• Current opinions..on worl

    From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed May 22 18:01:00 2024
    Hello p.F!

    Even the original ice cream made from powdered products?

    Back when they would correct you if you ordered a "Milk Shake".

    "One Shake, coming up..."

    "You mean a milk shake?"

    "Here's your shake, have a nice day..."


    Ah.. right. It was the pseudo milk shakes. Can't say if ever
    I had those when I was a kid.


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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to deon on Wed May 22 17:59:02 2024
    Hello deon,

    On Wed, May 22 2024 05:54:28 -0500, you wrote:

    Is McChucks a local chain in your area? I haven't heard of it.

    Its slang. Anything starting with "Mc" is normally a reference to mcdonalds, anything after it is either either a noun or a verb. In this case, "chuck" is what happens after you eat it. :)

    LOL, "McUpchucks".

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to niter3 on Wed May 22 18:00:34 2024
    Hello niter3,

    On Wed, May 22 2024 10:11:40 -0500, you wrote:

    For the meal? That sounds about right. It's crazy, just 10 years ago it
    was under $5. Have you gotten a 50% pay increase in those 10 years? The
    scale is tipping in the wrong direction! :)

    no, just the burger. Nothing else.

    Oh wow. Yeah, definitely outrageous.

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to Tiny on Wed May 22 18:03:14 2024
    Hello Tiny,

    On Wed, May 22 2024 01:37:28 -0500, you wrote:

    $15.40 here... But we're Canada so everything is over priced through the
    roof.

    Yikes. I'm sure it'll happen here at some point, and probably sooner
    than later.

    I believe it's going up to $17 something an hour in Oct here. It's insane.

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed May 22 18:15:12 2024
    Hello poindexter,

    On Wed, May 22 2024 13:40:00 -0500, you wrote:

    What ice cream? It's a myth, as the ice cream machine is *always*
    broken. :)

    It's worth researching the news regarding their ice cream machines. They're incredibly finicky, have a self-cleaning mode that when it
    fails, requires 4 hours to reset, there's one company that services
    them, they're locked down to prevent service, parts are horrendously expensive, and the company is currently suing a company that the franchises love that reverse engineers the maintenance interface so the franchisees can fix it themselves.

    To be completely honest, I don't care what their excuse is. McCorp is a multi-billion (or trillion maybe?) dollar company. They could pay someone to invent an ice cream machine that actually works.

    There's another law suit around a company that made a screen scraping
    app that would map out which McD's machines are out of order by trying
    to place an online order for a shake and reporting which are
    unavailable.

    I've heard about this. However, I wasn't aware there was a law suit because of it. What in the world would they sue for, defamation of character or something stupid like that?

    It'd be a lot easier if they bought ice cream, milk and one of those
    stick blenders...

    They could have done a hell of a lot more over the years than just tell people their ice cream machine is down, all of the time. :)

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Exodus on Thu May 23 19:17:00 2024
    I hope they do. Remember when McDonalds used to have GOOD food ... I

    I don't remember McChucks having good food, even 45 years ago.. it was cheap
    n cheerful and was aimed hard at kids but that's about it. Some kid down the street had a b'day party there, thats my first recollection of it.

    Spec


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  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 00:11:52 2024
    of service and price gouging as they're going to take. McDonalds is planning on "slowing the rate of increase". Not halting, not lowering prices.

    Yup make as much money as you can, any way you can, customer satisfaction be damned.

    We're the Boiling Frog.

    Indeed. Though boiled frog might possibly taste better than whatever it is that McDonald's passes off as "food".

    ... Famous Last Words #35: "I missed with a natural 20?"

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  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Exodus on Thu May 23 00:19:22 2024
    30 years ago people said it was bad .... I would KILL for 30 year ago McDonalds food today.

    Given how artificial their "food" is, McDonald's food today would likey last 30 years outside (I doubt the wildlife would touch it) & be about as safe to eat as it is now....

    ... Duke Nukem 3D þ And you thought DOOM was tough!

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  • From kirkspragg@21:2/150 to Arelor on Thu May 23 00:40:40 2024
    I just checked and the gophersite is up. Maybe you tried to check it during an automated maintenance window? My toy systems always go offline for about 10 minutes every sunday 3 am (CEST).

    Very strange, I rechecked on my main modern desktop PC and yes its working fine via the floogap proxy service.

    Refuses to work at all on my retro 286. Floodgap's gopher is fine, so are others... very strange. Might try a different client out.

    ... New Opcode #13: CRN - Convert to Roman Numerals

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  • From Tiny@21:1/162 to Niter3 on Wed May 22 18:22:48 2024
    Hello All!

    I believe it's going up to $17 something an hour in Oct here. It's
    Where is here?

    Ontario, Canada.

    Shawn

    Tiny

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  • From Tiny@21:1/700 to ACCESSION on Thu May 23 06:15:00 2024
    Quoting Accession to Tiny <=-

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    From ontario.ca. THe new general min wage will be $17.20 and the student
    min wage will be $16.20/hr

    So only $1 less.

