Due to the fact that the Busy Van's compressor is terminally ill, I am still driving the Usurped Toyota. OK, the fact that the Toyota gets a bazillion times better mileage is a factor, too, but, having air conditioning ranks right up there with things I like, too.

Anyway, the Usurped Toyota is quite as nice little car as far as these things go, so, I have been a little disappointed in the stereo system. Actually, I have been a little puzzled that the stereo didn't sound as good as I remembered when my mother was still driving it.

In order to change the settings, you have to push one of the controls in, and, it scrolls through bass, treble, balance, fade, etc. When you get to the setting you want to change, you turn the knob to the level desired on a scale from 0-5

I have been messing with it for literally months now, and, things just haven't been right, my 70's tunes have been sounding awfully thin, even when I put everything right in the middle of that 0-5 scale, and, I haven't been able to get the balance and fade to my liking, either.

I thought maybe my hearing was going until this morning.

That 0-5 scale? If you turn the knob to the left, it also goes from 0 to -5! Therefore, "0" is actually the middle. Who knew?

Shut up. Yes, you. I can hear you saying, "Have I taught you nothing, woman?" You know who you are.

Anyway, seems that my fancy college education and a graduate degree in the sciences apparently did not include operating standard equipment in a mid-range car.

I want my money back.

(P.S. New post at GenBetween.com)