# A-gust of fresh mini rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582 "2014-08-01T16:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/301 "2014-08-25T14:46:49Z")
Er, for “Fitz” read “ditz”. Autocorrect on a phone is a whole rant of its own. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/302 "2014-08-25T16:24:16Z")
> [@Seanette](#): > > Don’t you just love being on the bus trying to get somewhere on time and having to wait several minutes past scheduled departure time while some Fitz stalls by rummaging through an incredibly disorganized overstuffed backpack, apparently hoping the driver will decide to just let the fare payment slide so the bus can move? (It apparently didn’t work, but she gave it a good try.) Same thing when I’m standing behind someone at a cash register, they wait until after the clerk asks them for money, THEN they decide to rummage around in a purse the size of China to find their money, which for some inexplicably fucking stupid reason they don’t have in a consistent and easily located place in that Chaos Ball they call a purse.\* Or their process of writing a check is slower and more involved than writing The Next Great American Novel. \*Women with closet organizers and neat as a pin houses, but their purse is completely disorganized… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/303 "2014-08-25T18:59:43Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Why are there so many writers who think it’s OK to have their foreign characters speak a broken version of those foreigners’ own language? Do they just never realize, think that their word by word translations are fine, or believe that spelling is not important? Finding someone to check your Spanish, French or Italian can’t be so bloody difficult! My solution, when I write, is to simply not write in a language I don’t understand. I believe this is the best policy. Instead, if my story has characters whose native language is not English, I use a technique I’ve spotted in several books: If the character needs to speak English, but they are not fluent, sure, I’ll use “broken English”. When that character needs to speak in his/her native language, I write the dialogue in _proper_ English, but _italicize_ that dialogue to provide a visual cue that the dialogue is being translated from the speaker’s native language. One small exception I will make is with Mexican Spanish. My hometown has a large enough Mexican-American population that I have a passing familiarity with a number of words and phrases. I’ll go ahead and use some of those, sparingly, as long as I can be sure that I’m using them correctly. But I still would not attempt to write entire sentences or paragraphs in Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/304 "2014-08-25T19:00:46Z")
> [@troubledwater](#): > > {{{ **purplehorseshoe** }}} Thank you. I made the mistake of thinking about life with The Other Shoe – the 1st anniv. of his death is approaching fast – and eventually threw myself a one-woman pity party. Barely ate all damn weekend, which didn’t help either. New Guy damn near force-fed me last night, and I feel like such a dysfunctional mess. To add to my appetite problems, my lunch for today (one of those shelf-stable Asian noodle thingies I’ve been stashing at my desk) is completely inedible. Won’t be buying that crap again, thankyouverymuch, but I just can’t get excited about Easy Mac or tuna salad. Didn’t fold the laundry, either, once I finally got it back. Must force myself to do that tonight. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/305 "2014-08-25T21:18:46Z")
Oh, one more for the ranting: New Guy’s stepfather was T-boned yesterday, and apparently has a broken arm. Then I come into work this morning to find out that one of the guys I work with was rear-ended by a drunk driver on Friday. Buckle up, folks; it’s a scary world out there. ---
**Author:** ![janis\_and\_c0](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janis_and_c0/32/21_2.png) [@janis\_and\_c0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janis_and_c0)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/306 "2014-08-25T21:43:20Z")
((((((((((((Purplehorseshoe))))))))) A bajillion hugs to you & hang in there! ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/307 "2014-08-25T23:17:01Z")
In addition to blocking emails from the SDMB, fuckin’ Time Warner Cable (Roadrunner) is now blocking bills. :mad: And **hugs** to **purplehorseshoe**! ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2014, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/308 "2014-08-25T23:41:54Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > Why is my wife such a slow shopper? > > I swear. She says she will “run to” the store to pick up a few things and she’s gone for an hour. Plus she brings home tons more. When I ship I go in, find what I want, then leave. She walks so darn slow and has to stop and look at darn near everything. > > Is this common? Do other men hate to shop with their wives? Paleolithic women were gatherers, they spent all day poking around bushes. Men were hunters, go find what you want, kill it, and bring it back. It’s in our genes. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/309 "2014-08-26T00:11:33Z")
Hugs and chocolate for PHS. I honestly can’t imagine what you have been through. I do hope you find a nice place soon, with everything else that is going on in your life, you should at least feel safe and happy in your own home. > [@Seanette](#): > > Er, for “Fitz” read “ditz”. Autocorrect on a phone is a whole rant of its own. I got tired of texting people and getting ??? back, so I shut the autocorrect off. My friends can understand my mangled typing, they couldn’t understand what my phone did to it. Not so much of a rant as something I think is kinda funny. It appears as though federal courts don’t talk to state/county courts because I just got summoned for jury duty again. I sent them a copy of the letter I got when I was serving, but have no way to confirm that I’m really excused. There is no option for that on the webpage, or on their phone tree. I’ve left several messages, but haven’t gotten a call back. I guess I’m going to have to go to the courthouse and talk to a human. Yeah, I know that I can just ignore it and nothing will happen. Still, the right of trial by a balanced jury is a very important right. There can’t be a balanced jury if everyone shirks their civic duty to serve. Yeah, much more mini than everyone else’s…but still annoying. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/310 "2014-08-26T02:51:32Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > In addition to blocking emails from the SDMB, fuckin’ Time Warner Cable (Roadrunner) is now blocking bills. :mad: Did John Boehner just buy the company? ETA: And **purplehorseshoe**? What all those other guys said. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/311 "2014-08-26T05:08:05Z")
