# Febrantary (February Minirants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286 "2014-02-01T17:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**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:** [February 18, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/321 "2014-02-18T17:53:01Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I dunno, to quote the Sage, maybe people shouldn’t live in a fucking desert. …or in the fuckin arctic tundra! (getting really sick of snow ‘n’ cold) ---
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/322 "2014-02-18T18:23:23Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > I dunno, to quote the Sage, maybe people shouldn’t live in a fucking desert. I wouldn’t mind relocating… but shall I bring tens of millions of other relocators along? ---
**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:** [February 18, 2014, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/323 "2014-02-18T18:46:16Z")
> [@Sigmagirl](#): > > Now you people are just baiting me, aren’t you? This doesn’t even have to be a discussion any more. > > SOUSA I \<3 YOU. Seriously, this is awesome, and with the doubleplusbonus of being classical music and therefore, cultural and artistic an’ shit. (Unless you’re my neighbor. In which case … wasn’t I quiet enough?) ---
**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 18, 2014, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/324 "2014-02-18T19:22:10Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I \<3 YOU. > Seriously, this is awesome, and with the doubleplusbonus of being classical music and therefore, cultural and artistic an’ shit. > (Unless you’re my neighbor. In which case … wasn’t I quiet enough?) I felt bad for my neighbors the summer before my senior year. I was **the** piccoloist for our high school band, and was tasked with memorizing “Stars and Stripes Forever” for our tour. For me, memorization is simple - do it over and over and over again. 😃 _tweedle dee dee do dee tweedle deedle dee dee_ And yes, I can still play it, but the last time I brandished my piccolo, one of my cats attacked my ankles and feet. ---
**Author:** ![Kelevra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/97f17d/32.png) [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/325 "2014-02-18T19:52:02Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > No kidding. Because when this nearly three feet of snow starts to melt, we’re going to have flooding everywhere. The ground is frozen down 20 inches, so won’t absorb any of the melt, and the street drains are all covered with piles of ice/snow. So the runoff is going to just flood streets, sidewalks, and people’s houses. Likely starting the middle of this week before it all freezes into ice ponds again. Last week I listened to a talk by the National Weather Service about climate change. At the end he mentioned that the weather we are experiencing here in the Ohio River Valley will likely be the norm for the next 10-20 years. Remember the blizzards in the mid-late 70’s? That will be the norm. His reasoning was that the factors that affect our weather - the [Pacific Decadal Oscillation](http://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/teleconnections/pdo.php), the [North Atlantic Oscillation](http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/data/teledoc/nao.shtml), and the [solar output](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_cycle)are all entering lows at the same time. Last this happened was in the 1970’s. He also mentioned that the rapid warming this week along with the rain will break free all the ice on the smaller rivers, which will build up on bridges and form dams. With all the snow melt and rain there will be lots of flooding behind these temporary dams. He was just a bundle of good news. ---
**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 18, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/326 "2014-02-18T20:00:33Z")
I am trying to catch dialogue in movies an TV. And the goram characters keep whispering and mumbling. the background music and incidental sounds are loud but the dialogue… I get it. The ‘character’ mumbles of says shit under his breath…but I can’t hear it!! Speak the fuck up so that I can follow the fucking story!!! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/327 "2014-02-18T20:25:02Z")
> [@vivalostwages](#): > > I wouldn’t mind relocating… but shall I bring tens of millions of other relocators along? There are millions of acres of semi-decent and fairly wet habitat available in Alamama and Mississippi. Maybe 10 million or so immigrants from the Desert West will change the politics a little. ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/328 "2014-02-18T21:24:12Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > There are millions of acres of semi-decent and fairly wet habitat available in Alamama and Mississippi. Maybe 10 million or so immigrants from the Desert West will change the politics a little. Really? One has to wonder what it is about this land that leaves it apparently uninhabited up to the present. Is it the tornadoes and hurricanes? Flooding? Gators? Impossible humidity in the summer? I live in a marine climate, but even we get droughts once in a while. We also have the occasional earthquake. There are lots of natural phenomena that make some places temporarily desirable and then temporarily undesirable. Roddy ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/329 "2014-02-18T21:49:11Z")
> [@Cheez\_Whia](#): > > Pipe organ trumps everything. 😃 Not bagpipes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/330 "2014-02-18T21:51:32Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Really? One has to wonder what it is about this land that leaves it apparently uninhabited up to the present. Is it the tornadoes and hurricanes? Flooding? Gators? Impossible humidity in the summer? Much Worse. It’s the Current Inhabitants. :eek: (Cue horror movie music) ---
**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:** [February 19, 2014, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/331 "2014-02-19T01:22:56Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I am trying to catch dialogue in movies an TV. And the goram characters keep whispering and mumbling… The ‘character’ mumbles of says shit under his breath…but I can’t hear it!! Speak the fuck up so that I can follow the fucking story!!! I went to the audiologist last month, and when they asked “And what is your complaint?” I said “My complaint is that my wife is mumbling more and more these days. So, I figured I’d get my hearing checked.” ps: she’s not the one with the problem… ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/332 "2014-02-19T02:22:17Z")
> [@Roderick\_Femm](#): > > Really? One has to wonder what it is about this land that leaves it apparently uninhabited up to the present. Is it the tornadoes and hurricanes? Flooding? Gators? Impossible humidity in the summer? . . . Ticks? ---
