Speed Queen - The Way of Water

[Jaffles]

I feel sorry for kids these days getting a drivers license. Down under we punish kids for 3 years. Starts with 25hr of education, and if you pass then get a green light for 100 hours or physical driving on a learners. Pass the pricy test then get two years on a provisional license with 4 points; zero alcohol, curfews on occupants, limited motor sizes, then there is the insurance premiums.

Its like these kids are paying for all the dumb stuff generations before have done. Mean while I drive a truck, and can vouch most of the dumb drivers on the roads are "supposed" experienced drivers. Furthermore if people think young people are the selfish types who only thing about themselves, I beg to differ.

Hey JF, here is another plug for you. Good thing you got that new Speed Queen washing machine, because after the teenage son empties the back seat of the car from all the dead cloths that have been there for a month, you gunna need a robust washing machine.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Mine gets her license on Friday- I am definitely not looking forward to the bill
They couldn’t quote me anything in advance to help me get used to the idea when I informed them of her permit (the premiums didn’t increase at all due to the permit).
She will be the primary driver on a 1996 Toyota pickup unless it’s more advantageous to pick one of our other vehicles. It currently has full coverage because it was only $70/yr more - we’ll see how that changes
She works with me when possible & operates a lemonade stand with her brother, weather permitting, but no steady income source as her life is consumed with sports pretty much year round. She’s inquired about employment at a few places but they all just say “come back when you’re 16”.
I started working for a paycheck at 14 but it’s not that common anymore. It doesn’t help that we live in the boonies, not a ton of opportunities.

I know growing up my parents paid more in auto because the three of us were all home when we were driving so they had to cover us. But it wasn’t a huge increase according to my mom. However my brother always paid my parents for their increased premiums and, when he got his own car (truck), he got his own insurance and paid for everything himself. Back in those days, if you could prove the driver had their own insurance, then they’d drop them off your policy and reduce your rates. I think nowadays insurance companies penalize you for a “potential driver” unless you prove they don’t physically live in your home anymore.

Whatever the case may be, the boy needs to get a job as he is 17 and capable of working part time. He’s a good student and wants to finish up junior year and then look for a job for the summer. He’ll probably spend all his income on LEGO’s (he’s a fanatic) but I’ll insist some of that income goes towards paying for his car. I look forward to the shock that will come over his face when he see’s what Uncle Sam’s cut is from his first paycheck and then the brutal reality the following year when he gets to file his first tax forms and the forms tell him that he owes another XXX dollars to the gubermint …

 

[kul]

the shock that will come over his face when he see’s what Uncle Sam’s cut is from his first paycheck

Oh gosh. I still remember it. It’s was not . It was

 

[JamesW]

I look forward to the shock that will come over his face when he see’s what Uncle Sam’s cut is from his first paycheck

At least he can rest assured that the money is being used responsibly without waste providing top quality products and services.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

At least he can rest assured that the money is being used responsibly without waste providing top quality products and services.

Ok James, I’m sorry, but this is last warning! You really need to be more serious if you want to keep that “Expert” badge …

 

[JamesW]

Oh, come on, man, you can't show one example of any money ever being wasted or misused by the government.

I send in double or triple what I owe in taxes just because I know that it will be well spent.

 

[Mdragger88]

I feel sorry for kids these days getting a drivers license. Down under we punish kids for 3 years. Starts with 25hr of education, and if you pass then get a green light for 100 hours or physical driving on a learners. Pass the pricy test then get two years on a provisional license with 4 points; zero alcohol, curfews on occupants, limited motor sizes, then there is the insurance premiums.

Its like these kids are paying for all the dumb stuff generations before have done. Mean while I drive a truck, and can vouch most of the dumb drivers on the roads are "supposed" experienced drivers. Furthermore if people think young people are the selfish types who only thing about themselves, I beg to differ.

Hey JF, here is another plug for you. Good thing you got that new Speed Queen washing machine, because after the teenage son empties the back seat of the car from all the dead cloths that have been there for a month, you gunna need a robust washing machine.

