Modern Vespa

I totally agree.

Can you like my post ?

A week ago Sunday we ordered a new bed. We've had 19 good years with our current mattress, and we are 19 years older. It's time.

We had shopped around and decided on the Tempurpedic. Yes, expensive, but we were looking for top quality sleep. We discussed their "white glove" delivery service and I was assured that once they contacted us, we could go to their online calendar and select our date and delivery time window. I stressed that it would have to be after 4:00pm. I work. The delivery was to be within a 10 day window.

It took them four days (of the ten) to contact me. I received a text and an email. It was not an opportune time as I wasn't in front of my computer and my calendar. Forty five minutes later - still not a good time - I received a phone call to set up my order. I explained to the phone rep, who was likely not in the continental US, that I was supposed to do this online. But he had me on the phone. I stressed to him delivery would have to be after 4:00pm. He said he couldn't guarantee that, but he would put it in the notes. His earliest date was Tuesday (today).

When I got home I tried following the link to reschedule, but couldn't. It was already set in stone. So I called the 800 number to talk to another person, who was also likely not in the US. I was able to reschedule for Wednesday, which was a better day for us, and again stressed the importance of a post 4:00pm delivery. Reading from her cue cards she said she would make a note but couldn't promise anything. I said no, there won't be anyone at the address if you deliver before that time. I was very clear about that.

This morning, I received a phone call from the delivery service saying they would be more than happy to drop our bed off at 11:00am. Today. I said no, we've already told several people you can't.

I just received my delivery confirmation for tomorrow between the hours of 8:30am and 10:00am.

I am going back to the store this afternoon, cancel our order and demand a full refund. They need business, but we don't need their bed. We will take our own truck to a local store and buy a bed.

I am so tired of companies farming this work out to third parties that don't give a rat's hindquarters about the customer. We went through it with Costco and our fridge, we're going through it with Tempurpedic ... never again.

This resonates so much with me nowadays about lots of things which involve companies providing a 'service'

The expression 'beggars belief' is getting a bit tired and worn out!

The follow up.

I called the store last night and told them I wanted a refund. The salesman asked me to hold off. This was only one of many complaints they had this month about this delivery company. He's contacting the regional manager.

In the meantime I contacted the delivery driver when I got home and asked if the bed was still on the truck. I had them deliver it last night. They were in and out with the old bed in half an hour. Shoes off, white gloves, nice delivery guys.

The salesman is filing for compensation, but we'll see where that goes.

Facebook is pissing me off.

I had to do some updates on my work computer yesterday, and today when I tried to go to Facebook, I was logged out. No problem, I'll log back in. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, that they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

I go to my phone, open the Facebook app and go to Notifications. It wants me to login, even though I'm logged into the App. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, and they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

So I check Notifications on the phone again. It wants me to login, even though I'm logged into the App. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, and they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

So I again check Notifications on the phone. It wants me to login, even though I'm logged into the App. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, and they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

Once again I check Notifications on the phone. It wants me to login, even though I'm logged into the App. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, and they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

Yet again I check Notifications on the phone. It wants me to login, even though I'm logged into the App. I enter my email address and password, and it says that I have two-factor authentication switched on, and they have sent a code to my iPhone and iPad, and I need to enter that code to continue.

At this point, I've given up on logging into Facebook on the desktop. My iPad is at home, so I can't check to see if the code is accessible on it.

If they have sent a notification to your iphone, wouldn't that just be an SMS?

Could you log out of the App, then continue?

It usually sends a push notification. Not the actual little noticications icon you tap on in the app to see who liked your post.

Push notification will be the top bar of your phone like when someone texts you and it vibrates/makes a noise and you get a little banner saying tommy texted you.

Nope, it shows up in the Notifications for the FB App Haven't tried that, yet. Nope, it showed up as a notification in the Notifications menu of the app.

I just had my wife check my iPad at home, and it goes through the same endless loop.

There is a way to confirm my identity via uploading an image of my DL, which I've done, but it can take up to 48 hours for them to process it. It's not like I can't live without being on FB at work, and I can always access it via my iPhone, so I'll just have to wait.

What gets me is that in the Login screen it says to "Get Facebook for iPhone and browse faster." But it's on an iPhone.

Can anyone explain the attraction of Facebook ?

It's easy to log in to

Irony.

Like, Comment and Subscribe.

Voyeurism - People want to see what others are doing. It's like the tabloids.
Exhibitionism - People want to show off what they are doing.
Schadenfreude - People like to see that others are worse off than they are.
Maintaining Connections - Keeping in touch with family/friends that you still like, but aren't close to.

There are other uses for it. I mainly use it to keep up with family and friends, since they are geographically distant from me. My closest relatives to me, geographically, are 300 miles away. The next closest are over 1000 miles away. Yes, we can use email or phone calls, and for some of them, I do. But FB makes it easier to coordinate things among multiple people in the group.

