Is everything in America a huge hassle in 2024?

Disclaimer: 

The title of this post could instead be: Why did you forget to disconnect your VPN, dumbass?

I apologize for falsely accusing Walmart of dumbassery, when it was, as usual, my own dumbassery that was the problem. Because of NBA League Pass requirements, I had my VPN connected to another country, and of course Walmart.com developers were correct in flagging my IP address as suspicious.

In this case, Walmart was innocent, and I was guilty. Sorry.

Original rant below:..

I was gone from America for a couple of years. Has everything online deteriorated since I left? All I wanted to do was order a portable washing machine from Walmart online. But, nope. They cancelled my order after they let my order go through.

Then I had to call the customer service number, go through the IVR (interactive voice response) menu, and deal with a rep. The only good part of the experience is that I got lucky with a competent rep.

Here I sit, needing a portable washer, with my order cancelled, and unable to reorder for 4.5 hours. Thanks for subjecting me to your ridiculous internal technical limitations, and thank you, Walmart, for the huge hassle. I sure do hope that the next time around I am deemed worthy of ordering your cheap-ass portable washing machine.

FFS!!! I am really beginning to understand why all Americans are pissed off. I strongly recommend that we turn off all the electronic bullshit effective immediately. I am quite certain that all of us will start feeling better almost immediately.

No wonder Americans are all pissed off...

Disclaimer: 

The title of this post could instead be: Why did you forget to disconnect your VPN, dumbass?

I apologize for falsely accusing id.me of dumbassery, when it was, as usual, my own dumbassery that was the problem. Because of NBA League Pass requirements, I had my VPN connected to another country, and of course id.me developers were correct in flagging my IP address as suspicious.

In this case, id.me was innocent, and I was guilty. Sorry. Some of the other criticisms remain valid, and there is no doubt that purchasing a VFW cap from the VFW online store was a huge hassle.

Original rant below:..

What a terribly frustrating web we have woven on the Internet. Today, I needed to order a garrison cap from the VFW store online. Below are just some of the obstacles I experienced in what turned out to be an hour-plus long torture session.

To the people who build and maintain this sorry excuse of online infrastructure, I strongly recommend that you delete all of it--and I mean all of it--and start over from scratch. It is driving people crazy, and it is not their fault. It is your fault. You have created an Internet that sucks elephant balls in terms of being able to get things done.

• Tried to order a garrison cap from the VFW store.
• Forget about the fact that I don't know my cap size.
• I guessed at 7 3/8 inches because that's what the Internet told me is the average U.S. male cap size. Or was it hat size? Is that the same? Who knows?
  
  
• Could not complete the order because I couldn't create an account (required).
  
  
• Had to use id.me to create an account.
• Unable to login to my existing id.me account on my Chromebook.
• Got into some kind of queue of 468 users to try to log into id.me
• They sent an authentication code to my long-time phone number.
• Finally, I successfully logged into id.me on my Google Pixed 4a phone.
  
  
• Tried to use my id.me account to log into the VFW store.
• Unable to log into VFW store using my id.me login credentials.
• Saw an option to login using my LinkedIn account.
• Flagged as a suspicious login.
• Received an authentication code via SMS for my LInkedIn account.
• Successfully authenticated my LinkedIn account.
  
  
• Went through two or three screens to connect my LinkedIn account to my id.me account.
• Finally, successfully logged into VFW store using my LinkedIn account connected to my id.me account.
• Did the entire order process again, guessing at my cap size again.
• Completed the order, paying via credit card.
  
  
• Tried to save a PDF receipt to my Microsoft OneDrive, where I store most of my files.
• Unable to create a VFW folder using OneDrive on my Chromebook.
• Successfully created a VFW folder on OneDrive using my Google Pixel 4a phone.
• Unable to paste PDF file to OneDrive>VFW folder on Chromebook.
  
  
• Gave up on saving the PDF file to OneDrive.
• Created a VFW folder on my Google Drive.
• After considerable effort, finally managed to copy the PDF file from Files>Downloads to my Google Drive>VFW folder.
• (This is not where I wanted the file to live. I wanted it in OneDrive. Once again, I have important files split between One Drive and Google Drive.)

At US$44 for the cap, plus US$8.95 for shipping, plus an hour-plus of time and frustration, this had better be a good f'ing cap. I very much wish I could charge the developers responsible US$100 for my pain and suffering.

To all the developers out there working on U.S. Internet infrastructure today, let me brighten your day by letting you know that it is all a stinking pile of crap that is usable by only the most insano, never-ever-give-up type of user. Thank you (NOT!!!) for the horrible user experience.

