What's bugging you? (2016)

[jerichoholicninja]

There are a lot of horrible people in this world. That is all. I would like to make it one day without hearing about one suicide bomber, cop killer, mass shooting, terrorist attack, armed forces death, or police shooting controversy. Not meant to be political but all this stuff is sure disheartening.

 

Stop paying attention to the news. I did that awhile ago and my outlook has improved. There's nothing you can do about 99.9% of the crap that goes on in the world anyway.

[bani1717]

Getting the run around from health insurance. After about a dozen phone calls I still don't have a doctor's appointment because I've yet to find somebody who can or will tell me of an orthopedic specialist that is "within network." At this point I would honestly prefer if my employer just skipped the insurance, let me fend for myself and paid me the money they spend on my insurance each year instead.

 

Considering a typical trip to a specialist will run close to $3,000 I doubt you'd want that.

 

Honestly, that sucks, and your doctors need to get their crap together. Whomever is referring you to a specialist should be able to refer you to one that is in network.

 

I second Baldkin's response. I doubt you'd want to skip the insurance altogether - since insurers generally negotiate good discounts off of what an in-network hospital or doctor would bill someone who is uninsured (not to mention the risk you'd be exposing yourself to if you get into even one bad accident or have one semi-major medical issue and don't have insurance). Maybe you were thinking you'd go buy your own insurance policy, but I'm not sure that would save you any money or hassle unless you're young and healthy (and even the insurance savings that a young and healthy person can realize are a lot less than they used to be before Obamacare).

 

With that said, it is incredibly frustrating that for something that is so expensive and can be so important to both the length and quality of someone's life, we have such a fragmented health care system. Your example sounds very frustrating. It's also irritating to me that you have basically no chance of finding out what a given procedure will cost until after it's done. This isn't so much an issue if you have a low deductible and/or copay based plan, but if you have a high deductible and/or coinsurance, then you don't have much choice other than to either get the procedure done or not and then wait for the bill to come like a month later.

[NeedMoreFans]

Had two contractors scheduled to come to our house today for two different projects. The first didn't show up and the second emailed me with car problems (at least he did so before his scheduled time). I was home anyways today, but I didn't take the kids anywhere today because of the timing they were supposed to arrive.

[pitchleague]

I haven't checked on the Genie receiver in the main living room (don't want to wake up the wife) but I was all set to program movies for the upcoming HBO/Cinemax free preview that begins on Friday on Directv and I can't program any of them. Usually, this is no problem.

 

Bear in mind, I am a cheapskate. So I always load up the DVR on movies during the free previews, even though I don't subscribe to the premium channels. It's never been a problem. It will just put a pop up saying something like, "You do not subscribe to this channel. Do you want to record anyway?" and I'll click "yes" and all is good--the movie records during the scheduled time during the free preview.

 

Now, though, it appears that they did a software update in late June and I am unable to do this. I'll get to the part where I click "record" and instead of the message from before, it just brings up, "You can not record this program as it requires a subsciption" and the only choices it gives you are "Subscribe info" and "no thanks." You can't even "Do you want to record anyway?" like before.

 

I will try a manual record tomorrow and I'll check on the genie--my dvr in my man cave is an older model, but it has always worked in the past. But this is a major bummer if they've done away with this. Perhaps my only solace will be to start programming shows once the free preview "activates" on Friday. And even then I'm semi-afraid they'll do the 'ol "this program will expire in 3 days" type of message like when you download a program to your receiver.

 

I know, first world problems . . . .

[jerichoholicninja]

I had to cancel a game for the summer baseball team that I run because I had to reschedule a league game on that same date. The game is 3 weeks away and I've been trying to find another team to play for us. The manager of the other team was not friendly to me when I told him and more or less said this will prevent us from working together in the future. Earlier this summer I bent over backwards for him to get him in a tournament. As anyone who organizes and manages things know, maintaining good working relationships is crucial. I have always went out of my way to be over accommodating to other teams and been flexible with scheduling and to get treated like this really burns me. Ya, I understand it sucks for you but to treat me like crap over it is childish.

[Patrick425]

My son played his last baseball game on Tuesday as his team lost a tough 2-1 game in the first round of regional Wisconsin Summer HS baseball playoffs. As he was a Senior, it was a very emotional night, lot's of tears. Then he went and posted a very heart felt and gut wrenching Facebook post about how much baseball and his parents involvement (I coached his youth teams through 8th grade) and his teammates throughout the years had meant to him (that part really did not bug me as I was very proud of his post...just brought more tears!!). I posted this in the "what's bugging you forum" because it's so hard to believe I will essentially not watch my kid play baseball any more. Something that was so much a part of his life and who he is. He's going off to Iowa State where they don't have a NCAA team and he will probably try out for the club team (although I believe that's pretty competitive). However, even if he does play some in college or in adult leagues in the Summer (which I think he plans to do), it will never be the same as watching him at the youth and High School levels. It's like we watched his childhood officially come to an end on Tuesday night.