I also see a benefit of Facebook Groups. They can be a good resource for information on a specific topic. Groups can also be highly toxic, though. And the information isn't always correct. People also tend to ask the same questions that have been asked multiple times before, and a lot of the questions they have could be answered a whole lot faster by a simple Google search.

It's not for everyone. It can be a very toxic place. People tend to (over)share things that they really shouldn't. I only check it a few times a day. My average usage of FB on my iPhone is 7 minutes per day. I'm sure it's higher on my iPad, but I can't check that right now. According to the Screen Time report, it's my 5th most used app, behind Pokémon GO (3h 16m/day), SiriusXM (1h 16m/day), Twitter (58m/day), and Messages (12m/day).

Everyone I am connected to on FB I already knew elsewhere. I have kept in touch with relatives I otherwise would not have. A friend of ours in Korea recently had a baby. She's the daughter of one of the professors my Dad taught with in Seoul. Had it not been for FB I probably would never have seen pictures.

It has some good uses.

This is actually probably Facebook's only redeeming quality. It's just that you've got to put up with so much other crap in order to get this benefit that I can't be arsed.

There are other ways to communicate easily, though. My entire extended family is on a single group chat that we regularly use to share updates and pictures and coordinate activities. I have several more group chats with other groups of people, too -- a couple of close friends in one, a couple of former work colleagues (all retired) in another, one for the handful of players in a Minecraft multiplayer world that I run, etc.

There's no obligation to answer immediately -- or at all -- but sometimes the conversation will pick up on a particular topic of mutual interest and we'll all converse excitedly about it.

One of the obstacles here is the current non-interchangeability of iOS and Android messages. Every single person in my group chats is on iOS, so it's a non-issue for us, but I can definitely see that as a stumbling block. But that will almost certainly change next year when [url=https://9to5mac.com/2023/11/16/apple-rcs-coming-to-iphone/]RCS comes to iOS[/url].

FB Update:

My work MacBook was not affected, so I was able to log into FB there, and go to the settings and set up an Authentication App as the two-factor authorization method. I was then able to authorize myself when logging in on the desktop.

It's still frustrating that I have to login to the app, while logged into the app, to approve a login on another device.

Instagram and WhatsApp for me rate highly.

I've tried to like WhatsApp, and it is nearly universal in Europe, so I do actually have an account that I use primarily while I'm in Portugal.

But honestly, it's clunky and somewhat awkward to use. I doubt I will be able to articulate why I feel that way, precisely, but I find that I want to leave the app as soon as it is opened.

Yeah, and my family is weird about how they keep in touch.

My Dad uses email about once a week, and refuses to use a cell phone. He is not on Facebook.

His wife (my step-mom) has a FB account and a cell phone. But she doesn't text, and is rarely on FB.

My mom (Dad's 3rd wife, my 3rd mom), doesn't have a computer, and has a flip-phone for emergencies. I can only communicate with her over the phone (by calling her landline), or by snail mail.

My mother (Dad's 1st wife), is on FB, and has a basic cell phone. She doesn't text. She does email a lot. But all communications with her end up being all about her.

My older brother is active on FB and has an iPhone. We text often. He's kinda toxic on FB, and has done several stints in FB Jail.

My younger brother only contacts people if he needs something from them. He is on FB about once a quarter.

My MIL is active on FB & email & text.

My BIL is active on FB, but is even more toxic than my older brother.

My various cousins all have various levels of activity on FB, and most of them are pleasant on it.

I tend to be very neutral about things on it. If a friend/family member posts something that pisses me off enough to not like them, I just unfollow them, but remain FB Friends with them.

We do use group texts occasionally. Usually if I'm going up to Wisconsin for a visit, and we need to coordinate getting together. But nothing that's ongoing or that has lasted much longer than a few months. They may have a group chat going, but if they do, I'm not aware of it.

Doesn't sound like FB is working for keeping in touch with your family, then. The best way to make that happen (assuming you're dealing with people who can cope with text) is just to set up the group chat yourself and start using it. If you can give it a symbolic name (which you can with iOS messages) then all the better -- they will all see the same name and get the idea that this is a permanent channel. If you think it's an important group, pin it to the top of your messages.

It might not work for your family, given what you've outlined, but I bet you can make it work with, ummm, people who aren't quite as technophobic.

Facebook is reasonably tolerable as long as you have F.B. Purity installed - gets rid of all the crap and adverts etc. I use Facebook mainly for Groups - some can be very useful.

Why I use Facebook?
Keeping in touch with family and friends is the main reason.
Groups. All descendants of my grandparents are in one group and we keep in touch there. Share photos and so on. Most of my friends post pictures of new family members and worthwhile purchases. There is a nice Vespa group that has lot of service manuals in the files section. There is a CN250 group that has large amount of links to shops and rebuild information. There is a group with all my classmates from 1978-1983. Numerous other groups.
Messaging. I can send a message to a friend anywhere in the world, without worrying about long distance phone charges.

