@roadburner said:
Fortunately, it's a moot point where I live, as well as in any state where the people have the good sense to keep constitutional protections in place for any criminal infraction. And I feel sorry for the residents of states where the bureaucrats who run their traffic offense money collection scheme believe that the book 1984 had a happy ending...
In Ohio the earlier attempt to "outlaw" the monster companies from Australia, e.g., that run these things failed due to the governor's veto at end of his term. But more recently Elmwood Place, suburb of Cincinnati had them frozen and that court case may be still in the Ohio courts and one that the Senate is counting on to do the Senate's job since they're afraid to cross the donors vs their constituents wishes.
My State representative said his opposition was due to the lack of ability to challenge the tickets the way it's set up here. I believe Toledo also has a case in the higher courts.
I put the red light camera/speed camera companies on the same level as the policemen back in the 70s and 80s that "retired" with high retirements, started their own company doing investigations where they would put their workers into schools to try to find out who was selling the drugs. The operation mode was essentially an entrapment setup to catch the other high school kids.
I don't understand why the Ohio Senate doesn't just bring the bill out of committee and vote so the people will know how each one stands.
Worse is the lying cities who claim it's for safety on tv and radio interviews then as soon as the money may dry up the reality that they need the money to continue their highly overpaid public servant status as officers and other public officials rather than for the public safety.
I still see red light accidents happening. And they said the cameras would stop all that.
I still see speeding on the same streets/highways where they put up the speed cameras too.
They said the cameras would stop all that.
@isellhondas said:
If you get called for Jury Duty, just tell them you listen to Fox News and you'll get dismissed!
I personally would think a Fox listener is more open minded toward hearing both sides of a story instead of just one side as other alphabet networks' listeners are.
My last Call of Duty was really hard to get dismissed. I was 2nd from being an alternate and I had to work at getting off. I was ready to ask to be heard quietly at the bench because I was going to have to tell them that after watching the behavior or the criminal during the morning's proceedings and part of the afternoon during jury questioning, my analysis of his body language and eye movements was that he was guilty and he considered himself to be one of the criminal sharpies who could lie and maneuver his way out of anything--much like the cohort in the Ferguson shooting trying to lie on the first TV interviews and polluting the other alleged witnesses--except this defendant had an intelligence in the 130's I would estimate.
@snakeweasel said:
Also the constitutional argument is simply a red herring as it is constitutional.
Funny thing, no jurisdiction that uses these so-called "safety cameras" classify speeding or disregarding a traffic control device as a criminal offense. They have to be classified as civil infractions in order for the cameras to survive. Moving violations are reclassified as being equivalent to parking tickets- otherwise the companies and municipalities couldn't get away with it. Of course insurance companies don't raise your premiums for parking tickets...
And even then, the constitutionality of many of their revenue enhancement schemes has been successfully challenged, such as in Ohio- where Cleveland tried to cut the court system out altogether.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I had XM for a few years and dropped it after the last rate hike.
I use Pandora through my phone now. The advantages are once you "build" your stations, they are the same whether you're listening through your phone in your car, your computer at work, or your TV at home.
With Sirius/XM it is a separate subscription for every receiver you want to use.
I pay the 6 bucks a month to not have ads, but you can go the free route if you don't mind an ad once in a while. It's a bit of a pain to have to open the app every time you get in your car, as opposed to having XM just start playing on its own, but it's a minor inconvenience to me.
My company gives me a cell phone with a generous data plan, so I'm not sure how much data is used for streaming music for those who have to pay for it.
@driver100 said:
One thing I do know, as I get older I get more crochety. I don't like my neighbor and haven't talked to him for 2 years since he cut down 6, 30 foot Spruce trees so he could build a pool. He has 2 Blazers and a Corvette he takes out on Sundays. He's around 50, no kids and I think he must be a single kid who inherited his money and he is like a spoiled brat that gets what he wants...but, no one on the street talks to him.
In another 5 years I probably won't be talking to anyone, I'll be real crochety by then.
This could describe me as well. I have a neighbor at the back of my property who is a really odd duck, and scary. A single guy who has lived there for 20 years or more, now retired from a blue-collar railway job. When I first moved here I tried to introduce myself to him early on and got blown off. I was astounded, we were perhaps 10 feet apart I am there saying "Hello!" 3 times and he just ignores me entirely while looking straight at me. A couple of years later he was standing in my driveway looking up. I went out to introduce myself and his first words were a threat to sue me if I didn't have a tree at the rear of the property taken out, without any prior discussion on the topic. Then one day I saw a guy in my driveway digging post holes on the property line, turned out he was employed by this clown to build a fence but hadn't told him he hadn't talked to anyone first. He then planted hedges entirely around his property and has not ever trimmed them, so they are now 12-14 feet tall and act as an impenetrable barrier.
What else -- oh yeah, one day before the hedges took over I was in the spare bedroom on my elliptical machine which faced the window that looks toward his property. He came around the corner from his driveway, saw me in the window, and gave me the finger. I just about fell off the machine. I asked my 89 y-o neighbor about him, a sweet British lady, and she said she tried to introduce herself to him when he first moved in and he blew her off as well. He never has any visitors or friends come by, not a surprise. This guy apparently does not cook or ever buy groceries from what I can tell since he leaves and returns with fast food 3 times a day, morning noon and night. He has a gun that he uses to fire at critters (blanks I hope) in his backyard to keep them away. I have seen him throw snowballs in the winter at the pigeons on his roof. And whatever windblown debris (candy wrappers, etc) that ends up on his lawn, he picks up and throws it into neighbors property when he mows.
