# But February made me shiver - (mini rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2017, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764 "2017-02-01T19:02:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/61 "2017-02-08T03:42:47Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > :smack: > > That’s what happens when I finish reading a sentence before the end. Before the what? And, my little pet peeve of the day: Except for very specific circumstances, punctuation marks go INSIDE of the goddamn quotation marks. In America, anyway. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/62 "2017-02-08T03:51:46Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Tomorrow we’re supposed to have near record-high temperatures (50s to maybe 60s) during the day. Tomorrow night temperatures drop and by Thursday afternoon or evening, they’re predicting 6-10 inches of snow. > > Seriously, WTF? We have always, in my memory, had a January summer (yes, I realize that was last month) that last 4 to 8 days, around the middle of the month. Get used to it. Our weather has now taken an unusually wintry tone. People around here are not accustomed to this. Some assholes clear off the windshield and other windows and then drive around with a 6 inch muffin on the roof. No one wants to be behind that. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/63 "2017-02-08T10:30:00Z")
> [@Superdude](#): > > Except for very specific circumstances, punctuation marks go INSIDE of the goddamn quotation marks. In America, anyway. That’s the way I was taught, but there are too many cases where it doesn’t make sense. Depends whether the punctuation applies to what’s within the quotes or to the entire sentence. And my pet peeve (among others): people, like the above posters, who mention local weather, without any indication of where they live. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/64 "2017-02-08T12:55:32Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > (snip) And my pet peeve (among others): people, like the above posters, who mention local weather, without any indication of where they live. You took the words right out of my … uh … keyboard! ---
**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:** [February 8, 2017, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/65 "2017-02-08T13:34:08Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > That’s the way I was taught, but there are too many cases where it doesn’t make sense. Depends whether the punctuation applies to what’s within the quotes or to the entire sentence. Yep. Logical punctuation. I’ve adopted it, because conventions developed because of weaknesses in the lead type setting process don’t really apply anymore. > [@](#): > > And my pet peeve (among others): people, like the above posters, who mention local weather, without any indication of where they live. What difference does where I live make? If I were talking about a weather disaster, I’d include it, but this was just a comment on how weird the radical shift is. (If you really care, I live near Philly.) ---
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/66 "2017-02-08T14:08:29Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > Only one in line to pick up a letter at the Post Office because only one person is on duty and the post office doubles as a passport processing center. Over a ten minute wait! No wonder they have to go to Congress begging for money year after year. As a matter of fact, the four times I went to a post office in the past year, 3 out of 4 times the line was terrible. Its 2017---- get with the times! > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk My post office has one of those handy little kiosk things that you can use any time. It was fine when it was new, but now it doesn’t work at least half of the time (maybe more). So I have to go to the post office anyway so I don’t have to make two trips to the post office when the kiosk inevitably doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/67 "2017-02-08T18:39:38Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > …Some assholes clear off the windshield and other windows and then drive around with a 6 inch muffin on the roof. I’m on a diet and now all I can think about is a 6 inch tall muffin! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/68 "2017-02-08T20:22:16Z")
Excerpt from an ALL CAPS Facebook warning: “SO COPY & PASTE THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE EVEN IF U DON’T CARE.” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/69 "2017-02-08T20:47:52Z")
What the hell? It was ~70° (F) here yesterday, and is now _snowing_. > [@Kelevra](#): > > I’m on a diet and now all I can think about is a 6 inch tall muffin! If it’s on the roof, it’s clearly a muffin TOP. If you think about a 6 inch muffin-top I think that might change the appeal. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2017, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/70 "2017-02-08T21:01:10Z")
Shit just keep happening. We had been noticing a mildew smell in our garage and kitchen. We ha d plumber come out to take a look. Turns out there is a pipe leaking water under the house. He there was 6 inches of water under the house that was nasty from the garbage disposal\dishwasher. The plumber told us we cannot use the kitchen sink, washing machine\dishwasher until the pipe was fixed. He could not fix the pipe, however, while the water was still there. We had a company come out today to pump out the water. They say they pumped a thousand gallons, which frankly seems a but high, but OK. So we can have the plumber come out now? No. Because the water is pooling. What, you say? Pooling. They sucked out the water, but it is coming back up from the ground. So they cannot lay down the lye and anti-microwhateverial stuff and the tarp for plumber. They have to come back tomorrow. Did I mention were having a week long rainstorm right now? No? Well…we are. So, in addition to not being able to wash clothes or dishes, I am now worried about sinkholes. I am glad I only rent this house. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/71 "2017-02-09T02:33:11Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > If it’s on the roof, it’s clearly a muffin TOP. If you think about a 6 inch muffin-top I think that might change the appeal. Just don’t try to give the stumps to the homeless. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/72 "2017-02-09T06:17:21Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Just don’t try to give the stumps to the homeless. 😉 _I was sad, for I had no shoes – until I met a man with no feet; so I asked him, “Can I have your shoes?”_ (Stephen Wright) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/73 "2017-02-09T08:09:38Z")