In Mississippi they just have to be 15 & take the written test to get their permit (it used to be 14)
then at 16 (used to be 15) present a waiver that says they have held their permit for 1 year & their parent/guardian has witnessed 50 hours of them operating a motor vehicle. No road test. If they are 17 they can just take the written test & get their license the same day, no 12 month permit, no road test. If under 18 they need a school attendance form as well - unless they’re married. Gotta love Mississippi!
My daughter is currently enrolled in drivers ed (was supposed to take it last semester) so hopefully I will get a little break on the insurance after it’s complete. She has driven every day for a year now in a variety of vehicles & situations but she said there are several of the drivers ed students who have never driven & don’t know anything at all. Like how to crank the car. She couldn’t believe it.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

In Mississippi they just have to be 15 & take the written test to get their permit (it used to be 14)
then at 16 (used to be 15) present a waiver that says they have held their permit for 1 year & their parent/guardian has witnessed 50 hours of them operating a motor vehicle. No road test. If they are 17 they can just take the written test & get their license the same day, no 12 month permit, no road test. If under 18 they need a school attendance form as well - unless they’re married. Gotta love Mississippi!
My daughter is currently enrolled in drivers ed (was supposed to take it last semester) so hopefully I will get a little break on the insurance after it’s complete. She has driven every day for a year now in a variety of vehicles & situations but she said there are several of the drivers ed students who have never driven & don’t know anything at all. Like how to crank the car. She couldn’t believe it.

I don’t like AZ licensing rules at all (I grew up in NY). Here the kids take the written test at age 15 to get their learners permit (ok with that). Then all they have to do is have 30 hours of daytime driving and 10 hours of night time practice and then, at 16 they can take the road test and get their license (assuming they pass). There’s no requirement for drivers Ed class (and none of the public schools offer it at all). However, you can pay a driving school to take lessons (the rates are ridiculously high) and the schools are licensed by the state to administer the road test. We tried out the schools with my son and whenever they came back from driving all I heard was what an incredibly good driver he was … then I would go driving with him and I seriously feared for my life and was desperately stomping on the floor mat for the brake. At the end of his cycle of lessons, the last teacher was like “he’s totally ready for his road test!! Sign him up with me next week and we’ll get it done.” So I went driving with my boy and told him to do a 3-point turn. He had no clue. It’s one of the required skills by the RMV (registry of motor vehicles) here. He was like, “the teachers said not to worry about it.” I was like, “Oh heck No! You are going to be worried about it!” Suffice it to say I made him wait 6 months longer to drive with me every day until he learned. The driving schools here are a state legalized scam. They pass anyone as long as the pay all the fees. The drivers in Arizona are some of the worst I have ever experienced in my life and I have driven extensively in New York, Massachusetts, and California. By a wide, wide margin, Arizonans are the worst drivers and I whole heartedly believe it’s because of the lack of basic drivers education and lax state regulations that pretty much allow anyone to get a license and hop in a car.

 

[JamesW]

Wherever people grow up and learn to drive, they learn how the local people drive and that becomes how they think people should drive.

Almost 100% of the time, when a person moves to a new area, they say that the people in the new area are the worst drivers.

People’s driving skills are roughly equal everywhere, in my opinion.

Arizona is the easiest state to drive in and that’s why all of the autonomous vehicle fleets are in Arizona.

 

[Mdragger88]

We live in a rural area so the one thing she doesn’t have alot of experience with is busy city streets. Our nearest towns/busy areas are still very mild on their worst days in my opinion. I grew up in North Memphis, Tn, if you can survive driving/ learning to drive there you’re good to go anywhere

 

[JoyfulNoise]

We live in a rural area so the one thing she doesn’t have alot of experience with is busy city streets. Our nearest towns/busy areas are still very mild on their worst days in my opinion. I grew up in North Memphis, Tn, if you can survive driving/ learning to drive there you’re good to go anywhere

I grew up driving in NY and lived/drove in NYC for over a decade. I felt safer driving in NY than I have ever felt in AZ … and I would parallel park in NYC with barely 6” between front and back bumpers of the nearest cars.

Arizona is the easiest state to drive in and that’s why all of the autonomous vehicle fleets are in Arizona.

Tell that to all the people that die on I-10 driving between Phoenix and Tucson …

CA has roughy 4.8 times more drivers than Arizona and yet they have 2/3rds fewer fatal car accidents. Driving in AZ reduces life expectancy…

 

[JamesW]

I multitask while driving.

I’m driving right now while writing this post.

