Frustrations of the Modern World

There isn't anything more frustrating than when something that usually works, stops working. Imagine, you're set to watch your favourite match on TV, or your favourite show (either the premier or the final) and your TV doesn't work.

You might take it calmly.  You might rationalize that machines sometimes break.  The key word in that sentence (for me at least) is the you.  You might, but I simply can't.  When I expect something to work, like the TV or computer, and it doesn't, I flip my lid.  I go absolutely ballistic.  Imagine a cartoon character...... you get the point.

I was all set to check something out on streaming video and it didn't work.  I haven't sworn like that in ages.  My poor cat was probably wondering why I was so worked up.  He probably hasn't heard that language since the hard drive in my last computer was so clogged that it took an hour just to do the startup routine.  I slapped that machine silly, in addition to teaching it all the expletives I knew in English, Japanese, Spanish, French and Korean.  That's right, I showed that machine who's boss.

Is it wrong to expect things to work?  Is that how disposable society has become?  When was the last time a machine made you so angry?

The problem has been fixed...without machine homicide...and it probably wasn't my machine, but something that originated at the source....but it still made me angry.

The Do Not Call List

I put myself on the do not call list because I didn't want anyone to call.  What I understood was except for charities and government pollsters, I would be left to go about my business undisturbed.

This does not seem to be the case.  Since going on the do not call list, I have been bothered at least once a week (though often more) by people offering to clean my air ducts.  In fact, as it is Saturday morning, I suspect that one of these calls will happen any minute now.  I can't really express how much this bothers me...though I have tried to express it to these people on a number of times.

I know how she feels

Some of the things that I have done to register my displeasure, beyond swearing, name calling, and other acts of hostility include one of my favourites.  I answered, they asked to speak to me, then I offered to go and get the person they were referring to.  Then I waited a minute and told them to wait a little longer.  I repeated this step for about 10 minutes.  To what end?  Besides personal satisfaction, I probably kept 10 other people from being bothered that day.  Sadly I couldn't stop it from happening another day.

Do any of you have any strategies?  I'd love to hear them.

Get Out of My Way

 

 

Suitcases with telescopic handles and actually functioning wheels is are a great idea.  Fantastic.  My first luggage set came with casters (which are not wheels, no matter what you think) and was more likely to tip over than casually trail behind me at the airport.  So, I welcome these great inventions.  However, whatever person thought that they should replace their briefcase, or purse, or whatever they pack all their work or school crap in and take them to public places should be publicly flogged.

On my bus journey there are a couple of these offenders.  Their bags stick out into the aisleways, they take much more time to get on and off the bus, and worse, while navigating the space between the bus and the subway platforms, they weave all over the place cutting people like me off.  When you have to pull a trailer on your car, you need to do some training (don't you)?  These people seem incredibly oblivious to the large rolling mass behind them.  They don't seem to care that my feet get run over, or that I trip when the seemingly uncontrollable need to move side to side strikes these rolling suitcases of death.

I could write about idiots with backpacks that clunk into people's heads with alarming frequency--certainly there is a special place in hell for them (hopefully next to the idiots with their MP3 players turned up too loud, or next to room full of overly loud cell phone users who talk about mostly inappropriate topics)  I could write about any number of clearly foolish people.  Right now, though, I need all my venom for people and their large rolling suitcases.

What are they transporting to and from work that they need such a large bag?  If I was their boss, I would certainly be wondering if corporate espionage was behind it.  Either way, they take up too much space, and seem always to be in my way when I have places to go.

Like Nails on a Chalkboard

 

For the most part I am an easy going person.  Okay, that's probably an exaggeration, or probably an outright lie.  A lot of stuff bothers me.  I created this blog so I would have space to vent my frustrations with the world.  Today, it has to do with things people and their inability to pronounce things in Japanese.

What's so difficult?

I know it is already too late for words that entered English in the 1980's.  Nobody will every pronounce karaoke correctly.  The same goes for words like karate, sake,  and hibachi.  Sometimes there is nothing we could do; our inability was decided by companies and names were changed to reflect that.  Words like Mazda, Datsun, Godzilla (all of which are not written, spelled, or pronounced that way in Japan) were given to us, already altered.

The sad facts are that we change lots of words to English friendly pronunciation.  I certainly don't pronounce Volkswagen the way my German/Austrian/ Swiss students do.  I could (though I let them think it is impossible) but I don't.  It wasn't until I was in my mid twenties that I realized the word Braun, sounded exactly like brown. As a Canadian, I try a little harder to pronounce things in French--but don't we all?  I can't do that lisp like sound from Spain...though I have tried.

But I digress.....

Having a fondness for Japanese, I do wish it were pronounced better on television.  Maybe I am playing favourites, but it's my blog and I can do what I want.  And I want people to pronounce things in Japanese better.

Several things sparked this rant.  The first is that stores are now selling Japanese style breadcrumbs.  I think this is great, because the breadcrumbs are a great product.  What I don't think is great is that people can't pronounce "panko".  It drives me absolutely nuts every time that commercial is on.  It has gotten so bad that I have to quickly change the channel.

The second thing is the TV show American Ninja--no, I am not going to blather on about the word ninja, and stuff like that.  On the show, the final obstacle is called Mount Midoriyama...... yama means mountain.  Mount Midori Mountain.   It's worse than fingernails on a chalkboard.  Couldn't anyone do some research before they decided that was the title of the final obstacle.  Mount Rushmore Mountain?  Mount Everest Mountain?  Are your ears bleeding too?

Am I asking too much?

