# And a Crappy New Year! (January Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2022, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024 "2022-01-01T05:26:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**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:** [January 24, 2022, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/181 "2022-01-24T22:39:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I figured out how to program the Exorcist theme song into it. I have that one, but mine’s in .OGG format, edited down from an MP3. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/182 "2022-01-25T02:28:06Z")
I had _p_ -Covid for about three hours yesterday… The _p_ is for psychosomatic. I was just watching football (all by myself in a sports bar where I’m often the only one there… I just stay away on Fri and Sat nights). And suddenly started feeling achy and feverish. I thought back to a terrible experience I’d just had in a grocery store, with 13 shoppers with full carts in line and only one checkout lane open. Some of the people were taking off their masks to shout at the employees to _“Open a lane!”_ And I thought “If this is Covid, can I sue the store?” Headed home early to take my temp. Only 99º, but that’s 2 degrees above my normal. Went to bed early (hot and sweaty), and woke up feeling… non-feverish! Temp was 96.8º. I did have vertigo, but I’ll take that over Covid any day (especially with a big poker game scheduled tomorrow). Can I get vaccinated against my own Covid Paranoia? ---
**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:** [January 25, 2022, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/183 "2022-01-25T08:34:53Z")
> [@slalexan](#): > > The baby has COVID. I am done with this planet. I’m moving to Mars. Here’s hoping your baby comes through with minimal consequences, **slalexan** , but _PLEASE_ remember that Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kid. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/184 "2022-01-25T12:25:18Z")
Ok ok, we won’t move to Mars. No good schools there, anyway. I’m just tired of watching my baby be sick. He was sick for so long with RSV. It’s just not fair. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/185 "2022-01-25T12:36:15Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > My son called me up late last night wanting me to come get him from a large city two hours distant, where he claimed to have been stranded by his girlfriend. Eight or so years ago my son sent me a text message asking if my offer to come visit anytime was still good. I texted back “of course, what’s up?” He was living in Florida and I figured he was planning a visit for whichever holiday was next in rotation. Nope, he’d gone to Arkansas with a girlfriend for her uncle’s funeral and they broke up, leaving him stranded there. In between other things at work, I researched flights from the closest airport and bought him tickets. Complicated by not having any clue when he’d return, it was difficult. It was great having him for a week, though. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/186 "2022-01-25T18:52:54Z")
Yes it’s a gorgeous cover, glad you appreciated it. There’s a video somewhere of a vocal coach watching and commenting on her technique who was pretty wowed. So it’s not just lay listeners impressed with that song. ---
**Author:** ![Airbeck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/airbeck/32/6574_2.png) [@Airbeck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Airbeck)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2022, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/187 "2022-01-25T19:08:01Z")
Here’s the video of the vocal coach watching her - [Vocal Coach REACTS - AURORA 'Life on Mars?' (DAVID BOWIE COVER) - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pp1mRqRcns4) ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/188 "2022-01-27T13:39:14Z")
February, when a full month of horribleness will be stuffed into just 28 days, is fast approaching. In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Don McLean’s “American Pie”, my suggestion for next month’s title is: “February Makes Me Shiver, With Every Mini-Rant I Deliver”. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/189 "2022-01-27T14:37:02Z")
Great, **whitetho** , you should jump the gun and start it first (that’s how a couple of recent tinyrants have been named). I’ve always said “If we can just make it through February…” ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/190 "2022-01-27T15:13:31Z")
> [@slalexan](#): > > The baby has COVID. Small update - I have COVID too. Fuck this. Fuck it all. I’m done. I’m out. Peace! ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/191 "2022-01-27T16:17:37Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Don McLean’s “American Pie”, my suggestion for next month’s title is: > > “February Makes Me Shiver, With Every Mini-Rant I Deliver”. You have my endorsement. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/192 "2022-01-27T16:39:25Z")
Seconded ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/193 "2022-01-27T16:42:39Z")
It’s perfect! I’m so sorry, slalexan. ☹ ---
**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:** [January 27, 2022, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/194 "2022-01-27T17:02:41Z")
> [@whitetho](#): > > In recognition of the 50th anniversary of Don McLean’s “American Pie”, my suggestion for next month’s title is: > > “February Makes Me Shiver, With Every Mini-Rant I Deliver”. **kaylasdad99** _like_! Feel free to start it with a hand-crafted **kaylasdad99** song parody: _A long, long time ago Before that Wuhan lab released that crazy virus on the world. I swore if I got my chance, that I could write some first-class rants And maybe see my bitching flag unfurled. But **February Makes me Shiver With Every Mini-Rant I Deliver** _ ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/195 "2022-01-27T17:58:14Z")