[jerichoholicninja]

Greeting cards are the biggest waste of money and resources. You look at it once and then throw it away.

 

It seems like my wife and I have been sending thank you cards non stop for the last three years. There was the bridal shower, the wedding, the baby shower, the birth, and now we're working on baptism. My mother-in-law sends us a card just about every other week. Did you know there were cards for St. Patrick's Day and Halloween? Well there are. And you're getting at least 3 cards for every big occasion and you get one in the mail before, one in person, and then one in the mail a day or two after. It's my birthday this weekend so I just got a card from her today and it was one of those musical cards so I read it and listened to it and I'll never touch it again. I'm pretty sure you can't even recycle those. Just such a huge waste of money and paper.

[Patrick425]

How about blank inside cards?:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPeyfTPxfaE

[MrTPlush]

I HATE cards of any kind. Who honestly cares when they get a card? When? Only if it is packed with goodies.

[1992casey]

The frontage roads on either side of Milton Avenue in Janesville are a major bummer. It's hard to even describe them except to say that at intersections, you pull out and take your chances. If drivers do something that you don't expect, it's really not their fault. It's necessary to watch for traffic from about eight different directions.

 

I think people should always appreciate it when someone bothers to send a card. The aspect that I dislike is choosing them. They're terrible, and I'd feel embarrassed signing my name to most of them.

 

I generally don't send cards for anything other than birthdays or deaths. And the birthday list is pretty limited. For many, an e-mail will suffice.

 

But e-mail is kind of lazy for close family. It's better to go with a card or phone call. In the case of nonagenarian relatives who haven't connected to the Internet, snail mail is the only "written" option. My nonagenarian aunts get both a card and a call.

 

For deaths, e-mail falls short for expressing sympathy, although it's great for making arrangements known. When my parents died, we needed to make it clear that people were welcome to show up for meals if they were unable to attend the services. You certainly can't advertise "free food" in obituaries.

 

I send cards when I'm unable to attend a funeral. When I attend, the cards the funeral home provides work for me.

 

Actually, the proper and better alternative to cards is a letter, preferably handwritten. You don't see much of that anymore. I can't say I send letters often. I'll include a brief typed letter when I have something else to send.

[Invader3K]

The frontage roads on either side of Milton Avenue in Janesville are a major bummer. It's hard to even describe them except to say that at intersections, you pull out and take your chances. If drivers do something that you don't expect, it's really not their fault. It's necessary to watch for traffic from about eight different directions.

 

The north side of Janesville is really a mess in terms of traffic patterns. I doubt it will be getting any better with the continued sprawl of new development and seemingly endless supply of new chain restaurants coming in. Hard to think half of those new fast food restaurants are going to be able to last in such a hyper competitive situation.

[madbad2000]

I was at Lowes this morning picking up some lumber for some projects I'm doing this weekend. I pull out my phone to verify from my list that I have all the lumber and hardware and an associate comes up and asks if I'm catching a Pokemon. Darn you Nintendo, not even Lowes is safe!

[hawing]

I was hoping (probably naively) that Pokemon Go might stay outside my workplace - though I know it's on campus. (I've been out of the office this last week, i.e. still the majority of Pokemon Go's life.) Then I saw my employer's Facebook page triumphantly posting that our building has three Pokestops and HEY EVERYONE STOP BY.

 

It's not the rest of the world's fault that I never got into video games, and for people who like the game, I'm largely live-and-let-live. But if a patron comes into my office looking for a critter, I will not be receptive.

[Patrick425]

The TWC commercial that has been airing for a long time now (maybe a year?), that shows the two guys at the kitchen counter talking while their wives, I guess (?), are at the kitchen table talking. Not trying to be politically incorrect here, but I say I guess because the context of the commercial suggests that it's their wives at the counter but the person with their back to the guys talking at the counter is "confusing". I feel like the actor that was supposed to play that role perhaps did not show up, so they put some other person there that really does not fit the role and I try to figure it out every time I watch that ad.

 

Also, when will they stop airing TWC comercials?.....I thought it was Spectrum now (since the merger with Charter).

 

 

Edit: This is the commercial I'm referring to. A few of the people making comments under this video are apparently wondering the same thing.

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AZnz/time-warner-cable-phone-competition

[1992casey]

I accidently tapped a link on espn.com, and it took me to porn. The porn site broke the back button, so I couldn't use that to get back to the page I wanted to be on.

