You Know You Are Old When

[Runner]

That's crazy! I was almost going to call BS on this bit of paranoia, then I saw you lived in California, and it all made sense. I can't imagine anything like that ever happening around here, you'd end up with a lot of well-aerated contractors.


We have no law here specifically prohibiting one from going thru trash, but we do have "movable property" laws and privacy laws that prohibit one from opening any closed trash bag or can, and many have been cited for doing so. Basically, if an item is left in the open on the curb, the right to privacy is forfeited, and the item is up for grabs. But as soon as it's in a closed bag or a can with a lid, privacy laws apply. This can vary, state to state.

I believe the intent is to allow one to set a window air conditioner, or old end table they're no longer using, out at the curb for anyone to take, but still protect the privacy of those putting trash out in closed bags or cans.

I almost wish my municipality would go to that much trouble. I tried and tried and couldn't get them to pick up our recycle bin on anything like a regular basis. Then, I made the mistake of complaining about it and they quit altogether... I gave up and now everything goes in the trash.

 

[WinterDeere]

I almost wish my municipality would go to that much trouble. I tried and tried and couldn't get them to pick up our recycle bin on anything like a regular basis. Then, I made the mistake of complaining about it and they quit altogether... I gave up and now everything goes in the trash.

Well, I guess they made that decision easy!

Our trash and recycling get picked up every week, separate trucks. I can't imagine it all goes to the same place, otherwise they wouldn't go to the extra expense for two trucks and two drivers, but I guess I don't really know or care enough to dig into it. I'm doing my part, separating the stuff into two cans, the rest is up to the hauler!

Most of our recycling is corrugated cardboard, and some glass bottles, both of which are very highly recyclable. Plastic is a bigger problem, as most plastics going thru your house are not very recyclable, because the plastics with poorest recyclability factor are generally cheaper.

 

[Runner]

Well, I guess they made that decision easy!

True, although, now, they've given us those big plastic carts (two, one for trash and one for recycle) so now I've got that damned big recycle cart taking up room in my garage for no reason.

I know for a fact that they picked up both trash and recycle here with the same truck (way back when the City contracted with a private company to pick up the trash). The story was that they sorted it all out at they dump.

Then the City decided their public works crews could do it cheaper and that's when they stopped picking it up.

 

[Oaktree]

In our region the governance that be decided you could only put out one bag of garbage every 2 weeks but put out recycling every week.
Anything more and you have to attach a tag that now costs $5.
It is an attempt to get people to recycle more.
Where I am in the countryside we end up the recipients of this garbage. It gets thrown in the ditches and farm laneways.

No trash collection where I live (unless you have a private trash service). Our town, like many in the area requires trash to be in specially marked bags that you can purchase at either the transfer station or town hall. They aren't terribly expensive, and we don't generate a lot of trash to begin with. Generally takes us a couple weeks to fill a kitchen wastebasket-size bag...often as not we'll just throw it in the trash can at Walmart or a gas station.
Recycling (paper, cardboard, tin & aluminum cans, glass and #1 & 2 plastic) is free. Up to you to sort it. Bulky trash (demolition, mattresses, etc.) go in a separate dumpster and you're charged whatever the attendant decides to charge you.

Every time I need to renew my auto or boat tags, which we now do online, I'm reminded at just how bad government sucks at just about everything that Amazon or eBay does with ease.

Vehicle registration here in N.H. used to be a 2 step process. The paperwork was done at the local level with one fee (based on the vehicle's value), then you had to go to the DMV office to get the actual plate/renewal sticker and pay a separate fee based on vehicle class/weight. Could take the better part of a day, especially in rural areas where there the nearest DMV office might be an hour or more away.
Now (and for the last 25 or so years) town hall can do both functions.
It's only been in the last few years we've been able to pay our property taxes online.

As you noted, government can be a PITA to deal with if your schedule doesn't easily accommodate their banker's hours.

 

[masscity]

I bring my oil to Mechanics who use it to heat their shops. I burn all paper and carboard. Once a year I go to the dump, just

went last week, throw all the junk on the bottom and the garbage bags on top. It's Waste Management, so it costs $56.00

to drive through the gate with one bag or 20, which I had.

 

[Runner]

No trash collection where I live (unless you have a private trash service). Our town, like many in the area requires trash to be in specially marked bags that you can purchase at either the transfer station or town hall. They aren't terribly expensive, and we don't generate a lot of trash to begin with. Generally takes us a couple weeks to fill a kitchen wastebasket-size bag...often as not we'll just throw it in the trash can at Walmart or a gas station.
Recycling (paper, cardboard, tin & aluminum cans, glass and #1 & 2 plastic) is free. Up to you to sort it. Bulky trash (demolition, mattresses, etc.) go in a separate dumpster and you're charged whatever the attendant decides to charge you.

Vehicle registration here in N.H. used to be a 2 step process. The paperwork was done at the local level with one fee (based on the vehicle's value), then you had to go to the DMV office to get the actual plate/renewal sticker and pay a separate fee based on vehicle class/weight. Could take the better part of a day, especially in rural areas where there the nearest DMV office might be an hour or more away.
Now (and for the last 25 or so years) town hall can do both functions.
It's only been in the last few years we've been able to pay our property taxes online.

As you noted, government can be a PITA to deal with if your schedule doesn't easily accommodate their banker's hours.

In my state (MO) when you renew your car tags in person, you MUST show them proof of insurance (the card) or you don't getta no tags. But if you renew online, you don't have to prove anything. Does anybody believe that the people processing the online applications have extra sensory perception and just know you have insurance?