And it’s done! Or it will be tomorrow - I have to bring a cashier’s check to the dealership and the pretty red stick shift car is all mine. It’s a dark red, more like “black cherry” than true red. And the saleswoman will meet me at my house after work and drive me to the dealership to pick up my car, no bus ride needed! Yes, I did check to see if I could get there on the bus, it’s doable. Thanks for all the suggestions. Hopefully i won’t have to do this again for another fourteen years! ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/312 "2014-08-26T07:36:27Z")
> [@Urbanredneck](#): > > What is with you people who expect so much fulfillment out of your job? Just do your 8 then go home where your real life should start. I hate that attitude. I would much rather my life consist of what I make a living at as well as what happens in my free time, and that my living not be something I merely tolerate in order to survive. That way lies madness. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/313 "2014-08-26T07:39:37Z")
{_{_{_{_{_{purplehorseshoe}_}_}_}_}_} ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/314 "2014-08-26T12:48:16Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Did John Boehner just buy the company? You know, I think Boehner might be worse than Comcast. > [@Dunkelheit](#): > > I hate that attitude. I would much rather my life consist of what I make a living at as well as what happens in my free time, and that my living not be something I merely tolerate in order to survive. That way lies madness. Preach it!!! I’ve encountered a handful of (mostly much older) people who can’t understand why I would want to enjoy my job…they think the only thing that matters is the paycheck. 😛 Why shouldn’t I enjoy what I do for a living, or at least not be miserable?? ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/315 "2014-08-26T14:59:13Z")
> [@Dunkelheit](#): > > I hate that attitude. I would much rather my life consist of what I make a living at as well as what happens in my free time, and that my living not be something I merely tolerate in order to survive. That way lies madness. Word. And thanks, everyone. I feel much better today. I need to stop wallowing, that’s all. But I genuinely do appreciate the support and sympathy; it’s much needed, so thank you kindly. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/316 "2014-08-26T16:20:14Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Word. > > And thanks, everyone. I feel much better today. I need to stop wallowing, that’s all. But I genuinely do appreciate the support and sympathy; it’s much needed, so thank you kindly. Sometimes, you not only have to wallow, you \*need \*to wallow. It may be the only way through. It’s not (always) an indulgence; in your case I’d say it’s a necessity. Wallow as much as you need to until you don’t feel a need to anymore. We’ll be here listening. [ETA: ever stop and listen to the word “wallow”? Isn’t that a wonderful sound and concept?] ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/317 "2014-08-26T17:29:14Z")
When it is time to celebrate, celebrate. When it is time to grieve, grieve. Give time to what is needed, and feel no guilt in doing so. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/318 "2014-08-26T20:22:09Z")
[ul] [/ul]Yeah. What **Chimera** said! On to the ranting: There was a fire at a nearby transformer station last night, which caused widespread power outages for several hours, and then rolling blackouts today as a piece of damaged equipment was replaced. [ul] [li]Part 1 of the rant - the local first responder/emergency agencies really shouldn’t have to put out mass notifications that one needn’t call 9-1-1 when the power goes out. Call the fucking power company, you idjits![/li][/ul][ul][li]Part 2 of the rant - driving around town to go rubberneck at the fire? Really? At 3 am, when \>50% of traffic lights are out? Just so you can clog up the roads around the area where firefighters and power company technicians are trying to fight a fire and restore power? Yeah, y’all will be the first against the wall when the revolution happens.[/ul][ul]Mini-rant Part Trois: “Whaaa! Why can’t the firemen just put out the fire?! Why do they have to wait for the power company guy to get there first?!” Seriously? You can’t logic your way through that one?[/ul][/li][ul][li]And Fo’: After the power went out, someone who lives near the fire/explosion scene posted a “WTF is going on? Anyone? Bueller?” question on a local Facebook group. That quickly became an information clearinghouse - people from the area were posting where they were, which power company, what they knew about the situation. It was like watching a slow-mo trainwreck at some points - the rumour-mongering was just insane! It was “suspicious” that an overload or surge which had caused intermittent power flickering throughout the area for several hours led to a fire. “The fire is at the transfer near the Clubhouse, and there’s a small brushfire” quickly turned into “OMG, the Clubhouse exploded, and all of the apartments around there are being evacuated!” “We lost power on Sinkhole Road” turned into “There’s a huge sinkhole, and half of the Clubhouse is gone! We may not have power for days! Get out your guns!” Seriously. [/ul][/li][ul][li]Also Five, because I forgot this annoyance: “My babies can’t sleep! It’s so hot!” The power went out at 3 am, and was mostly restored by 8 am. We had a rare August night, with minimal humidity and low temperatures around 67F. Open your motherfucking windows, you twits!!![/ul][ul][/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![Projammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/projammer/32/559_2.png) [@Projammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Projammer)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/319 "2014-08-26T20:40:23Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > On to the ranting: There was a fire at a nearby transformer station last night, which caused widespread power outages for several hours, and then rolling blackouts today as a piece of damaged equipment was replaced. > > Mini-rant Part Trois: “Whaaa! Why can’t the firemen just put out the fire?! Why do they have to wait for the power company guy to get there first?!” Seriously? You can’t logic your way through that one? Fire at a location where there are likely live circuits with tens to hundreds of thousands of volts exposed? With enough amps to flash-fry an elephant? Boys and girls in yellow coats and red trucks need to spray many gallons of water around? I’d say they logic’d that one perfectly. Not to mention following standard procedure. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2014, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582/320 "2014-08-26T20:49:16Z")
Umm, you didn’t really think that explanation was of any real benefit to **Lacunae Matata** , did you? I’m feeling a little unclear on the point, just now. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-gust-of-fresh-mini-rants/694582.md?page=17)