I think he is a total lunatic and sociopath, but what can you do? He is scary enough that I would just as soon avoid him entirely, but his actions make it unpleasant.
@snakeweasel said:
How do you know that is what did it for you?
This is ULTRA liberal Seattle.
I've taken a lengthy questionnaire that pegged me at exactly what I thought I was, a Moderate Conservative. Defense Attorneys don't like guys like me.
I have f friend who is self employed. A one man operation and he can't be bothered with Jury Duty. When he gets c notice in the mail, he just throws them away. He's done this about four times now and nothing has happened.
I absolutely LOVE not having any neighbors. No old codger asking if my mower is broken if I haven't cut the grass often enough to suit him. No complaints if my son and I are watching Iron Man 3 at a reference SPL. No HOA [non-permissible content removed] telling me I have to keep my garage door closed.
Heaven...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I personally would think a Fox listener is more open minded toward hearing both sides of a story instead of just one side as other alphabet networks' listeners are.
You have got to be kidding me. Listening to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity is "open minded"????
If you want to get off jury duty, tell them you've been arrested. Doesn't matter what for, or how long ago.
My neighbors are close enough, but we are separated by boundaries. There is a creek behind my house separating me from the guy behind me. There are some woods & a pond separating me from my next door neighbor, and I've got streets in the front and on the other side of me. My neighbors across the street & I get along great. They've got 3 kids the same age as 2 of my kids:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
@henryn said:
You have got to be kidding me. Listening to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity is "open minded"????
LOL. I said Fox NEWS... most people can distinguish between opinion shows and the news carried throughout the day. I am able, as well, to pick out overstatement and facts from two sides, if existent, of a topic. However, Rachel Madcow, Ronan Farrow, Al Sharpie, the lady with tampons as earring, of NBC fame, Walt Blitzer and others suggest they are reporting news when instead they are giving commentary.
@imidazol97 said:LOL. I said Fox NEWS... most people can distinguish between opinion shows and the news carried throughout the day.
I think you just listed half the broadcasting day as opinion.
I have very wise friend who made this statement, not saying I agree or disagree but it is worth thinking about. His statement, not mine, FOX News is for people who don't really understand the news, since they interpret it for you. I don't want to argue it because I am not sure it is true, but, it does make me think. I suppose you could say the same about MSNBC the other way.
Sorry rob2.......had to add that for something to think about.
@ab348 said:
I think he is a total lunatic and sociopath, but what can you do?
I think you have him pegged, a lunatic and sociopath. I think there are some people who are even more crochety than me, they just don't want to be sociable, and they make themselves unsociable.
I think my neighbor is like that, he has upset everyone around him because he just wants to be left alone. I think his wife just goes along with him so as not to upset him.
We lived in the country before this but I prefer to have neighbors...if they are nice. It was noisier in the country, frogs and crickets at night, and I could hear the speedway which was about 10 miles away, on Saturday nights. One day I realized if we had to get an ambulance or go to a hospital it was a long ways off....probably die before we got there. And, any trip to town was an extra 20 minutes each way. Grocery shopping had to be carefully planned, a cooler for ice cream in the summer. No last minute running out to get things if someone is going to drop in, or you forget something.
So, for this time in my life I prefer to live in an urban area. I also tend to think there is safety in numbers, at least more safety.
But, just ignore your neighbor, he is obviosly anti-social and doesn't want to be friendly.
@driver100 said:
I also tend to think there is safety in numbers, at least more safety.
But, just ignore your neighbor, he is obviosly anti-social and doesn't want to be friendly.
I think there's something wrong with the neighbor. We have zoning laws limiting hedges, fences, etc., to reasonable amounts and heights. We chose to live within a city and have neighbors. The ones in back put dirt along their rear fence line blocking the water that used to leave my property onto theirs and then run onto their neighbor before making its way to the county drain on my next adjacent neighbor's property. That water backed up onto my property during really heavy rains due to their change. I never spoke to them after that.
We live 1 minute from the fire department rescue location--1 minute total response time that is. The police chief lives 1/4 mile away. The past Asst. Fire Chief lives down the street a few houses. He's now a chief for an adjacent fire agency preparing to return when the current Chief retires. Has a fully equipped emergency vehicle with which he responds to the neighboring agency's calls. Neighbors across the road are a fireman with emergency training and his wife is a nurse. Next door neighbor is a nurse. I like having neighbors.
And I totally see that many people prefer not to have anyone close enough that they would be aware of them.
@driver100 said:
But, just ignore your neighbor, he is obviosly anti-social and doesn't want to be friendly.
Yeah, I tend to agree. I try to avoid him as much as possible. It is only when he annoys me (by throwing trash in my driveway when he mows for example) that I get devious thoughts. I would love to be able to "gaslight" him, preying on his sociopathic tendencies even more. But I can't really figure out how without too much risk. Wish I was more devious.
