# April mini-rants. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 2, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743 "2009-04-02T19:15:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 12:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/61 "2009-04-07T12:11:29Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > My translating work often brings me in contact with horrible realities. Here’s one: [A T-shirt for $139](http://www.reborn.ws/shop/PleasurePrinciple/plfw08001/). It looks like the screenprinter barfed on the front of it. And that snotty little popup about having an ‘up-to-date browser’ (what Firefox 3.0.8 ain’t up-to-date enough for ya?) would be more impressive if the page was a) well-designed and b) wasn’t basic black-n-white with pictures. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 1:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/62 "2009-04-07T13:03:03Z")
I finally got around to watching the episodes of _Castle_ I had on my DVR, which I was saving to watch with a friend who I thought would like them. We start watching the third episode and there’s a continuous repeating crawl at the bottom of the screen about severe weather warnings in a single county in the viewing area which blocks the credits so we can’t see who’s in the show. Then about ten minutes into the show the station cuts in with a weather update, showing the exact track of the storm, with Doppler radar and graphics. This lasts for twenty-five fucking minutes, during which (as far as I can tell while I’m fast-forwarding through it) they are reporting every detail of the storm on a street-by-street basis. When they finally return us to the show “already in progress” we’ve missed most of the plot. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/63 "2009-04-07T14:59:41Z")
> [@Cecil Adams](#): > > kaniktshaq moritlkatsio atsuniartoq. It’s not supposed to snow in April, dammit! > [@matt\_mcl](#): > > My translating work often brings me in contact with horrible realities. Here’s one: A T-shirt for $139. [Dave Barry had something to say about this kind of thing, many years ago.](http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/114763/T-SHIRTS-FOR-57-A-POP-NO-THANKS---ILL-SHOP-AT-LE-MART-DU-K.html) ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/64 "2009-04-07T15:05:57Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > My translating work often brings me in contact with horrible realities. Here’s one: [A T-shirt for $139](http://www.reborn.ws/shop/PleasurePrinciple/plfw08001/). > > A _fucking t-shirt_. > > For _ **$139** _. > > On sale at half off for _ **$69 fucking .50** _. > > That’s it. Bring back sumptuary laws. Heh, I was once in [this store](http://nymag.com/listings/stores/lounge/) when they were having their going out of business sale. The “sale” rack had things like a $600 t-shirt for half off. Oooh, only $300! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@The\_Real\_Regency\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Real_Regency_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/65 "2009-04-07T15:29:46Z")
Nature’s spooge (aka huge clouds of pollen) is everywhere and instead of getting the usual sneezes and sniffles I have to go one better (or worse) and come down with a nasty cough. At least I hope this was triggered by the pollen and not something I came down with from being around our dinner guests on Sunday. Either way, it feels like my lungs are trying to expel hot coals. Gah! ---
**Author:** ![purple\_haze](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@purple\_haze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purple_haze)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/66 "2009-04-07T16:47:05Z")
Why do I have to take all of these stupid elective classes? Like the history of American economics has any relevence to anything whatsoever that I’ll need to do for my next job. Can’t we just cut to the chase and get this over with already? Also, I hate snow. Go away, snow. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/67 "2009-04-07T16:58:20Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > My translating work often brings me in contact with horrible realities. Here’s one: [A T-shirt for $139](http://www.reborn.ws/shop/PleasurePrinciple/plfw08001/). > > A _fucking t-shirt_. > > For _ **$139** _. > > On sale at half off for _ **$69 fucking .50** _. > > That’s it. Bring back sumptuary laws. You mean this: > [@](#): > > ABOUT REBORN > > Poised in the heart of Montreal’s historic Old Port > quarter, Reborn consistently presents a rich array of > men’s and women’s garments and accessories from an > extensive list of established international brands alongside > newly developing ones, as well as a collective of talented, > local designers and jewelers. Reborn’s demand for progressive > flair is counter-balanced with a precise eye for detail and > quality. A disregard from mainstream trends distinguishes > Reborn, and rests the boutique at the forefront of the global > retail market. The hallmark linear space serves as a muted > locale housing exclusive items, tailored goods and avant-garde > artistic products. A sparse environment highlights the apparel, > first and foremost, and detracts from unnecessary intrusions. > The minimal ambiance frames the collections and allows them to > be shown in an unbiased convention, enhancing the experience of > the customer. Opened in June of 2005, Reborn has become a > mainstay for advancing ingenuity and attitude through fashion. …didn’t clue you in about what kind of douchebags you were working for? ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/68 "2009-04-07T17:11:37Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You mean this …didn’t clue you in about what kind of douchebags you were working for? It may have, but one assumes **matt** , like the rest of us, has to eat. Especially in this economy, work is work, even when it’s provided by douchebags. That is hardly inconsistent with his personal resolve to see them first against the wall once the revolution comes. I do think we all have obligations not to support unethical actors with our efforts (and in light of our own ethics), but this isn’t Big Tobacco, or The Baby Seal Clubbers Company – it’s a pretentious little boutique selling $150 T-shirts. Seems pretty rigorous to expect **matt** to either forego the work or forego the tiny little pleasure of pointing out what a bunch of wankers they are. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/69 "2009-04-07T17:14:55Z")
> [@Jodi](#): > > It may have, but one assumes **matt** , like the rest of us, has to eat. Especially in this economy, work is work, even when it’s provided by douchebags. That is hardly inconsistent with his personal resolve to see them first against the wall once the revolution comes. > > I do think we all have obligations not to support unethical actors with our efforts (and in light of our own ethics), but this isn’t Big Tobacco, or The Baby Seal Clubbers Company – it’s a pretentious little boutique selling $150 T-shirts. Seems pretty rigorous to expect **matt** to either forego the work or forego the tiny little pleasure of pointing out what a bunch of wankers they are. I’m not saying he should turn down the job or something. I’m sure our dear matt needs money as much as the next guy. I’m just expressing surprise at his expression of surprise. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/70 "2009-04-07T21:49:22Z")
Hey, you wiener-headed produce dudes: how about you guys find price stickers to put on my red bell peppers that will actually come off before they reach my descending colon? I shouldn’t have to surgically excise off the stupid 4219 (or whatever the bleep it is) sticker before chopping. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/71 "2009-04-07T22:34:23Z")
> [@amarinth](#): > > I appreciate that you’re using headphones. But if I’m sitting 4 feet away and can still make out the baseline - the music is too damned loud. > > turn it down. Argh! If you are 5 rows away from me on the bus and **I can hear the words** then it is too fucking loud! Oh and you mister cranky Metro driver: who is most likely to be causing this great “commotion of noise” you can’t seem to get over? The guy in the front with the headphones bumpin or the three people sitting at the back of the bus reading? You wonder why you got bewildered stares when you came back to confront us and tell us you wouldn’t stand for any goofing off. Back to your lawn old man. ---
**Author:** ![lizardling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f4b2a3/32.png) [@lizardling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lizardling)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2009, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/72 "2009-04-07T22:45:46Z")
MY CATS. AAAAAARGH. I have not been this close to turning them into mittens as I was this morning when I rolled out of bed. Daniel was sitting next to me and poking me with a paw until I opened my eyes. “Aw sweet darling cat wants his food,” I thought as I rolled over and sat up. “Aw–JESUS YOU CAT!” as I gazed upon the vista of my carpet which had \*liberally \*substituted as toilet paper for aforementioned sweet darling cat. (This has occasionally happened before, but never in such, ah, quantity. :mad: ) ---
**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:** [April 7, 2009, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/73 "2009-04-07T23:20:57Z")
You’re consulting a vet, I hope? ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/74 "2009-04-08T01:29:35Z")
Close your mouth when you’re chewing gum. Don’t tap your fingers on the desk while I’m searching for the information you requested. Don’t say “like” every other word. It makes you sound like an idiot. If you actually are an idiot, I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/75 "2009-04-08T07:50:30Z")
