Mary, Mary, quite contrary...
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Posted:Nov 23, 2018 7:50 am
Last Updated:Nov 28, 2018 10:46 am 57467 Views
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Mary, Mary, quite contrary... why do you look at my profile nearly every day?
There is nothing to see really.
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Rubber...
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Posted:Nov 18, 2018 2:48 pm
Last Updated:Nov 21, 2018 4:42 am 57701 Views
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Rubber is a flexible latex product produced from the juice of a rubber tree. In varied process, it's mixed with other chemicals to create different products. The process for a soft latex mattress is different than a rubber tire (tyre) used on a car. Charles Goodyear developed vulcanization in 1839 where he mixed latex, sulfur and heated the mixture to harden the liquid rubber.
Over the years, new uses for rubber were invented. One process is to coat the exterior of a hard plastic object to give it a soft feel without affecting the structure of the inside. I've seen some plastic writing pens with a soft rubberized sleeve to make them comfortable.
One problem with products made with rubber is longevity. Tires have a manufacturing date stamp and people are warned against buying from an unreliable source as many 'new' tires have been been produced years ago and the rubber elasticity declines on an old tire making them unsafe.
I bought an emergency spotlight with a rubberized handle. Never used it. One day before a hurricane, I decided to open the box and try it, only to find the rubber handle was sticky to the touch. I found the rubber feet on my water pic (purchased 2 years ago) leave black marks on the countertop.
My laptop mouse deteriorated within 2 years and I was lucky enough to remove the rubberized surface with 91% rubbing alcohol. I have a very expensive mouse/controller I use in design that has programmable buttons and a 3D wheel. The rubberized surface is also deteriorated and sticky. That was a $300 purchase and they are no longer manufactured. Basically, I'm in trouble if I cannot find a replacement on Amazon or eBay. I dusted the surface with talcum powder so it wouldn't be so sticky and will experiment if I can clean it with alcohol or a solvent to remove the rubberized coating and not destroy the controller.
That said... be cautious of long-term purchases that have a rubberized coating.
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The social media 'threat'
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Posted:Nov 11, 2018 6:18 am
Last Updated:Nov 12, 2018 9:44 am 64041 Views
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It would be unusual for any large company not to have a website with links to social media like Facebook or Twitter. I mentioned in a previous blog about a '' called Yelp where people can give unsolicited reviews of restaurants. Some are good and some are bad. The problem with some is they go directly online, often without giving the company being reviewed a chance to make good on a complaint.
I believe, If the food wasn't right or took longer than expected, the complainer should see management first for a resolution and not run to Yelp. I recall a viral video of a woman caught on security video negatively 'Yelping' while in a take-out restaurant because her order wasn't right.
Oh, and be real... don't eat 85% of your meal before complaining to see the manager!
Before the internet, people often relied on The Better Business Bureau to check if a company had complaints against them. Much slower than social media BBB typically stored real complaints and not vindictive reports for someone who didn't get any napkins in their bag when they left the drive-thru at Jimmy's friend chicken.
In my business, there is Angie's List, a for negative reporting of contractors. I recall one customer who had purchased a new kitchen and bath from us. If she didn't like something (including wrong choices on her part) we were back to replace whatever it was to avoid her threats on social media. Her business involved and she had specific dates when she would be out of town. If we were unable to complete a repair, it had to wait until she returned to continue our scope of work.
The woman selected glass tiles for her kitchen backsplash. The manufacturer specified 1/8" (3mm) gaps between grout. She didn't to see the grout lines and convinced the salesman and tile installer to place them for 1/" (1.5mm) or less. One problem. Grout doesn't stick to glass tile and 1/" is insufficient width for the grout to bond to the backing. It was a recipe for failure and we ended up crediting the for the work.
We itemized many credits she requested and closed out the order. I wrote into the final invoice that she signed there would be no warrantee to any of the credited items. To my surprise, she gave us a bad report on Angie's List stating it took us months to finish the work. Considering all the credits, I was able to negotiate her to remove the complaint.
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Jeff Sessions is out...
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Posted:Nov 7, 2018 8:57 pm
Last Updated:Nov 8, 2018 6:31 pm 64391 Views
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It's official, according to President Twitter, Jeff Sessions is out and Matthew G. Whitaker is in. Temporarily, that is.
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A long time ago...
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Posted:Nov 7, 2018 4:25 am
Last Updated:Dec 3, 2018 7:15 pm 67193 Views
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A long time ago I commented "I don't read messages" and the comment still holds true.
