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Apr. 22nd, 2019 09:31 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. I STILL don't frigging know what television set to get.
Best buy: Get LG 49 inch.
Television Expert Co-worker Engineer: Get 55 inch TCL Series 6 or 49 inch Insigna
Coworker: Don't get Insigna we had two fail on us
Best Buy Reviewers: Don't get LG, get Insigan, don't series 5 TCL - not great sound
Television reviewers: Get TCL 49 inch Series 5
ME: ACK. Why can't I just keep the Polaroid?
I'm already second guessing myself on the television console. I honestly think this is genetic.
Mother: Sigh. You are clearly your mother's daughter.
Go back about a year and half...
Mother: Should I get the 55 inch Samsung or the 49 inch Sony? Do I need a 55 inch?
Should I have it mounted? Your brother thinks I should get an Apple TV...I don't know what to do!
ME: What's Best Buy tell you?
Mother: No help.
ME: What's Dad want?
Mother: 55 inch.
Sigh men. Sigh.
Male coworkers who watch tv: Get 55 inch with 240 refresh
Female coworker: 45 should work
Male who doesn't watch tv and just watches it on his laptop: Get whatever you want, doesn't have to be big at all.
ME to coworkers: At this point, I'm considering doing eeny meany miny moe...
Have I told you how much I hate buying stuff?
I discussed this with across the aisle cubicle mate...who agreed that she wasn't a shopper either or for that matter a gardner. Actually when it comes to gardening, she's worse than me. She moved out to Long Island and removed the grass and trees from her yard and put in rocks.
Me: I kill plants. My brother got the Green thumb.
Co-worker: So do I, I have a purple thumb.
ME: Oh, I like that. I got one too. I actually killed a cactus.
Co-worker: How'd you do that?
Me: I over-watered it.
Co-worker dies laughing.
I'd have kept the trees...I don't know about the grass -- I hate mowing. Been there, done that. It's not fun. Meanwhile my brother is farming, making syrup, and baking bread. I don't garden, there's scary spiders, bugs, mold, dirt, and weeds. My brother gardens. I think this was meant to be a cosmic joke on my father, who ages ago told my mother that women nuture and men work to provide and advocate. He gets two kids, girl and a boy. The girl goes into the business world, is an advocate, and provider personality, while the boy prefers to nuture, grow things, and be a househubby. I took after my Dad in this regard, my brother took after my Mom. Goes to show you -- the Universe has a wicked sense of humor. (Moral don't generalize, you're just asking the Universe to mock you.)
2. In the Dark -- I've seen three episodes to date, and it's...really good. Surprisingly good. I like all the characters -- that's rare. And I adore Murphy.
Set up? A blind twenty-something woman, named Murphy, gets mugged and saved by a 15 year old African-American Drug Dealer. About two years later, Murphy has established a great friendship with the guy, Tyson. Until one night she discovers his body in the alley. She calls it in. The cops find no body or any evidence. Frustrated, and seeking justice for her friend, Murphy begins to investigate.
Her adoptive parents (a black guy and a white woman) owns a guide-dog company, where Murphy and her roomate, a veteran lesbian named Jesse, work. Jesse is dating a bisexual woman. Murphy sleeps with whomever and is afraid of any relationship that runs deeper than purely casual. Until she meets a food vendor guy who launders money for the drug dealers that employed Tyson, and Tyson ran drugs out his vending truck.
They date, and there's a cop with a blind daughter (who is heavy set). The cop has a thing for Murphy.
It's sort of a quirky neo-noir series. And one of the best things I've seen in a while on the CW. I prefer the off-kilter shows.
3. Tried Les Miserables -- the series on masterpiece with Dominic West, Lily Collins and Ostwejo, by Andrew Davies...but alas, I think it is too depressing for me, so may give up.
4. Work
ME - emailing consultant: per our audit department, the total amount on the excel spreadsheet doesn't match the total amount on the PDF, which is correct?
Consultant calls me: What spreadsheet?
ME: The one you sent us -- it's attached. I know you sent it, because I'd never entitle it that, and I couldn't find it in my computer files.
Consultant: Oh, let me look -- oh, yes, we sent it. It was to complement the PDF and help you.
Me: Yes, but the amounts don't match.
Consultant: What should we do?
Me: Tell me which is the correct amount?
Consultant: the PDF.
Me: Write an email stating to disregard the excel spreadsheet and that the PDF is the correct version.
