Rant of the Day v2.

[llondel]

I've only changed the filter cartridges once in five years, but they need cleaning more often than that, especially if you get algae build-up or dump certain chemicals in that seem to clog it. I go by the pressure on the filter tank when the pump is running, I've learned from experience that once it hits a certain pressure at a particular pumps speed then it's probably time to clean them. They're more expensive than a few hundred pounds of sand but don't weigh as much.

[Wodrick]

Round here the five year rule prevails, when my selector failed my local supplier did me a deal on a demo unit including pump and filter.
I got them to fill the filter with glass substrate which doesn't suffer from particle edge rounding. Seven years now ant the pool is crystal when I try.

[emjay]

HSBC prides itself in its knowledge of business customer requirements "overseas". Indeed, one can open several accounts in different target currencies (e.g. much of the electronics manufacturing world still insists on US dollar transactions). Then logically US dollar invoices can be paid from the US dollar account. Individual transactions are divorced from decisions about when to shuffle money between different currencies (and the inevitable pain of paying the manipulated "spread" currency exchange rate, typically ~2.5%). Worth the extra cost of maintaining multiple accounts (hey, those few Kbytes of storage on the master computer don't come cheap right).

Well it was worthwhile. The "native" currency is defined by the bank's HQ location, in this case Singapore Dollars. On paying a US Dollar denominated invoice from the USD account, you expect a bunch of charges related to the actual transfer when it is between countries. This time an additional charge appeared, close to 2.5% of the actual invoice value.

Dear customer account executive - what is this charge?

Ah, glad you asked, that is a new charge for international transfers.

Um, got that - but what is it?

Well, your transaction was in US Dollars, which is not the native currency of the account. You would need to convert Singapore Dollars into US Dollars to pay that invoice. But you paid it from your USD account, so we computed how much commission we would have made if it really was from your S$ account and deemed that was what you owed us.

Aargh......

[PHXPhlyer]

Windshield replaced Friday morning.
"Miracle Coating" applied Saturday morning.
Chip last night.

PP

[OFSO]

Looking forward to my siesta on the terrace when a French estate agent I've never seen before turned up, could he bring French buyers for a Viewing on Friday? Obviously yes, but my front wall balls being filthy and peeling I had to forgot my snooze and go and rub them down, then paint 'em. Then the top of the wall. Frontage to street is about 150' but white wall is only 45'. Suddenly turned hot so unpleasant work. Tomorrow terrace railings.

[Pontius Navigator]

Then they don't show!
Then rant.

[OFSO]

Quite likely. In fact very likely. Would passers-by seeking a house, note my "for sale" sign and then call on an estate agent not on my "for sale" sign? No.

However my balls were sorely in need of renovation which they have now had.

[Woody]

However my balls were sorely in need of renovation which they have now had.

Frankie Howard lives

[OFSO]

Pure brilliance. Don't titter!

[G-CPTN]

Titter ye not.

[llondel]

Windshield replaced Friday morning.
"Miracle Coating" applied Saturday morning.
Chip last night.

PP

The impossible we do at once. Miracles take a little longer.

[OFSO]

Remember the rubberised layer BMW applied to their windscreens to bounce insects off? Announced on April 1st which was a clue that it was a rare example of German humour.

[llondel]

To follow up on my earlier pool rant, the new parts arrived on Tuesday, it took me less than 15 minutes to take stuff to bits and install the new part, then I had to wait hours for the pool to refill (didn't want to pre-fill it above the level of the filter) before trying it out last night. So far so good, the system seems to be running OK after 24 hours. I assume the failure mode was induced the same way as happened to the Comets, repeated pressurisation cycles causing fatigue followed by catastrophic failure

[PHXPhlyer]

Temp hit 100 F for second day. Finally relented and turned on A/C.
Blower fault.
Probably won't be able to get service til middle of next week.

PP

[Pontius Navigator]

Ilondel, probably true of many things. I had solar dome heaters for my pool. The pump ran continuously for overnight electric heating with solar switched manually when it was warm.
The spiral wound tube was under both compression and expansion, direct solar heat on the expanded side and eventually pin holes would appear.
Good concept, good design, inadequate material.

[Pinky the pilot]

to their windscreens to bounce insects off?

Which brings to mind the very old joke....."What the last thing that goes through a bug's mind when it hits your windscreen?"

[Pontius Navigator]

Or has been observed: fewer bug crashes

Have bugs become fewer
Learnt to avoid roads
Or cars better streamlined?

[Pontius Navigator]

Mrs PN gave me two choices for supper :bacon, egg and beans or chicken salad.

Difficult choice. I don't like beans or salad

[OFSO]

Go for the easy option. Bacon and Eggs with Fried Bread.

[Pontius Navigator]

There comes a point in life where there is a balance between what is good for you and what you like.

Mrs PN, charged with giving dietary advice to a couple, around our age now, whose diet consisted of 5 meals per day, starting at about 5 am when they woke, of fat ham.

Her advice was carry on.