You wouldn't happen to be a late 40s, early 50s redneck would you?

My pet peeve is the overdependence on direct debits, online submissions, and on line accounts. Contrary to popular perceptions, the dependence on 'it all happening in the ether' is causing some, both young and old, to lose the day to day ability to retain control their funds, with or without marbles. They can become observers. If there are computer problems, individuals may have to contact the bank or HR just to rediscover payments or outgoings from 2 months ago. The fast growing requirement to use these facilities could create more difficulties than the inability to remember passwords. Home accountancy skills decline, and the banks and credit card companies love it.

Telecoms love it too. I recently discovered I was fraudulently crammed by an outfit in Florida called ESBI, who have been charging me $12.95 a month since March, third party billed by Verizon, my home phone line provider. I didn't authorise the charge and I received no services for it.

I think it happened because I moved to direct debit for Verizon, got lazy and never checked my monthly phone bill. Now I'm back to writing Verizon a check each month..

As I had mentioned before, I do my Mom's payments for her online since her handwriting is so poor now and too much of a chore. It's a hassle for her control wise since we're 300 miles apart and indeed she has to wait to get bank statement to know where she's at. Unfortunately, there's no other solution, but I agree, more and more everything is aimed for those with a computer.

If I were, would it make a difference?

Perhaps the person was challenged in ways that were not obvious... It just feels wrong to adopt a "holier than thou" attitude to someone who may not be at the same level.

I do the same for my grandmother. Now that my aunt has passed away, and my grandmother's insistence on staying in her own home, 200 miles away, I'm the only relative that's left to do her bills. She has a friend, thankfully, that can help read whatever mail she receives (my grandmother is 96 and has macular degeneration) But I'm thankful that I have access to her bank account online and we've set up most of her bills to be paid online.

As a side note, she takes her debit card to the stores and uses it and remembers her pin number. She's pretty sharp for 96!

It would be foolish to argue against the technology where it can be extremely useful, particularly in a case such as yours. It's the requirement to use the technology, whether you want it or not, that's annoying. As opposed to your situation where it solidifies control, it could result in the loss of control. Both sides of the same coin.

Men who think the blades of knives clean better in the dishwasher with the dirty blade pointing upwards.

Idiots.

What about the women that do the same thing!!

(Wonder where you got that notion from )

One very small glass of wine with Sunday lunch out with friends (I was driving) and at about 5 pm I had the beginnings of a headache ...


.... yet ....if I start in the evening, I can go on for hours and bottles without the slightest hint of a headache. Why is that?

Because in my house blades and forks go down. My bloody father (but lovely father) showed me a picture of a toddler who tripped over an open dishwasher when I first got mine - the toddler fell face down onto knives and forks. It pisses me off that OH thinks blades wash better upwards. What kind of science is that?

And yes - I suppose plenty of women stick cutlery in any old way - so my apologies. I just thought most of us had been taught to put blades down and to pass knives and scissors by the handle and not the blade.

How Chrome has "Close tabs to the right" right beside "Reopen Closed Tab". I've accidently hit the close tabs one quite a few times...grrrr.

But sometimes, it's just fun to take the piss and be mean, than take the "holier than thou" attitude.

Oh, and while having a peeve at stupid people....the knob head who broke into the mall complex the other day and tried to kick in the door at the missus bank....set off the alarm.

Now means before she can open the branch, I've got to do a drive by of the back door, which is a miles detour to get around the lot because it's right on the very end, of a one way side road.

Because the reality is, it doesn't make a difference as all dish washers are shit