> [@eschereal](#): > > Actually, no, the P.O. does _not_ have to go begging to Congress. AIUI, under a normal business model, they would be just fine. Congress (well, a certain caucus in Congress) has been trying to destroy them. There is a regulation that requires them to put the pension fund on the books, accounting a 75 year projection. That is to say, they must maintain a pension reserve for postal workers _who have not even been born yet_. **Actually**. . . . .uh . . . . . .errrr. . . .. . **YES** :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:, that Pension Fund has been pushed on Congress by the USPS UNION soooo if Congress just stood up to them they could solve this problem. In other words, according to you I stood in line for 10 minutes to pick up the letter because the fat lazy fat bitch behind the counter who moved at 25 miles per hour knew her retirement fund was set whether I got my letter in 30 seconds or 30 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/74 "2017-02-09T09:14:12Z")
There seem to be Trump threads in every forum, most of which quickly devolve into exasperated name-calling. I like to read discussions, not fights. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/75 "2017-02-09T22:31:21Z")
Walk 1.1 miles to the grocery store to get some exercise. Bought a lot of stuff. I bag up half of it in a paper bag to carry. The little slip of a girl cashier begins bagging the rest. Starting with the strawberries and eggs. :eek: “NO NO NO NO NO!!! STOP!” She looks at me, confused. “Put the heavy stuff on the bottom, not the fragile stuff.” (There’s a 5 pound bag of potatoes and several bottles of sauce there). She stands there with the eggs and strawberries in hand looking more confused. “Start with the potatoes, then the bottles. Put the eggs on top.” :smack: Damn, what the fuck, girl? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/76 "2017-02-09T23:24:34Z")
You miserable, fucked up ass wart. Your dog has diarrhea (twice) on my fucking lawn and you don’t clean up after it? Fuck you in the ear with the Negan stick. I’m sure you’re the same piece of shit who has been letting your dog shit on the neighbor’s lawn and leaving it as a gift. I only hope I catch you at it, motherfucker. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/77 "2017-02-10T09:50:13Z")
One of my coworkers is “vaccine esceptic”. “Oh, we’re vaccinating the child, of course, it is the law, but really, do we know anything about secondary effects?” We know you’re giving me a secondary effect of wanting to give you a punch that would put your nose in the back of your head :mad: At one point he said “well, I’m speaking from ignorance here”. “Yes. Yes you are. I’ve known people who had bad legs because of polio, one who was blind and paralized also due to polio,” “oh, but there’s cases and cases!” There is no internet in prison, there is no internet in prison, there is no internet in prison… ---
**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:** [February 10, 2017, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/78 "2017-02-10T13:40:39Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > **Actually**. . . . .uh . . . . . .errrr. . . … . **YES** :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:, **that Pension Fund has been pushed on Congress by the USPS UNION** soooo if Congress just stood up to them they could solve this problem. > > In other words, according to you I stood in line for 10 minutes to pick up the letter because the fat lazy fat bitch behind the counter who moved at 25 miles per hour knew her retirement fund was set whether I got my letter in 30 seconds or 30 minutes. That part I highlighted appears to be at variance with what my union steward believes. Could you source that claim, please? (Also, 25mph is actually quite speedy behind a Post Office counter) ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/79 "2017-02-10T20:44:49Z")
Look, people, if you want efficient and courteous Post Office service, you should go to the Post Office in Union City, CA. The women who work there are all competent and pleasant. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764/80 "2017-02-11T02:33:49Z")
Made an appointment to have my car fixed and an oil change at 8am. At 130 they called, letting me know the problem had not been fixed as they guy who is their “ignition expert” called in sick at 9am. They were just starting the oil change. You had my car for 5 1/2 hours and did nothing? When I picked it up, I grumbled at the shop manager, stating I should’ve been notified earlier. His response? “Yeah, that does suck, doesn’t it? Want to reschedule?” No. No I do not. Tonight, I broke the news to my sister that our mother sold the family hunting land. The piece of property that split our family up. The venom my sister spewed was scary. Yes, mom is screwed up. Yes, she did kind of backtrack on a promise dad made, but dad has been dead for 10 years and he should not have promised to give the land to my nephews, when mom’s money bought it in the first place. Maybe if one of my nephews hadn’t screwed mom over financially, she wouldn’t have had to sell. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/but-february-made-me-shiver-mini-rants/778764.md?page=5)