How fast are you?

I have learned that I do not have the speed and skill typing that I would like to have- and that i need to work on it… along with a lot of other issues out there for me still… Thank you to Alex for his initial post on this… I pass it along with my score

31 words

Speed test

When will they wake up?

    Ok, I guess looking at this from a management viewpoint, I can come up with a couple possible reasons as to why a gas station would not want to accept more than $50 at the island auto pay stations- but seriously, any reasons they may have for this (il)logic can’t outweigh the benefits of allowing higher limits- say, to $100!!!!

    I have recently gone to 2 different gas stations where they have the machines for you to automatically pay by the pumps, and they both have a RIDICULOUS limit of $50 per transaction.  I could see an argument that they don’t want the islands to be spoofed by fake bills, but that is a weak excuse.  Mainly, if it is good enough to spoof the machine, it is good enough to spoof a teller in the store- and they do not restrict those customers who walk in to only $50.  Now some people might want to say that they want the big fakers to bring the money in to the store (where they have video surveillance)- but virtually every gas station already has security cameras, inside as well as on the island, so that argument is not good.  And besides, there are laundromats all over that are unattended that it would be easier to walk in with 2 fake $20’s and walk out with $40 in good quarters- that is easily changed into valid currency at any bank, and a lot less risky.  

   Ok- a lot of people- even with prices at roughly $3.80 a gallon today in SoCal, they can fill their tank on that amount.  They are driving cars that have a 12 gallon tank, and maybe put 10 gallons in- $40 or so.  

    Now what about those who have SUV’s?  Suburbans?   Minivans?  Work trucks- of all kinds?  RV’s?  Do you know anyone who has one?  Most of these vehicles have tanks that are 18-26+ gallons.  (My truck is 24 gal., my wife’s minivan holds 26 gal.)  Larger work trucks are known to have 2 tanks- each 15-20 gal.  And in America, even today, the people who drive any of these vehicles are not a small demographic!!!  Frequently, the people that drive these have longer commutes- construction workers must go to ever-changing work sites, and repair techs and service techs both spend a large portion of their day actually driving, rather than commuters who putt in to wok, then putt home.  

    And to add insult to injury, we must pay, then pump, then hang it up, then pay and pump again?!?!  I don’t think so!!!  

    My solution on this issue has been to ‘vote’ with my pocketbook- and my voice at the same time!!  I will put my money in- find out there is that ludicrous limit- only pump what was paid for, get a number of the owner, and tell the clerk WHY I need that number!!  The limit is arbitrary and done on a location-by-location basis, since there is any number of stations under the same franchise corporation that have $100 limit at the minimum!!!  Both stations have lost $30-$50 each, and my future patronage.  

    Ok- my rant is over now.

Caught in the act!!!

 

Caught in the act!!!, originally uploaded by grmaitro.

Michael loves to try helping around the house, especially when we are all in the middle of getting everything cleaned up…

A review of Service

    This past Saturday, as I was on my way back from a day of service calls and knowing that I was going to be too late for a dinner at home, I decided to stop and have a quiet dinner by myself.  I went to a place that I had seen before across the street from The Old Spaghetti Factory in Riverside ( a family favorite), and had an experience that I felt was worth spending a few minutes writing about- and for others to read about!!!

    The restaurant is called Mi Tortilla, and as I mentioned, it is across the street from OSF in Riverside.  It is quick casual style dining similar to Round Table or Sizzler and the restaurant has a comfortable atmosphere and clean, well-kept appearance.  I looked over the menu-they serve breakfast through dinner at any time- and chose the carnitas, rice, beans, and tortillas dinner plate.  I was directed to the self-serve fountain- and also the chip and salsa bar.  However, before I could even get my stuff put down at the table, I was already being offered chips and salsa of my choice from one of the dining area attendants.  While waiting the few minutes for my meal to be prepared and brought to my table, I was pleased to have another wait staff check on me, offering more drinks or anything else.  My meal was brought out soon thereafter, and of course I was asked if everything was o.k.  (If you have not noticed yet, I am impressed with the service!)  Twice more during my mealas well as after my meal, I was quickly and efficiently checked up on, and despite the attention, I was not left with a feeling of hurry and move on, rather just good service.  I even stayed an extra 15 minutes finishing the Sudoku and reading that I had picked up in the lobby, and they brought me more chips while I was finishing!!