Consultant: We could say that excel spreadsheet is complementary to the PDF.
ME: You will just confuse everyone especially the auditors. Just pick one.
Consultant: Okay, what should I say? I'm an engineer.
Me: That we should disregard the excel and use the PDF?
Consultant: I will send the email.
Consultant's email: Please regard the excel spreadsheet and use the PDF.
Me (Sigh): In other words, please disregard the excel spreadsheet and refer to the PDF instead.
Consultant: Confirmed - that's correct. Thank you.
Do they teach engineers communications skills in college, because I'm not seeing it.
Me: Why is the amount in your variance cost analysis so much higher than the amount in the actual estimate? The estimate amount is 125,000 in the variance vs. 96,500 in the estimate. What am I missing?
Estimator: It's 96,500 +30% contigency.
Me: 30% contigency??? How is this an accurate estimate?
Me: Why is 2% of my weekly amount being deducted for heatlh care costs? Does this seem excessive to you?
Union Rep: It's 2% of your paycheck like we told you.
Me: But it's taken out weekly -- that's more than 2%.
Union Rep: You just figured that out now?
Me: I don't see how this relevant to the question.
Union Rep: IT is totally relevant. And keep in mind we had nothing taken out for the 22 years I've been at this organization, and it's only taken out of gross not overtime.
Me: Well, considering I've only been here ten years, and it was only not taken out for eight of those ten, and I don't get paid overtime --
Union Rep: That's not my problem -
Me: This is all irrelevant. I just want to know why we're having it taken out each week -
Union Rep: Management has more -
Me: No other company has this, and we get sucky -
Union Rep: You're just figuring this out NOW!
Me: Honestly just answer the question.
Union Rep: 2% is being taken out and leaves in a huff.
Later Lando and Union Rep.
Lando: Shouldn't I get Social Security and Railroad Retirement, I put in for both, how is this either or?
Union Rep: One is better than the other.
Lando: No, they aren't the same. Two different things, with different amounts.
Union Rep: One off-sets the other.
Lando: that's like saying medical off-sets life insurance.
Union Rep: No it doesn't.
Lando: I get that you are just the messenger -- but --
I'm laughing. Union Rep is going to want to avoid our aisle from now on. Also, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be able to afford to retire. I certainly won't be able to afford to stay in NYC.
Best buy: Get LG 49 inch.
Television Expert Co-worker Engineer: Get 55 inch TCL Series 6 or 49 inch Insigna
Coworker: Don't get Insigna we had two fail on us
Best Buy Reviewers: Don't get LG, get Insigan, don't series 5 TCL - not great sound
Television reviewers: Get TCL 49 inch Series 5
ME: ACK. Why can't I just keep the Polaroid?
I'm already second guessing myself on the television console. I honestly think this is genetic.
Mother: Sigh. You are clearly your mother's daughter.
Go back about a year and half...
Mother: Should I get the 55 inch Samsung or the 49 inch Sony? Do I need a 55 inch?
Should I have it mounted? Your brother thinks I should get an Apple TV...I don't know what to do!
ME: What's Best Buy tell you?
Mother: No help.
ME: What's Dad want?
Mother: 55 inch.
Sigh men. Sigh.
Male coworkers who watch tv: Get 55 inch with 240 refresh
Female coworker: 45 should work
Male who doesn't watch tv and just watches it on his laptop: Get whatever you want, doesn't have to be big at all.
ME to coworkers: At this point, I'm considering doing eeny meany miny moe...
Have I told you how much I hate buying stuff?
I discussed this with across the aisle cubicle mate...who agreed that she wasn't a shopper either or for that matter a gardner. Actually when it comes to gardening, she's worse than me. She moved out to Long Island and removed the grass and trees from her yard and put in rocks.
Me: I kill plants. My brother got the Green thumb.
Co-worker: So do I, I have a purple thumb.
ME: Oh, I like that. I got one too. I actually killed a cactus.
Co-worker: How'd you do that?
Me: I over-watered it.
Co-worker dies laughing.
I'd have kept the trees...I don't know about the grass -- I hate mowing. Been there, done that. It's not fun. Meanwhile my brother is farming, making syrup, and baking bread. I don't garden, there's scary spiders, bugs, mold, dirt, and weeds. My brother gardens. I think this was meant to be a cosmic joke on my father, who ages ago told my mother that women nuture and men work to provide and advocate. He gets two kids, girl and a boy. The girl goes into the business world, is an advocate, and provider personality, while the boy prefers to nuture, grow things, and be a househubby. I took after my Dad in this regard, my brother took after my Mom. Goes to show you -- the Universe has a wicked sense of humor. (Moral don't generalize, you're just asking the Universe to mock you.)