    Shawn

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  • From Warpslide@21:3/110 to Accession on Thu May 23 03:27:40 2024
    On 22 May 2024, Accession said the following...

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    General minimum wage here in Ontario is $16.55 per hour. Student minimum wage (under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less) is $15.60 per hour.

    Those rates are set to go up on Oct 1 to $17.20 & $16.20 per hour.


    Jay

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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Nightfox on Thu May 23 06:51:00 2024
    Nightfox wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    I thought it was funny when McDonald's introduced their McFlurry, which was obviously a copy of Dairy Queen's Blizzard (even the name is
    similar), and McDonald's offered fewer flavors.

    They don't hold a flurry upside down before they hand it to you, do
    they? I always thought that was an odd marketing quirk.



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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Accession on Thu May 23 06:53:00 2024
    Accession wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    To be completely honest, I don't care what their excuse is. McCorp is a multi-billion (or trillion maybe?) dollar company. They could pay
    someone to invent an ice cream machine that actually works.

    Especially when they're known for shakes, and even have yealy marketing
    campaigns around shakes!

    There's another law suit around a company that made a screen scraping
    app that would map out which McD's machines are out of order by trying
    to place an online order for a shake and reporting which are
    unavailable.

    I've heard about this. However, I wasn't aware there was a law suit because of it. What in the world would they sue for, defamation of character or something stupid like that?

    I think it was DMCA-based.




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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Nightfox on Thu May 23 07:12:00 2024
    Nightfox wrote to Tiny <=-

    Yeah, fast food prices have gotten a bit insane, especially over the
    last few years.

    I haven't been at a while, and my daughter was hungry after school
    activities. We went to a Carls Jr, and a 5 piece chicken tender meal
    was $16.89 with tax. Unreal.




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  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Accession on Thu May 23 07:14:00 2024
    Accession wrote to Tiny <=-

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    I'd hope it's across the board, otherwise you'd see fast food companies
    hiring lots of 39-hour-a-week employees at the lower rate, since they're
    not "full-time" employees.



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  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Accession on Thu May 23 10:07:32 2024
    Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: Accession to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed May 22 2024 06:15 pm

    To be completely honest, I don't care what their excuse is. McCorp is a multi-billion (or trillion maybe?) dollar company. They could pay someone to invent an ice cream machine that actually works.

    My first job was at a Dairy Queen. The ice cream machines we had were rarely broken. I've wondered why McDonald's doesn't buy the same ones we used (unless perhaps they were made specifically by/for Dairy Queen).

    Nightfox
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  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 10:10:32 2024
    Re: Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Thu May 23 2024 06:51 am

    They don't hold a flurry upside down before they hand it to you, do they? I always thought that was an odd marketing quirk.

    No, they don't.
    My first job was at a Dairy Queen, and they started that upside down thing when I was there. Not many of us actually did that though, as it seemed a bit silly.

    Nightfox
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  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 10:11:58 2024
    Re: Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Nightfox on Thu May 23 2024 07:12 am

    Yeah, fast food prices have gotten a bit insane, especially over the last
    few years.

    I haven't been at a while, and my daughter was hungry after school activities. We went to a Carls Jr, and a 5 piece chicken tender meal was $16.89 with tax. Unreal.

    Carl's Jr. seems to be one of the worst for pricing, as they don't even offer many deals in their smartphone app (at least, not until recently). I actually like their food, but I don't go there very often.

    Nightfox
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  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 10:13:22 2024
    Re: Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to Accession on Thu May 23 2024 07:14 am

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    I'd hope it's across the board, otherwise you'd see fast food companies hiring lots of 39-hour-a-week employees at the lower rate, since they're not "full-time" employees.

    At the Dairy Queen I used to work at, it seemed a lot of us were part-time employees. I think it's because most of us were either still in high school or in college, and working part-time had the advantage that we had more time for our school work.

    Nightfox
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  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri May 24 13:25:00 2024
    They don't hold a flurry upside down before they hand it to you, do
    they? I always thought that was an odd marketing quirk.

    Never saw one upside down, all the inserted "crap" would fall off the top... they got lazy with them here and even stopped mixing them, they've become a glorified softserver cup with a bit of extras in the middle, and a bit on
    top.

    Spec


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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to Tiny on Thu May 23 13:21:44 2024
    Hello Tiny,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 06:15:00 -0500, you wrote to me:

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    From ontario.ca. THe new general min wage will be $17.20 and the student min wage will be $16.20/hr

    So only $1 less.

    And they wonder why businesses are shutting their doors all over the place. Either that, or charging your firstborn for some shit food. *shrug*

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to Warpslide on Thu May 23 13:23:02 2024
    Hello Warpslide,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 03:27:40 -0400, you wrote to me:

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    General minimum wage here in Ontario is $16.55 per hour. Student minimum wage (under the age of 18 who work 28 hours a week or less) is $15.60 per hour.

    Those rates are set to go up on Oct 1 to $17.20 & $16.20 per hour.