Bottle of water after security: 19 cents plus paperwork.

"Passport, please."

"Passport?" (As in, you've got to be kidding me...)

"Yes."

I give the lady my passport. She does something on the computer. Talks to her coworker.

"Boarding pass."

"My boarding pass?" (disbelief)

"Seven baht, please."(As if the transaction is just now starting...)

I gave her a 20 baht note.

She gave me back my 13 baht change.

I walked out with my USD 19-cent bottle of water, happy about the price, but sad about the paperwork required.

To all my computer genius buddies, I am sorry to break it to you, but you have succeeded in f-ing up just about everything in the entire world. Well-done, I guess, at least in an alternate reality where everything that sucks is actually great.

Put me on your No Electronic BS plan.

I beg you to have mercy on me with all your electronic BS. Let me buy an economy class airplane ticket with an aisle seat. After that, I do not want to visit your website or mobile app again. I don't want to find passwords. I don't want your authentication codes via SMS. I don't want any of it.

The frustrating hell you put me through for seat selection and additional charges is evil. Soon, I will go to your ticket counter to check in, already well-enraged.

Should I ever be presented with the opportunity to flood your server rooms, I will do so with gusto. Expedia, American Airlines, Starlux Airlines, all of you all suck elephant balls!!!

Separate hot tub not needed.

You don't need a separate hot tub when the swimming pool itself is a big hot tub. I did not measure the water temperature. But it felt a lot like being in a hot tub. Count me as impressed by the power of the sun.

20240425

It's getting serious now...

I actually skipped riding the bike the other day. It felt too unlucky so close to departure day.

At any rate, Mighty Mite, hidden under a cover, is going to take a long nap.

20240425

I've got a Basketball Jones...

The Lakers and the Nuggets did not let me down on Sunday, April 21st at 07:30 hours. That was an excellent game, and LA came back very close at the end.

If you ever find yourself stuck indoors for months, an NBA League Pass for the entire playoffs is a bit of a treasure. 

20240420

The numbers tell the story.

20240421

Plantar fasciitis and other foot problems: Possibly helpful equipment.

So you've got plantar fasciitis and/or other foot problems. I sympathize. 

If you're new to plantar fasciitis, you'll be doing a lot of research and finding information about arch support, shoes, sandals, and more.

I did all that research. Here's where I'm at with some purchases that might help, along with a bit of info on something that will not help.

Compression socks - Surprisingly helpful

I didn't expect much from a compression sock.

But it helps with both plantar fasciitis and heel pain.

This particular compression sock appears to be the OrthoSleeve FS6 Compression Foot Sleeve.

A pair of Birkenstock sandals for indoor-use-only

Never ever walk around your house with bare feet, especially in a house without carpet. That's what I did during the beginning of Covid, and that's when the problems started. 

Now that you have been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, I sentence you to always wearing your indoor-use-only Birkenstock sandals. 

Note: These sandals should be replaced.
As a member of the Plantar Fasciitis Club, you must regularly replace all your footwear.

Hoka Clifton 9 shoes

This is just one example of a shoe that seems to help. There are others. 

When I first started wearing these, they caused pain around my ankles, at the top part of the shoe. But that appears to have been caused by newness. Within a month or two, they no longer caused pain, and six months later, they are quite comfortable.

The Good Feet Store - AVOID!!! - You have been warned

Let me tell you clearly. Do NOT go to the Good Feet Store.

Just don't. Everything that Good Feet Store can give you for massively inflated prices is available at Walmart for reasonable prices.

In probably the year 2020, I was hit hard by plantar fasciitis. Out of desperation one day, I went into the local Good Feet Store. 

They were waiting for me there. Total loss in 2020 dollars was something around USD 1300 or 1400. 

I remember it as my last incident of being scammed.

I must have fired off one of my nasty grams to the company because as time went on, I was called one day by a customer service representative. We talked, and she asked me: "Do you think you were scammed?" I thought about it for a minute, and I remember telling her: "I think your company scammed me fair and square."

Good Feet Store photos from 2020-2021 purchase.

Grab Rider fuel.

Looks about right to me. BOSS Americano and Red Bull Theoplex-L. I found these two empties above a urinal at the Central Plaza bathroom favored by Grab motorcycle food delivery riders. These delivery riders work their asses off. They're out there riding in 40-degree heat with terrible air quality. 

If you were going to populate a space station on a harsh planet, these would be the folks to recruit. Tough men and women! Salute!

20240412