Making Life More Difficult

 

 

Sometimes modern electronics are frustrating.  Who thought that charging things up while you are using you computer is in any way easier than plugging them into the wall?  I don't have an unlimited number of USB ports.  I can't plug in everything.

Yes, it isn't difficult.  I agree.  However, every time I unplug the printer to plug in my MP3 player, or my Kobo, or my camera, or any other device, the printer decides to go into test mode and waste my ink spitting out a useless piece of paper.

Basically, it's a pain in the ass.

I have seen iPhone users utilize some kind of wall charger, but that seems to be the exception as opposed to the rule.  Of course, I have also seen a bunch of these people forget their charger in the wall and walk away.  So I guess that really isn't a solution.

I guess, in the future, homes and offices will have USB charging plugs right alongside the electrical outlet.  I am eagerly awaiting that day.

Snowplow--More Priorities Out of Whack

Isn't it always the way.  You get all your winter crap on:  your boots, your gloves, your toque (winter hat, for all you non Canadians).  You get out there, work up a sweat (even worse sometimes, but I don't really want to joke a bout some poor old guy having a heart attack) and finally the driveway and sidewalk are clean.  Then, you hear that dreaded noise.

The snowplow.  Invaluable for making the roads clean, driveable and safe, and perhaps the most frustrating device ever created for the man or woman who has just finished plowing their driveway.  All that work gone for nought.

I have no idea  when the snow plow was invented.  I know they have been around since World War II at least.  I live in a country where they come in all shapes and sizes.  I've seen huge ones, and ones that fit onto an army jeep.  Someday, some half drunk backyard mechanical MacGyver wizard will probably rig one up to a bicycle. (I did a quick google search, and its already been done...I should have known)

Nevertheless, despite years of innovation, despite incredible engineering, the snow plow still manages to plow me into or out of my driveway.  Finish cleaning and it will come past my house and form a perfect barrier between me and the street.  Go out for a quick errand (maybe to the beer store) and come back to find that I have to shovel my way back onto my driveway (or try to ram myself through, and get stuck, and not get to drink the beer I just went out to get).

I have heard that there is an invention to prevent this, but I have never seen it.  If it exists, please tell me, or better yet tell the town council, how I can get this machine to plow my street.  We have superfast internet, but we I still face a mountain of snow  before I can go to work.  Once again, our priorities seem completely out of whack.

Dealing with a Courier Company

My package arrived undamaged, but ....

Nothing is as frustrating as sheer incompetence.  I am not talking about small mistakes, or mix ups.  I am talking about outright incapability.  For the past two weeks I have been a victim of this incompetence, and I need to share it with you.

Not long ago (actually longer ago than it should have been) I ordered something from US Amazon (Amazon Canada does not have nearly the amount of stuff available elsewhere in the Amazon world).  The problem is that this was through an affiliate website.

I ordered a train display case.  Shortly after the order was taken and paid for, I received a confirmation email stating that my package was sent--actually it wasn't .  After waiting a month, and my package not showing up, I sent an email wondering what was going on.  I was informed that my product was on back order and would be shipped the following week.  No apology was given and my next two emails were ignored.

Now I know this sounds bad (and I agree that it is, and I won't buy things from these people again--though, had they offered me an apology, I would have given them the benefit of the doubt) but that wasn't the worst of it.

The package was sent by UPS.  On Monday, I arrived at home to find a notice stuck to my front door informing me that I had a package awaiting delivery and notifying me that some money was owed before delivery could be made.  It also mentioned that they would only try three times.

In retrospect I should have had the package delivered to my place of employment. I chose not to so that I wouldn't have to lug this over-sized box on public transportation and incovenience other people.

Well, I called them and told them to try and deliver it on Friday.  I expected to be home that day, and could receive the package.  Of course, ignoring everything I said, they attempted delivery the next day.  I started worrying that they would try again on Wednesday and then I would have broken the aforementioned 3 attempt rule.  I called again and Friday delivery was confirmed.

Casually, I asked them about the package and they mentioned that it was 7" x 7" x 7".  This certainly wasn't the kind of train display case that I had in mind.  The one I was expecting was supposed to be 36"x18"x2"  I quickly became convinced that this was not my package.  Just to be on the safe side, I asked several employees whether these were actually measured, or just randomly generated.  Twice I was told that this was done by some kind of scanning laser. (I sent an email about this to the original seller, but never received a reply)  So I told them not to deliver the package and return it.

Surprise, surprise, on Friday they attempted to deliver the package.  I called, and they informed me that delivery was attempted at 7pm.  As I was home, and not sleeping or listening to loud music, and my doorbell works, that wasn't true.  I arrived home at 5 and found the notice on my door.

I called and reminded them to send back the package.  This didn't require too much effort.  I just had to answer the same questions and wait for the same confirmation I had gone through a couple of days earlier--I guess practice makes perfect.

The original company called me and told me that I would lose the shipping money if I returned the package.  I called them back and hashed it out with the customer service department.  (I still received no apology but in the end I decided to accept the package at my work and brave the ride home on the bus).

I called UPS and told them all of this.  I even found out that I could pay the small fee I had to pay over the phone (though this was never mentioned in my numerous calls to them).  I instructed them to send the package to my place of employment.  They said it would not come the next day, but would take an additional day.  By this point, the word whatever had become my go to world.

They were correct.  The next day the package didn't show up at my work.  However, when I arrived home it was propped up against my door.  I guess it was a miracle.

In the end, I got my package.  However, the process was far from painless, the courier company pretty much ignored every request I made, and the manufacturer never once said sorry for sending me a completely false confirmation letter.  I guess customer service is pretty irrelevant to some people.