Something Random
- Thread starter ddrueding
- Start date
Alcohol, drugs? :drunk:
CougTek
Hairy Aussie
No : lady. They don't need any drugs.
I know a bunch of people who work there. They're hiring like crazy from what I understand. $100K job is about norm for a dev position. I got an email from BestBuy warning me of the email data breach from their rewardzone program. I haven't notice any extra spam though...in fact I've been seeing a lot less lately.
time
Storage? I am Storage!
Actually, I'm surprised it doesn't happen more often. Some of those multi-story car parks have only a flimsy pedestrian barrier that you wouldn't want to even lean on, let alone push a car against - you wouldn't even feel it.
What's missing is a concrete stop strip. I have no idea how this is legal, but I used to park right on the edge of a rooftop, exactly as I described. It gave me the heebie jeebies driving up to a precipice like that, and particularly when leaving, making extra sure I had selected reverse gear ... But then I have an imagination and tend to be aware of hazards around me.
So imagine yourself twisted around in your seat looking over your shoulder, you push the throttle pedal with your foot, and from your perspective the car lurches backwards. It's confusing and a shock. 99 times out of a 100, you'd manage to find the brake pedal and just be embarrassed. But if your footwear was feminine, or maybe you're a little shorter than ideal, it would be easy to take a second or so longer to bring the car under control.
If you hit the brakes just before the front wheels go over the edge (a distance of 4 or 5 feet in some of these carparks), the weight of the car will be shifted to the front and the rear wheels may lift, negating your braking. You'd just slide over the side, which may well be what happened here.
What's missing is a concrete stop strip. I have no idea how this is legal, but I used to park right on the edge of a rooftop, exactly as I described. It gave me the heebie jeebies driving up to a precipice like that, and particularly when leaving, making extra sure I had selected reverse gear ... But then I have an imagination and tend to be aware of hazards around me.
So imagine yourself twisted around in your seat looking over your shoulder, you push the throttle pedal with your foot, and from your perspective the car lurches backwards. It's confusing and a shock. 99 times out of a 100, you'd manage to find the brake pedal and just be embarrassed. But if your footwear was feminine, or maybe you're a little shorter than ideal, it would be easy to take a second or so longer to bring the car under control.
If you hit the brakes just before the front wheels go over the edge (a distance of 4 or 5 feet in some of these carparks), the weight of the car will be shifted to the front and the rear wheels may lift, negating your braking. You'd just slide over the side, which may well be what happened here.
ddrueding
Fixture
When I lived in Palo Alto we had a number of incidents where people drive forward insead of back when parked in front of a row of shops. They would jump the curb, and many went straight through. Some weren't plate-glass, either. One went through a brick wall an into a daycare. At least a half dozen in the two years we lived there.
Every one an elderly woman in a large sedan. No exception. The AARP is a huge lobby, and they are able to prevent quite a bit of lawmaking in this area.
Every one an elderly woman in a large sedan. No exception. The AARP is a huge lobby, and they are able to prevent quite a bit of lawmaking in this area.
Bozo
Storage? I am Storage!
Careful how you talk about us elderly 
ddrueding
Fixture
A good friend just turned 56 (not elderly), but due to some medical issues, decided not to renew his license. My grandmother is 90 (certainly elderly) gave up her license 5 years ago after an accident happened in front of us that she wouldn't have been able to avoid.
jtr1962
Storage? I am Storage!
AARP's stance against retesting elderly drivers is that it's "prejudicial". Instead, they might support periodic retesting of ALL drivers. This wouldn't be a bad idea in my opinion, but practically speaking it would be a nightmare.
