Complaints | Piss and Moan

Small dollar

Posted on October 16, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán on Pexels.com

Trying to sell your used stuff online is a challenge. I have talked about his before and the trials of unreliable people and people not following though, etc., etc., etc., …let’s just say I guess I like seeing the worst in humanity so I can complain about it. Glutton for punishment maybe?

Anyway, I have several items up for sale at the moment and they are only $5 items. Nothing big, nothing complicated and not looking to make bank.

Yesterday, I had someone contact me about one of those $5 items asking if I could meet him for a sale. If course, he wasn’t in my area and was a minimum of a 45 minute drive away.

Him: “Could you meet me in _________________?”

Me: “Sorry. That is at least 45 minutes away and I am not willing to travel for such a small dollar amount. If you are going to be in ____________________ in the next couple of days I would be happy to meet you.”

Him: “I can’t drive that far.”

Huh? Whatever. Seriously, dude? You’re gonna contact me over a $5 item and have me spend my time and money to bring it to you? Not happening.

These are rhetorical questions and I know the answers already, but “Are people really that stupid? Are people really so wrapped up in themselves that they don’t consider others and what they are asking?”

We are sunk. As a people, a human race, we are sunk.

Defrost

Posted on October 14, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Programmers for my car’s electronics got it wrong. Not sure what the thought behind it was, but it’s irritating nonetheless.

My 2018 Kia Niro has been a great car, but after having it a year now there are a few things that bothersome. They are probably small things, but you know when you spend that much money on things you want to make sure people have spent time on the little things because that’s what makes it stand apart from the others.

Well, there are two issues that both have to do with the way the Defrost functions work.

First, the defrost for the windshield has a weird setting. When the function is set to be used, the fan automatically comes on at Level 3, EVERY TIME you start the car and no matter where it was previously set. Thus, it starts blowing cold air the second the car starts. I am constantly turning down the fan. I do like to always have the fan running for air glow, but it would really be nice if it just stayed at the level I set it rather than resetting itself every dang time.

Finally, the Rear Defrost button does’t have an automatic turnoff timer. It just stays on and on and on, until you look down and see it is still on and turn it off. How stupid is that? I think every car I have own previously had an automatic timer on that function.

I was recently asked if I had found anything I didn’t like about the car. There are very many things I could name off. These were two that came up right off the top of my head.

Biting

Posted on October 10, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by ciboulette on Pexels.com

Certain situations and certain people leave you silent. Not by choice, mind you, but because you know it will be better for you in the long run. Ok, it is by choice, but you have to because there isn’t really an alternative.

I am talking about biting your lip (some would also bite their tongue) in order to keep from saying something you’re gonna regret- even if it is the truth.

I am getting tired of doing it. That’s my point. I am tired of biting my lip. I am tired of biting my tongue. I am tired of walking on egg shells. I am tired of all the other cliche sayings for holding back.

I am afraid. I am afraid that if I let go and say what I feel, think, want…well, that dam is rather large and it is rather full…there will be a sweeping flood of destruction. That flash flood will not leave much in it’s wake.

So, I keep biting.

And biting.

Expectations

Posted on October 8, 2019 by backuphill

reflection photo of man standing on dirt road

Photo by Rodrigo Souza on Pexels.com

I’ll admit, I have a problem.

The problem? I have too many expectations. I don’t think I am an unreasonable person, but I do think that having expectations in the current days is slowly becoming an exercise in futility.

I expect that people mean what they say, and say what they mean.

I expect that people will be responsible for themselves.

I expect that people will own their actions, or inaction.

I expect that people will follow through. That they will honor their word.

I expect that family members will be productive citizens when they come of age.

I expect that my rights as a citizen of the United States are paramount to those of a non-citizen (obviously within limit as I am not a lawless individual).

I expect that the media should be fair and balanced.

I expect that my tax dollars are used for legitimate needs.

I expect that good customer service can’t be compromised.

I expect that respecting our elders and law enforcement is a given.

I could go on. But I won’t.

It doesn’t seem that there is a point to having expectations any longer. Yes, we all have our own expectations but there used to be those that everyone agreed upon and that just simply isn’t the case any longer.

What do you think? Is it unreasonable to have expectations these days?

Blah

Posted on October 7, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Leonardo Rossatti on Pexels.com

Just blah.

Blah, blah, blah.

After a few days of feeling under the weather, a Monday is the last thing I want. Oh, and work.

Who wants to work, on a Monday, anyways?

I am sure I could find 1000 other things I could be doing rather than being at work.

Not sure I am completely recovered, but I am on the mend.

How are you feeling today? Are you fully ready to tackle a new day? A new week?

Stuffed

Posted on October 4, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Not that serious of a post today.

I am home sick because the office crud has finally caught up to me and I am feeling under the weather.

Headache. Stuffy nose. Run down.

It’s fine, right? I should have gone into work, right?

Anyway, simple post today just to whine about health for a moment.

How about you? Do you tough it out and go to work or do you stay at home the first inkling of a cold?

Overstep

Posted on October 3, 2019 by backuphill

contemporary gradient handrails perspective

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Government overstep is the first step to oppression.

Government redefining language for a political purpose.

Government control of thought and speech.

Government gone wrong.

