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Get off my LAWN! "Grumpy Old Farts"

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#52,521
steve_rolfeca said:
I retired for similar reasons- part of the decision for me, was the realization that my reflexes weren't getting any better with age- it didn't take a genius to plot the decline of other drivers' skill and awareness vs my own aging process, and see how my motorcycling career was going to end up.

I've got to say that I'm feeling a lot safer now as an (electric-assisted) cyclist. Traffic safety still appears to be going down the toilet (although there's less of it in post-COVID Canada), but now I have a lot of tools that I wasn't able to take advantage of as a motorcyclist: Everything from paved bike paths and painted cycle lanes, to the ability to switch to the sidewalk whenever I don't like the look of surrounding traffic.

It might be slower than driving my van during rush hour, but despite a measly 250 watt mid-drive with a 20mph limit on the electric assist, I'm still quite a bit faster (and healthier) than if I was riding the bus...
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There seems to be too many people on the roads. The population and congestion just keeps growing.

Bike paths cover the city streets with their own network. They are well used by kids. The city created them by removing vehicle lanes. It created more downtown congestion. Govt goals are to reduce car traffic one way or the other and force people to use public transit. Many years into it, it's not working well enough. Public transport should be free for all, meanwhile they keep raising the rates.

Those motor assist bicycles are very interesting. I see a lot of people using them, they are even available for rental on the bike paths. Technology has really moved forward. I was talking to a guy with a wheelchair the other day. I see him zooming all over, a good distance from his home. I asked if he has an alternate set of batteries to switch to. Apparently not, he said that he can go to particular market and back and the battery status meter barely moves. That's a difficult three hour round trip walk for me up and down hills. As long as he plugs it in every night, he's fine.
 
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#52,523
beans-on-toast said:
There seems to be too many people on the roads. The population and congestion just keeps growing.

Bike paths cover the city streets with their own network. They are well used by kids. The city created them by removing vehicle lanes. It created more downtown congestion. Govt goals are to reduce car traffic one way or the other and force people to use public transit. Many years into it, it's not working well enough. Public transport should be free for all, meanwhile they keep raising the rates.

Those motor assist bicycles are very interesting. I see a lot of people using them, they are even available for rental on the bike paths. Technology has really moved forward. I was talking to a guy with a wheelchair the other day. I see him zooming all over, a good distance from his home. I asked if he has an alternate set of batteries to switch to. Apparently not, he said that he can go to particular market and back and the battery status meter barely moves. That's a difficult three hour round trip walk for me up and down hills. As long as he plugs it in every night, he's fine.
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To simplify-"There's too many people."
 
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#52,524
beans-on-toast said:
https://www.pastfactory.com/
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This GOF lost patience at 100 percent correct answers with 30 percent of the quiz complete. The equivalent of a Mille Bornes hazard card on a quiet Monday
people run red lights every day I'm out
people in motorized wheelchairs ride down the middle of the street

Teen-agers are nothing but trouble

20210905_000624.jpg
 
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#52,529
GwenOnBass said:
doesn't anyone use anything organic any more? A Book!
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With a third of my desk still taken up by a large reel-to-reel deck, getting them out of the hutch isn't worth the hassle for a photo op, but not only do I still have my AP stylebook, but two editions of my "Writer's Reference" textbook from college; the one I had whilst actually in school, and a much thicker variant from a few decades afterward, purchased when it became necessary to cite electronic sources and such. :thumbsup:
 
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#52,531
beans-on-toast said:
Write your best with Grammarly.
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We won't need to wait for artificial intelligence to take over the world, we're already willingly surrendering to it one task at a time...now we have computers telling us how to properly compose and communicate our thoughts. What many see as the greatest time of technological enlightenment and progress I believe history will record as the dumbing down of America that led to its downfall.
 
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#52,533
beans-on-toast said:
I stopped riding motorcycles after many years with them. The roads got more and more crowded. Car drivers lost all common sense. It got a lot more dangerous, I saw too many serious accidents. The number of inexperienced bikers went through the roof when biking became more popular. I also got fed up with riding in cold weather.

I don't know if it's just the lower cost of technology now but I'm seeing more people out walking with body cams. Many vehicles have them as well. Maybe it's just fun to document where you go. Some seem to want that extra security though.
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Similar to what a friend of mine said when he decided to sell his Indian Chief. "Too many people in cars looking at their phones instead of the road."

Are those of us who won't answer or look at our phones when driving a lost tribe? I fear so. The divide between the drivers and the non-drivers will probably be a wedge that will come up as 'self-driving' cars become more of a thing. I'm already hearing that classic cars are going to become more difficult to own as more electrics come on line and gas becomes less common.

Is this post grumpy enough for this thread, or do I need to up my game?
:smug:
 
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#52,535
RodRy said:
Similar to what a friend of mine said when he decided to sell his Indian Chief. "Too many people in cars looking at their phones instead of the road."

Are those of us who won't answer or look at our phones when driving a lost tribe? I fear so. The divide between the drivers and the non-drivers will probably be a wedge that will come up as 'self-driving' cars become more of a thing. I'm already hearing that classic cars are going to become more difficult to own as more electrics come on line and gas becomes less common.

Is this post grumpy enough for this thread, or do I need to up my game?
:smug:
Click to expand...

Looks good to me.
 
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#52,537
GwenOnBass said:
Vaguely disturbed by the notion I want a current AP Stylebook on my desk now.
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Recently was asked at work to read and comment on an article for publication in a trade journal before it was sent out. I mentioned that my responses were related to AP Style rules that I felt the journal would probably be looking for. A puzzled look greeted that statement across the Teams online meeting.
:facepalm:
 
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#52,538
RodRy said:
Recently was asked at work to read and comment on an article for publication in a trade journal before it was sent out. I mentioned that my responses were related to AP Style rules that I felt the journal would probably be looking for. A puzzled look greeted that statement across the Teams online meeting.
:facepalm:
Click to expand...
Crickets?
 
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