Test Equipment Anonymous (TEA) group therapy thread

[Mr. Scram]

Unless you hit a dumbass with a stick they will always be a dumbass.

We had the same problem with a dickhead in our shared car park. Big private signs, lived over road, parked blocking the entrance. Someone (not me) went out there with a whole bunch of bananas and smeared them all over his car. Hottest day of year too 

I'd love to hear a psychoanalysis of the specific act of smearing bananas on a car. That must be a sign of some deeper complex. 

[med6753]

Wanna know why I'm a grouchy bastard? Here's why. I come home this morning and the kid from downstairs parks his car at an angle partly blocking my garage such that I can't put my car in.    Even with the "No Parking" sign. This is the 2nd time this has happen. There's gonna be a "come to Jesus" meeting this kid. And if he tells his Mother and she don't like it tough shit. There's plenty of parking else where except you may have to walk a few feet further. Too fucking bad.     

To be fair, it's quite easy to overlook a garage or even a handful of no parking signs. Those tend to be plastered all over the place anyway.

Not the case here. The very day I first occupied that garage I pulled the car in and I'm standing there and this kid pulls right up and parks in front of it.  I had a nice conversation with him telling him that I now occupy this garage and you can no longer park here. He moved his car. So finding him blocking me again is total BS. And there aren't "No Parking" signs plastered all over. Just one. And you'd have to be blind not to see the garage. 

[Specmaster]

Just maybe its an old habit of parking there and we all know that old habits are hard to break 

[med6753]

Decided to be civil, this time. Went downstairs, talked with Momma. She apologized and said he would move the car. Hopefully that's the end of it.

 

[tggzzz]

Decided to be civil, this time. Went downstairs, talked with Momma. She apologized and said he would move the car. Hopefully that's the end of it.

That's usually best.

I have occasionally, when I don't know the owner, resorted to parking my car 1" from the other car's bumper.

[Specmaster]

If you chaps think you have bad parking issues, you should try being me. I have only 1 car, my nextdoor neighbour has 2 vans and 2 cars, their neighbour has 2 cars, their neighbour has 2 cars and a van and their neighbour has 4 cars and 2 vans. I have lived in the street the longest and I have always parked my car outside of my  window so I can keep an eye on. I have a drive but it has been vandalised on it because it not overlooked by any windows. Between them, my neighbours think I have no right to park outside of my own house, especially the one with 4 cars and 2 vans, they instantly move one of theirs into my spot the moment I move out of it.

I leave my drive clear so that visiting friends and family can use it thus not cause any further parking problems for neighbours. When we moved in, we were told that every house has provision for upto 3 cars, those with a garage have a drive and the space outside their house, those without a garage, have a double parking bay in the front of their house where the garden would normally be and the 3rd car parks on the street across the 2 bays.

I think if you have more vehicles than you have parking space for, that they should seek alternative parking elsewhere for the extra vehicles, somewhere where they won't cause problems. 

[TiN]

All hope is lost... Printed more manuals for more never-ending projects... 

[bd139]

Is that the calibrator you assembled from that wrecked one? If so, that's amazing!

[med6753]

See you guys either live in a city, or at least a densely populated area, where parking issues are to be expected. I don't. I live in the boonies. And at my apartment complex there is PLENTY of parking. And for the most part we have designated parking. But some lazy asses don't believe in designated parking and will dump their car where ever it suits them. They need the occasional whack off the side of the head to remind them of common courtesy.

I just pisses me off that I go out of my way not to bother anyone and keep to my self but assholes always seem to find me.     

[bd139]

I got my fair share of assholes here. 10 parking spaces for 20 houses, restricted resident parking zones which I'm not entitled to a pass for (because I have a tiny private car park), right near an 82000 seat stadium, on a main road in one of the busiest cities in Europe and the car park is a convenient turning circle for people who really have no idea how to do anything in their car if it's not going forwards. It's like watching a pinball machine some days.

I had to carry that 7603 nearly 500m because there was no parking when I picked it up.

And then anything without a gate on it here gets the pikeys move in. Waiting for that one. They moved into the local park but the estate kids got rid of them, with fire.

[Zucca]

Is that the calibrator you assembled from that wrecked one? If so, that's amazing!

Yes, but it is not a calibrator. It's the Hulk!

[tggzzz]

my neighbours think I have no right to park outside of my own house,

They are right, of course. They can even park in your drive: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/motoring/someone-parking-your-drive-not-1651153

They shouldn't park across dropped kerbs; when they do it causes me problems. These might be a creative way to make a point: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/lesser-parking-rules-motorists-fine-2110250

I think if you have more vehicles than you have parking space for, that they should seek alternative parking elsewhere for the extra vehicles, somewhere where they won't cause problems. 