    Is the government helping those small businesses stay afloat while paying temporary help so much?

    I can see upping the minimum wage for full time employees, because well, it's been about damn time for decades already. Nobody can live on $200/week after the government takes their cut. However, that's quite a bit much for temporary help with no ambition of turning said job into a career of any kind - if a career of any kind was available in said job where they use temporary help.

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 13:28:34 2024
    Hello poindexter,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 06:53:00 -0700, you wrote to me:

    To be completely honest, I don't care what their excuse is. McCorp is
    a multi-billion (or trillion maybe?) dollar company. They could pay
    someone to invent an ice cream machine that actually works.

    Especially when they're known for shakes, and even have yealy marketing
    campaigns around shakes!

    Yeah, no doubt! I'll give it to them, their Shamrock shake is pretty good. But if you can't ever get the friggin' thing, what good is it?

    I've heard about this. However, I wasn't aware there was a law suit
    because of it. What in the world would they sue for, defamation of
    character or something stupid like that?

    I think it was DMCA-based.

    Sounds to me like they were grasping at straws on that one. Basically sued them to try to stop the shit-talking? lol

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu May 23 13:31:48 2024
    Hello poindexter,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 07:14:00 -0700, you wrote to me:

    Now I'm assuming this is for a full time job? Part time or summer help
    for a minor I would assume would be quite a bit lower?

    I'd hope it's across the board, otherwise you'd see fast food companies hiring lots of 39-hour-a-week employees at the lower rate, since they're not "full-time" employees.

    I believe a full work week is as low as 36 hours, but I get your point. However, most fast food places can't even hire enough people to work there at all, even when advertising much higher pay than minimum wage. There's a bunch empty buildings around here, that were former fast food chains.

    If they were to start trying to pull that shit, said fast food restaurants won't have enough full (or part) time workers to work during the school day. While growing up, and I'm sure it's the same to this day, fast food chains were a place that would hire kids (14 and up, I believe) part time and summer help. The adults would usually only work during normal day shift hours (which should be full time) while those kids were in school. Would be a good place for old retired people to work part time during the school day so they can keep collecting their pensions, too.

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to Nightfox on Thu May 23 13:42:40 2024
    Hello Nightfox,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 10:07:32 , you wrote to me:

    To be completely honest, I don't care what their excuse is. McCorp is
    a multi-billion (or trillion maybe?) dollar company. They could pay
    someone to invent an ice cream machine that actually works.

    My first job was at a Dairy Queen. The ice cream machines we had were rarely broken. I've wondered why McDonald's doesn't buy the same ones we used (unless perhaps they were made specifically by/for Dairy Queen).

    Even if that is the case, my statement still stands. McD's brings in multiple times the money Dairy Queen does, and still doesn't have working ice cream machines. :)

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Exodus@21:1/144 to Tiny on Thu May 23 15:42:38 2024
    From ontario.ca. THe new general min wage will be $17.20 and the student min wage will be $16.20/hr

    $7.25/hour here in good ol' Pennsylvania.

    ... It's a dead man's party...Who could ask for more?

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  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Accession on Thu May 23 13:32:52 2024
    Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: Accession to Nightfox on Thu May 23 2024 01:42 pm

    My first job was at a Dairy Queen. The ice cream machines we had were
    rarely broken. I've wondered why McDonald's doesn't buy the same ones we
    used (unless perhaps they were made specifically by/for Dairy Queen).

    Even if that is the case, my statement still stands. McD's brings in multiple times the money Dairy Queen does, and still doesn't have working ice cream machines. :)

    Yeah. I'm saying maybe they sould just buy better ones that don't break down very often. :)

    Nightfox
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  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to Nightfox on Fri May 24 21:31:00 2024
    My first job was at a Dairy Queen. The ice cream machines we had were rarely broken. I've wondered why McDonald's doesn't buy the same ones we used (unless perhaps they were made specifically by/for Dairy Queen).

    There was a story circulating that they were tied into an OLD contract with whoever it is that makes/services the things they're using.


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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to Nightfox on Thu May 23 21:30:32 2024
    Hello Nightfox,

    On Thu, 23 May 2024 13:32:52 -0700, you wrote to me:

    Even if that is the case, my statement still stands. McD's brings in
    multiple times the money Dairy Queen does, and still doesn't have
    working ice cream machines. :)

    Yeah. I'm saying maybe they sould just buy better ones that don't break down very often. :)

    Most definitely, the same direction I was going with this thread. :)

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Utopian Galt@21:4/108 to Poindexter Fortran on Thu May 23 20:18:56 2024
    BY: poindexter FORTRAN (21:4/122)

    |11pF|09> |10 I haven't been at a while, and my daughter was hungry after school|07
    |11pF|09> |10 activities. We went to a Carls Jr, and a 5 piece chicken tender meal|07
    |11pF|09> |10 was $16.89 with tax. Unreal.|07
    Bay area is expensive. I was in Burlingame over the weekend. My hamburger meal at walburgers was like $21 with a $1 tip.