I am also practicing my calligraphy, reading a book and making a full spaghetti dinner on a four burner portable stove that is sitting on the passenger seat.

 

[Mdragger88]

I multitask while driving.

I’m driving right now while writing this post.

I am also practicing my calligraphy, reading a book and making a full spaghetti dinner on a four burner portable stove that is sitting on the passenger seat.

He’ll be here all night folks….

 

[Jaffles]

In Mississippi they just have to be 15 & take the written test to get their permit (it used to be 14)
then at 16 (used to be 15) present a waiver that says they have held their permit for 1 year & their parent/guardian has witnessed 50 hours of them operating a motor vehicle. No road test. If they are 17 they can just take the written test & get their license the same day, no 12 month permit, no road test. If under 18 they need a school attendance form as well - unless they’re married. Gotta love Mississippi!
My daughter is currently enrolled in drivers ed (was supposed to take it last semester) so hopefully I will get a little break on the insurance after it’s complete. She has driven every day for a year now in a variety of vehicles & situations but she said there are several of the drivers ed students who have never driven & don’t know anything at all. Like how to crank the car. She couldn’t believe it.

Yes I would think in the not to distant future a whole generation will not know what a key was used for in a car.

Down under no one gets a license before age 17. You can apply for a learners at 16 and thats it. The 100 hours required driving with parent/guardian has a mandatory 5 hour driving school component. Not sure weather if its at anytime or before the driving test.

To be honest I am surprised how my daughter has grasped the road rules. I sat with her while she did the road rules theory component required before applying for a learners. Its like I am doing my license all over again which isn't a bad thing really, and nice to spend the time with her also. I'm looking forward to the 100 hour practical process, well at the moment anyway.

 

[JamesW]

By 2030, all cars will be fully autonomous and there won’t even be an option for a human to be able to drive cars made after that date.

The cars will go 100 miles per hour and they will be powered by fusion.

There won’t be any need for traffic lights as the cars will just zip through intersections at 100 mph and not hit cars going the other direction.

The timing will be perfect to interweave the cars with only 1 millimeter clearance.

The car will tell you to “Get in, sit down and shut up”.

The car will already know your destination and you will not be able to choose your route as that will be controlled by a central service that coordinates the movement of all vehicles for maximum overall efficiency.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

Yes I would think in the not to distant future a whole generation will not know what a key was used for in a car.

Down under no one gets a license before age 17. You can apply for a learners at 16 and thats it. The 100 hours required driving with parent/guardian has a mandatory 5 hour driving school component. Not sure weather if its at anytime or before the driving test.

To be honest I am surprised how my daughter has grasped the road rules. I sat with her while she did the road rules theory component required before applying for a learners. Its like I am doing my license all over again which isn't a bad thing really, and nice to spend the time with her also. I'm looking forward to the 100 hour practical process, well at the moment anyway.

So wait, do you have to turn all the road rules manuals upside down since you guys drive on the wrong side of the road and your continent in the underside of the planet?

 

[jmastron]

I know growing up my parents paid more in auto because the three of us were all home when we were driving so they had to cover us. But it wasn’t a huge increase according to my mom. However my brother always paid my parents for their increased premiums and, when he got his own car (truck), he got his own insurance and paid for everything himself. Back in those days, if you could prove the driver had their own insurance, then they’d drop them off your policy and reduce your rates. I think nowadays insurance companies penalize you for a “potential driver” unless you prove they don’t physically live in your home anymore.

Whatever the case may be, the boy needs to get a job as he is 17 and capable of working part time. He’s a good student and wants to finish up junior year and then look for a job for the summer. He’ll probably spend all his income on LEGO’s (he’s a fanatic) but I’ll insist some of that income goes towards paying for his car. I look forward to the shock that will come over his face when he see’s what Uncle Sam’s cut is from his first paycheck and then the brutal reality the following year when he gets to file his first tax forms and the forms tell him that he owes another XXX dollars to the gubermint …

Experience from my daughter's job is that he may not be as shocked as you'd like -- he'll pay the 7.65% FICA, but income under $12,500 ends up with 0% federal income tax (because the standard deduction zeros it out), and you're not even required to file a return. That amount goes up to $13,850 for 2023. There are still some taxes/requirements to file if unearned income (like bank interest) is over $1000. States (even California) are similar, but I don't remember what the limit is.

