h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Pedestrian crossings aren't standardized at all in the US. Most no longer spell out "WALK" or "DON'T WALK", most have stick figure icons, but they're typically both amber. Recently some crossings have countdown numbers above the walking person icon, which is handy for drivers as well as it can warn traffic that the light is about to change. Some intersections have gone so far as to put LED rings around the traffic lights that flash more rapidly before a signal change. But again, there is little standardization. Installing crosswalks is typically left to developers in suburban areas which just adds to the variation.

I was recently surprised and intrigued when I saw this video regarding the tactile sidewalk markings at UK pedestrian crossings to indicate the type of crossing for the visually impaired. Sometimes we have tactile paving at crossings, but I think it's so inconsistent that I can't assume it's meant to communicate anything.

http://youtu.be/cdPymLgfXSY


And regarding animal crossings,
Ya know, they really shouldn't place deer crossings in such high traffic areas!
http://youtu.be/pDLc9rkcXdY

Couriers. Still. And MORE.

To recap.

Saturday's delivery didn't happen and this conversation resulted:-

Call 1.
"Do NOT try to re-deliver on Monday. Like YOU I have to go to work. I won't be there.".

Call 2.
"So what now?"
"We'll deliver it on Monday."
"I won't be there Monday. Like YOU, I have to go to work."
"Tuesday......."

I'm going to drive to the depot to collect it after work on Monday. 12 miles away. (Actually, it was 13 each way).

So.

I turned up at the depot at 7p.m. yesterday.

Embarrassed looking woman - "Er, it's not here. The driver left it with your neighbour. Didn't he leave a card?"

"I wouldn't be here if he had left a card..... and I instructed your call centre TWICE not to deliver it on Monday. We made arrangements for me to come here to pick it up."

I may invoice TNT for an hour of my time and what, 35 pence per mile?

PP.

talking of crossings
there is of course the pegasus crossing intended for people riding horses for when the bridleway crosses a road but I think there are only two or three in the whole of the UK and thus very unlikely to be encountered

Oh, I've seen those – I just thought they were called Equestrian Crossings. At least, that's what I called it when I wrote A86725371 as there's one on the bridleway route.

<BB<

Pegasus wouldn't have needed them. Just saying.

PP, I can empathize.


I once had a similar issue. I was about to go on vacation and had a package due to be delivered. The package was a "skirt" for my kayak, which was currently in West Virginia (I'm in Texas) with my parents and where I hoped to do some white water kayaking. The skirt keeps the water out of the kayak in rough water. I called the courier (a Brown one) after they had left a missed delivery note on our fence. I asked if I could come to their depot and pick it up personally but they said I could not as this was an international delivery (from Canada) and that required 3 delivery attempts. I told them that I would be at work the next day and on a plane the day after that and no one would be at home to accept it. That didn't matter. Despite requests to leave it with a neighbor or place it in a secured box on the property, I had to pay for a return and second shipping fees after I got back.

The kayak trip was rather treacherous as the kayak kept filling with water and becoming very unstable.

My PH from yesterday is people who don't make appointment dates clear, and also organisations that don't send out confirmation letters.

Last week I complained about the difficulty I had getting an appointment for an eye check-up. After some time phoning round I arranged an appointment for 'next Wednesday'. To me that meant 25th January as the woman I spoke to didn't specify a date and I didn't ask for clarification. I arrived at the hospital yesterday and was told that the appointment was for the 1st February. Fortunately they were able to fit me in. It turns out that I was right to push for an appointment as I have uveitis in my left eye.

All this has taught me to get a specific date for appointments, as things like 'next Wednesday' are open to interpretation. In future I will ask for a confirmation letter if the appointment is made by phone.

One thing I learned yesterday is that the reason for the waiting lists at the local eye clinics is too many patients and not enough doctors. The hospital at Kidderminster is the only one that can guarantee my appointments every four months. It's not convenient but my eyesight is too important for waiting lists.

From the last few posts on this day, it sounds like you're not far from being treated negligently CD

I like precision also in doctor's appointments. Our doctor's receptionist it very fond of the quarter to-, quarter past-, twenty to- etc. time naming system which I've fallen afoul of before now.

10.40 not 20 to 11 please. When I arrive at 20 past because I wasn't clear it's a bit annoying.

Though not potentially disastrous as in CD's case

My petty(?) hate is doctors' offices, clinics, and hospitals that are consistently behind schedule yet insist you show up at a time they know will be 30 minutes to an hour (or more) early.

I recently switched endocrinologists for this reason (and others). I don't think I ever waited less than 45 minutes for an appointment. I fired one doctor on the spot after I waited 45 minutes in the main waiting area, another 45 minutes in the second waiting area, and AN HOUR AND A HALF in isolation in the exam room. She finally saw me three hours after my appointed time, after the clinic was officially closed, and didn't even attempt giving me an apology or explanation.

I hate having to keep patients waiting. Some clinics do say not to arrive more than eg 15 mins early, because there isnt enough waiting space.
There's a variety of reasons why clinics have long waiting time where I work, but I'm sure many of the issues could be resolved.

Years ago, when I had optic neuritis, I had some long waits at the eye clinic. Since those bad old days the longest wait was for my neurologist. He had the decency to apologise and showed me his appointment schedule. Some eejit had decided to book three appointments for every half hour slot. Presumably they thought that there are always some people who miss their appointments, so it wouldn't matter. Whoever it was, I hope that they were sacked for incompetence.

I can't claim negligence over my eye appointments, btw. It's not negligence if the clinics are so overwhelmed that they can't fit me in. The confusion over the date is partly my fault for not confirming the date, partly theirs for not sending a confirmation letter. And the diagnosis of uveitis is exactly why I need the checks in the first place. No harm was done in the end, so I'm content to be on eye drops for the next few weeks.

While I was on my way into the city today my mobile rang. I didn't answer of course. I never look at my phone while I'm on the road. I assumed it was just some spam call anyway. Increase my credit, cure me of my nonexistant addictions... no thank you!

But it wasn't spam; it was my new endocrinologist's office canceling my appointment on 17 March.

I'm not even upset. That's plenty early to let me know he has a conflict, and my levels are stable enough that I really don't mind rescheduling.

I must admit though that a few years ago I wouldn't have been so .

That's annoying to put it mildly.

Last year I was diagnosed with the early stages of cataracts in both eyes by an optician. An eye specialist confirmed the diagnosis. I did a check and it seems that cataracts can be a complication of uveitis. It seems that I should have been having regular appointments with a specialist for years, but no-one picked up on the fact that my uveitis is asymptomatic until last year. My uveitis is probably linked to my MS, btw.

The word "ruse".

That inane photo ap that puts cartoon ears and things on people.

(Or more precisely, a work colleagues infantile habit of trying to take photos of people and then showing us).

PP>

It's particularly insulting to those of us who look like that anyway.

Here's an example of someone properly using the word "ruse".
http://youtu.be/xfeVF9QjHlQ

PH: Clothes sizes

I have some trousers from the schoolwear section of a shop, and they are Age 15 and they fit me well. I needed a new pair, so I went to the shop and discovered that they have changed the sizing to 14-15 (which is just a bit too small) or 15-16 (which is just a bit too big)...

PP.