# February Mini-Rants. Look on the bright side - it's the shortest month of the year **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2022, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742 "2022-02-01T12:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/1 "2022-02-01T12:58:10Z")
Highest snowfall in seven years predicted for Detroit area. My neighbor has had a concern with snow melt entering his basement - so I’m trying to NOT pile snow against his house on that side of the driveway. Instead I’m carrying it down the driveway to put it on the front lawn. Oh my aching back. Fortunately, I was able to snag a bottle of “2-cycle engine oil” before the store ran out. So I won’t have to hand-shovel this time. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/2 "2022-02-01T14:22:49Z")
My wife’s cousin just married her own grandmother’s 3rd husband’s ex-wife’s ex-husband. Seriously. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/3 "2022-02-01T14:43:52Z")
I think I need a chart to parse this. I’m nervous about the snowfall predicted for our area (also Detroit) because the girl has been out of school for a long time due to COVID and now might miss even more school. I’m afraid it’ll be near impossible to get her back to school when she finally can return. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2022, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/4 "2022-02-01T14:46:26Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > married her own grandmother’s 3rd husband’s ex-wife’s ex-husband. whoa. ---
**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:** [February 1, 2022, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/5 "2022-02-01T14:59:54Z")
An employee came in to work yesterday even though she was very sick. I was in the same room she was in for a few seconds before making a hasty retreat. Today she is in the hospital with . . . influenza. I was so happy to hear that. She is vaccinated against COVID, but never bothered to get a flu vaccine. ---
**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:** [February 2, 2022, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/6 "2022-02-02T04:28:33Z")
> [@tofor](#): > > My wife’s cousin just married her own grandmother’s 3rd husband’s ex-wife’s ex-husband. It could be worse, it could be her father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/7 "2022-02-02T04:38:05Z")
Yesterday it was 72°. Tomorrow we’re supposed to get between 4-10" of snow. WTF Mother Nature? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/8 "2022-02-02T07:18:55Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > WTF Mother Nature? Ah, She’s a Harsh Mistress! No snow out west for the foreseeable future, but at least the skiing is still damn good. ---
**Author:** ![tofor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tofor/32/13727_2.png) [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/9 "2022-02-02T14:21:39Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > It could be worse, it could be her father’s brother’s nephew’s cousin’s former roommate. Once you introduce ‘former roomate’ into the equation, it could be anybody and might be a perfectly appropriate match. ---
**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 2, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/10 "2022-02-02T20:01:20Z")
We’ve been having rain, which will freeze into ice, followed by snow, followed by ice, followed by snow… etc. What did the groundhog say this morning? ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2022, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/11 "2022-02-02T20:24:50Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > What did the groundhog say this morning? You fuckers woke me up for this? Plus, 6 more weeks of winter. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/12 "2022-02-03T00:36:14Z")
Yesterday I received several messages on my phone from my parents and my brother, who had to shelter in place because of an active shooter situation. Fortunately, everyone in my family was safe, but now I read how guns are not the problem, it is mental health, which I am sure is a comfort to the two people killed. 🤬 `//i\\` ---
**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:** [February 3, 2022, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/13 "2022-02-03T00:55:49Z")
> [@icon](#): > > Fortunately, everyone in my family was safe, but now I read how guns are not the problem, it is mental health, which I am sure is a comfort to the two people killed. I don’t see why it can’t be both. Guns are too easily available, and we do a shitty job treating (and stigmatizing) mental health problems. I’m glad your family is okay. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/14 "2022-02-03T01:35:31Z")
> [@Bonum\_Legatum](#): > > Highest snowfall in seven years predicted for Detroit area. > > My neighbor has had a concern with snow melt entering his basement - so I’m trying to NOT pile snow against his house on that side of the driveway. Instead I’m carrying it down the driveway to put it on the front lawn. Oh my aching back. > > Fortunately, I was able to snag a bottle of “2-cycle engine oil” before the store ran out. So I won’t have to hand-shovel this time. My blower was useless, the snow was too wet and too heavy. That was some fun shoveling. My heart was like, “dude…”. mmm ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/15 "2022-02-03T01:40:28Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t see why it can’t be both. I agree it can be both, but when they first say, we don’t need gun control, we need better way to deal with mental health, that just raises my ire. There are plenty of countries that have poor outcomes with dealing with mental health, but they don’t have as many people getting killed because of it either. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/16 "2022-02-03T05:33:09Z")
Here downunder, in terms of daylight the shortest month is June. We get more than 25% more daylight in February than June. ---
**Author:** ![Bonum\_Legatum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bonum_legatum/32/6183_2.png) [@Bonum\_Legatum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bonum_Legatum)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/17 "2022-02-03T12:19:27Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > My blower was useless, the snow was too wet and too heavy. That was some fun shoveling. Mine was useless too. Dratted snow chute. My 1970’s Toro with a paddlewheel impeller never clogged. The temperature was just warm enough to keep the snow soggy, especially as it hit the ground. Now to see if the stuff that fell overnight has a layer of ice underneath… ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/18 "2022-02-03T16:03:55Z")
Approximately 7 miles from where I live, there is a big industrial fire that has been burning for about 3 days now, enveloping my neighborhood in a haze that would be sort of pretty if you didn’t know what it was. The facility that is on fire contains some 600 tons of ammonium nitrate that might explode at any time. Or not. And 90 tons of it is packed into a rail car, which essentially makes it a big fucking bomb. So this fire has become some sort of mythical beast, a thing that must be appeased. It can’t be, you know, _fought_, because the large number of people observing the fire from a safe distance have decided that the fire might not like being fought, and we must not do anything to piss off the fire, because if it gets mad everything in the vicinity will be blown sky high and reduced to a big smoking crater. And it’s raining today, and there is much discussion over whether the fire will find the rain soothing or whether the rain will annoy the fire into exploding. There seems to be much optimism about the former, which I find puzzling because a few days ago there seemed to be a consensus that putting water on the fire might make it mad. It might burn out soon. It might burn on for weeks. It might explode. No one has any idea of the likelihood of any of these situations. There are no expert opinions beyond “stand back and cross your fingers”. It feels positively medieval. Maybe tomorrow we will sacrifice a virgin and hope the fire likes it. Or maybe we could not allow businesses that stockpile tons of potential explosives in the center of town to operate under grandfathered building and safety codes from the 1930’s, with absolutely no plan to address a potential fire, but that ship has sailed. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2022, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/19 "2022-02-03T20:29:13Z")
We were supposed to be staying at a hotel this weekend about 4 miles away from where that fire is. We had to cancel that reservation a few weeks ago due to unforeseen circumstances. I likewise wasn’t expecting to be relieved about that today. I hope the situation resolves soon. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2022, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742/20 "2022-02-04T18:36:23Z")
My city currently has over 100000 households without power. I lost power at 9pm last night when I heard a transformer blow. Most of the hotels are full or out of power. Last night I drove 30 minutes away to the town I work and had to wait while they cleaned up a room and paid an extra $40.00 over their regular price. (I heard the front desk person quote a price to someone else but apparently since it wasn’t to me, they didn’t honor that price). I will have to go by my house when I get off work to see if the power is back and pick up a few things i forgot and then see if I can find a room anywhere in town, I did leave all of the faucets running so hopefully the 25 degree weather wont freeze my pipes. I have to have a cpap to sleep so i have to have electricity. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/february-mini-rants-look-on-the-bright-side-its-the-shortest-month-of-the-year/958742.md?page=2)