The Vent and Rant Thread

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by zelda_pinwheel

£4.00 ?????? is this for a one-trip ticket, not a daily pass or something ???? that's insane !!! that's 4.70€ !!! how can anyone afford to use the public transport with prices like that ?????

If you think that's bad, then this will blow your socks off - a return bus ticket from where I live to the center of the town nearby is £1.80. It takes around 8-10 minutes to walk the same distance.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

If you think that's bad, then this will blow your socks off - a return bus ticket from where I live to the center of the town nearby is £1.80. It takes around 8-10 minutes to walk the same distance.

[Nate the great]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

If you think that's bad, then this will blow your socks off - a return bus ticket from where I live to the center of the town nearby is £1.80. It takes around 8-10 minutes to walk the same distance.

That's not a town; that's an itty bitty teeny tiny village. It takes me 15 minutes to walk to the nearest shopping center, and it's no where near the center of town.

[zelda_pinwheel]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

That's not a town; that's an itty bitty teeny tiny village. It takes me 15 minutes to walk to the nearest shopping center, and it's no where near the center of town.

but he could live in a large town, but already near the center. paris is a pretty big city (it would take me probably about an hour or more to walk from one side to another, without stopping) but i can get to many central locations in a short time, from where i live.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Nate the great

That's not a town; that's an itty bitty teeny tiny village. It takes me 15 minutes to walk to the nearest shopping center, and it's no where near the center of town.

You Americans, you always have to do things bigger, don't you

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

You Americans, you always have to do things bigger, don't you

You betcha!! It's how we keep our overinflated sense of self-worth!

To take the Metro into Washington, DC to the Smithsonian station from it's furthest western most station in Virginia (which it takes me a good 45 minutes to drive to), the fare costs $4.35 one way. I know there are Smart passes you can by, but I don't know if it would discount the fare. I figured that's about $174 per month (that's not including weekends, of course), not including parking the car, which you must also pay. This is something many people do every day and the commute can take a good hour or more.

A trip into DC to walk around the Smithsonian costs my family of 5, almost $45. I can drive down and park the car for about $12. And they wonder why we don't want to use public transit.

[Moejoe]

Here's one for you: from Liverpool Lime Street (nearest big station to me) to London Euston costs at the very cheapest (just checked) £166 return ($272) and that's only about 200 miles away. A journey of 3-4 hours at most.

[Patricia]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Here's one for you: from Liverpool Lime Street (nearest big station to me) to London Euston costs at the very cheapest (just checked) £166 return ($272) and that's only about 200 miles away. A journey of 3-4 hours at most.

That is ridiculous, isn't it?
If I'm not in a hurry then I sometimes take the coach, which is a lot cheaper.

[Moejoe]

Originally Posted by Patricia

That is ridiculous, isn't it?
If I'm not in a hurry then I sometimes take the coach, which is a lot cheaper.

Deffo, National Express is a hellofalot cheaper, especially if you book in advance. I don't get down to London as often as I'd like to visit my brothers, but I'll often take the coach and save myself a bundle if I know the dates in advance.

Just did a quick check on National Express website, same journey (dropping off at Elephant & Castle) £34

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Alright, this is INSANE!!

I called Toshiba to find out whether or not I could order some wafer head case screws for my neighbor's laptop (she is missing about 9 of them). Their "bulk" quote was $12.00 PER SCREW!! Individual screws were $33.00 each!

So, I went online and found the exact same screws for 25 cents each. I mean really .... who does Toshiba think they are kidding?? I've heard of profit margins, but that is just plain NUTS!

I think they were really trying to screw you!

BOb

[nekokami]

Originally Posted by Wetdogeared

Ooooh. There is a blood test for that. Celiac disease runs in our family. The definitive test is a biopsy of the small intestine. It is difficult to make a menu when you can use no gluten.

They've done the blood test and we're waiting on results. They're also going to do endoscopy (camera down the throat to the stomach) on July 14.

Originally Posted by kazbates

Neko, my mother-in-law thinks she's allergic to everything! She told the doctor she thought she might have a gluten allergy and he told her that was something she would have had since birth, she wouldn't just "develop" it all of a sudden, and she would have had to deal with it long before her 82nd year! I don't know if that is the actual case or not, but it did get her to check that off her list. She can be a bit of an extremist!

It would be nice if this were hypochondria, but the doctors don't think it likely. His sister is allergic to gluten (and a long list of other things), and apparently sensitivities can increase over the years. He's been dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for the past 14 years, and it's gotten significantly worse recently.

We were hoping it would be something simple, like gallbladder.

The Muffin Man does not eat muffins so much as bake them, but he does love fresh bread and pizza. We can make gluten-free alternatives (he already cooks with rice flour, rolled oats, cornmeal, etc.) but it wouldn't be quite the same.

On the other hand, if we could find out what's making him sick and stop it so he could feel better, that would be a Good Thing.

[AshW]

Originally Posted by Moejoe

Here's one for you: from Liverpool Lime Street (nearest big station to me) to London Euston costs at the very cheapest (just checked) £166 return ($272) and that's only about 200 miles away. A journey of 3-4 hours at most.

Work on your ticket buying skills. It's about £35 each way usually!

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by nekokami

They've done the blood test and we're waiting on results. They're also going to do endoscopy (camera down the throat to the stomach) on July 14.


It would be nice if this were hypochondria, but the doctors don't think it likely. His sister is allergic to gluten (and a long list of other things), and apparently sensitivities can increase over the years. He's been dealing with Irritable Bowel Syndrome for the past 14 years, and it's gotten significantly worse recently.

We were hoping it would be something simple, like gallbladder.

The Muffin Man does not eat muffins so much as bake them, but he does love fresh bread and pizza. We can make gluten-free alternatives (he already cooks with rice flour, rolled oats, cornmeal, etc.) but it wouldn't be quite the same.

On the other hand, if we could find out what's making him sick and stop it so he could feel better, that would be a Good Thing.

I don't want you to think I was infering that he is hypochondriacal. I think my mother-in-law is, but there are other signs there and she does love the attention. My daughter, Shannon, has IBS and struggles with it because she rebels against all the dietary restrictions the doctors have given her. It's tough to give up so much when you are young. Good luck to your hubby.

[RickyMaveety]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think they were really trying to screw you!

BOb

Gee, I wondered if anyone would catch that .... but I don't think anyone (except you) read the post.

[kazbates]

Originally Posted by RickyMaveety

Gee, I wondered if anyone would catch that .... but I don't think anyone (except you) read the post.

Hey! I read it but was just too classy to make the same comment as PilotBOb!

Actually, I just wasn't as quick on the up take as he was! But, it did give me a chuckle!