The Day A Radio Station Bricked A Lot Of Mazdas

[CCoburn]

1. This is yet another example of society's growing dependence on technology which isn't necessarily required, but winds up becoming a necessity by virtue of its very existence.  Put a different way, it's technology which we didn't ask for, which seemed harmless enough, so we allowed it into our lives without realizing the potential downsides.  These types of things can have two broad categories of negative outcomes.  One of them is technological, and the other is human.  I need only cite one example...cash registers.  Yeah, there's a million other examples, but everyone will 'get' this one.  When was the last time you saw anyone able to count back change in a cash sale???  People just can't do it anymore, some because they're lazy, but even more because they don't actually know how.  That last one is an example of negative human outcomes.  So now, when the power goes off, merchants are instantly paralyzed...for no logical reason...other than the fact no one can count.  Again, there's a billion other examples (i.e. ATM machines, computerized-everything, etc.)  Seems harmless enough, convenient even, until it becomes absolutely mission critical (when it doesn't need to be) and brings modern society to its collective knees when it doesn't work.

This has actually been a prominent factor in my life lately which relates more or less to the above. Mostly in the context of quick-stops, but not always:

1. Transactions need to be kept simple. More than one operation per transaction increases the likelihood for fuck-ups. Put two twenties down on the counter for a Five Hour, eight quarters for air, a little ice from the dispenser(usually free), and the rest in gas – forget about it. Just a typical example, although most times it's closer to 20-25 in gas whenever I go anywhere. These types of transactions are better served broken up into bite-sized pieces so they don't choke on it. The "rest in gas" does seem to be an occasional problem, so I don't even bother with that anymore, and I don't even bother with giving them extra pennies on dollars anymore (so I don't get any back) because of that occasional "deer in the headlights" look. I'll just do one simple gas transaction next time so I can get rid of all this change. I dislike having a pocketful of change for a number of reasons.

Maybe I'm exaggerating slightly to make a point, but it's close enough for me to always be wary of it on some level.

2. A new credit union that I have a loan with doesn't know shit about the details of their loans; not even the loan officer. I just resigned and figured it out myself - some of it was interest and principal only payment stuff.

Mostly just stupid stuff, like that worthless piece of paper Best Buy used to give me when I paid on my card. All it said was how much money I just gave them? Well duh. I guess a balance would be asking a bit much – that's all done at headquarters.