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  • From niter3@21:1/199 to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri May 24 06:18:48 2024
    It's worth researching the news regarding their ice cream machines. They're incredibly finicky, have a self-cleaning mode that when it
    fails, requires 4 hours to reset, there's one company that services
    them, they're locked down to prevent service, parts are horrendously expensive, and the company is currently suing a company that the franchises love that reverse engineers the maintenance interface so the franchisees can fix it themselves.

    Interesting... Pizza Hut had ice cream makers too. They've been pulled out for years however.

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  • From niter3@21:1/199 to Tiny on Fri May 24 06:23:24 2024
    I believe it's going up to $17 something an hour in Oct here. It's
    Where is here?

    Ontario, Canada.

    Got'cha. Same... So you know what's going on in this crazy economy now.

    Should I say housing crisis!

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  • From niter3@21:1/199 to Accession on Fri May 24 06:26:54 2024
    And they wonder why businesses are shutting their doors all over the place. Either that, or charging your firstborn for some shit food.
    *shrug*

    Agree, this whole country right now is a mess.

    Your average home price in Ontario is around $893,200.
    Your average house hold income in Ontario is $80,000

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  • From Accession@21:1/200 to niter3 on Fri May 24 07:54:06 2024
    Hello niter3,

    On Fri, 24 May 2024 06:26:54 -0400, you wrote to me:

    Agree, this whole country right now is a mess.

    Your average home price in Ontario is around $893,200.
    Your average house hold income in Ontario is $80,000

    WHAT IN THE ACTUAL ****!

    Income-wise it's probably about the same here, if not lower. But home prices are probably quite a bit less than that. Still outrageous compared to say, 5 years ago. I would probably made almost double what we paid for our house almost 20 years ago, but with the current prices on new houses, we would be right back into the same kind of mortgage/loan we've almost paid off over the years now.

    I don't want to start over. I'd rather pay this house off before I'm 50, try to retire by 56, and enjoy no mortgage payment the rest of my life. :)

    Regards,
    Nick

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  • From Tiny@21:1/162 to Poindexter Fortran on Fri May 24 08:29:36 2024
    poindexter FORTRAN was heard saying....

    I'd hope it's across the board, otherwise you'd see fast food companies hiring lots of 39-hour-a-week employees at the lower rate, since they're not "full-time" employees.

    Our company says 32 hours is full time. That way they force you into paying for the group benefit plan.




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  • From Tiny@21:1/162 to Accession on Fri May 24 08:17:36 2024
    Accession was heard saying....

    And they wonder why businesses are shutting their doors all over the
    place. Either that, or charging your firstborn for some shit food.
    *shrug*

    Exactly. What we spend on food (and we stopped buying fresh produce) is
    more then tripple then it was 5 years ago. We also eat much much less.




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  • From Tiny@21:1/162 to Niter3 on Fri May 24 08:26:42 2024
    niter3 was heard saying....

    Should I say housing crisis!

    I've probably said this here before but here we go: We live in a clean apartment with horrible management who tries all the tiem to throw us out.
    They fix our kitchen sink with a bucket etc.

    We have a 2 bedrrom + Den and dining room. We pay $1487.15 a month and
    that includes all the utilities and indoor parking for 2 vehicles, and $15
    a month for A/C. *

    My daughter 3 floors down has a renovated unit. 2 Bedrooms, no den, no
    dining room, no storage. Pays $2213.80 PLUS utilities PLUS $185 for her
    car in a public garage and $185 for her idiots motorcycle in the same
    garage.

    This is why as much as we hate our apartment we will die there.

    *Now they are saying they want more money for A/C and to sign this form.
    My kid (who should have been a lawyer) has looked at everything she tore
    the letter up. If I sign or agree to anything it will modify my lease thus allowing the crooked managment company to make changes to our terms.
    I just told the super "Produce my lease that says I am NOT paying for A/C."
    He replied "You know the building has changed ownership and management a
    dozen times since you moved in." I said "I sure do. I have a copy of my lease, but I won't produce it until managment does first. My lawyer doesn't want me doing your job for you." - That got them to go away for 2 years,
    now it's started back up already doing the above and so far haven't heard anything back. Of course we also pay our rent at least 2 weeks early every month just to make sure they don't get us with a banking error.



    --- Via Silver Xpress V4.5/P [Reg]
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From niter3@21:1/199 to Accession on Fri May 24 12:27:52 2024
    Income-wise it's probably about the same here, if not lower. But home prices are probably quite a bit less than that. Still outrageous
    compared to say, 5 years ago. I would probably made almost double what
    we paid for our house almost 20 years ago, but with the current prices
    on new houses, we would be right back into the same kind of
    mortgage/loan we've almost paid off over the years now.


    Yes, housing prices for us started to get silly in 2017. We purchased our home for 190k in 2013 and it now sells for 650.

    Just stupid!