 

This is a huge reason why people have ad blockers. I don't have an aggressive ad blocker on my iPad. Methinks I'm going to get one.

[QuevedosTongue]

I was hoping (probably naively) that Pokemon Go might stay outside my workplace - though I know it's on campus. (I've been out of the office this last week, i.e. still the majority of Pokemon Go's life.) Then I saw my employer's Facebook page triumphantly posting that our building has three Pokestops and HEY EVERYONE STOP BY.

 

It's not the rest of the world's fault that I never got into video games, and for people who like the game, I'm largely live-and-let-live. But if a patron comes into my office looking for a critter, I will not be receptive.

 

Oh, how I wish I lived in Madison!

 

"Ummm, excuse me, but have you seen a Squirtle in here?"

[logan82]

When you order a burger medium rare there is absolutely no excuse for it to come out well done with char on the outside unless the cook fell asleep on the lawn furniture.

[LouisEly]

News-based websites, or any websites, that think we want videos to automatically load and start playing.

 

We may not always be in a place where we want sound to start coming through our computers or phones.

[logan82]

News-based websites, or any websites, that think we want videos to automatically load and start playing.

 

We may not always be in a place where we want sound to start coming through our computers or phones.

Yup, hate those. The only thing worse is when you click and think you are going to a site for reading something and you get a video. I am usually watching Netflix while browsing so I hate video starting.

[1992casey]

The right turn on red law is fuzzy. Drivers know that you can turn from the right lane into the closest lane, although some gloss over the closest lane thing.

 

What's less known is that it's also OK to turn from the second lane from the right as long as it's a dedicated turn lane. If it's not OK to turn, there'll be a sign saying "No turn on red from left lane." I can see why drivers are fuzzy on that. I wondered if the "No turn on red from left lane" signs were redundant and simply reminders until I encountered a sign saying "No turn on red from left lane between 3PM and 6PM" on the square in Madison.

 

Anyway, a few weeks ago, the state removed the "No turn on red from left lane" sign at the south end of the Lake Parkway where WI-794 continues onto Pennsylvania Avenue. I was mildly annoyed yesterday when the car ahead of me didn't turn, but I was quick to forgive.

[hawing]

News-based websites, or any websites, that think we want videos to automatically load and start playing.

 

We may not always be in a place where we want sound to start coming through our computers or phones.

Got that right...she said from the library.

[Patrick425]

The Sentry on Meadowbrook in Waukesha is closing. The owners of this store also own the Sentry in the deserted Fox Run strip mall on St. Paul Ave. in Waukesha (about 2-3 miles away from the Meadowbrook Sentry). The St. Paul location generally has no more than 6 or 7 cars in the parking lot and is within 1/4 mile from a Target with a grocery store and a Pick N' Save. Then about 3/4 of a mile farther down the road is another Pick N' Save and a new Meijer store. So, my wife and I, who frequently shop at that Sentry on Meadowbrook are scratching our heads at this decision. Does not seem to make any sense at all.

 

We have no desire to shop at stores like Woodman's, Sam's Club, Meijer, etc. We don't view grocery shopping as an adventure or event to partake in with 100 other people at some mega store that is 4 or 5 miles away from our house. Not the way we want to spend our time. We just want to go to the closest location to our house (hopefully not more that 1-2 miles away) that sells food, is not a zoo, and get in, out, and home in the quickest, most convenient manner possible. Our options to accomplish this objective are getting fewer and fewer as the Mega grocery stores have become more popular.

[NeedMoreFans]

We were supposed to have a gas insert installed into our fireplace today. As they were working, they came across vermiculite, which is an old form of insulation. Apparently, most vermiculite that is in homes contains asbestos, even though our house was built in 1983 when they were removing it from structures. Work had to be halted and now we get to have someone remove the vermiculite, which will likely double the cost of this project.

[fondybrewfan]

I don't like the new lay out for the Journal Sentinel.

 

Do they not do the various blogs anymore or can I just not find them?

[Invader3K]

 

We have no desire to shop at stores like Woodman's, Sam's Club, Meijer, etc. We don't view grocery shopping as an adventure or event to partake in with 100 other people at some mega store that is 4 or 5 miles away from our house. Not the way we want to spend our time. We just want to go to the closest location to our house (hopefully not more that 1-2 miles away) that sells food, is not a zoo, and get in, out, and home in the quickest, most convenient manner possible. Our options to accomplish this objective are getting fewer and fewer as the Mega grocery stores have become more popular.

 

Is there a Trader Joe's in your area? Seems like they are the opposite of what you don't want in a grocery store.