    All things considered, this was one of the best service experiences that I have had.  I was impressed by the personal attention that the staff gave every customer, and they had a very efficient sense of urgency about them that you don’t find too often anymore.  The food was good and filling, and the price was reasonable at about $11 for my dinner.  This is definitely a place that I am recommending to friends and family that may be in the area sometime, and I would like to suggest it to the readers as well if you are in the area  as well.

my car repair experience-part 2

A week after my successful resolution with Sears, I went to a Scout meeting and ended up with more info about the whole thing that had happened. (see previous post) At the end of the meeting, one of the dads came up to me to talk.  Now I have to confess- I knew he worked at Sears, but I had only seen him in passing there once and did not realize he was the manager.  (It turns out that the person that I had been talking to about my issues regarding my previous repairs was not only the manager, but actually the district manager who was in store helping out for the day.)  Anyway, I am very grateful for him coming up to me at the meeting and apologizing for my experience and the unprofessional experience that the techs had put me through.  I know now that the issue has been a major item there, and it has been addressed, I believe by both of them.  Thank you again for ‘making it right’.

My Car Repair Experience

Well, about a month ago I took my Tundra in to my local Sears Auto Center.  I had wasted 3 hours of my time trying to get the drums off the back axle and had gotten nowhere.  I gave up and brought it to Sears to let them replace my rear brakes.  I pretty much had resigned myself to new drums as well as the pads- I had waited too long again.  I arrived there in the early evening, a little after 4, I think.  Simple- drop it off, a couple hours, then pick it up!!  I was waiting for the call saying that they agreed with my assessment- no luck.  I called them around 7:30- fully 2 hours after they said they would have called me by- and no straight answer, other than they were still working on trying to get the drum off.  They would call me.  Again- I called them, right about 9 pm.  The tech has gone home- the drums are off- they will call me in the morning.  Should I hold my breath??? I was not confident in anything by this point- but they surprised me- and called.  They were recommending drums and shoes for the rear (no surprise) and also pads, rotors, and CALIPERS for the front!!! Now- I had replaced the rotors not 6 months earlier- and they had never been turned.  They responded to that comment by telling me that one rotor was UNDER Toyota specs, and the other was AT specs- and could not be turned because it would put it under specs.  Fine- do it all.  At $1191.  When I went in to pick the truck up, I was still in disbelief and said that I wanted to see the parts.  They dug them out, and I looked at the parts: the pads were still good- plenty of wear left; the calipers had no obvious issues that commonly mark the need to replace- leaking, torn boots, or uneven wear on the brakes; and the rotors looked fine.  Something was smelling very wrong here and I was unhappy, to say the least.  I picked up the rotors, and put them in my truck, and paid so I could take care of the service calls that I had pending for my work.

    I kept thinking about it and finally contacted someone that works for a dealership that I trusted, and brought the rotors in to get them checked with a micrometer.  Lo and behold- not only was neither rotor under specs, they were both just about even and in good condition- they would not need to be turned, but if I wanted to turn them there was still enough ‘meat’ left on them to do so and still be good on the specs!!!

    I then decided I had some grounds to fight this horrendous bill for the repairs, that I felt were excessive and unnecessary.  I went in this weekend to talk to the manager on duty, and told him the whole story -the excessive time, the surprising addition to my repair work, some changes that the techs had made as to why they had recommended the repairs, and most importantly, my findings afterwards.  After much discussion and him personally checking the rotors that I had kept, he did make amends for the work.  No reason was able to be given as to why the extra repairs were recommended as the tech was not there, but the manager had said he will be looking into this issue- as it cost them $723 in refunds, as well as an extra hour of his time, and a rather upset customer.

    In conclusion, I am happy with the final results in that I got the refund that I felt was proper, and the manager did handle my issue in good faith.  I am now very wary of taking my vehicle in for any other repairs, but I do have some items- like my battery- that are under warranty with Sears, and I will keep that going.  If at some time later, I do feel that I can take my vehicle in there again, I am certainly going to treat it with much more skepticism when anything else is suggested.  

    I guess the lesson is ‘buyer- ALWAYS beware!!!!’ 

 

Clifford Stoll

I challenge you- sit still and watch this all the way through!!!  He is brilliant-and distracting-and informative.  I hope he inspires you to think-and I hoe you enjoy this, and get some nugget from it.  Clifford Stoll

Thank you to Ted Talks for the content

Calling You by Blue October

This song, when I first heard it, struck a chord in me.  It has been a couple years since I first heard it now, and it is still moving to me.  In looking it up today, I found videos that are made- I believe by fans- and I was impressed with the effort put in by them to make new videos to go with this song.  I hope you enjoy them as well.

 

Ads can go Viral- here is my candidate!!!

This “ad” shows the power of advertising- and of the Mac- this will go on… and on… and on…

New!

I now have a myspace account, the site is about 90% complete- search my username, and you should find it.  (BTW- this post is really just a test for linking!!)