was getting paid to do it.

He smiled and said, “good point, have a nice day…..”

Fing Priceless! Love it.
TD

 

[jazzeum]

I was at our local grocery store when an employee tried to get me to get out of a regular line to try self-checkout.

I politely told him no to which he responded I’d be doing the same thing my cashier was doing.

I told him that the difference was my cashier was getting paid to do it.

He smiled and said, “good point, have a nice day…..”

I always use self checkout. So easier.

 

[tdubel]

I always use self checkout. So easier.

depends on the technology and the store. That said, agree with Jason, person has a job, should do the work. I feel like I go to a store, perform all the work, should be a discount.

IMO
TD

 

[Beaufighter]

I always use self checkout. So easier.

I avoid self checkout and will wait in line.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...self-checkout-supermarket-germs-b2236859.html

 

[OzDigger]

We just sent another $200 million to Ukraine. The US could afford a New Deal-like program to at least bury the power lines in the high-risk areas. It will never get done, though. Our politicians only act when it is in their own interest. Money to the military comes back to them in terms of political campaign donations, jobs for supporters. That is why the US has been involved in continuous wars for almost 100 years. A corrupt system.

Military spending is a separate issue, and I tend you agree with your assertion.

If a company has to install powerlines underground, costs will be passed on to the consumer in some way.

As I said earlier, underground High voltage lines require a lot more infrastructure than domestic voltage, with much higher costs. Power lines above ground can be separated by distance in the air, and are easier to insulate from each other, and Earth.

Domestic voltage lines are relatively easy to instal underground in flat land, and where there are no existing utilities. With domestic power, you're only dealing with say 110 to 240 volts, depending on the country. High voltage technically starts at 1,000 volts, however in longer distance power lines your looking at 100,000 volts, minimum, that amount of power is very problematic which is why High voltage lines are rarely installed underground.

I would think they will be more mindful of keeping vegetation down in the easements for above ground powerlines lines in Hawaii in the future, sparks and dry grass etc dont mix well.

 

[Combat]

Military spending is a separate issue, and I tend you agree with your assertion.

If a company has to install powerlines underground, costs will be passed on to the consumer in some way.

As I said earlier, underground High voltage lines require a lot more infrastructure than domestic voltage, with much higher costs. Power lines above ground can be separated by distance in the air, and are easier to insulate from each other, and Earth.

Domestic voltage lines are relatively easy to instal underground in flat land, and where there are no existing utilities. With domestic power, you're only dealing with say 110 to 240 volts, depending on the country. High voltage technically starts at 1,000 volts, however in longer distance power lines your looking at 100,000 volts, minimum, that amount of power is very problematic which is why High voltage lines are rarely installed underground.

I would think they will be more mindful of keeping vegetation down in the easements for above ground powerlines lines in Hawaii in the future, sparks and dry grass etc dont mix well.

The utility company that started a recent fire in California was sued for over $13 billion dollars. The fire did billions in damages that was paid for by insurance and government relief. A similar lawsuit is being filed with undoubtedly similar results in Hawaii. A hundred or more people burned to death in Hawaii. We can send people to the moon. There must be a way to figure out how to bury power lines in high-risk areas. I agree that if US government contractors were hired for the job, the cost would be ureal due to the opportunity for corruption. Another problem in the US is not only the power lines but they have allowed over building in hurricane, fire, and earthquake areas. So every incident has a massive impact due to all the folks who are allowed to build in those areas.

 

[jazzeum]

I avoid self checkout and will wait in line.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-...self-checkout-supermarket-germs-b2236859.html

One British study but no others so until I see others I wouldn’t be concerned. In the stores that I use they’re cleaned regularly just as much as the non-self checkout lines.

 

[Combat]

I've said it before, but I continue to be amazed at how understaffed most businesses are in the post-pandemic world. Where have all the workers gone? The folks who used to be a waitress, cut hair or perform any ordinary task appears to have decided that they will no longer work those jobs. Is it the COVID relief money? Other opportunities that weren't available before?

 

[Warrior]

I go to McDonalds maybe two or three times a year to eat, it's either on the way home from a toy soldier show or coming back from buying a collection when I'm in a hurry, I always go through the drive through.

It never, as in ever fails; I get behind a minivan with a soccer Mom or Dad taking the kids for a meal and as in the case yesterday, they drop 65.00 and it takes forever to get my food.

Here's a hint; the drive through is for SMALL orders; if you're going to order enough food to feed an army, get out of your van and waddle inside and order it there, by the time they were done, there were about 10 cars behind me all torqued off at the long wait.

Just another reason to avoid McDonalds.

 

[theBaron]

I go to McDonalds maybe two or three times a year to eat, it's either on the way home from a toy soldier show or coming back from buying a collection when I'm in a hurry, I always go through the drive through.

It never, as in ever fails; I get behind a minivan with a soccer Mom or Dad taking the kids for a meal and as in the case yesterday, they drop 65.00 and it takes forever to get my food.

Here's a hint; the drive through is for SMALL orders; if you're going to order enough food to feed an army, get out of your van and waddle inside and order it there, by the time they were done, there were about 10 cars behind me all torqued off at the long wait.

Just another reason to avoid McDonalds.

I always go inside, when I get fast food. 8, 9, 10 suckers waiting in the drive-through lane, no one in the lobby. I almost always get in and out before the second car is through.
And that includes waiting at a register to talk to a person to give my order, too. I don't use kiosks, like McDonald's has, nor do I order online. I found the kiosk user-unfriendly, and it's actually more of a pain to screw around with online ordering apps, than it is to give my order in person.

Prost!
Brad

 

[theBaron]

I've said it before, but I continue to be amazed at how understaffed most businesses are in the post-pandemic world. Where have all the workers gone? The folks who used to be a waitress, cut hair or perform any ordinary task appears to have decided that they will no longer work those jobs. Is it the COVID relief money? Other opportunities that weren't available before?

Still getting "relief" in one form or another. Or are still unemployed, all unemployment insurance or "relief" has run out, and they're not looking for work, so they're not counted in the unemployment numbers.

We never should have shut down, in 2020.