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A loo with a view...
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Posted:Oct 27, 2018 7:06 pm
Last Updated:Nov 7, 2018 4:23 am 66678 Views
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Condo shopping was put on hold for a number of reasons. Heavy workload and my accountant meeting was postponed because she's been out with the flu.
Most of our shopping is in a very large retirement community with hundreds of units and what may be available this week could be gone next week. Our preference is to find an end unit because they often have more windows than inside units. Also it's important to have the bedrooms facing the east to avoid the excessive heat building up in the evening. That's significant and could be the difference in $100 a month for air conditioning expense.
All the floor plans are similar with some left hand and some right hand depending on the orientation to the side of the building you are on. We did find an end unit with more windows than the inside units but it was being rented until next year... for sale but conditional.
The thing that interested my wife was the bathroom has a window and the others don't. So now I have to add to my list of wants is a unit where the master bathroom has a window.
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Hit me baby one more time...
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Posted:Oct 24, 2018 3:31 am
Last Updated:Apr 27, 2024 4:05 am 65709 Views
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In case you didn't know, yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of Britney Spears' video released on Oct. 23, 1998. Hit Me Baby One More Time, the song and video that launched her career.
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Billion Dollar Lottery...
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Posted:Oct 20, 2018 11:03 am
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2023 4:31 am 69030 Views
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You can't win if you don't play... and last week the jackpot rolled up to $680 million.
Reports last night claimed the jackpot exceeded $1.6 BILLION making it the largest jackpot in the US lottery history!
Sure, I put $5 in with 30 coworkers in a chance to retire with more money than I could imagine. The girl who made the transactions for us mandated that if we hit the jackpot ALL of us have to show up Monday to decide which tour bus we will hire to go claim the prize money.
No one called or texted.
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Getting real about real estate...
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Posted:Oct 13, 2018 2:15 pm
Last Updated:Jul 21, 2023 4:20 pm 61802 Views
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I've accelerated my home shopping this month.
Last week, I went to see some single story townhouses. 1 and 2 bedroom 4-plex units in a 55+ community. I like the idea that parking is near each unit and some separation between buildings. Easy in and out of the development, but no gate or security guard.
There are some negative aspects... low ceilings, small bedrooms, baths & closets. The place is dreary and depressing to me, inside and out. The buildings are old and some appear that repairs aren't as timely as they should be. Coin operated laundry shared by each 4-plex. We met one guy who has been flipping units there, that could be something viable since I'm in the remodeling business. My has flipped a few units over the years and mentioned she would partner with me on such a venture. For what they offer, the asking prices seemed high. Yes... negotiate, negotiate, negotiate.
I learned some important shopping tips from shopping with women. Men are different. A guy will buy the first thing that looks good. Women won't see a first choice... everything is a second or third choice. If a woman finds something that meets ALL of her search criteria, she will continue to shop for something better!
This week, I've been getting links from an agent featured in a different place. 3 and 4 story condos in a gated community. The development is easily ten times larger than the place with townhouses. Priced better, the 2 bedroom units are in the same price range as the 1 bedroom townhouses and the HOA is also less. There are more restrictions in the condos, including no pets (good) coin laundry shared by many. Some buildings must be primary residences... renters are not allowed. Personally, I think that would make the units hold their value.
Getting in and out of gated communities has it's delays. All the listings talk about the amenities. Pool, spa, exercise room, golf, theater... all the things I have no interest in. I'm really not looking forward to condo life. Stairs, assigned parking 50 yards away, laundry at the end of the wing.
The community is predominately Jewish. I worry we would be considered as outsiders. My wife has no religion and I worship internet. I mentioned to a friend about acceptance there and he said "Put that out of your mind." I'm also concerned if the community would be prejudice toward my Chinese wife. Again, he said "No worries mate, she's friendly and outgoing, they'd be drawn to her in an instant."
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The eye of a hurricane...
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Posted:Oct 10, 2018 7:35 pm
Last Updated:Oct 28, 2018 5:20 am 64736 Views
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I was looking at photos of hurricane Michael that came through the Florida Panhandle today. Having lived in South Florida for nearly 60 years I've seen many hurricanes including ones that came across my city where we experienced the eye of a hurricane.
The experience you receive is a hundred plus miles per hour wind and rain, then the eyewall passes over you'll likely to find the rain stops, the wind stops and it is all quiet for more than 20 minutes. As you reach the back part of the eye wall the wind and rain hits you in the opposite direction from the way it originally passed over you. Very creepy.
Katrina in 2005
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