 

[Oaktree]

In my state (MO) when you renew your car tags in person, you MUST show them proof of insurance (the card) or you don't getta no tags. But if you renew online, you don't have to prove anything. Does anybody believe that the people processing the online applications have extra sensory perception and just know you have insurance?

I have no experience with this since my state doesn't require insurance, but maybe the online renewal cross-references an insurance database? From what I've read, (at least some) states that do have mandatory insurance will revoke a vehicle registration if the insurance lapses.

 

[masscity]

I renewed online this year, but the last time I went to the Secretary of State office I showed them my insurance card, they

said they don't need it. They have that information.

 

[ultrarunner]

Trash and recycling mandatory and unpaid because a city lien as the city pays Waste Management...

A few properties get sold to collect.

Different company for recycle and trash.

The garbage inspectors are real and even go into private property to examine contents of the tote or dumpster saying the totes are private property of the hauler so they do not belong to home owners.

One California business was cited close to 50 million across all locations for improper waste stream disposal... mostly co mingling.

 

[LouNY]

Trash and recycling mandatory and unpaid because a city lien as the city pays Waste Management...

A few properties get sold to collect.

Different company for recycle and trash.

The garbage inspectors are real and even go into private property to examine contents of the tote or dumpster saying the totes are private property of the hauler so they do not belong to home owners.

One California business was cited close to 50 million across all locations for improper waste stream disposal... mostly co mingling.

Dam, Commifornia at it's best and brightest.

 

[ultrarunner]

Dam, Commifornia at it's best and brightest.

Knowing your old is easy when you recall how things use to be…

Some good news in that a Judge struck down San Francisco vacant parcel tax…

It imposed thousands of dollars and up to 20k annual additional tax if the property was vacant so many days each year and renting short term does not count as occupied.

One supporter said we need to pry these properties loose to increase housing…

It’s simple if they want to increase occupancy… just make it easier to get bad renters out.

 

[Alan46]

YKYO,
When you remember the manual credit card machine with the carbon between the soft and hard copy, that would get thrown away
( usually) with all the information on it! My OLDER brother reminded me of that.

 

[Jstpssng]

YKYO,
When you remember the manual credit card machine with the carbon between the soft and hard copy, that would get thrown away
( usually) with all the information on it! My OLDER brother reminded me of that.

I remember using one. Every month the Gulf representative would bring us a list of invalid cards. We were supposed to check it each time we ran a transaction, and pick up any cards on the list. Also call Gulf for every charge over 50 dollars. Gas was a bit less than $3.099/gallon back then.

 

[Alan46]

I remember using one. Every month the Gulf representative would bring us a list of invalid cards. We were supposed to check it each time we ran a transaction, and pick up any cards on the list. Also call Gulf for every charge over 50 dollars. Gas was a bit less than $3.099/gallon back then.

Thanks for reminding me of the list!

 

[ultrarunner]

Thanks for reminding me of the list!

A star on the card meant up to $100 no liability.

I still have the imprinter from working the auto parts as weekend manager in high school.

Don’t know why but when it it was going to the trash along with the crank Victor adding machine I asked the owner if I could take both home.

 

[LouNY]

A star on the card meant up to $100 no liability.

I still have the imprinter from working the auto parts as weekend manager in high school.

Don’t know why but when it it was going to the trash along with the crank Victor adding machine I asked the owner if I could take both home.

I used to find it quite humorous at times with different markings some of the cards had. I'd go for parts or farm supplies and pull in for gas in an older pickup and my clean farming cloths and the attendants would be looking down their noses until they got that card and then all of a sudden it would be yes sir, what else can we do for you.

 

[WinterDeere]

I used to find it quite humorous at times with different markings some of the cards had. I'd go for parts or farm supplies and pull in for gas in an older pickup and my clean farming cloths and the attendants would be looking down their noses until they got that card and then all of a sudden it would be yes sir, what else can we do for you.

Remember when a "Gold card" meant something? Now they're handing "Platinum" and "Diamond" cards out to 22-year old's with questionable credit.

Kids sports have gone the same way, "Gold" is now the lowest medal, with the aforementioned Platinum, Diamond, and even Iridium being the top medals. Everyone needs to feel special, apparently no one wants "bronze".

They can re-label size 12 as "size 0", but the lady wearing it hasn't gotten any smaller!

 

[garry1p]

I remember when the 1st digital calculators came out.
No memory in the early ones, then Texas Instruments came out with their scientific calculators

 

[ultrarunner]

I used to find it quite humorous at times with different markings some of the cards had. I'd go for parts or farm supplies and pull in for gas in an older pickup and my clean farming cloths and the attendants would be looking down their noses until they got that card and then all of a sudden it would be yes sir, what else can we do for you.

It use to be that way with American Express and no preset spend limits and their exclusive cards and Bank America had their Gold Cards…

Sears gave me my first card and I used it for tools and work clothes and paid off each month.

 

[WinterDeere]

I remember when the 1st digital calculators came out.
No memory in the early ones, then Texas Instruments came out with their scientific calculators

I worked with older engineers born in the 1930's, late in their careers when I was starting mine in the 1990's. These guys all started on slide rules, went thru the whole calculator revolution, and retired on Pentium or even Xeon-level PC's. What a ride.

It was amusing to me that they remembered the model number of every new calculator that came out thru the 1970's (TI-2500, SR-10, SR-25, etc.), as all but graphing calculators were becoming too numerous and ubiquitous to remember, by the time I was using them. But then I think that kids just entering the workforce today might think it just as funny that my generation remembers their first 286, 486, and Pentium computers.

Once upon a time, some ancient Roman engineer was excited when the Abacus progressed from stones to coins. Thirty years later, his kids made fun of his technology.