Random Irritations

Unable to reboot or even do a factory reset of the Firestick we bought for my MiLs un-SMART telly. I’ve had BIG probs getting it working in the past (after a period of downtime) but did manage to get it up and running. This time again after a few months of it not being plugged in - just one big FAIL, no matter what I’ve tried. Will take it home and see if I can ‘jump start’ it in a home telly.
 
I left my job at the end of Sep as the contract had come to an end, but my Line Manager and immediate bosses wanted me to extend as there was still plenty of work. A business case was signed off by the big, big boss first week of Oct. Despite my umbrella company and ex line manager chasing on an almost daily basis, the people who need to sort out the paperwork are still dragging their heels and I am sat at home twiddling my fingers - and the course is shut which isn’t helping. Meanwhile, the work I could be doing is piling up with no one to do it
 
Orikoru said:
Yeah there's absolutely no way I'll be doing that, it would take me about a week. Can't even hang a shelf let alone change a car battery.
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Changing a car battery is pretty simple. Plenty of YouTube videos will show you how. Even if you won't tackle it yourself, there must be dozens of guys at the golf club who will do it for you.

If you do end up needing a new battery, one of the best places to go is Tayna Batteries.
 
cliveb said:
Changing a car battery is pretty simple. Plenty of YouTube videos will show you how. Even if you won't tackle it yourself, there must be dozens of guys at the golf club who will do it for you.

If you do end up needing a new battery, one of the best places to go is Tayna Batteries.
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Not quite so simple if the vehicle has auto stop/start I believe. :unsure:
 
Poor service in restaurants.

Took the daughter out for lunch today. We went to a cafe which had been recommended.

Walked in, the place was about half full. Girl behind the counter just looks at us, no smile or welcome. We sit down and she brings a couple of menus over. No info or drinks offered.

We sit there for ten minutes waiting for her coming over to take our order. Every time I look over, she's got her back to the counter, texting on her phone. I eventually get up and go to the counter. I'm about 6 feet away from her, she's still got her back to everyone. I say "excuse me, can I order some food?". She turns round and says "what can I get you?" (no apology or anything like that).

I tell her the order, and then say "I wasn't sure if it was table service or I'm supposed to order here". "You can do either" she replies with a bored look.

The food comes, and it is really nice. We finish, sit there for 10 minutes. no-one comes over so I look over to try to catch her eye. She is lounging over the counter, chatting away to someone. I go over to the counter, stand there for a minute or two, she carries on her conversation, no acknowledgement of my presence. Someone else comes out from the back and ask if they can help me. I ask for the bill, she gets it and asks if everything was ok? I say "well, the food was lovely" and give a bit of a glare at waitress number 1 who is still shooting the breeze. Waitress number 2 gets my point and looks suitably embarrassed.

I don't expect people to be fawning over me when I am giving them my business, but a friendly welcome and a helpful attitude isn't much to ask for.
 
The rear windscreen washer jets on my Skoda Superb rust up easily and block and won't move. You can prise the jet fitting off, and I have done this and then give them a clean before putting some lubricant on them and putting them back on the car. But it's a pain and a design flaw.
 
Had minor surgery on Saturday and can't run for a week, for someone who needs to exercise pretty much everyday to keep the weight down, it's tough.
 
Robster59 said:
The rear windscreen washer jets on my Skoda Superb rust up easily and block and won't move. You can prise the jet fitting off, and I have done this and then give them a clean before putting some lubricant on them and putting them back on the car. But it's a pain and a design flaw.
Click to expand...

It is., happens with my Octavia. Luckily I drive past the garage I use for servicing on the way to work and they are willing to give it a clean out at no cost when needed.
 
IanM said:
Big Brother is listening???

Talking to a mate today on WhatsApp about where he and his wife are staying tonight.....

...an hour later, on my Facebook feed, an advert for that very Hotel.

Spooky eh?
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Last year my Skoda was rear-ended by a truck.
About an hour after reporting it to the insurers, my wife's phone popped up an advert for secondhand Skodas.
Spooky indeed.
 
IanM said:
Big Brother is listening???

Talking to a mate today on WhatsApp about where he and his wife are staying tonight.....

...an hour later, on my Facebook feed, an advert for that very Hotel.

Spooky eh?
Click to expand...
It would appear so, (Big Brother that this, otherwise known as Mark) but are you really surprised? Not spooky, just a reflection on how tech (AI?) is being used. You’re using WhatsApp, part of the Meta Group, a data gathering company. Looks like they’ve done their job.
 
IanM said:
Big Brother is listening???

Talking to a mate today on WhatsApp about where he and his wife are staying tonight.....

...an hour later, on my Facebook feed, an advert for that very Hotel.

Spooky eh?
Click to expand...

Was having a conversation with a friend yesterday about Cameron’s brewery in Hartlepool. I get an ad today on FB for Cameron’s ales. The conversation was verbal, not via WhatsApp, and Cameron’s brewery is a small brewery with a relatively small catchment area.

Double Spooky? Coincidence?

I vaguely remember that one of the South Korean TV manufacturers had had its wings clipped because their smart TV’s could listen in on conversations… or am I dreaming that bit?
 
You can’t rule anything out any more but usually it’s simpler than it appears. Meta might* not be reading inside WhatsApp messages but it does know things like you and your friend have been conversing. So it looks at what things your friend has been recently visiting and serves you ads based on their history. Conversely they’ve probably been surprised to get ads based on something that seems coincidental to them but normal to you.

The reality is big brother is indeed listening but is doing it in really dumb inefficient and processing intensive ways.

* they definitely are but while they can’t read individual messages (yet) they seemingly do analyse patterns to construct a pretty good profile of what a conversation is about.
 
Double Spooky.

My wIfe's friend recently lost her husband.
Today she found a diamond ring at the side of her kitchen sink.
It was not hers and no one else was in the house. She has rung the three freinds who had been in the house recently and it is not theirs.

Later in the day she went through some old Christmas decs that had been stored away for over seven years.
In the sealed box she found the key for her late husbands car.
She had spent days searching for this key as it was the only one they had ever had for the car [which she was going to sell].
 
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