I’m straggling through the end of COVID (I hope). My son caught on his first day back at school and then we all got it. Anyhoo, I’m soooo close to being better and my husband has started with “laundry?” “dinner?” “detailed budget tracking all spending we have ever done and ever will do?”. I will join anyone on Mars. I hear it’s lovely this time of year. **slalexan** I hope baby feels better soon. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/196 "2022-01-27T19:25:10Z")
> [@slalexan](#): > > Small update - I have COVID too. Fuck this. Fuck it all. I’m done. I’m out. Peace! I didn’t say this earlier but I’m sorry you’re dealing with this on top of **EVERYTHING ELSE** , and I hope you have a very mild case. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/197 "2022-01-27T19:58:51Z")
Apologies for interjecting a true mini-rant in the middle of stories of actual, real problems, but hey, that’s what this thread is for. 🙂 Thanks to a grossly incompetent right-wing government we had here once, we have one (1) toll highway here in Ontario, and natch, it’s privately owned – said right-wing dolts thought it would be a terrific idea to sell it to an international consortium. Predictably, it’s being treated as a cash cow, with one of the highest per-mile rates in the world. Their motto is: “Don’t like it? Don’t use it. Spend the rest of your life stuck in traffic, we don’t care”. Anyway, that’s the background. My mini-rant? Got a robo-call from them today that left a message: I was to call them back immediately on a matter of great urgency. I was worried – I thought maybe some impostor was racking up thousands of dollars in tolls on my account. So I called them right back. The matter of great urgency? I owe them $22, and it was due Jan 17, ten days ago! 😠 WTF? The jerk on the other end said no, it was over 30 days past due, as the bill had been sent Dec 16. Again, WTF? “Past due” is determined by the due date (that’s why it’s called a “due date”), not by whatever random time the bill was sent. Why the hell are they harassing me over a pittance that is ten days past due? So the guy goes, “what exactly is the issue here that I can help you resolve?”. I said the issue, exactly and precisely, was that their incompetence in chasing after $22 that was ten days overdue needlessly created a very annoyed customer. Then I hung up. I hope someone listens to that conversation, because I understand that all calls are recorded to ensure fantastic customer service. ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/198 "2022-01-27T22:08:39Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Thanks to a grossly incompetent right-wing government we had here once, we have one (1) toll highway here in Ontario, and natch, it’s privately owned – said right-wing dolts thought it would be a terrific idea to sell it to an international consortium. Predictably, it’s being treated as a cash cow, with one of the highest per-mile rates in the world. Their motto is: “Don’t like it? Don’t use it. Spend the rest of your life stuck in traffic, we don’t care”. > > Anyway, that’s the background. My mini-rant? Got a robo-call from them today that left a message: I was to call them back immediately on a matter of great urgency. I was worried – I thought maybe some impostor was racking up thousands of dollars in tolls on my account. So I called them right back. > > The matter of great urgency? I owe them $22, and it was due Jan 17, ten days ago! 😠 WTF? The jerk on the other end said no, it was over 30 days past due, as the bill had been sent Dec 16. Again, WTF? “Past due” is determined by the due date (that’s why it’s called a “due date”), not by whatever random time the bill was sent. Why the hell are they harassing me over a pittance that is ten days past due? > > So the guy goes, “what exactly is the issue here that I can help you resolve?”. I said the issue, exactly and precisely, was that their incompetence in chasing after $22 that was ten days overdue needlessly created a very annoyed customer. Then I hung up. I hope someone listens to that conversation, because I understand that all calls are recorded to ensure fantastic customer service. Canadians are the most polite people on the planet; it takes a Lot to piss them off. This billing system isn’t even net-30. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/199 "2022-01-27T22:21:06Z")
Also, since $22 isn’t a lot of money, some might wonder how many trips that entailed. The answer: One. And a very short one!! 😠 Here’s what the bill looks like: Toll charges: $13.34 (distance of 24.5 km) Trip toll charges: $1.00 (a bullshit fee that has no justification) Camera charges: $4.20 (because I don’t lease a transponder from the fuckers) Account fee: $3.95 (another bullshit fee that has no justification) So, $22.49 to travel 24.5 km. That’s about 15 miles for you Murricans. That’s $1.50 per mile. This is why I despise those fuckers. I take the toll highway only when absolutely necessary. ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2022, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024/200 "2022-01-27T22:27:47Z")
I paid $15 USD to go over two bridges in Maryland a few months ago. It’s outrageous that they charge twice as much as they did when you could pay cash at the toll booth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-a-crappy-new-year-january-mini-rants/957024.md?page=11)