Grumble Thread

[Bryn]

Can someone recommend a decent disk-drive to plug into a laptop or, maybe if not that then a TV-DVD combi? I recently bought a Mahavishnu Orchestra Live at Montreux DVD and it keeps stopping within two minutes of watching it - must be my crappy disk-drive.

Have you tried any other DVDs in the drive you have?

[Joseph K]

Have you tried any other DVDs in the drive you have?

No but that's a good idea.

[Bryn]

No but that's a good idea.

Otherwise, try a lens-cleaning disc, preferably with a couple of drops of isopropyl alcohol on the brushes.

[Joseph K]

Otherwise, try a lens-cleaning disc, preferably with a couple of drops of isopropyl alcohol on the brushes.

Ok.

I'm currently trying another DVD and it won't even read this one, useless thing.

Ok - I just got ten minutes into the Mahavishnu DVD. I thought my problem had solved itself, but alas it froze then stopped again.

[Bryn]

Ok.

I'm currently trying another DVD and it won't even read this one, useless thing.

Ok - I just got ten minutes into the Mahavishnu DVD. I thought my problem had solved itself, but alas it froze then stopped again.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133628898965?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20200818143230%26meid%3D8b0710ec39614df9ab80d1f16074bd64%26pid%3D101224%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D5%26sd%3D265235179007%26itm%3D133628898965%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2047675%26algv%3DDefaultOrganicWeb&_trksid=p2047675.c101224.m-1

Worth a try. If no isopropyl alcohol is to hand, dampen the brushes with a drop (literally) or two of unflavoured vodka.

[Joseph K]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133628898...75.c101224.m-1

Worth a try. If no isopropyl alcohol is to hand, dampen the brushes with a drop (literally) or two of unflavoured vodka.

Cheers, ordered.

[Joseph K]

More poor luck with technology...

Instead of youtube videos, I now just get a black square (weirdly though if I change to another tab then I briefly see a snippet of the video). I get the audio, but no video.

I hope this problem is temporary and goes away tomorrow - as has happened with other oddities of my laptop...

[Serial_Apologist]

James O'Brien saying what needs saying:

http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/best-monologue-yet/

[french frank]

James O'Brien saying what needs saying:

http://www.lbc.co.uk/radio/presenters/james-obrien/best-monologue-yet/

Yes, quite a good 'grumble'

[Joseph K]

Glitches in Duolingo: sometimes when asked do I want an extra heart (I always do) I'll tap yes but it ignores it - same for gems.

[Jonathan]

Glitches in Duolingo: sometimes when asked do I want an extra heart (I always do) I'll tap yes but it ignores it - same for gems.

Seconded!!

[french frank]

Glitches in Duolingo: sometimes when asked do I want an extra heart (I always do) I'll tap yes but it ignores it - same for gems.

Seconded!!

I never discovered that refinement. Only lingots (I amassed 1330 because I didn't know what to do with them), crowns (357, ditto), and Streak (0 in my case). I gave up bothering with them.

[Dave2002]

Don't know what the heck is going on with Amazon. I changed my payment method a few weeks ago since prompted to do so with dire warnings if I didn't stop using my Visa payments card.

However - doesn't look as though the payments are going through to the "new" Mastercard - some hiccup along the way.

I tried to order something tonight, and was informed I was getting a reduction of £20- so would be charged £20.99,

However the payment didn't work, so I reverted to my previous (Visa) method - which seems to have worked and now seem to have been charged 0.99p.

This is total madness.

I don't mind paying 99p for something which might have cost over £40 (well certainly I might have expected to pay around £30 ...) but what is worrying is what is going on with the cards.
I have been notified that a few orders haven't been fulfilled or completed, yet in the case of Kindle downloads I seem to have already had the download. In one case I tried to order a Kindle book for just over a £1 when it was on offer, but then having been notified of a problem a day or two later "invited" to reorder - but at a much inflated price of around £5.

Is this online seller now incapable of getting things working properly? Who do I complain to, and how do I make sure that things are working properly - as they have done for most of this century to date?

AFAIK the Prime facility should be charged to the "new" Mastercard account - as I set that up a few weeks ago. We do rely quite heavily on Prime.

Disgruntled of the Highlands!

[Joseph K]

So I made the mistake of pre-ordering the new Boulez The Conductor boxed set direct from DG, since now that it is out I see it being offered for significantly less money from other vendors, and, what's more, Parcelforce is now telling me that my parcel is in their delivery depot (in Coventry) awaiting payment of custom charges! Apparently I'm to expect a letter telling me how I pay (after already paying too much for the thing - along with all the P&P or so I thought at the time).

[Serial_Apologist]

So I made the mistake of pre-ordering the new Boulez The Conductor boxed set direct from DG, since now that it is out I see it being offered for significantly less money from other vendors, and, what's more, Parcelforce is now telling me that my parcel is in their delivery depot (in Coventry) awaiting payment of custom charges! Apparently I'm to expect a letter telling me how I pay (after already paying too much for the thing - along with all the P&P or so I thought at the time).

My heart goes out to you.