2. In the Dark -- I've seen three episodes to date, and it's...really good. Surprisingly good. I like all the characters -- that's rare. And I adore Murphy.
Set up? A blind twenty-something woman, named Murphy, gets mugged and saved by a 15 year old African-American Drug Dealer. About two years later, Murphy has established a great friendship with the guy, Tyson. Until one night she discovers his body in the alley. She calls it in. The cops find no body or any evidence. Frustrated, and seeking justice for her friend, Murphy begins to investigate.
Her adoptive parents (a black guy and a white woman) owns a guide-dog company, where Murphy and her roomate, a veteran lesbian named Jesse, work. Jesse is dating a bisexual woman. Murphy sleeps with whomever and is afraid of any relationship that runs deeper than purely casual. Until she meets a food vendor guy who launders money for the drug dealers that employed Tyson, and Tyson ran drugs out his vending truck.
They date, and there's a cop with a blind daughter (who is heavy set). The cop has a thing for Murphy.
It's sort of a quirky neo-noir series. And one of the best things I've seen in a while on the CW. I prefer the off-kilter shows.
3. Tried Les Miserables -- the series on masterpiece with Dominic West, Lily Collins and Ostwejo, by Andrew Davies...but alas, I think it is too depressing for me, so may give up.
4. Work
ME - emailing consultant: per our audit department, the total amount on the excel spreadsheet doesn't match the total amount on the PDF, which is correct?
Consultant calls me: What spreadsheet?
ME: The one you sent us -- it's attached. I know you sent it, because I'd never entitle it that, and I couldn't find it in my computer files.
Consultant: Oh, let me look -- oh, yes, we sent it. It was to complement the PDF and help you.
Me: Yes, but the amounts don't match.
Consultant: What should we do?
Me: Tell me which is the correct amount?
Consultant: the PDF.
Me: Write an email stating to disregard the excel spreadsheet and that the PDF is the correct version.
Consultant: We could say that excel spreadsheet is complementary to the PDF.
ME: You will just confuse everyone especially the auditors. Just pick one.
Consultant: Okay, what should I say? I'm an engineer.
Me: That we should disregard the excel and use the PDF?
Consultant: I will send the email.
Consultant's email: Please regard the excel spreadsheet and use the PDF.
Me (Sigh): In other words, please disregard the excel spreadsheet and refer to the PDF instead.
Consultant: Confirmed - that's correct. Thank you.
Do they teach engineers communications skills in college, because I'm not seeing it.
Me: Why is the amount in your variance cost analysis so much higher than the amount in the actual estimate? The estimate amount is 125,000 in the variance vs. 96,500 in the estimate. What am I missing?
Estimator: It's 96,500 +30% contigency.
Me: 30% contigency??? How is this an accurate estimate?
Me: Why is 2% of my weekly amount being deducted for heatlh care costs? Does this seem excessive to you?
Union Rep: It's 2% of your paycheck like we told you.
Me: But it's taken out weekly -- that's more than 2%.
Union Rep: You just figured that out now?
Me: I don't see how this relevant to the question.
Union Rep: IT is totally relevant. And keep in mind we had nothing taken out for the 22 years I've been at this organization, and it's only taken out of gross not overtime.
Me: Well, considering I've only been here ten years, and it was only not taken out for eight of those ten, and I don't get paid overtime --
Union Rep: That's not my problem -
Me: This is all irrelevant. I just want to know why we're having it taken out each week -
Union Rep: Management has more -
Me: No other company has this, and we get sucky -
Union Rep: You're just figuring this out NOW!
Me: Honestly just answer the question.
Union Rep: 2% is being taken out and leaves in a huff.
Later Lando and Union Rep.
Lando: Shouldn't I get Social Security and Railroad Retirement, I put in for both, how is this either or?
Union Rep: One is better than the other.
Lando: No, they aren't the same. Two different things, with different amounts.
Union Rep: One off-sets the other.
Lando: that's like saying medical off-sets life insurance.
Union Rep: No it doesn't.