**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 19, 2014, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/333 "2014-02-19T02:37:20Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > When my son went for his basic training at Great Lakes I cried. > > \ > > When he first came home I cried. > > \ > > When he left for New York I cried, > > \ > > when he came home I cried, > > \ > > when he went to SC I cried, > > \ > > when he came home I cried, > > \ > > when he left for GA I cried, > > \ > > when he came home I cried > > \ > > when my husband couldn’t make bail in Rolling Meadows before being transported to county jail at 26th and California in Chicago, I cried! > > \ > > I also cried when I picked him up - but that was more of a function of how much a lawyer was going to cost on top of the bail I had just paid. 😃 > [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I want to drown this month. Maybe you could get **Mussy2U** to come over and cry on it… ---
**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:** [February 19, 2014, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/334 "2014-02-19T02:55:39Z")
> [@Typo\_Negative](#): > > I am trying to catch dialogue in movies an TV. And the goram characters keep whispering and mumbling. the background music and incidental sounds are loud but the dialogue… > > I get it. The ‘character’ mumbles of says shit under his breath…but I can’t hear it!! Speak the fuck up so that I can follow the fucking story!!! This is why my husband and I (both with normal hearing) use closed captioning/subtitles. Annoying that lousy sound mixing makes it necessary, though. ---
**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/335 "2014-02-19T02:58:59Z")
My minirant is small potatoes compared to some. Sunday night my daughter went out to walk her dog and slipped on the ice in the parking lot at her apartment building. The frame of her glasses broke and the glasses stem inserted itself into her eyebrow. She was taken to the hospital. Thank goodness her actual eye was not injured and she had no broken bones, only soft tissue injuries. She has been reporting the ice to the building management and the folks in charge of the parking lot for weeks. On Monday I went to visit her and do some errands for her, since her right arm is in a sling and she’s been told not to drive for a while. One thing I did was to walk to the drugstore to fill a prescription for her. I negotiated all of the semi-cleared sidewalks just fine. And then I tripped on nothing in a perfectly cleared road while crossing the street. I have only a scraped knee and some aches and pains. This winter cannot be over too soon. ---
**Author:** ![Cheez\_Whia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d26b3c/32.png) [@Cheez\_Whia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheez_Whia)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/336 "2014-02-19T03:12:36Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Ticks? And chiggers! 😉 ---
**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:** [February 19, 2014, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/337 "2014-02-19T03:13:18Z")
> [@](#): > > This is why my husband and I (both with normal hearing) use closed captioning/subtitles. Annoying that lousy sound mixing makes it necessary, though. I had to turn closed captioning on just for our local ABC channel, which for some reason, sounds horribly muted. Not the other stations, though. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/338 "2014-02-19T03:45:55Z")
> [@Missy2U](#): > > No, **flatlined** , you are NOT an idiot. Thank you so much for the kind words. But I have to say that you have much better reasons to cry than I do. A child leaving for basic training…I’d have cried with you. Please give him my thanks for his service. > [@overlyverbose](#): > > A neighbor of ours dropped dead across the street while shoveling snow on Saturday. I glanced out the window and smiled and waved, then went about my business in the kitchen. I glanced out again 15-20 minutes later and a couple of people who had been strolling by were stopped at his driveway. I just assumed they were all chatting. I didn’t realize until the firetruck, ambulance and police car arrived that the poor man had died right there, across the street. > > A couple of minutes later, he was covered with a sheet and loaded into the ambulance while his now widow was helped into the passenger side of the ambulance by the paramedic and policeman. Then the ambulance drove silently away. We’re all cleaning up her house and such to help out, but I feel so horrible for her. He was literally there one minute, gone the next. Please don’t read, PHS. You know this already. I quoted this just so people will read it again and remember how quickly our loved ones could pass. The last words you say to anyone could be the last ones they ever hear. Kindness and loving words cost nothing and make you happier to say them and makes the recipient happier to hear them. OK, enough with the unicorns and rainbow stuff. Sorry, forgot I was in the Pit. Today, I don’t like horses nearly as much as I did yesterday. They have stalls that open to the pasture, so when its dinner time the ritual is to be inside the barn and bang the grain measuring can against one of their water bowls. They come inside for dinner and then I go out of the barn to shut the pasture doors. The weather in AZ is beautiful, BTW. No snow all winter, no rain, trees are dying and people are worried about water come fire season. Once again, I digress. I’m sorry. So, anyhow, I was shutting the pasture doors and the old brown horse got frightened by something and came running out and knocked me on my ass. That scared the other horses so much that they came running out and scared me to death. They are really REALLY big and move really REALLY fast. I also learned that even though horse poop is raked off the pasture…rolling around in a horse pasture is pretty stinky. ---
**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:** [February 19, 2014, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/339 "2014-02-19T04:07:05Z")
> [@Cheez\_Whia](#): > > And chiggers! 😉 We finally got my grandma to at least call them Chegroes. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2014, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286/340 "2014-02-19T05:10:10Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > I felt bad for my neighbors the summer before my senior year. I was **the** piccoloist for our high school band, and was tasked with memorizing “Stars and Stripes Forever” for our tour. For me, memorization is simple - do it over and over and over again. 😃 > > _tweedle dee dee do dee tweedle deedle dee dee_ > > And yes, I can still play it, but the last time I brandished my piccolo, one of my cats attacked my ankles and feet. That’s the reason the inventors of the electronic bagpipes (a piper and an engineer) went and invented them: with an electronic pipe, the piper can practice with headphones, zero sound for the rest of the world. Wonder if anybody is making electronic piccolos yet. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/febrantary-february-minirants/680286.md?page=18)