    In any sense, we are feeling like we are out growing our home and looking for something else in this crazy market.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)
  • From niter3@21:1/199 to Tiny on Fri May 24 12:30:00 2024
    *Now they are saying they want more money for A/C and to sign this form. My kid (who should have been a lawyer) has looked at everything she tore the letter up. If I sign or agree to anything it will modify my lease thus allowing the crooked managment company to make changes to our terms. I just told the super "Produce my lease that says I am NOT paying for A/C." He replied "You know the building has changed ownership and management a dozen times since you moved in." I said "I sure do. I
    have a copy of my lease, but I won't produce it until managment does first. My lawyer doesn't want me doing your job for you." - That got them to go away for 2 years, now it's started back up already doing the above and so far haven't heard anything back. Of course we also pay our rent at least 2 weeks early every month just to make sure they don't get us with a banking error.

    Greedy fu***! I'm so tired of this, makes me upset.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)
  • From Accession@21:1/200 to niter3 on Fri May 24 11:49:30 2024
    Hello niter3,

    On Fri, 24 May 2024 12:27:52 -0400, you wrote to me:

    Yes, housing prices for us started to get silly in 2017. We purchased our home for 190k in 2013 and it now sells for 650.

    Sure, they're worth well over what they *should* be worth, only to basically force you to spend double on the next house than it's worth, too.

    In any sense, we are feeling like we are out growing our home and looking for something else in this crazy market.

    We outgrew our house long ago, and I'm not really looking to do it all over again. :)

    Regards,
    Nick

    ... Take my advice, I don't use it anyway.
    --- GoldED+/LNX 1.1.5-b20240309
    * Origin: _thePharcyde distribution system (Wisconsin) (21:1/200)
  • From k9zw@21:1/224 to niter3 on Fri May 24 06:41:50 2024
    On 24 May 2024, niter3 said the following...

    And they wonder why businesses are shutting their doors all over the place. Either that, or charging your firstborn for some shit food. *shrug*

    Agree, this whole country right now is a mess.

    Your average home price in Ontario is around $893,200.
    Your average house hold income in Ontario is $80,000

    What do you think is the cause of the dispartity?

    The "old school rule of thumb" is your house should be less than a 2.5x multiplier of your annual income.

    In the Ontario example this is so out of line as to be unworkable,

    What's up?

    --- Steve K9ZW via SPOT BBS

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 2022/07/15 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: SPOT BBS / k9zw (21:1/224)
  • From niter3@21:1/199 to k9zw on Fri May 24 16:06:52 2024
    What do you think is the cause of the dispartity?
    In the Ontario example this is so out of line as to be unworkable,

    What's up?

    Foreign investors, supply, and a ton of other things I'm sure I don't understand.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2023/04/30 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Clutch BBS * telnet://clutchbbs.com (21:1/199)
  • From Ogg@21:4/106.21 to Tiny on Fri May 24 18:33:00 2024
    Hello Tiny!

    ** On Friday 24.05.24 - 08:17, Tiny wrote to Accession:

    Exactly. What we spend on food (and we stopped buying
    fresh produce) is more then tripple then it was 5 years
    ago. We also eat much much less.

    No fresh produce? That's pretty much all I have. No processed
    foods (except some canned foods just in case) ..and I average
    $100/wk on groceries.


    --- OpenXP 5.0.58
    * Origin: (} Pointy McPointFace (21:4/106.21)
  • From Utopian Galt@21:4/108 to Niter3 on Fri May 24 18:05:36 2024
    BY: niter3 (21:1/199)

    |11n|09> |10Yes, housing prices for us started to get silly in 2017. We purchased|07
    |11n|09> |10our home for 190k in 2013 and it now sells for 650.|07
    House purchased for 380 in 2016 and now its 660 today.


    --- WWIV 5.8.1.3688[Windows]
    * Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)
  • From Warpslide@21:3/110 to Utopian Galt on Fri May 24 17:51:40 2024
    On 24 May 2024, Utopian Galt said the following...

    House purchased for 380 in 2016 and now its 660 today.

    We purchased our house for 276k in 2012, the bank seemed to think it's worth 950k in 2022. Now sure how/why a cookie cutter 4 bedroom house in suburbia should cost that much...


    Jay

    ... I'm not a doctor but I'm losing my patience

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/12 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Northern Realms (21:3/110)
  • From Utopian Galt@21:4/108 to Warpslide on Fri May 24 19:34:32 2024
    BY: Warpslide (21:3/110)

    |11W|09> |10We purchased our house for 276k in 2012, the bank seemed to think it's|07
    |11W|09> |10worth 950k in 2022. Now sure how/why a cookie cutter 4 bedroom house in|07
    |11W|09> |10suburbia should cost that much...|07
    Im just going to find myself a 2 bedroom house in georgia and use my 50% equity share in 15 years to move away.


    --- WWIV 5.8.1.3688[Windows]
    * Origin: inland utopia * california * iutopia.duckdns.org:2023 (21:4/108)
  • From Tiny@21:1/162 to Ogg on Sat May 25 07:24:24 2024
    Ogg was heard saying....