Tomorrow I have a quiz, but not a test, in every class. Reason number one that this sucks is that the biggest difference between a quiz and a test is that after a test, you get to leave. After a quiz, you have class. So the stress of a test without the advantage of maybe getting to go home early. Reason number two that this sucks is that the one in my Marine Biology class is an organism identification quiz. Which means he shows us a picture of a segmented alga and we write “Segmented Alga- Halimeda Incrassata” and so on. Which is pretty hard by itself. But I’ve been studying for this one for a while and had the organisms down solidly by Monday. They were all invertebrates like the spiny lobster and the sand dollar (panulirus argus and mellita quinquesperforata! see, I had it!) Then in class Monday, he’s like, “so on Wednesday you have another identification quiz and since we’re doing bony fishes in class, we’re going to do them on the quiz.” So then I had a whole new set of stupid organisms to memorize before tomorrow. I think I have them (the only one I really can’t remember is the barracuda… sphyraena barracuda?) but it annoys me all the same. ---
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/76 "2009-04-08T13:06:12Z")
Bunion :mad: right now you are hurting me and there is no reason. I don’t wear high heels or pointy shoes. Berkenstocks, Hush Puppy sandals or trainers at the gym. There is no reason for this aching and inflamed joint!! ---
**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:** [April 8, 2009, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/77 "2009-04-08T17:15:55Z")
The temperature has been in the 70s for weeks. Why am I scraping frost off my windows this week? ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/78 "2009-04-08T17:42:00Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > My translating work often brings me in contact with horrible realities. Here’s one: [A T-shirt for $139](http://www.reborn.ws/shop/PleasurePrinciple/plfw08001/). > > A _fucking t-shirt_. > > For _ **$139** _. > > On sale at half off for _ **$69 fucking .50** _. > > That’s it. Bring back sumptuary laws. That is worse than [paying $200 for jeans.](http://www.7forallmankind.com/Mens_Denim_Relaxed/pl/c/11.html) Seriously, if you pay more than $50 for jeans you are an idiot. Got a call from my high school girlfriend last night. She has a different last name now. She wants me to go to the 20 year reunion. I don’t want to go. She is still young and pretty. I’m old and ugly. ---
**Author:** ![Rack-a-Bones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rack-a-Bones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rack-a-Bones)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/79 "2009-04-08T18:17:14Z")
> [@Anne\_Neville](#): > > [Dave Barry had something to say about this kind of thing, many years ago.](http://archive.deseretnews.com/archive/114763/T-SHIRTS-FOR-57-A-POP-NO-THANKS---ILL-SHOP-AT-LE-MART-DU-K.html) Link no work for me. > [@Dr.Woo](#): > > Hey, you wiener-headed produce dudes: how about you guys find price stickers to put on my red bell peppers that will actually come off before they reach my descending colon? > > I shouldn’t have to surgically excise off the stupid 4219 (or whatever the bleep it is) sticker before chopping. Huh? These things fall off when you wash the pepper. I don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2009, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743/80 "2009-04-08T18:21:39Z")
> [@CanvasShoes](#): > > \ > I swea\*\*t \*\*to God, … Priceless typo. My rant: stinkbugs. There everyfuckingwhere. I’ve seen maybe a total of 3 in my life before last summer, then suddenly I was killing 3 a day. In my house. We keep a clean house. We dust, we vacuum, we keep clutter to a minimum. I caulk holes. I spackle cracks. We like to have a place where we wouldn’t be embarrassed to have people drop in unannounced, which they do. Until these fucking hellbeast stinkbugs just. suddenly. appear. Out of nowhere. Seriously. We’ll be watching TV and suddenly one will be crawling across the screen. I go grab it with a tissue (the only good thing about them is they’re dumb, slow, and easy to snag), turn around, and there are 2 on the wall above the couch. I snag them and sit back down. Then there’s one on the wall above the TV. It wasn’t fucking there a fucking minute ago! Easily 3-5 a day in warmer weather, and still 1-2 a week during the winter. On three occasions now my kids have gone into the bathroom to brush their teeth before bed and there has been one sitting on the bristles of my daughter’s toothbrush. I’m disgusted. I curse you, stinkbugs! Curses! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/april-mini-rants/491743.md?page=5)