Yes, that would be nice, but back in the real world https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/facebook-group-captures-worst-parking-2138507

[bd139]

Interestingly we get problems with people parking in drives that they think are empty on event days here.  Local council operates a "parking violation hotline". If someone does this, you call them and they come and take it away in about 30 minutes. I've seen them do it and they will laboriously do the worst job they can of it and damage the vehicle because there is zero recourse as there's a local bylaw due to the stadium that allows them to do this.

The best thing to really if someone parks on your drive here is slip some kids on the estate 50 quid to nick it and torch it. You're not responsible for the security of the vehicle while it's on your property.

[tggzzz]

Interestingly we get problems with people parking in drives that they think are empty on event days here.  Local council operates a "parking violation hotline". If someone does this, you call them and they come and take it away in about 30 minutes. I've seen them do it and they will laboriously do the worst job they can of it and damage the vehicle because there is zero recourse as there's a local bylaw due to the stadium that allows them to do this.

And that neatly segues into the 1960s "Misleading Cases" (now mostly wiped) based on AP Herbert's Punch articles in the 1930s. One case hung on whether garden snail is "tame and domesticated" or "wild and ferocious".

[Specmaster]

See you guys either live in a city, or at least a densely populated area, where parking issues are to be expected. I don't. I live in the boonies. And at my apartment complex there is PLENTY of parking. And for the most part we have designated parking. But some lazy asses don't believe in designated parking and will dump their car where ever it suits them. They need the occasional whack off the side of the head to remind them of common courtesy.

I just pisses me off that I go out of my way not to bother anyone and keep to my self but assholes always seem to find me.     

Yep, guilty as charged your honour, we're city dwellers but that dosen't give people with more than the average number of vehicles the right to ride roughshod over everyone else. And just like you, I go out of my way to not bother anyone else apart from I want to park my car outside of my house so I keep on eye on it from time to time.

[mnementh]

Texas gallons!

Remember, these are the guys who tell you that hat on their head holds ten gallons.   

Yup... I live in Tejas. Where every burger is at least ten ounces, every politician is ten feet tall, and every man has ten inches of swingin' meat...        

Speaking of work. It sure is one hell of a fire drill tonight. Engineering released a new level of microcode. Apparently they didn't test it very well. To say that it's FUBAR would be an understatement. All my systems failing with all kinds of weird shit. And on 3rd shift we have no on site support. We are supposed to contact IBM Singapore for support. HA! Been down that route. They are about as useful as tits on a bull. Every time in the past that we contacted them they look at the issue and say "we don't know, contact your engineering in the morning". 

It is going to be total chaos here on 1st shift and isn't it a shame that I'm going to miss it. Systems are falling behind schedule which means that stupidvisors are gonna go ape shit   and Engineers in the test area picking their noses trying to figure out what happen.   

Wait'll they "ask" you to pull a double shift just so they have someone who knows their ass from a hole in the ground on duty to "explain" the clusterflop in the inevitable "emergency meeting" when the boss gets in. Been dere, dunnat, burned the zombie corpses in the morning...   

mnem
"I hate the living." ~ Agent L

[mnementh]

Wanna know why I'm a grouchy bastard? Here's why. I come home this morning and the kid from downstairs parks his car at an angle partly blocking my garage such that I can't put my car in.    Even with the "No Parking" sign. This is the 2nd time this has happen. There's gonna be a "come to Jesus" meeting this kid. And if he tells his Mother and she don't like it tough shit. There's plenty of parking else where except you may have to walk a few feet further. Too fucking bad.     

To be fair, it's quite easy to overlook a garage or even a handful of no parking signs. Those tend to be plastered all over the place anyway.

Feel free to adjust phrasing as needed for situation and aggro level. 

That thing is so nauseating ugly, there ought to be a burka for it.

When I first saw one of these my immediate reaction was "Lordy that's ugly, but at least it doesn't look like everything else churned out by the motor industry in the last five years".

I disagree with the "burka" characterisation. That would make it a "one bag" car, I think it's more "coyote".

Lick me.²

mnem
You know you want to.

[mnementh]

Is that the calibrator you assembled from that wrecked one? If so, that's amazing!

Yes, but it is not a calibrator. It's the Hulk!

It's delicious, is what it is! SLURRRRRRP! Well done!    You certainly belong here with the rest of us maniacs!

mnem

[Specmaster]

Yup... I live in Tejas. Where every burger is at least ten ounces, every politician is ten feet tall, and every man has ten inches of swingin' meat...        