Driver...that Valiant brought back memories. Last year of college, I needed some credit hours. Had all my major courses out of the way and needed some electives.
On a whim, I took a couple of driver's education courses because a girl I had the "hots" for at the time was a TA for the Driver's Ed prof.
The university had a Valiant, with a ton of miles on it, with the separate brake pedal on the right for the instructor.
After two quarters of Driver's Ed (and striking out with the TA both quarters), I got my certification by the state to teach driver's ed. Made some pretty decent money doing so (at least for a dirt poor college student at the time). OF course, I got to use the university's driver's ed car if the driver's ed student was enrolled in the University. So, I had zero overhead, too.
Pretty good gig. Never used that little melange of my education again, and let my certification lapse a long, long time ago.
@roadburner said:
. . . I feel sorry for the residents of states where the bureaucrats who run their traffic offense money collection scheme believe that the book 1984 had a happy ending...
If I ever have to deal with the "justice" system in the future (it's been 45 years since I went up for not wearing a helmet while riding my motorcycle), I hope I get a judge with your point of view.
Since the Californians have invaded Arizona, it's far less likely.
@ab348 said:
It is only when he annoys me (by throwing trash in my driveway when he mows for example)
That would be really irritating for me. I'd tend to just throw it back.... But if he's scary enough have you checked to see if he has a record of mental issues? arrests? Whatever the HIPPA laws allow?
@imidazol97 said:That water backed up onto my property during really heavy rains due to their change. I never spoke to them after that.
Also a case of a neighbor who just isn't considerate of other people...it seems to be pretty common these days.
I do wonder though if your neighbor realizes their dirt is causing flooding for you. It may be worth devising a plan that could work for you, and then going over and having a friendly chat about the problem. If they are like my neighbor, he couldn't care less, but, I think most people would see your predicament and try to help.
I am not sure, but there may be city rules that wouldn't allow someone to redirect the flow of water onto someone elses property.
We have about 20 really nice neighbors, just this one jerk next to us and when I see him I think of that saying, Big fences make good neighbors.......good luck.
One other thought, make a larger wall so the water goes back in his direction.
I had to look up "gaslighting someone", never heard the term before. This is what I found:
To manipulate events and situations in order to make a person believe that he or she is crazy.
From the 1944 movie with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman.
He kept stealing her keys and putting them in the freezer in order to gaslight her.
We had a neighbor across the street from us 2 houses ago. He had a nice house which he maintained and he had nice neighbors until a new one moved in. The two teenage sons were completely wild, had pool parties, and through their empty beer bottle/cans across onto my nice neighbors yard. One day he saw them and through them back and the new neighbor came yelling at him and told him he better not do that.
The nice neighbor didn't want it to escalate, so he just thru the bottles out himself. Eventually the kids went off to university. The wildman had to downsize because his rug cleaning business went downhill and he moved....the whole street was happy.
Not sure what you can do to your neighbor...these days people have security cameras too...that's all you need! I have thought of throwing a whole box full of laundry detergent into my neighbors pool and watching the bubbles. I have thought of growing some trees with long roots that will go through the pool wall. I wanted to build a 15 foot wooden fence between us, and paint his side yellow and purple. I also wanted to wait until he had guests, go out on my deck in a tiny Speedo, and dance to some loud rap music.
Maybe we can all help each other with a big party at each others houses.
@graphicguy said:The university had a Valiant, with a ton of miles on it, with the separate brake pedal on the right for the instructor
I got pretty good at using that brake on the right side, but, I was really good at reaching across and steering the car with my left hand a few times. I'm glad I don't do Driver Ed any more.
But one fellow at the time opened his own Driver Ed school and he franchised the business and he did very well. Even back then, I taught in a Valiant, he taught in a Firebird.
We had to move my MIL into Assisted Living a few weeks ago and we are getting her house ready to put on the market. Living next door is a Microsoft family and I think where they came from there is no conception on how to maintain a yard.
Oh, he has a guy mow and blow but he instructs him to just use a weed wacker on the flower blades. He has never trimmed or pruned any shrubbery to the point one window has a bush so big that only about the top four inches of glass are visible.
So nice to have an eyesore next to the house we will be selling!
BUT...Today something WONDERFUL happened or at least I hope so!
I hired a guy to prune the dead branches out of the Japanese Maple in her front yard and he showed up this morning.
The neighbor came out and actually asked him for a quote on cleaning up his yard and it looks like this is going to happen this week!
Get this...my guy told me he told the neighbor..
" You have such a nice house in such a nice neighborhood. I was wondering how anyone could let it go like this"
Was up to the dealership this morning to have the CLS 550 appraised officially for trade value. They put a cash value of $61,750 on the car which is acceptable to me. My new car will be an even trade, or close to that, all depending on the USAA incentive which should be about $2500-$3000. Then I have a $500 coupon from the Mercedes Benz Club of America (total of $3000-$3500 under invoice). That puts it right about what they put on my CLS.
My new car will be produced on September 12th and is expected at the dealership about 4 weeks later.
Your new car is being built this week as well. Getting close, driver.