It's a shame more people aren't honest enough with themselves to realize when the point has come that they're a hazard behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. I never obtained a driver's license. Even if I wanted one now, which I don't, I couldn't in good conscience drive. With my carpal tunnel syndrome, it would only be a matter of time before I couldn't steer out of some situation. This is never a problem on a bike because the steering is so much more responsive compared to a cumbersome steering wheel, which is basically a relic from the time cars didn't have power steering. Same thing with the pedals for power/brakes. I could control a car with a joystick quite effectively. The concept would be moving the joystick forward brakes, backwards accelerates, right/left turns right/left. In all cases the amount of steering or acceleration would be proportional to the displacement from dead center. Dead center means the car continues in a straight line at the same speed. To me this all seems so much more instinctual/easy to learn than the cumbersome controls we have in cars nowadays. And response time would be way faster. But since cars aren't made this way, I can't physically operate them for more than a few minutes before numbness sets in. That means local trips only BUT local trips by car make little sense in a place like NYC. The only reason to have a car in NYC is for trips out of the city to places where commuter railroads/Amtrak don't go. I couldn't physically control a car on a trip of that length. Basically then, no good reason for me to ever obtain a driver's license since it would be utterly useless. Can't afford a car anyhow.
In maybe a generation the whole concept of a driver's license will be moot anyway with the advent of AI-controlled cars. As a result, you'll have 50,000 fewer annual deaths, 2 million fewer injuries. I can't wait for this to happen.
It's a shame more people aren't honest enough with themselves to realize when the point has come that they're a hazard behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. I never obtained a driver's license. Even if I wanted one now, which I don't, I couldn't in good conscience drive. With my carpal tunnel syndrome, it would only be a matter of time before I couldn't steer out of some situation. This is never a problem on a bike because the steering is so much more responsive compared to a cumbersome steering wheel, which is basically a relic from the time cars didn't have power steering. Same thing with the pedals for power/brakes. I could control a car with a joystick quite effectively. The concept would be moving the joystick forward brakes, backwards accelerates, right/left turns right/left. In all cases the amount of steering or acceleration would be proportional to the displacement from dead center. Dead center means the car continues in a straight line at the same speed. To me this all seems so much more instinctual/easy to learn than the cumbersome controls we have in cars nowadays. And response time would be way faster. But since cars aren't made this way, I can't physically operate them for more than a few minutes before numbness sets in. That means local trips only BUT local trips by car make little sense in a place like NYC. The only reason to have a car in NYC is for trips out of the city to places where commuter railroads/Amtrak don't go. I couldn't physically control a car on a trip of that length. Basically then, no good reason for me to ever obtain a driver's license since it would be utterly useless. Can't afford a car anyhow.
In maybe a generation the whole concept of a driver's license will be moot anyway with the advent of AI-controlled cars. As a result, you'll have 50,000 fewer annual deaths, 2 million fewer injuries. I can't wait for this to happen.
Howell
Storage? I am Storage!
Well that's what I got just READING your story so I think you're jstified!
ddrueding
Fixture
You guys are wild and crazy in those places. The elevated parking lots I have seen in the US have large tire stops, cables or concrete barriers to stop cars from driving off the edge under normal circumstances. You'd have to be driving like a complete maniac in the parking lot or deliberately trying to break through. Just hitting the gas by mistake would not do it. You'd suffer car damage, but that is it.
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time
Storage? I am Storage!
I found a video that shows that the so-called barrier was just a pipe handrail hung with wire mesh. However, the video also shows that there were concrete stop strips and that they appear to be still intact.
Further digging revealed that the vehicle was a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, and that the driver reversed over the edge of the car park. I would have thought that even a light SUV (albeit 4WD) would have had some difficulty rolling over one of those probably 8" high strips - perhaps she was reversing to turn around?
Further digging revealed that the vehicle was a Mitsubishi Outlander SUV, and that the driver reversed over the edge of the car park. I would have thought that even a light SUV (albeit 4WD) would have had some difficulty rolling over one of those probably 8" high strips - perhaps she was reversing to turn around?
ddrueding
Fixture
I suspect a variant of Hanlon's Razor applies here. Except replace "malice" with "inadequate engineering".