    No fresh produce? That's pretty much all I have. No processed
    foods (except some canned foods just in case) ..and I average
    $100/wk on groceries.

    I don't make that kinda money. We're tryign to live on once income while Andrea is in school so cuts have to be made. I need dental work done but
    even with benefits we can't afford it. Soon as my infection goes down
    (Dead nerve) the dentist is just gonna pull that problem tooth even though
    it's not hard to save. I just can't afford to do it correctly.

    50 years old and I live paycheque to paychque and own nothing. I never imagined my life would turn out this way.



    Tiny

    --- Via Silver Xpress V4.5/P [Reg]
    * Origin: Another Millennium - Canada - another.tel (21:1/162)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Tiny on Sat May 25 07:06:00 2024
    Tiny wrote to Poindexter Fortran <=-

    Our company says 32 hours is full time. That way they force you into paying for the group benefit plan.

    Have you looked at how much their contribution is? They must have gotten
    in trouble with the labor board in the past, I'd surmise.




    ... Walk without rhythm and you won't attact the worm.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to niter3 on Sat May 25 07:56:00 2024
    niter3 wrote to Accession <=-

    Your average home price in Ontario is around $893,200.
    Your average house hold income in Ontario is $80,000

    That's an interesting data point - the ratio of home price to median
    income. When my parents bought their house in 1970, they paid $24,000.
    I'm pretty sure my dad was making about that much in a year.

    My wife and I bought a house in 2015, same state, and came in at roughly
    2.2:1 - and our income was above average at the time.



    ... SURELY NOT EVERYONE WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Accession on Sat May 25 07:59:00 2024
    Accession wrote to niter3 <=-

    I don't want to start over. I'd rather pay this house off before I'm
    50, try to retire by 56, and enjoy no mortgage payment the rest of my life. :)

    Yeah, even starting late in life, with my first marriage we would have
    paid off the house before we retired. Then came a HELOC for home
    improvement, a divorce, two attorneys and I started over buying 20 years
    later. The only way I could pay this off in its entirety without selling
    would be to work until I'm 80.

    Then I'll have to take out a second mortgage to pay for the cybernetics
    to keep working, which would extend my mortgage even more...



    ... Everyone's an atheist until it's time for a BIOS update.
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Tiny on Sat May 25 08:04:00 2024
    Tiny wrote to Niter3 <=-

    This is why as much as we hate our apartment we will die there.

    I knew people who had a 1 bedroom apartment in San Francisco - they
    started renting when the neighborhood was sketchy, but it's become
    quite hip now. They still paid $780 for it. It looked the worse for
    wear.

    In retrospect, if I had a place like that, I'd splurge for a day
    renting a carpet cleaner and buy a couple of coats of paint. Not tell
    the landlord, as to not raise suspicion.

    There's a subreddit all about renter's issues, it's amazing to see what
    landlords try to pull - since most people aren't aware of the law, it
    makes sense for them. A fraction of the poeple will object, like you
    did, and most will go along with it.

    The "the lease is invalid because the building sold" gets used a lot.





    ... THE SEVEN JOURNEYS TO ITSELFNESS
    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to niter3 on Sat May 25 08:57:00 2024
    niter3 wrote to Accession <=-

    In any sense, we are feeling like we are out growing our home and
    looking for something else in this crazy market.

    There's a lot to be said for expanding if you have room. Find a decent
    contractor and it might cost less than you think - and it's cheaper
    tham moving!

    During and after 2020, we added a shed to our backyard for around $10K
    all-in, furnished with leftover flooring from a kitchen remodel,
    drywalled, and it makes a nice study space/Zoom Room/mediatation space.

    We walled in an outdoor patio space that was open to the street and
    made a semi-enclosed courtyard. We re-used a lot of the materials,
    including a door we'd pulled out of the interior.

    We had a rat-infested storage space under the house that was our only
    storage - we don't have a garage. Our contractor was able to seal it,
    close off the walls with plywood and put in some decent lighting and
    made it a new, safe space. I always felt like I'd come out of there
    with the plague before, now it's bright and open.

    He also turned an outside space under our deck into a decent storage
    area and workshop.

    The big expense was leveling out the back yard and adding fencing. We
    added 2 1/2 feet of sand and gravel to level out the yard, put down
    fake grass in some areas and resurrected a dead drip system.

    The great thing is that you can do home improvements like this in baby
    steps.

    We weren't cramped for space before, but these improvements have given
    us additional separate space so we don't feel like we're on top of each
    other in the house.
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Win32
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to poindexter FORTRAN on Sat May 25 15:32:46 2024
    Re: Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: poindexter FORTRAN to niter3 on Sat May 25 2024 07:56 am

    That's an interesting data point - the ratio of home price to median income. When my parents bought their house in 1970, they paid $24,000. I'm pretty sure my dad was making about that much in a year.

    It's crazy to think that a lot of new cars these days now cost about that much money or more (nevermind the fact that houses are insanely priced).

