What is a transponder and why does your car need one registered to it? Is it one of those fancy city-driving thingamabobs?

I'm assuming it's for one of those automatic tollway things. Those transponders need to be registered to a particular car.

It's for toll roads, Teppy--which probably means the bridges in San Francisco. I have one for the Chicago area and the Indiana/Illinois toll roads. Makes travelling a lot faster.

I am trying to get a handle on my annoyances at work (detailed above). Some of the work that came to me in Nov is supposed to be split with 2 other people - the annoyances are many but 1) things not being done on time 2) things being done wrong

are high on the list. I have decided I'd rather be annoyed by more work and just do it myself and avoid these headaches. And yes I know that means the tasks will just become my responsibility.

Is it one of those fancy city-driving thingamabobs?

It allows me to drive through the toll plaza of the Bay Bridge and then electronically deduct the toll without needing change or to stop.

So imagine a little plastic rectangle velcroed to the left corner of the front windshield that beeps as I shoot through the FasTrak lanes (which are always open on the weekend as tourists don't get the FasTrak and commuters don't want to go back to the city on the weekend).

Also, the readout at the tollbooth says: "Valid Etc" when you go through. We find this mysterious but validating.

Actual annoyance: Minimal.

That doesn't count! I'm trying to decide if I should get back on hold with the help desk people, even though I submitted an online request this morning.

We have a toll road out here and come June, they are taking out the toll booths. If you don't have a transponder, you will get a bill in the mail based on your license plate.

Luckily we don't use that road much, it is between us and the airport and there are alternate ways to the airport, but I got a transponder anyway just to avoid the hassle.

So imagine a little plastic rectangle velcroed to the left corner of the front windshield that beeps

Ours does not beep. Apparently the "newer models" don't beep, at least out here, so I don't get that reassurance that the thingy worked.

That doesn't count!

Yuh huh, it does! Going to the Dept. of Public Transit is like a DMV visit. You're courting at least an hour of sitting around waiting for your number to come up. You have to gird yourself for serious bureau-endurance just to even think about it. Then a drive cross downtown traffic, meter parking and another gov't office?

You better give me my propers or I am so going to lobby for $15 packs of cigarettes in New York state.

Ours does not beep. Apparently the "newer models" don't beep, at least out here, so I don't get that reassurance that the thingy worked.

You are not valid etc.