Sounds more like paranoid ideation to me. He obviously thinks that you are throwing trash on his property. His evidence? It's there! The paranoid mind adds 2+2 and comes up with 5. The wind blows a McDonalds cup on his lawn and in his mind someone MUST have throw it there. His other behaviors build from that. Probably thought you were spying on him when he saw you in the window. Hence the finger.
Give this guy a wide berth.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
@fushigi said: Service will automatically renew every 3 months thereafter and you will be charged according to your chosen payment method at then-current rates.
At least they are pretty upfront with the auto-renewal . Onstar seems not so much so (just canceled mine halfway through free trial)
@abacomike said:Your new car is being built this week as well. Getting close, driver.
Mine was ordered on August 12, so if it is built on Sept 12, and arrives 4 weeks later that should be Oct 12, I am half way there.
I love my 535, but, I think I am going to like the E400 a lot more...especially because of the more comfortable seats and quiet ride. Hope I can get used to the GPS and other stuff.
Does Mercedes come with free Sirius? I'll have to remember to cancel my Sirius if it does.
What about hard drives and stuff...I guess the dealer will remove all my music.
@oldfarmer50 said:I was going to add that too but seeing how you feel about your SIL I didn't want to be mean.
The last time I drove in a Corvette was about 25 years ago. I felt like my butt was rolling over the pavement. I am sure they make them better riding today, but, I wasn't that impressed.
Today, when I see them, I like them, but, not for me. I am afraid I would get into it and probably need the fire department to lift me out.
"Does Mercedes come with free Sirius? I'll have to remember to cancel my Sirius if it does. What about hard drives and stuff...I guess the dealer will remove all my music."
Yes, 6 months of Sirius radio and 3 months of weather and traffic. I keep the weather and traffic because it is outstanding compared to BMW and Lexus.
You also get 6 months of MBRACE which is a satellite and GPS tracking system for your car. You get 3 months of Concierge service and 3 months of internet and Mercedes apps.
As for your music on the hard drive of the BMW, they can 't transfer it from one car to another. Create a DVD of all your music so you can load it onto your new car's hard drive.
@ray80 said:At least they are pretty upfront with the auto-renewal . Onstar seems not so much so (just canceled mine halfway through free trial)
I wonder how many people really make a note and remember to cancel. Those offers are like the mail-in rebates they had at electronics stores. I am sure most people take the item home with the intention of mailing in (after taking photo copies and sending by special mail) for their rebate, but, of course, people procrastinate and eventually forget. I just checked and only 40% of rebate money is actually given out. Seems a lot of companies make it very difficult for you to claim a rebate.
I got lots of freebies with my Galaxy 10 tablet....but, they were all free for awhile. I didn't want to try to cancel them all so I didn't bother signing up.
With Sirius, I mark it on about 5 calendars when to phone them.
@driver100 said: Trouble exiting a Corvette ? I read that since only old men can afford to buy them, Chevy is going to offer a new option next year --- the geriatric winch-all. Special discount for Medicare enrollees.
@driver100 said:
I felt like my butt was rolling over the pavement. I am sure they make them better riding today, but, I wasn't that impressed.
It's that "feel of the road" that comes with some sportier cars! LOL.
I never cared that much for "feel of the road" but instead I like a car
that I can it in for 10-12 hours to drive to Charleston and not feel like
I need a chiropractor.
Corvettes will not serve that purpose for me!
But while I realize it is fun to rag on Chevrolet, I noticed the Motorweek
(yuck) test of the i8 from BMW. It looked awfully low to the road. Awfully
stiff. If got less mileage than a Volt (which they mention) and can only go
17 miles on a charge, if I heard right!.
AND the price is, hold on to your seats, $145,000 real dollars? For a car
that won't go more than 17 miles on electricity but then can cruise on the
3-cylinder engine from then on. After listening to all the fun that was made of the Volt by
virtue of its having an ICE for extended range, I can't wait to see how they mock
the i8.
No thanks. The closest I got to interested in any cars recently was the E350 rear end in front
of me in Columbus near campus the other day. Then I was behind another
E350 within a minute of an earlier year with a rounded, more majestic trunk
shape. The First E350 had flat sides to the tapered trunk which looked
like a Honda TL's shape. I like the shape of the more formal
trunk of the older E350.
"Is that where you pull up and ask for Grey Poupon and the concierge brings it out?"
Just about! There are 3 buttons on the upper front headliner for contacting Mbrace. 1 is for emergency; 1 is for information; another for roadside assistance.
If you press the info button, when you connect you ask for concierge service. Once transferred to concierge, you can request restaurant reservations anywhere, airline tickets, hotel reservations, movie tickets, theater and Broadway Show tickets, and just about everything else you would want.
Mercedes has a driving school in Georgia or South Carolina, I believe. You can request reservations at the hotel there and for track driving on the premises.
Concierge can also place emergency phone calls for you to any phone number in the world.
I don't subscribe to concierge because I would not use them, ever. But I do subscribe to their basic service for stolen vehicle recovery, emergency service and road service. I save on my comprehensive insurance for theft.
@imidazol97 said:Motorweek (yuck) test of the i8 from BMW. It looked awfully low to the road. Awfully stiff. If got less mileage than a Volt (which they mention) and can only go 17 miles on a charge, if I heard right!.