When filling out the W-4 see if he is eligible to check "exempt from withholding" (most teens with a normal summer job type income are), as that way they won't withhold in the first place. That worked great for my daughter's first year, but there was a mixup when she filled it out this past summer so they ended up withholding. That just means she'll have to file a 1040 to get all of what was withheld back, which gives me a chance to show her how to do that.

 

[Jaffles]

So wait, do you have to turn all the road rules manuals upside down since you guys drive on the wrong side of the road and your continent in the underside of the planet?

Ahem......according to Google, 30% of countries drive on the left. I know you Americans like to think you are the centre of the world, but.....

 

[Mdragger88]

Experience from my daughter's job is that he may not be as shocked as you'd like -- he'll pay the 7.65% FICA, but income under $12,500 ends up with 0% federal income tax (because the standard deduction zeros it out), and you're not even required to file a return. That amount goes up to $13,850 for 2023. There are still some taxes/requirements to file if unearned income (like bank interest) is over $1000. States (even California) are similar, but I don't remember what the limit is.

When filling out the W-4 see if he is eligible to check "exempt from withholding" (most teens with a normal summer job type income are), as that way they won't withhold in the first place. That worked great for my daughter's first year, but there was a mixup when she filled it out this past summer so they ended up withholding. That just means she'll have to file a 1040 to get all of what was withheld back, which gives me a chance to show her how to do that.

& they can contribute up to $6500 of that to a roth ira so it can grow & they can remove it tax free later in life! Kids these days have it pretty darn good!

 

[JoyfulNoise]

UPDATE

So after a few weeks I thought I'd update my situation with the new machines. So far, I am still impressed with these machines and I love them! Everyone in the house HATES the loud, shot-clock like buzzer on the dryer but I think it is AMAZING! If I set the volume high enough, I can hear it while outside the house ... who needs WiFi connected machines when you've got the old-school buzzer letting you know it's done ... now I just need to clear up some of these noise-ordinance violations that the local sheriff dropped off. I guess a bunch of sissies over in the next county complained ...

That said, I did run into one problem - the dreaded Speed Queen Washer Foaming Drain Pipe Problem!!!!

So the long & short of it is that the discharge pump on the tub that is belt-driven by the motor (unlike electric discharge pumps on most other machines) is crazy-powerful. During the drain/rinse/spin part of the wash, the discharge pump pulls the water out at a very high rate. Once the the water is gone, the discharge pump basically starts blowing air into the drain pipe and is basically like a leaf-blower. The problem comes into play when using the ECO/NORMAL cycle where, if you don't select EXTRA RINSE option, the machine only sprays a little bit of water into the tub during the spin/rinse. With most modern detergents, they have lots of detergency builders in them which can cause foaming. Well, that's exactly what happens. The water in the p-trap line is being blown with air and the washer is acting like a giant bubble machine. When that happens, foam backs-up out of the drain pipe (standard 2" DWV pipes). It can come up out of the drain and then flow down the wall. Not a good situation.

Fear not - there are some fixes.

1. Always add an "EXTRA RINSE" option to the ECO/NORMAL mode and the additional rinse water will get rid of most of the soapiness. This eliminates all foaming BUT at the cost of extra water use and a longer wash cycle time.
2. Use a no-foam specialty detergent like Charlie's Soap that eliminates detergency builders from the wash chemistry. Upside - no foam, downside - more expensive detergent.
3. Probably the simplest - add 1/2-3/4 cup of white vinegar to the WASH tub after it has started to fill. Adding vinegar lowers the pH of the wash water and modifies most laundry detergent chemistry. AT lower pH, you generally get less foaming.

Note - this only happens on the ECO/NORMAL or SPIN ONLY cycles with no options set because of the reduced amount of rinse water used. Other cycles, like DELICATE or PERM PRESS use more water in their rinse cycles and lower spin speeds which reduces the air-blower effect of the discharge pump. Also note that this is only a problem in residential homes where the drain pipe is standard 2" PVC. Because of the narrow pipe, the air flow is more accentuated and it causes the bubble-machine effect. If the drain line were instead run into a large basin drain like what is found in laundromats and large apartment buildings, it would not be an issue because the basin would contain any foam generated.

Even with the foaming drain issue, I still prefer these Speed Queen machines over past washers that I have had.