DrunkenBastard
Storage is cool
http://abcnews.go.com/m/story?id=11660119&sid=81
I have to say I support this guy. I've been tempted to do the same thing but jail seems inevitable. Not guilty/no indictment if I was on the jury,
I have to say I support this guy. I've been tempted to do the same thing but jail seems inevitable. Not guilty/no indictment if I was on the jury,
Howell
Storage? I am Storage!
I say ship in bodyslam boy for a side job.
ddrueding
Fixture
Wow. Getting all my utilities below $500/mo would be awesome.
Howell
Storage? I am Storage!
My utilities (water, elec) in the dead of winter are less than $250. Normally, its about $150. I have a month each in spring and fall where it dips below $100.
ddrueding
Fixture
What about gas, garbage, phone, internet, sewer, and television?
ddrueding
Fixture
I would consider it as such. I pay quarterly and a service is provided by a regionally-selected monopoly.
time
Storage? I am Storage!
All the services you listed probably average $650 per month for us. Some are increasing at phenomenal rates.
Electricity: $200-300
Garbage: >$50
Phone & Internet: >$100
Water & Sewer: >$100
Television: <$100
Electricity and Water are increasing at about 10-20% pA. Water is particularly galling because most of the charges aren't usage based.
Electricity: $200-300
Garbage: >$50
Phone & Internet: >$100
Water & Sewer: >$100
Television: <$100
Electricity and Water are increasing at about 10-20% pA. Water is particularly galling because most of the charges aren't usage based.
Howell
Storage? I am Storage!
No gas or TV other than Hulu.
Garbage and sewer is on the water bill and already accounted for.
Cell phone only and since it and internet are variable depending on personal tastes I left it out. For me it is about another $150.
You?
ddrueding
Fixture
Already in bed for the night, and I've only been here 3 months so far, bur here are my best guesses:
Water: $45 ($5 usage, the rest taxes and fees)
Gas: $25 (about the same ratio)
Garbage: $30
Sewer: $20
Internet: $45
Phone: $29 (vonage)
TV: $20 (netflix)
Electric: $450 (check those F@H numbers again)
Water: $45 ($5 usage, the rest taxes and fees)
Gas: $25 (about the same ratio)
Garbage: $30
Sewer: $20
Internet: $45
Phone: $29 (vonage)
TV: $20 (netflix)
Electric: $450 (check those F@H numbers again
)
Tea
Storage? I am Storage!
Now that is what I call a good night's sleep! I mean, I've heard of sleeping in for the whole weekend ... but 3 months?
ddrueding
Fixture
Revised numbers:
Water: $47 ($6 usage, the rest taxes and fees)
Garbage: $26
Sewer: $20
Internet: $45
Phone: $34 (Vonage)
TV: $20 (Netflix)
Gas&Electric: $420 (Electricity @ $0.37 cents per Kwh)
Water: $47 ($6 usage, the rest taxes and fees)
Garbage: $26
Sewer: $20
Internet: $45
Phone: $34 (Vonage)
TV: $20 (Netflix)
Gas&Electric: $420 (Electricity @ $0.37 cents per Kwh)
ddrueding
Fixture
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
That is some expensive electricity. I pay 8 cents per kwh.
ddrueding
Fixture
The first 284Kwh is $0.12233/kwh. After that it quickly jumps through some intermediary points until you hit $0.40352/Kwh for the rest. Considering I am using electricity for heat as well as everything else, I'm getting clobbered.
Honestly I think a solar system could pay for itself very quickly at these rates. A friend argued that I could even do better with a generator in the back yard paying for gas myself.
Honestly I think a solar system could pay for itself very quickly at these rates. A friend argued that I could even do better with a generator in the back yard paying for gas myself.
timwhit
Hairy Aussie
When I used electricity for heat I got a break in the price I was paying in the winter. Does the electric company know you use electric heat?
ddrueding
Fixture
Nope. I'll look into that, thanks.
ddrueding
Fixture
They are using a natural gas fired power plant 10 miles away anyway, so it isn't exceptionally inefficient.