Nearly done with our yearly charitable donations. What pisses me off is the receipts I get. You'd think (I do, anyway) these outfits could provide a one page receipt. But no. Two sometimes three pages for a receipt, most of which my printer driver won't render.

I am happy to do these donations, but these two,three page receipts are pissing me off. Thank you.

This: GTS 300 HPE Engine removal 🤬

OK, not on a Vespa because I'm painting mine but riding my motorcycle to work and I see a guy with his dogs not on a leash. I'm being cautious and riding slow in a tight space when one dog launches at me and goes under the front wheel, slams against the frame, gets spit out and into a ditch doing a death roll. I'm stopped feet on the ground and wondering how I didn't end up in the ditch myself. The dog owner is now in the ditch with his dog as it's almost dead. Clearly the owners fault and I feel bad for the dog. I check for damage, have some choice words for the owner and he waves me on to leave without eye contact. I work at an airport and people think it's a dogport. WTF?!!! Drives me insane and I like dogs. My bike weighs over 600 lbs. If I was on the Vespa no telling what would have happened.

You have my sympathies as I've taken out a few dogs in the past due to the owners being unable to control them.

My advice is don't brake or deviate. Let nature take its course.

Right, Happy Christmas everyone, I'm off to the beach.

The MSF course teaches to slow down as you approach the potential canine attacker. Then when the dog is running to intercept you go WOT. Throws its timing off. Worked perfectly with two different dogs on a rural ride last week.

OFG

I had to screenshot a receipt few years ago. Never got anything either in mail or to download. Have gotten lot's of request for more donations from them since then though. The company I work for also bailed on one for one extra donations.

Interesting.

My default is to leave everything alone - brakes, throttle and steering rather than over react to an animal that you may not hit.

I don't know about you but it's mostly small dogs that seem to react to motorcyclists more than big ones and they will always come off worse.

Horses for courses.

And then slow down some more. Then stop and open the seat to access the pet treat carrier. Congratulations, you now have a new best friend. It very likely the dog but it might be an ER nurse.

Many years ago I was driving downhill into a French village when two dogs ran out of a driveway and into the road, one chasing the other.

On my right was a big ditch. On my left was traffic driving out of the town and behind me was an IROC Z 28 which is a pointless detail but we were both doing around 50 mph.

There came a point where my path and at least one of the dogs was going to collide so I quickly ticked off my choices.

1 Turn Right to avoid contact and head towards the ditch.

2 Turn Left and head face on to the traffic.

3 Hit the brakes hard and possibly get hit in the back by an iconic American Sportscar.

4 Brake as much as I can but remain philosophical about the outcome.

Option number 4 resulted in dog number 1 being taken out completely by the valance but dog number 2 saw the future and stopped chasing, which probably resulted in a long and happy life.

Sure the driver of the IROC had a bit of a moment and my Golf's valance took a big hit but there was no way I was prepared to throw my car into on coming traffic or nose first into ditch to avoid a dumb French dog.

This is where you lost me. The IROC Z28 was iconic only in that it symbolized to everyone in its proximity that the person guy behind the wheel was an asshole. And "sportscar" is just… no.

No idea why anyone in France would be driving one, either.

And for the record, I would have chosen option 3 all day long and twice on Sundays.

Na, I wasn't going to get shafted by some out of place Americana.

Considering what the French drive most of the time I thought it was a good choice.

I had a ferry to catch and the dog became a statistic so after a quick check for leaks I continued on my journey.

And this is the difference between me and you.

I had a problem with that one too.

At best it can be called a sport coupe and that is coming from someone who drove a 4 speed Z28 as my daily driver for 9 years.

It's not the only difference I think you'll agree.

Actually the Raccoon Story is a lot funnier.

Less mortality, damage and judgement involved.

Oh, the Z28 was all Red and not White like most of them

Isn't it strange that in moments of drama you often remember the little things.

My tactic for dealing with attacking dogs was to get to the center of the road, then as the dog matched my speed and came in for the "kill", I'd swerve towards it with my leg extended and give him a shove. That would throw his trajectory off, and like as not cause him to stumble and fall. No harm, no foul. Worked every time - but I had to be prepared for my own trajectory to be affected, or I'd probably be lying in the road with the dog. There were lots of dogs where I rode back then, so I had a lot of practice. But I can legitimately claim 100% success.
I haven't had the opportunity to try this technique with my Vespa - yet. It's probably too light for this to work.

Ah, the Spanish.

Order a $1400 pair of crocodile boots and three months late you end up with a $70 card wallet instead.

Meanwhile they lied and said cites permits were taking longer than expected, then it was approved and they sent tracking info for a box that went to NYC so they could get around paying import duties, then the boots were discovered never to be part of that shipment, then they said they weren't even done being MADE yet, then here's tracking for your boots!!

The weather. Grey 'n raining again.