But it sure is pretty!
Actually, it sounds like a neat car if you don't mind the $140K price:
Overview: With swan-wing doors, a shark-nose front end, and a supercar stance, the i8 plug-in hybrid is BMW’s most revolutionary car in decades. The interior seats four in trappings worthy of an Ian Schrager hotel. A turbocharged three-cylinder engine/electric motor duo with a combined 357 hp delivers M3-like acceleration, a 155-mph top speed, and Prius-like efficiency. Handling is agile and steering precise; braking is great for any car, let alone a hybrid.
It gets 22 miles per charge, but I think it can charge on the fly. They're only expecting to sell 500, and it is not for the masses.
I did see an i3 on the road and it looks much better in real life.
Bury the hatchet already. If this goes back to New Year's Resolutions, it's time to smoke the peace pipe - NO?
I have no problem with driver. As long as he doesn't start arguing for the sake of arguing, he's fine. When he does that, I just don't take the bait anymore.
Comments
In Ohio the earlier attempt to "outlaw" the monster companies from Australia, e.g., that run these things failed due to the governor's veto at end of his term. But more recently Elmwood Place, suburb of Cincinnati had them frozen and that court case may be still in the Ohio courts and one that the Senate is counting on to do the Senate's job since they're afraid to cross the donors vs their constituents wishes.
My State representative said his opposition was due to the lack of ability to challenge the tickets the way it's set up here. I believe Toledo also has a case in the higher courts.
I put the red light camera/speed camera companies on the same level as the policemen back in the 70s and 80s that "retired" with high retirements, started their own company doing investigations where they would put their workers into schools to try to find out who was selling the drugs. The operation mode was essentially an entrapment setup to catch the other high school kids.
I don't understand why the Ohio Senate doesn't just bring the bill out of committee and vote so the people will know how each one stands.
Worse is the lying cities who claim it's for safety on tv and radio interviews then as soon as the money may dry up the reality that they need the money to continue their highly overpaid public servant status as officers and other public officials rather than for the public safety.
I still see red light accidents happening. And they said the cameras would stop all that.
I still see speeding on the same streets/highways where they put up the speed cameras too.
They said the cameras would stop all that.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
> If you get called for Jury Duty, just tell them you listen to Fox News and you'll get dismissed! Worked for me!
How do you know that is what did it for you?
2011 Hyundai Sonata, 2014 BMW 428i convertible, 2015 Honda CTX700D
I personally would think a Fox listener is more open minded toward hearing both sides of a story instead of just one side as other alphabet networks' listeners are.
My last Call of Duty was really hard to get dismissed. I was 2nd from being an alternate and I had to work at getting off. I was ready to ask to be heard quietly at the bench because I was going to have to tell them that after watching the behavior or the criminal during the morning's proceedings and part of the afternoon during jury questioning, my analysis of his body language and eye movements was that he was guilty and he considered himself to be one of the criminal sharpies who could lie and maneuver his way out of anything--much like the cohort in the Ferguson shooting trying to lie on the first TV interviews and polluting the other alleged witnesses--except this defendant had an intelligence in the 130's I would estimate.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Funny thing, no jurisdiction that uses these so-called "safety cameras" classify speeding or disregarding a traffic control device as a criminal offense. They have to be classified as civil infractions in order for the cameras to survive. Moving violations are reclassified as being equivalent to parking tickets- otherwise the companies and municipalities couldn't get away with it. Of course insurance companies don't raise your premiums for parking tickets...
And even then, the constitutionality of many of their revenue enhancement schemes has been successfully challenged, such as in Ohio- where Cleveland tried to cut the court system out altogether.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
@nelson -- I stream Pandora a lot in my car, and numerous podcasts, and I've never reached 1Gb yet. It's the videos that gobble up your phone bill.
This could describe me as well. I have a neighbor at the back of my property who is a really odd duck, and scary. A single guy who has lived there for 20 years or more, now retired from a blue-collar railway job. When I first moved here I tried to introduce myself to him early on and got blown off. I was astounded, we were perhaps 10 feet apart I am there saying "Hello!" 3 times and he just ignores me entirely while looking straight at me. A couple of years later he was standing in my driveway looking up. I went out to introduce myself and his first words were a threat to sue me if I didn't have a tree at the rear of the property taken out, without any prior discussion on the topic. Then one day I saw a guy in my driveway digging post holes on the property line, turned out he was employed by this clown to build a fence but hadn't told him he hadn't talked to anyone first. He then planted hedges entirely around his property and has not ever trimmed them, so they are now 12-14 feet tall and act as an impenetrable barrier.
What else -- oh yeah, one day before the hedges took over I was in the spare bedroom on my elliptical machine which faced the window that looks toward his property. He came around the corner from his driveway, saw me in the window, and gave me the finger. I just about fell off the machine. I asked my 89 y-o neighbor about him, a sweet British lady, and she said she tried to introduce herself to him when he first moved in and he blew her off as well. He never has any visitors or friends come by, not a surprise. This guy apparently does not cook or ever buy groceries from what I can tell since he leaves and returns with fast food 3 times a day, morning noon and night. He has a gun that he uses to fire at critters (blanks I hope) in his backyard to keep them away. I have seen him throw snowballs in the winter at the pigeons on his roof. And whatever windblown debris (candy wrappers, etc) that ends up on his lawn, he picks up and throws it into neighbors property when he mows.
