Random Thought of the Day

A social security or charity hearing aid might help or merely a pamphlet from the local society for the hearing impaired.

Heck.... a local twelve year old can hack you a hearing aid with a soldering gun and some spare parts.

Quote: rxwine

I have two neighbors who both need hearing aids. It's not enjoyable to have more than a short conversation with either of them as you have to shout constantly. I totally understand why people who start getting bad hearing loss can feel alienated or shunned. The lady often misunderstands what you say, and then you have to shout it again. Or sometimes, I just let her think I said something else, rather than correct her. She is my actual next door neighbor so this occurs fairly often.

My MIL offered me pops hearing aids after he passed. I was too proud at the moment and thought I would get the offer again. She decided she didn't like us after she got a new boyfriend and the offer was no more.

The aids he had were the 7k dollar kind, and I didn't know if they could be retuned for me? I assumed they could. But I have talked with aid users and they say the cheap ones aren't worth the money. I know a vet who paid 35 hundred and said his were lousy.

Walmart has some for around 125 dollars, I think they are worth what you pay?

My other plot is, they have a hospice center here, [like a Goodwill] and I need to find out if any get donated there after the owners are done with them? I think you have to go expensive or just keep saying "what"? I'm about ready to go old fashioned and grab a road cone and hold it up to my ear.

Hearing is funny [odd]. I'm only deaf at 4 & 5 kh. I can hear birds chirping a long way off and other sounds. Just not the frequency of outboard motors, grinders, power equipment, and unfortunately where human speech is. Around 4-5 kh.

One lucky patient was a skilled digital signal processor and internationally known hacker who when she started having hearing problems waded through some medical texts and designed her own testing units. See if you can find a geek.

it's no biggie and I probably do it myself sometimes, but there's a constant comedy going on in our parking lots. Happened again today: I see the other car's back up lights on, so I stop and wait. Then after a considerable time I figure out that they *were* going to back out to leave, saw me, and are now waiting for me. Then it practically turns into a game of chicken.

I feel like going over to the other driver's window and tapping on it so I can tell them: if you are waiting for me, don't leave your car in reverse! Don't you know you're signaling me you are backing up? But I never have this conversation, too much trouble, too much chance of offense taken.

Quote: odiousgambit

it's no biggie and I probably do it myself sometimes, but there's a constant comedy going on in our parking lots. Happened again today: I see the other car's back up lights on, so I stop and wait. Then after a considerable time I figure out that they *were* going to back out to leave, saw me, and are now waiting for me. Then it practically turns into a game of chicken.

I feel like going over to the other driver's window and tapping on it so I can tell them: if you are waiting for me, don't leave your car in reverse! Don't you know you're signaling me you are backing up? But I never have this conversation, too much trouble, too much chance of offense taken.

It never entered by head to take it out of reverse when waiting for someone else to proceed behind me. I like your idea as it does indicate intent but I am sure there must be many more people like me that have never thought of it.

The flip side is that many of these people when waiting would never think to check if the back-up lights of the car they are waiting for are on or off.

Quote: odiousgambit

it's no biggie and I probably do it myself sometimes, but there's a constant comedy going on in our parking lots. Happened again today: I see the other car's back up lights on, so I stop and wait. Then after a considerable time I figure out that they *were* going to back out to leave, saw me, and are now waiting for me. Then it practically turns into a game of chicken.

I feel like going over to the other driver's window and tapping on it so I can tell them: if you are waiting for me, don't leave your car in reverse! Don't you know you're signaling me you are backing up? But I never have this conversation, too much trouble, too much chance of offense taken.

if you're waiting for someone backing out, flip your brights twice quick. that means you're waiting/yielding/room for the other to move pretty much everywhere. fwiw, most drivers i know, myself included, stop backing when they see a car approach, but often that car can't be seen while in a parking spot; you have to back out some before you can see if someone's coming. i daresay custom where you are may differ, but i've lived in 20 different states, and the backing up car universally does not expect you to stop for them unless a) they're already backed out enough before you pulled up that they're blocking you, or b) you want their spot. If b), blinking the lights communicates that, too.

I just saw "Batman vs Superman."

Meh.

But Diana was really good. She ought to get her own movie ;)

Quote: beachbumbabs

... i daresay custom where you are may differ, but i've lived in 20 different states, and the backing up car universally does not expect you to stop for them unless a) they're already backed out enough before you pulled up that they're blocking you, or b) you want their spot. If b), blinking the lights communicates that, too.

I think the custom is common as you say, but we all know the idiot who will back right into you. I fear this type of driver and probably over-react, so the problem is one I create a lot. Usually, not only do I see the back up lights but the driver is in fact moving back at first.

I should try the flashing lights thing.

Which reminds me, often I have to back up just a bit myself or I can't see a thing. With some rude drivers, they see this and lay on the horn for a big long blast as they zoom by. This really infuriates me.

Quote: odiousgambit

Which reminds me, often I have to back up just a bit myself or I can't see a thing. With some rude drivers, they see this and lay on the horn for a big long blast as they zoom by. This really infuriates me.

Not as much as a fender bender.

What I don't like is the Walmarters who led their kids wander behind vehicles that are backing up. Or if I'm getting out of a parking space a vehicle that stops for me and whether they want the space or not leaves me a grand total of two inches in which to maneuver.
Sorry Charlie, I back out until I am straight in the road way, then I drive forward.

I used to park outside a university's medical center, I'd walk to my car with the key raised up high. Any one wanted to give me lift to my car could... and usually I'd offer to drive them back to the entrance.