Pradeep
Storage? I am Storage!
http://www.yamaha-propane-natural-gas-generators.com/fuel_consumption.htm
8.8 hours of runtime with a 2500W 50% load and a 20 lb propane tank. You might need two tanks on a T to get sufficient pressure. I pay about $16 for a 20 lb fill, at - $2 per hour that's nearly $1 per KW excluding any wear and tear and acquisition costs. Still if you can go for a large fixed tank, it could serve as a night time/cloudy weather backup to solar panels, taking over battery charging as needed.
ddrueding
Fixture
Meh. The solar with grid backup is where I would go. I just don't have the ~$25k+ to do it at the moment. We need to install a kitchen first
BingBangBop
Storage is cool
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2009
- Messages
- 667
I live in an Apt. that pays for water/sewer and garbage. They used to pay for Comcast TV+Internet but they decided to increase my rent by dropping that service.
Electricity a steady $30-$40/month the rate is 5.2 cents per KWh
Heat is via electricity but I've never needed to turn it on.
TV ($14/month) + Internet ($45/month) all via Comcast.
Phone via Quest ($35/month for a land-line) and T-mobile ($6/month used as an emergency car-phone only with only 30 minutes per month).
Total utilities: $140/month
My conclusion from this discussion is that utilities cost varies a large amount on where you live and also how you live. I personally strive to live on the cheap end of the spectrum. I would love to be able to dump my land-line for something like Magic Jack but I've heard horror stories and they can't transfer my phone number anyway. I'm not willing to give it up since I've had the same number for 40 years. My internet service is my one big luxury item.
It's all nice and fine to go solar but that is expensive. I think it is a better solution, just to minimize your own usage first. Turn stuff off when not being used or when you leave the room. Use cold water to wash clothes. Turn down your water heater temp rather than diluting the hot water with cold to get a comfortable temp. Wear a sweater rather than raise the temperature of your thermostat. I have a similar philosophy in regards to cars -- Drive less (bicycle, walk, car-pool, bus, etc.) and drive slower rather than buy an expensive hybrid, electric, or sports car.
Electricity a steady $30-$40/month the rate is 5.2 cents per KWh
Heat is via electricity but I've never needed to turn it on.
TV ($14/month) + Internet ($45/month) all via Comcast.
Phone via Quest ($35/month for a land-line) and T-mobile ($6/month used as an emergency car-phone only with only 30 minutes per month).
Total utilities: $140/month
My conclusion from this discussion is that utilities cost varies a large amount on where you live and also how you live. I personally strive to live on the cheap end of the spectrum. I would love to be able to dump my land-line for something like Magic Jack but I've heard horror stories and they can't transfer my phone number anyway. I'm not willing to give it up since I've had the same number for 40 years. My internet service is my one big luxury item.
It's all nice and fine to go solar but that is expensive. I think it is a better solution, just to minimize your own usage first. Turn stuff off when not being used or when you leave the room. Use cold water to wash clothes. Turn down your water heater temp rather than diluting the hot water with cold to get a comfortable temp. Wear a sweater rather than raise the temperature of your thermostat. I have a similar philosophy in regards to cars -- Drive less (bicycle, walk, car-pool, bus, etc.) and drive slower rather than buy an expensive hybrid, electric, or sports car.
ddrueding
Fixture
I believe in reducing energy consumption through technology, but sacrificing comfort is to be avoided. I have special-order windows more efficient than the local guys had ever seen. I've insulated the house to near Norwegian specs even though I live in central California. The water heater I'm planning on getting is the most efficient in the world, same with the heat pump, and all my power supplies are 80+ Gold. However, we've been known to take 40+ minute showers and my wife likes the bedroom at 72F all night (not my thing, but that is marriage for you). I have about 600W continuous draw at the house from playing with F@H, which at $0.40/Kwh is a very expensive choice. My cars get good mileage, but then I drive them very quickly, and we drive often on weekends to distant destinations for meals to "get away".
ddrueding
Fixture
$4.85/gal - the most I've paid for 91-octane in a long time.