I think he is a total lunatic and sociopath, but what can you do? He is scary enough that I would just as soon avoid him entirely, but his actions make it unpleasant.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
This is ULTRA liberal Seattle.
I've taken a lengthy questionnaire that pegged me at exactly what I thought I was, a Moderate Conservative. Defense Attorneys don't like guys like me.
I have f friend who is self employed. A one man operation and he can't be bothered with Jury Duty. When he gets c notice in the mail, he just throws them away. He's done this about four times now and nothing has happened.
"...he has 2 Blazers and a Corvette he takes out on Sundays. He's around 50, no kids..."
I think you're just jealous that he has a Corvette.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I absolutely LOVE not having any neighbors. No old codger asking if my mower is broken if I haven't cut the grass often enough to suit him. No complaints if my son and I are watching Iron Man 3 at a reference SPL. No HOA [non-permissible content removed] telling me I have to keep my garage door closed.
Heaven...
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
>
You have got to be kidding me. Listening to Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity is "open minded"????
If you want to get off jury duty, tell them you've been arrested. Doesn't matter what for, or how long ago.
My neighbors are close enough, but we are separated by boundaries. There is a creek behind my house separating me from the guy behind me. There are some woods & a pond separating me from my next door neighbor, and I've got streets in the front and on the other side of me. My neighbors across the street & I get along great. They've got 3 kids the same age as 2 of my kids:)
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
LOL. I said Fox NEWS... most people can distinguish between opinion shows and the news carried throughout the day. I am able, as well, to pick out overstatement and facts from two sides, if existent, of a topic. However, Rachel Madcow, Ronan Farrow, Al Sharpie, the lady with tampons as earring, of NBC fame, Walt Blitzer and others suggest they are reporting news when instead they are giving commentary.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Guys - you are breaking our agreement on this topic.
I think you just listed half the broadcasting day as opinion.
I have very wise friend who made this statement, not saying I agree or disagree but it is worth thinking about. His statement, not mine, FOX News is for people who don't really understand the news, since they interpret it for you. I don't want to argue it because I am not sure it is true, but, it does make me think. I suppose you could say the same about MSNBC the other way.
Sorry rob2.......had to add that for something to think about.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I agree, but apparently the defense attorneys don't want you to be open minded, fair, and to be able to think and make decisions on your own.
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Oh that is the last thing they want.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Thank you Robr2, for reminding everyone to stay off politics, for the good of the group.
Shifty
I think you have him pegged, a lunatic and sociopath. I think there are some people who are even more crochety than me, they just don't want to be sociable, and they make themselves unsociable.
I think my neighbor is like that, he has upset everyone around him because he just wants to be left alone. I think his wife just goes along with him so as not to upset him.
We lived in the country before this but I prefer to have neighbors...if they are nice. It was noisier in the country, frogs and crickets at night, and I could hear the speedway which was about 10 miles away, on Saturday nights. One day I realized if we had to get an ambulance or go to a hospital it was a long ways off....probably die before we got there. And, any trip to town was an extra 20 minutes each way. Grocery shopping had to be carefully planned, a cooler for ice cream in the summer. No last minute running out to get things if someone is going to drop in, or you forget something.
So, for this time in my life I prefer to live in an urban area. I also tend to think there is safety in numbers, at least more safety.
But, just ignore your neighbor, he is obviosly anti-social and doesn't want to be friendly.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
No, I am jealous because he has no kids.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
LOL!
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
But, just ignore your neighbor, he is obviosly anti-social and doesn't want to be friendly.
I think there's something wrong with the neighbor. We have zoning laws limiting hedges, fences, etc., to reasonable amounts and heights. We chose to live within a city and have neighbors. The ones in back put dirt along their rear fence line blocking the water that used to leave my property onto theirs and then run onto their neighbor before making its way to the county drain on my next adjacent neighbor's property. That water backed up onto my property during really heavy rains due to their change. I never spoke to them after that.
We live 1 minute from the fire department rescue location--1 minute total response time that is. The police chief lives 1/4 mile away. The past Asst. Fire Chief lives down the street a few houses. He's now a chief for an adjacent fire agency preparing to return when the current Chief retires. Has a fully equipped emergency vehicle with which he responds to the neighboring agency's calls. Neighbors across the road are a fireman with emergency training and his wife is a nurse. Next door neighbor is a nurse. I like having neighbors.
And I totally see that many people prefer not to have anyone close enough that they would be aware of them.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Yup. LOL.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Yeah, I tend to agree. I try to avoid him as much as possible. It is only when he annoys me (by throwing trash in my driveway when he mows for example) that I get devious thoughts. I would love to be able to "gaslight" him, preying on his sociopathic tendencies even more. But I can't really figure out how without too much risk. Wish I was more devious.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Driver...that Valiant brought back memories. Last year of college, I needed some credit hours. Had all my major courses out of the way and needed some electives.
On a whim, I took a couple of driver's education courses because a girl I had the "hots" for at the time was a TA for the Driver's Ed prof.
