![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/visa-cards-b.jpg\" "\\"visa-cards\\"")
<\/p>\nNo birds today. Just a couple of helpful life hacks I stumbled upon recently that have lowered my blood pressure and made life a little more enjoyable. If you’re already aware of them you’re smarter than I was a week ago.<\/p>\n
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I’m sure all of us have needed to replace a credit or debit card that was lost or no longer working. The replacement process typically takes “7-10 working days” and in the meantime you’re in financial limbo while you’re waiting for the new card to arrive in the mail. Recently the chip on my VISA card stopped working and since I’ve intentionally limited myself to a single credit card I was in a mess – especially during a pandemic when cash has become almost an anathema. I prefer not to use a debit card so buying gasoline and groceries in particular became in instant and sometimes embarrassing headache.<\/p>\n
My VISA card is issued through my credit union so a few days ago I paid them a visit to order a new card and load up on the cash I’d need until my new card arrived. When I asked the bank clerk to order me a new card he said “Would you like me to print a new one up for you right now? You can have it in less than five minutes.”<\/p>\n
” What? You can print a new card for me?” I was blown away. And that’s exactly what he did.<\/p>\n
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The top card in the photo is the one he printed up for me and the bottom one is my “traditional” card. The only significant difference between them is that the identifying numbers and letters on the traditional card are raised and they’re not raised on the printed card. I was a little skeptical that the new printed card would work without any hitches but every time I’ve used it it’s worked perfectly.<\/p>\n
In my experience new technology can often be a pain in the ass but this time it was a lifesaver.<\/p>\n
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OK, here’s another life hack. I like this one even more because it prevents aggravation far more often.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/gas-station-tv-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"gas-station-tv-ron-dudley\\"")
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How do you feel about Gas Station TV (GSTV) or similar spinoffs that force you to be exposed to loud and highly annoying video and audio while you’re filling up your fuel tank at your gas station? The practice is burgeoning across the country so if you haven’t been exposed to it yet you soon will be.<\/p>\n
I hate GSTV with an unbridled passion. I’ve been patronizing the same Chevron station for 30 years and their GSTV is so loud and annoying it’s impossible to ignore. My pickup gets very good gas mileage (for a truck) but it has a huge tank that takes a long time to fill so I’m forced to endure that visual and auditory pollution for what seems like an eternity. Talk about a captive audience!<\/p>\n
So a few days ago I became so upset by its loudness I went inside to complain to the station manager and ask her to turn it down. I know her so I thought she might do me (and others) a favor if I explained how incredibly aggravating it is.<\/p>\n
Her response was “You can turn it off yourself any time you like. Just push the second button down.”.<\/p>\n
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![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/gas-station-tv-turn-off-ron-dudley.jpg\" "\\"gas-station-tv-turn-off-ron-dudley\\"")
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Sure enough. At my gas station all you need to do is push the second button down on the right side and the screen goes blank and quiet for the remainder of your time at the pump. I no longer have to listen to Kara and others babbling at me at 70 decibels while they’re telling me mostly inane stuff or trying to get me to purchase goods and services that I have absolutely no interest in.<\/p>\n
I really don’t give a shit that it’s Twitter’s birthday (see photo above this one), especially when I’m told that at a teeth-rattling volume..<\/p>\n
So if your version of GSTV annoys you as much as mine annoys me play with the buttons until the damn thing turns off. They deliberately don’t label the buttons because they don’t want you to turn it off. But I’ll bet you can.<\/p>\n
You’re welcome.<\/p>\n
Ron<\/p>\n
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Addendum:<\/em><\/p>\n Soon after I posted a link to this post on Facebook good friend Jim DeWitt posted this graphic and made this comment “Grumpy? I thought it was just me.”<\/em><\/p>\n Guilty as charged. To be honest, as a bird photographer it’s common practice for me to yell at clouds. Or more often, curse them.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" No birds today. Just a couple of helpful life hacks I stumbled upon recently that have lowered my blood pressure and made life a little more enjoyable. If you’re already aware of them you’re smarter than I was a week ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/featheredphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/grumpy.jpg\")
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