Government legislating what you can or can’t say is a step in the wrong direction.

New York is shamefully destroying your rights in the name of “protecting” others’ “rights.” It is playing politics and redefining language in order to make political point. They have been doing it for a long time and this is yet another step in the wrong direction.

“Illegal alien” is now illegal to say in the state.

This is all kinds of wrong because changing facts and definitions of words to suit your agenda is beyond absurd.

Legal = you followed the law.

Illegal = you didn’t follow the law.

Alien = relating, belonging, or owing allegiance to another country or government

So, by looking at the definitions that are agreed upon internationally and also defined by law in the same manner, you are an illegal alien if you are a foreign person who lives in a country without having official permission to live there.

There is no gray area there. You are either legal or illegal.

Even if you entered the US by following the law, but stayed beyond the time set by law upon your arrival, you are illegal. There also is no gray area here.

The government has become the oppressor.

The government has overstepped its design and usefulness when it takes such actions.

…When…it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, …to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. … But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. …

– Declaration of Independence, 1776

As we see governments overstepping their bounds and interfering in the daily lives of every day citizens (at the literal and figurative expense of citizens for non-citizens), then the words of the document become more and more relevant.

History has a way of repeating itself.

You’re a liar

Posted on October 2, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Arthur Brognoli on Pexels.com

Unpopular opinion alert!

I am sure someone’s toes are about to get stepped on. It’s fine. Really. You’ll live. You aren’t “holier than thou,” or anyone else for that matter.

I am getting tired of people making the following statement:

I’m not racist.

Why am I tired of it? Well, because it simply isn’t true and you are lying to yourself.

Every one of us has racism built into us. It’s part of our human condition. It’s not something that can be eliminated. We are built to be naturally wary, scared, skeptical, cautious, (whatever you want to call it) about people who are different than us.

When you have that fleeting moment go through your brain about someone different than you, whether it is based on a stereotype or actual experience, that is racism. Denying that it happens isn’t dealing with the truth.

What you do with that fleeting moment determines the degree of your racism. Yes, there are degrees racism. There have to be because some people are better at fighting their natural instinct that others. Is it just a passing moment? Is is something you dwell on and allow to affect your thoughts and feelings? Is it something that you act upon? Therein lies the challenge. What you do with it makes the difference. Can you train yourself not to act on your racism. I believe so. Can you train yourself to eliminate the fleeting moments completely? Nope. I don’t believe so.

Let’s stop pretending racism can be eliminated. It just can’t be. Can actions and words be eliminated? Maybe. We can make people so fearful of actions that they just don’t do them anymore. Think of the reverse Pavlov’s Dogs experiment. We can make sure people are so averse to acting or speaking on their racism that they are afraid to be around other people or go into society. Is that what we really want or need to do? Doubt it. It might actually make things worse. Just a theory, but I think we are getting to that point as we see governments try to legislate what or how you think.

Is racism bad? Of course. There is no debating that. Can it be eliminated? No.

What do you think? Talk amongst yourselves…

Dropping truth

Posted on October 1, 2019 by backuphill

man in red crew neck sweatshirt photography

Photo by bruce mars on Pexels.com

HA! And double HA! HA!

Got someone in your life that likes to say, “We should get together sometime.”

HA!

Don’t count on it. Don’t hold your breath. Don’t get too excited. Don’t bet the farm on it.

It is basically a blow-off. It basically means, “Yeah, I don’t really want to get together with you but I am trying to be nice.”

Really, if they meant it, they would plan something right then and there. The truth is, nearly everyone carries their calendar on their phones in one form or another. That age old excuse of “let me check my calendar” is exactly that. An excuse.

If you’ve heard it and it didn’t happen, I am sorry someone lied to you.

If you’ve said it and didn’t follow through, quit being a jerk.

Truth.

Not the fairest in the land

Posted on September 30, 2019 by backuphill

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There was a clear loser yesterday in the fast food wars. The food from a fast food restaurant was anything but royal.

Headed out of town yesterday and so busy getting ready that I forgot to grab something to eat while at the house. It was an hour drive to the destination, so I wasn’t going to make it without a little food. I remembered there was a Dairy Queen along the route that was easy to get in out of, so it seemed like a decent place to hit the drive thru.

From time of order to food through the window, it was 18 minutes. Not fast food by any means. I happened to notice the time I placed the order because I was on a little bit of a time crunch by then. The line ahead of me in the drive thru was moving very slowly, so I started tracking how long it was taking.

Once back on the road, the food came out of the bag. It wasn’t pretty. Not at all.

Now, I realize it is fast food and the expectations aren’t for gourmet food. However, there is some expectation that the food is decently hot and, after that long of a delay, that the food is relatively fresh. Expectations shattered.

The fries were limp. Crispiness wasn’t even close to the vocabulary. Soggy is more like it. Slightly warm, maybe just above room temp.

The burger was warmer than the fries, but the bun had the consistency of being in the warmer and wrapper for 20 minutes. It had been microwaved to be warmed back up, while still in the wrapper. That much was obvious.

Crappy food after an 18 minute wait. Interesting. Disappointing. Since I was already down the road and running behind, I certainly wasn’t going to turn around and ask for new food.

Mental note made: Don’t stop at the Dairy Queen. Ever.