The university had a Valiant, with a ton of miles on it, with the separate brake pedal on the right for the instructor.
After two quarters of Driver's Ed (and striking out with the TA both quarters), I got my certification by the state to teach driver's ed. Made some pretty decent money doing so (at least for a dirt poor college student at the time). OF course, I got to use the university's driver's ed car if the driver's ed student was enrolled in the University. So, I had zero overhead, too.
Pretty good gig. Never used that little melange of my education again, and let my certification lapse a long, long time ago.
If I ever have to deal with the "justice" system in the future (it's been 45 years since I went up for not wearing a helmet while riding my motorcycle), I hope I get a judge with your point of view.
Since the Californians have invaded Arizona, it's far less likely.
That would be really irritating for me. I'd tend to just throw it back.... But if he's scary enough have you checked to see if he has a record of mental issues? arrests? Whatever the HIPPA laws allow?
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Also a case of a neighbor who just isn't considerate of other people...it seems to be pretty common these days.
I do wonder though if your neighbor realizes their dirt is causing flooding for you. It may be worth devising a plan that could work for you, and then going over and having a friendly chat about the problem. If they are like my neighbor, he couldn't care less, but, I think most people would see your predicament and try to help.
I am not sure, but there may be city rules that wouldn't allow someone to redirect the flow of water onto someone elses property.
We have about 20 really nice neighbors, just this one jerk next to us and when I see him I think of that saying, Big fences make good neighbors.......good luck.
One other thought, make a larger wall so the water goes back in his direction.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I had to look up "gaslighting someone", never heard the term before. This is what I found:
To manipulate events and situations in order to make a person believe that he or she is crazy.
From the 1944 movie with Charles Boyer and Ingrid Bergman.
He kept stealing her keys and putting them in the freezer in order to gaslight her.
We had a neighbor across the street from us 2 houses ago. He had a nice house which he maintained and he had nice neighbors until a new one moved in. The two teenage sons were completely wild, had pool parties, and through their empty beer bottle/cans across onto my nice neighbors yard. One day he saw them and through them back and the new neighbor came yelling at him and told him he better not do that.
The nice neighbor didn't want it to escalate, so he just thru the bottles out himself. Eventually the kids went off to university. The wildman had to downsize because his rug cleaning business went downhill and he moved....the whole street was happy.
Not sure what you can do to your neighbor...these days people have security cameras too...that's all you need! I have thought of throwing a whole box full of laundry detergent into my neighbors pool and watching the bubbles. I have thought of growing some trees with long roots that will go through the pool wall. I wanted to build a 15 foot wooden fence between us, and paint his side yellow and purple. I also wanted to wait until he had guests, go out on my deck in a tiny Speedo, and dance to some loud rap music.
Maybe we can all help each other with a big party at each others houses.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I got pretty good at using that brake on the right side, but, I was really good at reaching across and steering the car with my left hand a few times. I'm glad I don't do Driver Ed any more.
But one fellow at the time opened his own Driver Ed school and he franchised the business and he did very well. Even back then, I taught in a Valiant, he taught in a Firebird.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
We had to move my MIL into Assisted Living a few weeks ago and we are getting her house ready to put on the market. Living next door is a Microsoft family and I think where they came from there is no conception on how to maintain a yard.
Oh, he has a guy mow and blow but he instructs him to just use a weed wacker on the flower blades. He has never trimmed or pruned any shrubbery to the point one window has a bush so big that only about the top four inches of glass are visible.
So nice to have an eyesore next to the house we will be selling!
BUT...Today something WONDERFUL happened or at least I hope so!
I hired a guy to prune the dead branches out of the Japanese Maple in her front yard and he showed up this morning.
The neighbor came out and actually asked him for a quote on cleaning up his yard and it looks like this is going to happen this week!
Get this...my guy told me he told the neighbor..
" You have such a nice house in such a nice neighborhood. I was wondering how anyone could let it go like this"
Hopefully this will happen!
Was up to the dealership this morning to have the CLS 550 appraised officially for trade value. They put a cash value of $61,750 on the car which is acceptable to me. My new car will be an even trade, or close to that, all depending on the USAA incentive which should be about $2500-$3000. Then I have a $500 coupon from the Mercedes Benz Club of America (total of $3000-$3500 under invoice). That puts it right about what they put on my CLS.
My new car will be produced on September 12th and is expected at the dealership about 4 weeks later.
Your new car is being built this week as well. Getting close, driver.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I was going to add that too but seeing how you feel about your SIL I didn't want to be mean.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Sounds more like paranoid ideation to me. He obviously thinks that you are throwing trash on his property. His evidence? It's there! The paranoid mind adds 2+2 and comes up with 5. The wind blows a McDonalds cup on his lawn and in his mind someone MUST have throw it there. His other behaviors build from that. Probably thought you were spying on him when he saw you in the window. Hence the finger.
Give this guy a wide berth.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
He's in Canada so they don't have HIPPA. I hope they have something more workable.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Hhmm wonder if that might work for me should I get called upon again, there's hope .
I have only had to go once before and serve, civil case, automobile related and while it was interesting, don't need to do it again.
At least they are pretty upfront with the auto-renewal . Onstar seems not so much so (just canceled mine halfway through free trial)
Mine was ordered on August 12, so if it is built on Sept 12, and arrives 4 weeks later that should be Oct 12, I am half way there.