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri Jun 21 15:02:12 2024
    In California, they raised the minimum wage for fast-food workers, and
    the restaurants responded by raising prices up to 35% on items. You
    could go to a diner and get a burger for about the same price. And service. And coffee refills. and a clean table.

    What's weird, is there was an article about In 'n Out where they blamed the minimum-wage increase for why they increased the prices of their food.

    But their starting wage was already a couple dollars over the new minimum wage, so it was more than a little confusing.

    But may as well go to the diner anyway, as those generally wind up with more-interesting food.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)
  • From Nightfox@21:1/137 to Adept on Fri Jun 21 10:20:52 2024
    Re: Re: Current opinions..on worl
    By: Adept to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri Jun 21 2024 03:02 pm

    What's weird, is there was an article about In 'n Out where they blamed the minimum-wage increase for why they increased the prices of their food.

    But their starting wage was already a couple dollars over the new minimum wage, so it was more than a little confusing.

    I'd still wonder what their starting pay was compared to minimum wage. Maybe the minimum wage was raised higher than what their starting wage.

    Nightfox
    --- SBBSecho 3.20-Linux
    * Origin: Digital Distortion: digdist.synchro.net (21:1/137)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to poindexter FORTRAN on Fri Jun 21 15:20:28 2024
    of service and price gouging as they're going to take. McDonalds is planning on "slowing the rate of increase". Not halting, not lowering prices.

    We're the Boiling Frog.

    And like an actual boiling frog, if it's more expensive than people are willing to pay, they jump out and go elsewhere.

    Though it's also interesting with McDonald's and their app, where you can get a variety of cheaper (even free) things, if you're willing to put up with a variety of things.

    But when the economists look at it, it's basically finding a way to still get the low-income customers while being able to charge the higher-income customers more.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to Nightfox on Fri Jun 21 18:48:20 2024
    But their starting wage was already a couple dollars over the new min wage, so it was more than a little confusing.

    I'd still wonder what their starting pay was compared to minimum wage. Maybe the minimum wage was raised higher than what their starting wage.

    That's the thing, though -- as I said above, it was evidently already a couple of dollars over the _new_ minimum wage.

    Because, yeah, if it was over the previous minimum wage, or if they said, "we're increasing hourly pay by $x across the board", then, sure, seems more justifiable.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Adept on Sat Jun 22 08:18:00 2024
    Adept wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    What's weird, is there was an article about In 'n Out where they blamed the minimum-wage increase for why they increased the prices of their
    food.

    But their starting wage was already a couple dollars over the new
    minimum wage, so it was more than a little confusing.

    If it were wage-related, they could have done it when all of the other
    places raised their prices and gotten some cover. I'm sure inflation is
    hitting their supply chain as badly as it's hitting everyone else.

    But may as well go to the diner anyway, as those generally wind up with more-interesting food.

    Fast food has been anything but fast lately, tempting me further to
    spending some time to sit down with a menu, coffee refills and to take
    some time eating. There's a lot to be said for mindfulness when eating.

    Aside: I went to a McDonalds recently on a road trip for a drink and a
    restroom break. They had the kiosks working, people are now accustomed
    to going straight to it to order. Although you're supposed to take a
    number to put at the end of your table, but they just yelled out the
    number and expected you to come pick up your order.

    What got me this time was that they had a dispenser for wet wipes,
    suggesting that if you make a mess, you use them to clean it up
    yourself.

    It seemed a little odd at first, but since I usually end up cleaning
    someone else's mess when I sit down, I suppose the issue of the
    restaurant keeping their tables clean left the station a long time ago.



    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Adept on Sat Jun 22 08:21:00 2024
    Adept wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Though it's also interesting with McDonald's and their app, where you
    can get a variety of cheaper (even free) things, if you're willing to
    put up with a variety of things.

    By using the app, you agree to private mediation for any dispute with
    Mcdonalds - they added that wording in earlier this year.

    But when the economists look at it, it's basically finding a way to
    still get the low-income customers while being able to charge the higher-income customers more.

    Maximize market saturation, eliminate messy litigation, and collect
    customer data? It's a win all around for the McDonalds app team!

    I'd pay cash at the drive through, until they start collecting license
    plate data. If they aren't already. :)





    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Jun 26 00:54:00 2024
    I'd pay cash at the drive through, until they start collecting license plate data. If they aren't already. :)

    Excuse me sucker, er Mr Customer, due to dangers associated with cash use we need your license. <chuckle> Makes you wonder about the plates though, the drive throughs are already on camera wouldn't be a big step to suck that info out.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: Good Luck and drive offensively! (21:3/101)
  • From ogg@21:2/147 to Spectre on Tue Jun 25 11:11:26 2024
    Excuse me sucker, er Mr Customer, due to dangers associated with cash
    use we need your license. <chuckle> Makes you wonder about the plates though, the drive throughs are already on camera wouldn't be a big step
    to suck that info out.