Lando: I get that you are just the messenger -- but --
I'm laughing. Union Rep is going to want to avoid our aisle from now on. Also, I'm beginning to wonder if I'll be able to afford to retire. I certainly won't be able to afford to stay in NYC.
no subject
Date: 2019-04-23 07:12 am (UTC)1. Get the largest screen that will comfortably fit your viewing space. The advent of HDTV made it possible to sit much closer to the screen than before without being able to see the lines / pixels that made up the image.
2. You can possibly save money by getting a standard HDTV set (720 or 1080 resolution) than the newer, heavily promoted 4K sets. Yes, the picture can be better, but on a smaller screen (less than 55 to 60 inches) the practical difference is diddly. Getting an 80" TV, or a front projector to do larger yet? Then 4K makes sense, but I guessing you don't have that kind of space in your apartment. Caveat-- prices are dropping fast on the 4K sets, so very soon the above suggestion may become moot.
3. Be sure the TV will accommodate any streaming devices you own. I don't think this is a big issue anymore, but check. Non-"smart" sets are now the exception.
4. If by chance you still own any old-school devices such as a VCR, laserdisc player or analog camcorder, be sure the set will accept analog signal sources. Some of the very cheapest ones out there do not, they have only HDMI.
5. Check with Consumer Reports for ratings on sets, especially in terms of reliability. Only larger screen sets are repaired these days (typically 50" or larger). If in warranty, the manufacturer generally simply gives you a new set, because it's literally cheaper for them to do so than to fix it. Out of warranty? You recycle it and get a new one, don't even waste time trying to repair it.
I rarely ever do installation work anymore, too hard on my knees and patience. However, I just recently replaced a small (32") TV for a very long-term customer, and ended up getting a Sharp LC-32Q3170U at Best Buy for $150.00.
https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sharp-32-class-led-720p-hdtv/6296539.p?skuId=6296539
Hmmm... well, how about that. It seems to be currently on sale for $90.00. At that price, you could buy two and keep one for a spare! Guessing it's about to be replaced with a new model.
I lean towards Samsung as to another possible decent brand you may wish to check out.
Hope this is helpful!
no subject
Date: 2019-04-23 02:20 pm (UTC)You don't see awful TV pictures in the stores anymore, like there were in the pre-HDTV days. But some are still better than others. It is important to choose your size first. Because of the way TVs work, the picture on smaller sets will normally look sharper. But bigger sets will look better at a distance. People recommending sizes of TVs without knowing how you watch are wasting your time. If you prefer to sit close, save your money and get a small set. If you'd rather sit farther away, get something bigger. It's as simple as that. Chose your set by standing a comfortable distance and picking what *you* like.
Anything as big as 50" really ought to be mounted on the wall to get it out of the way and keep it from getting accidentally knocked over if nothing else. That means the one time hassle of installation.
no subject
Date: 2019-04-23 05:30 pm (UTC)See here's the problem of asking for advice or asking a question -- you get about twenty different answers. It's hilarious in a way. And demonstrative of how little people actually agree on things.
Needs:
I have cable, HBO/Netflix and Amazon streaming currently - with serious HDMI problems due to the fact that Streaming and Cable must share the same sole HDMI outlet.
I went to Best Buy on Thursday, spent an hour in there looking at television sets. Alone and with a floor guy. IT DID NOT HELP.
no subject
Date: 2019-04-23 05:31 pm (UTC)And definitely a tv that is larger than 32 inch or 40 inch -- see 2 above.
no subject
Date: 2019-04-23 05:52 pm (UTC)Well, Consumer Reports agrees with co-worker.
https://theconsumer.guide/best-tvs/
no subject
Date: 2019-04-24 06:45 am (UTC)The link you provided above does not take one to the Consumer Reports website that cactuswatcher and I were referring to. The real CR accepts no advertising and never refers / links anyone to buy at Amazon.
You might check with several of your friends or co-workers to see if they subscribe to the magazine. If they do, they will get a yearly booklet that collects the majority of product reviews in one spot, and the print format is usually easier to follow than the website, IMO.
Actual CR website is here:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/index.htm
CR TV reviews:
https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/tvs.htm
no subject
Date: 2019-04-24 12:47 pm (UTC)Sigh. Yes, I know. It's an article summarizing the reviews on the CR site. Which doesn't have ads, because it charges you a membership or subscription fee to use. I funny, I don't like to pay websites to give me information that I can get for free.