u/joedenowhere

I haven't checked, but I think it's safe to assume this sub has seen plenty of posts about Florida's ubiquitous billboards for ambulance-chasing law firms. Either Florida has a disproportionate supply of bloody car wrecks, or saturation advertising is the only way law firms can attract a limited supply of survivors. At least seeing those billboards every mile or so has the salutary effect of scaring the hell out of me so I drive cautiously.

Anyway, here's something different. In the San Francisco Bay Area most billboards and bus wraps are pitching software development tools. Bay Area billboards have been geared to the tech community for a long time, though in the old days the ads were for products everyone was familiar with, like, say, Microsoft Excel, or tech "lifestyle" products, like Yahoo and Wired magazine. But now? I couldn't for the life of me tell you what most of those billboards are selling. In fact, I wonder whether they're intended for robotaxis that optimize their own software, rather than for the humans who coded the first draft. The billboard scene is so weird that a local newspaper has a columnist who reports on it. It's pretty interesting.

https://bayareacurrent.com/tag/tech-billboard-decoder/

Just turned on the tap and it was like a gas attack. Are other people in Boca experiencing the same thing?

My wife is 74. About 18 months ago she began suffering NPH symptoms, specifically the woozy, walking on a boat floating on water feeling and the sense of weight pressing down on her body. PT, ENT, cardiology, radiology, neurology, etc. did all the tests and concluded it was NPH, so she had a VP shunt implanted four months ago. Her symptoms have not improved at all. Radiology shows the ventricles have returned to normal and the shunt is working correctly. The neurosurgeon cannot explain why she still feels awful, but he thinks if it hasn't improved in four months it probably won't improve now. Does this happen? Are we missing something? Can relief take longer than four months? Should she have the shunt removed?

I recently noticed SUVs made by Maserati and Alfa Romeo. It turns out that humdrum Stellants/Fiat or VW own *all* the sporty Italian car brands except Ferrari: Abarth, Alfa, Lancia, Lamborghini, Maserati.... When did that happen? Do any of them still make exceptional cars, or are they all just Tiguan with a pricey nameplate? (This doesn't affect me personally since I'm pretty much of a Honda Civic type, but the thought of turning all those fabulous toys into marketing commodities bugs me anyway.)

Does anyone know why gas is almost $5 in Boca and about $4 in Deerfield, Delray, and even in west Boca? The difference makes no sense (to me, anyway). Thanks!

Does anyone know of a local yoga studio where most of the instructors are trained in Iyengar yoga? Much obliged.

Is it not legal to park in the street here in residential areas? I see cars parked in driveways that stick out and block the sidewalk, but I never see cars parked on the street. It doesn't make sense, unless there's some kind of law against parking in the street (and no law against blocking sidewalks...) What gives, Boca?

I have an account at one of the big US banks. I was planning to transfer a few hundred dollars I owe to a friend at another big US bank. But my bank no longer allows initiating bank transfers, and instead pushes you into Zelle. I have another friend who has transferred money to my bank without using Zelle--in other words, my bank accepts incoming transfers, but no longer supports outgoing transfers. Are other banks doing this too? I don't want to use Zelle for exactly the same reason my bank wants me to use it: funds lost or stolen via Zelle are not the bank's responsibility. Any thoughts on this?

Can anyone recommend a self-serve car wash place? (Near downtown Boca if there is one.) My tiny car needs the interior cleaned so I asked at a full-service place and they said minimum of $70--just the interior, not the exterior. Urrk! Thanks!

Here in Florida I’ve noticed that in parking lots most people back in to their space so the car is facing out. Just curious, is there a reason for parking like that instead of pulling in to the space? What’s the advantag?

Bought a replacement shower curtain liner. Turns out it’s a couple inches shorter than what used to be the standard size, so now it doesn’t block water from running out onto the floor. Whose great idea was this?

It seems like there are dozens of different license plate designs here. I've never seen anything like it. According to DuckDuck's robot there are 154 optional designs, plus I see lots of other designs with different number/letter sequences, etc. Can anyone explain why?

Hi all. I'm mad at REI (long story) so I'm done shopping there, and I need a pair of serious walking shoes. Where in Boca, Deerfield, Delray besides REI carries the same kinds of equipment, preferably at reasonable prices? Thanks!

Hi all. There are a zillion posts here about good walking shoes, mostly people saying how much they love their new [your brand here] shoes. That's good info, but I for one am fed up with shoes that I can love only for a few weeks until they collapse inside. I'm not a big guy and I don't run, only walk a lot. For $150 or $200 the shoe companies could be using decent quality materials. So I'm asking everyone: if you've been walking in your shoes for six months are they still supporting your feet? If so, what brand and model? Thanks!

I've been in Boca for months and the grocery stores I've found here are uninspiring at best--Publix, Fresh Market, Trader Joe's, Aldi, Whole Foods, Target, etc. Today someone took me to The Boys for the first time and suddenly I feel a lot better about being here. So much great produce, such reasonable prices, so much variety packed into that smallish space. (No, this isn't an ad. I'm really thrilled.) My question for people around Boca, are there other great stores I don't know about yet? It would be a joy to have a list of places like The Boys or some other variation on real food. Thanks!

Just an observation. I'm a Yankee, in South Florida for the past few months. People always say air-conditioning is the essential technology that makes it possible to live in the South, and I sure wouldn't want to stay in Florida without AC. But after a few months I've learned that there are actually two essential technologies: the other one is pesticides. We had to move out of our building for five days to have it tented and gassed for termites. The lawns everywhere have signs warning people away because they've been sprayed. There are pest-control trucks everywhere. All the beautiful little lakes and waterways are sprayed. As a result, there are no insects in evidence--no ants recycling the garbage, no annoying fruit flies in the kitchen--and no cockroaches in the wall or mosquitoes hiding in the bedroom. I see birds poking around in the grass looking for bugs, and I wonder whether they'll starve or eat something poisonous. I understand it's a necessary trade-off; no one wants to get zika or watch termites consume their house. But still, don't people worry about being exposed to so much pesticide?