    Spec

    If you have a "subscription" to one of the car washes here, instead of a sticker on your windshield, they scan your license plate. So the technology is already available.

    ogg
    Sysop, Altair IV BBS
    altairiv.ddns.net:2323

    ... My software never has bugs. It just develops random features...

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: Altair IV BBS (21:2/147)
  • From Spectre@21:3/101 to ogg on Wed Jun 26 07:59:00 2024
    Excuse me sucker, er Mr Customer, due to dangers associated with
    cash use we need your license. <chuckle> Makes you wonder about the plates though, the drive throughs are already on camera wouldn't
    be a big step.

    If you have a "subscription" to one of the car washes here, instead of a sticker on your windshield, they scan your license plate. So the technology is already available.

    That was the whole point, its really only a matter of will. If they decided
    to do it, half the equation is already in place.

    Spec


    *** THE READER V4.50 [freeware]
    --- SuperBBS v1.17-3 (Eval)
    * Origin: Good Luck and drive offensively! (21:3/101)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Jun 26 09:29:34 2024
    By using the app, you agree to private mediation for any dispute with
    Mcdonalds - they added that wording in earlier this year.

    It's been interesting the amount of ToS that are busily changing the arbitration clause to make sure that, if lots of people all file similar claims, they will be handled in a cheap-for-the-company way.

    Obviously, the point of forced arbitration was to disallow class-action lawsuits, but the, "everyone does arbitration!" was a nice workaround to make wrongdoing less profitable.

    Regardless, it's unfortunate on the amount of contracts where we have very little ability to get a contract that's actually in the interest of both parties. I can't go to a competitor if there is no competition on the points I care about.

    But, yes, until McDonald's decides that everyone has to agree to a ToS before engaging with the store, avoiding the, "you inherently lose any rights you thought you had" contract does seem like a good idea.

    Anyway, no issue for me -- I still have the Play store set as in the US, which has stopped me from installing a variety of things region-locked to Germany.

    And, on that note, I'm sad that the Payback card has become less and less useful, as businesses have slowly gone the US route of having a card for every store, rather than one that worked across stores. (E.g., I could give data in exchange for points at Rewe (groceries) and Burger King, but now Burger King has their own program.)

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to Spectre on Wed Jun 26 09:37:54 2024
    sticker on your windshield, they scan your license plate. So the technology is already available.

    That was the whole point, its really only a matter of will. If they decided to do it, half the equation is already in place.

    I figured there would be legal issues that they'd have to look into.

    Since there's only so much surveillance of customers that's actually legal, especially when it's just someone driving up in their car.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to Adept on Wed Jun 26 08:32:00 2024
    Adept wrote to poindexter FORTRAN <=-

    Anyway, no issue for me -- I still have the Play store set as in the
    US, which has stopped me from installing a variety of things
    region-locked to Germany.

    I'm going more and more to F-Droid - as I'm not a fan of ad-supported
    software. I can find most of what I need and not worry about paying for
    a full-featured version.


    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From poindexter FORTRAN@21:4/122 to ogg on Wed Jun 26 08:50:00 2024
    ogg wrote to Spectre <=-

    If you have a "subscription" to one of the car washes here, instead of
    a sticker on your windshield, they scan your license plate. So the technology is already available.

    Data has become the currency of exchange now, I would think that any
    company that could harvest customer data is harvesting customer data.



    --- MultiMail/Win v0.52
    * Origin: realitycheckBBS.org -- information is power. (21:4/122)
  • From ogg@21:2/147 to poindexter FORTRAN on Wed Jun 26 15:09:40 2024
    On 26 Jun 2024, poindexter FORTRAN said the following...

    ogg wrote to Spectre <=-

    If you have a "subscription" to one of the car washes here, instead of
    a sticker on your windshield, they scan your license plate. So the technology is already available.

    Data has become the currency of exchange now, I would think that any company that could harvest customer data is harvesting customer data.


    +20 on that!

    ogg
    Sysop, Altair IV BBS
    altairiv.ddns.net:2323

    ... I put a dollar in one of those change machines. Nothing changed.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 2024/05/29 (Windows/32)
    * Origin: Altair IV BBS (21:2/147)
  • From Adept@21:2/108 to poindexter FORTRAN on Thu Jun 27 10:53:06 2024
    Anyway, no issue for me -- I still have the Play store set as in the US, which has stopped me from installing a variety of things region-locked to Germany.

    I'm going more and more to F-Droid - as I'm not a fan of ad-supported software. I can find most of what I need and not worry about paying for
    a full-featured version.

    That... is probably not helpful to me for most of the region-locked apps, but I did just install it and will endeavor to use that rather than the Play store.

    And I'd be happy to pay for software, though not as subscriptions. One of those things, where I want to support the places that are above board that give me a good product at a fair price, but it's oftentimes very hard to know if that's what you're finding or not.

    Though something that's open source with good licensing does go a long way. And I do try to donate to the things I use, regardless.

    --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A48 (Linux/64)
    * Origin: Storm BBS (21:2/108)