I'm booking my ticket right now, see if I too can get the same results 

[mnementh]

my neighbours think I have no right to park outside of my own house,

They are right, of course. They can even park in your drive: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/motoring/someone-parking-your-drive-not-1651153

I had a problem with a neighbor doing that over the weekends when I lived in San Antonio. Several times. So I let the air out of all his tires, then reinstalled the valve caps. Monday morning the Police knock on my door; he'd actually called them and accused me of vandalizing his car.

I ask "What's damaged?" He fumes about his tires and curses loudly several times. I respond  "Oh... you have a flat tire? Here... I'll gladly get my air hose out so you can move your car..." just as sweet as sugar, then open my garage door and bring the hose.

"BTW officer, this man is trespassing; he has parked his car in my driveway all weekend without my permission and is now harassing me. Would you please escort him from my property, and I would like a copy of the police report. Oh... and his car is parked so it blocks the sidewalks, which as you know, is a violation of our handicapped access statutes. Use your best judgement whether to have it towed or not."

He confers with the neighbor, explaining that he can either play nice and just be a little bit late to work, or he can miss the whole day getting his car back from impound. A few minutes later Mr. Fumey is asking politely to use my air hose so he can be on his way. "Aaaand..." I prompt him, gesturing that he should continue. "It won't happen again." He answers flatly.

That particular bylaw had been a thorn in my side for years as I owned two service vehicles and had to park inconveniently to clear the sidewalks; it was nice to have the law on my side for a change. We became the best of enemies ever since. Even had a beer and exchanged jokes at another neighbor's BBQ. Cordially. 

mnem
"There is no rest for the wicked, but the virtuous have no pillows." ~Rick Jones

[mnementh]

Yup... I live in Tejas. Where every burger is at least ten ounces, every politician is ten feet tall, and every man has ten inches of swingin' meat...        

I'm booking my ticket right now, see if I too can get the same results 

YMMV. 

mnem
*Bah-Dump-Bump!!*

[Specmaster]

Apart from the stupid laws that do not help the innocent, peoples sense of common decency towards others, especially neighbours who will living close to each other for a long time seem to have rapidly gone south, soon they will be BBQing on your lawn, using your bathroom and sleeping with your wife FFS if the authorities don't man up, grow a big pair of swinging nuts to go with that alleged 10" of meat, then civil unrest will erupt all over the place 

[mnementh]

That thing is so nauseating ugly, there ought to be a burka for it.

When I first saw one of these my immediate reaction was "Lordy that's ugly, but at least it doesn't look like everything else churned out by the motor industry in the last five years".  I disagree with the "burka" characterisation. That would make it a "one bag" car, I think it's more "coyote".

I know I'm weird; I don't need you to tell me that. 



I would totally drive one of these too. But I would HAVE to paint it another color... I've definitely had ENOUGH of the beigemobile for one lifetime.   

mnem
I prefer to drive a car that says "A vehicle is a tool" rather than one which says "I'm a tool".

[mnementh]

Apart from the stupid laws that do not help the innocent, peoples sense of common decency towards others, especially neighbours who will living close to each other for a long time seem to have rapidly gone south, soon they will be BBQing on your lawn, using your bathroom and sleeping with your wife FFS if the authorities don't man up, grow a big pair of swinging nuts to go with that alleged 10" of meat, then civil unrest will erupt all over the place 

Feel better now that you got that off your chest? 

Yeah, well... "Civility" has gone the way of telegrams and postal correspondence, I'm afraid. A casualty of the now-second-generation raised by television. The best you can hope for now is that you actually know who's stabbing you in the back so you can do something about it after the fact. 

mnem
"Community" is a word we pay lip service to around "The Holidays".

[Ero-Shan]

It's that time of the year ...

Before I started with that HV PSU project I cleaned up my workbench so I had space to work in. Then I decided that I'd better get a better transformer and filter capacitor. Which means: delay. Meanwhile, how about looking at my collection of panel meters and select a pair? Of course I'm just getting started. Now the once orderly workbench has turned to a mess.

Yesterday a friend of mine asked me to upgrade his wife's battery powered fairy lights to be mains powered (I've already done that to one; she's been quite happy with it). He said it wasn't urgent. But the very purpose of these things is, even to an ignorant being like me, to be alight in the next 3 weeks. Besides, this is a very good friend (as is his wife), and I'm rather eager to help (if only to show her that my pastime is indeed good for something). Amazingly, just now some wall warts were waiting to be brought to the electronics dump at work. My boss was happy I'd take them.

Of course I didn't clean up some space. And so the mess got even messier:



And turning off the room light turns my lab into a romantic Christmas lit tea room:



SCNR