I love my 535, but, I think I am going to like the E400 a lot more...especially because of the more comfortable seats and quiet ride. Hope I can get used to the GPS and other stuff.
Does Mercedes come with free Sirius? I'll have to remember to cancel my Sirius if it does.
What about hard drives and stuff...I guess the dealer will remove all my music.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
The last time I drove in a Corvette was about 25 years ago. I felt like my butt was rolling over the pavement. I am sure they make them better riding today, but, I wasn't that impressed.
Today, when I see them, I like them, but, not for me. I am afraid I would get into it and probably need the fire department to lift me out.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
"Does Mercedes come with free Sirius? I'll have to remember to cancel my Sirius if it does. What about hard drives and stuff...I guess the dealer will remove all my music."
Yes, 6 months of Sirius radio and 3 months of weather and traffic. I keep the weather and traffic because it is outstanding compared to BMW and Lexus.
You also get 6 months of MBRACE which is a satellite and GPS tracking system for your car. You get 3 months of Concierge service and 3 months of internet and Mercedes apps.
As for your music on the hard drive of the BMW, they can 't transfer it from one car to another. Create a DVD of all your music so you can load it onto your new car's hard drive.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
I wonder how many people really make a note and remember to cancel. Those offers are like the mail-in rebates they had at electronics stores. I am sure most people take the item home with the intention of mailing in (after taking photo copies and sending by special mail) for their rebate, but, of course, people procrastinate and eventually forget. I just checked and only 40% of rebate money is actually given out. Seems a lot of companies make it very difficult for you to claim a rebate.
I got lots of freebies with my Galaxy 10 tablet....but, they were all free for awhile. I didn't want to try to cancel them all so I didn't bother signing up.
With Sirius, I mark it on about 5 calendars when to phone them.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
It's that "feel of the road" that comes with some sportier cars! LOL.
I never cared that much for "feel of the road" but instead I like a car
that I can it in for 10-12 hours to drive to Charleston and not feel like
I need a chiropractor.
Corvettes will not serve that purpose for me!
But while I realize it is fun to rag on Chevrolet, I noticed the Motorweek
(yuck) test of the i8 from BMW. It looked awfully low to the road. Awfully
stiff. If got less mileage than a Volt (which they mention) and can only go
17 miles on a charge, if I heard right!.
AND the price is, hold on to your seats, $145,000 real dollars? For a car
that won't go more than 17 miles on electricity but then can cruise on the
3-cylinder engine from then on. After listening to all the fun that was made of the Volt by
virtue of its having an ICE for extended range, I can't wait to see how they mock
the i8.
No thanks. The closest I got to interested in any cars recently was the E350 rear end in front
of me in Columbus near campus the other day. Then I was behind another
E350 within a minute of an earlier year with a rounded, more majestic trunk
shape. The First E350 had flat sides to the tapered trunk which looked
like a Honda TL's shape. I like the shape of the more formal
trunk of the older E350.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
We're now at 100 pages in the new forum.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
3 months of Concierge service
Is that where you pull up and ask for Grey Poupon and the concierge brings it out?
2013 Mustang GT, 2001 GMC Yukon Denali
"Is that where you pull up and ask for Grey Poupon and the concierge brings it out?"
Just about! There are 3 buttons on the upper front headliner for contacting Mbrace. 1 is for emergency; 1 is for information; another for roadside assistance.
If you press the info button, when you connect you ask for concierge service. Once transferred to concierge, you can request restaurant reservations anywhere, airline tickets, hotel reservations, movie tickets, theater and Broadway Show tickets, and just about everything else you would want.
Mercedes has a driving school in Georgia or South Carolina, I believe. You can request reservations at the hotel there and for track driving on the premises.
Concierge can also place emergency phone calls for you to any phone number in the world.
I don't subscribe to concierge because I would not use them, ever. But I do subscribe to their basic service for stolen vehicle recovery, emergency service and road service. I save on my comprehensive insurance for theft.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
Yup -- that would be 3000 posts, only 97K to go.
They used to have 20 or 25 posts per page, but upped it to 30 sometime in the last several months.
We should be there in oh say 3 or 4 months at the current rate using rough estimation! LOL.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
But it sure is pretty!
Actually, it sounds like a neat car if you don't mind the $140K price:
Overview: With swan-wing doors, a shark-nose front end, and a supercar stance, the i8 plug-in hybrid is BMW’s most revolutionary car in decades. The interior seats four in trappings worthy of an Ian Schrager hotel. A turbocharged three-cylinder engine/electric motor duo with a combined 357 hp delivers M3-like acceleration, a 155-mph top speed, and Prius-like efficiency. Handling is agile and steering precise; braking is great for any car, let alone a hybrid.
It gets 22 miles per charge, but I think it can charge on the fly. They're only expecting to sell 500, and it is not for the masses.
I did see an i3 on the road and it looks much better in real life.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have no problem with driver. As long as he doesn't start arguing for the sake of arguing, he's fine. When he does that, I just don't take the bait anymore.
But absolutely no grudge over here.
@driver100
I seriously think that's the funniest thing you've ever said!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD