# First Rants Thread of 2015 - January Minirants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2015, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681 "2015-01-01T15:55:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**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:** [January 28, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/301 "2015-01-28T16:24:01Z")
> [@saje](#): > > … You aren’t parenting LG’s girl, you are trying to keep your house and home running smoothly… Quoted for truth, which is a nice way of saying I hope that if we all keep repeating it at her, we can bash some sense into poor **Lacunae** ’s head. {{ \*\*slalexan \*\*}} ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/302 "2015-01-28T18:16:04Z")
And to add icing to the cake, the condo’s snow shovelers walked off the job. 144 houses stuck. ---
**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 28, 2015, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/303 "2015-01-28T18:42:30Z")
Walked or sledded? ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/304 "2015-01-28T19:20:15Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > **Lacunae Matata** , you are a saint! How is it that you have not told these house guests that either they GTFO Now or else stop taking dishes into their room, since they cannot be trusted with them? Jeez. Are they planning to pay to have your house fumigated? (that’s a joke, of course) I agree, **Lacunae** is a saint! Thanks everyone for the support. It really was my fault, I know that bees can kill me so I _should_ know to be careful. > [@Projammer](#): > > Sorry for your bee inspired woes. > > Here you go. [Misery loves company.](http://www.ebaumsworld.com/pictures/view/83945310/) POOR DOGGIES! **(((slalexan)))** Now, get off the Dope and call your doctor! ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/305 "2015-01-28T21:00:23Z")
Feel better flatlined. We’ve been feeling shitty around here too. BF has some sort of nasty, Velociraptor had to stay home a couple days this week, I have something in between so I took a fuck off day to keep from getting worse. Well yesterday was ok, I managed to make it to class and survived but today? Today I nearly killed myself falling in the shower because I end up so clumsy when I’m not feeling well, even if I’m not as bad off as the others in my household. Going to get a new bath mat tonight. I at least only twisted one ankle, bruised and scratched the other and have myself a nosebleed. It could have been a lot worse… ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2015, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/306 "2015-01-28T22:07:31Z")
Got a notice from the management company that handles the rent payment for my house. Starting March 1, they’re charging a $1.95 a month “convenience” fee for me to pay my rent online, where it has been free for the last several years. Not a big fee, but it’s the principle of the thing. It doesn’t cost me to pay any of my other bills online. Nickel-and-diming bastards! ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/307 "2015-01-29T00:22:39Z")
> [@Flutterby](#): > > Feel better flatlined. > > We’ve been feeling shitty around here too. BF has some sort of nasty, Velociraptor had to stay home a couple days this week, I have something in between so I took a fuck off day to keep from getting worse. > > Well yesterday was ok, I managed to make it to class and survived but today? Today I nearly killed myself falling in the shower because I end up so clumsy when I’m not feeling well, even if I’m not as bad off as the others in my household. Going to get a new bath mat tonight. I at least only twisted one ankle, bruised and scratched the other and have myself a nosebleed. It could have been a lot worse… Thank you and I hope you feel better soon as well. DANG about the shower fall! The worse part is the “YOU STUPID DUMASS!!!” feeling during that very long half second between action and pain. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/308 "2015-01-29T00:25:44Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Got a notice from the management company that handles the rent payment for my house. Starting March 1, they’re charging a $1.95 a month “convenience” fee for me to pay my rent online, where it has been free for the last several years. Not a big fee, but it’s the principle of the thing. It doesn’t cost me to pay any of my other bills online. Nickel-and-diming bastards! Pay your rent in nickels. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/309 "2015-01-29T03:18:05Z")
Saw a Facebook post that actually ended: ‘Smilie emoticon’. Yes, it was actually spelled out like that. Why not just put a smilie emoticon instead of spelling it out. ---
**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:** [January 29, 2015, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/310 "2015-01-29T04:22:27Z")
Not hipster enough. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/311 "2015-01-29T04:58:37Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Got a notice from the management company that handles the rent payment for my house. Starting March 1, they’re charging a $1.95 a month “convenience” fee for me to pay my rent online, where it has been free for the last several years. Not a big fee, but it’s the principle of the thing. It doesn’t cost me to pay any of my other bills online. Nickel-and-diming bastards! Ah yes, a state agency has now taken to adding a “convenience fee” of about $1.75 plus a percentage - 4%, maybe - to payments made on-line. Lessee… I can pay this by check, which will take at least a week to show up in your coffers thanks to the time it takes to travel to Atlanta by mail and then be processed by both banks, after a real state employee handles the paper, for the cost of a stamp and envelope. Or I can use my debit card to transfer the money almost instantly, without troubling any paid employee, for the low-low price of $18.00 plus my $400 bill? :dubious: And my electric company’s on-line bill payment option also charges a flat $3.50 “convenience”/processing fee. Because it’s so much more expensive than having an hourly employee handle my payment at the office? Double :dubious: (But I get a discount for paying my phone bill, mortgage, and car insurance on line. I really don’t get it.) ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/312 "2015-01-29T05:02:50Z")
The discount, I get. What doesn’t add up is the surcharge, except if you look at it as a scam. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/313 "2015-01-29T06:43:45Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Got a notice from the management company that handles the rent payment for my house. Starting March 1, they’re charging a $1.95 a month “convenience” fee for me to pay my rent online, where it has been free for the last several years. Not a big fee, but it’s the principle of the thing. It doesn’t cost me to pay any of my other bills online. Nickel-and-diming bastards! One of the lastest straws(there were many) that got me to finally buy a house was the apartment I lived in created a convenience to pay online. That last about a month, then they decided that for efficient processing they would need a cash or check fee 1 week earlier, but hey just pay online and it’s the same as always. Then suddenly the online convenience cost 25 bucks a month. Fuck that. ---
**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 29, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/314 "2015-01-29T14:05:13Z")
I’ve been keeping my hair short lately, after a few years of shaving bald and many decades of ponytail prior to that. So, I’m overdue for a trim and don’t own a comb. My hair just “sticks up” . Yesterday a guy I haven’t run into in years came up and said,“Well if it isn’t Boyd Crowder!” Fucker.😃 ---
**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:** [January 29, 2015, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/315 "2015-01-29T14:09:22Z")
Well, **kayaker** , I had to google Boyd Crowder and find that I never heard of the actor, the character or the series. Apparently I have completely retired from popular culture and am now officially an old clueless fogy. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/316 "2015-01-29T18:24:40Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > One of the lastest straws(there were many) that got me to finally buy a house was the apartment I lived in created a convenience to pay online. That last about a month, then they decided that for efficient processing they would need a cash or check fee 1 week earlier, but hey just pay online and it’s the same as always. Then suddenly the online convenience cost 25 bucks a month. Fuck that. Dont worry, your mortgage co. will come up with ways to screw you too. However, I’ll bet that was planned “Let’s get them used to paying online, then hit them up with a fee!” ---
**Author:** ![dzeiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/46a35a/32.png) [@dzeiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzeiger)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/317 "2015-01-29T19:56:22Z")
> [@Lacunae\_Matata](#): > > Ah yes, a state agency has now taken to adding a “convenience fee” of about $1.75 plus a percentage - 4%, maybe - to payments made on-line. What I’ve found is that this is generally equal to the processing fee that the CC companies are charging the state. Private companies generally just eat it, government entities may not be able to. ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2015, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/318 "2015-01-29T19:57:47Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Well, **kayaker** , I had to google Boyd Crowder and find that I never heard of the actor, the character or the series. Apparently I have completely retired from popular culture and am now officially an old clueless fogy. Thanks. mmm…Timothy Olyphant …Goggins is ok too ---
**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:** [January 30, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/319 "2015-01-30T00:00:22Z")
Don’t know whether this should go here or in workplace rants: Hurrah, finally was able to turn in my FMLA paperwork. It was approved in like 5 minutes. Emailed my boss asking what is my next step to be removed from a worksite - being there all day physically wipes me out, clients have no qualms about coughing/sneezing on me, get too close, basically being disease vortexes when I have to try and be as healthy as possible. Turns out they have no idea how to handle me. I’m not ill with a “normal” disease, where there is a somewhat common progression. Yeah, and? Do I know when I’ll be out longterm? Nope, no idea. I could be gone tomorrow if I get the call tonight. When will you start dialysis? No idea, but probably within the month. You’ve been saying that for a while, now. I know, I keep being able to stave it off. I know other people who have been forced from their jobs in situations like this, and I fear that while I have been there forever, I’m not well liked enough by management that pushing this may leave me out, too. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681/320 "2015-01-30T00:07:48Z")
> [@kayT](#): > > Well, **kayaker** , I had to google Boyd Crowder and find that I never heard of the actor, the character or the series. Apparently I have completely retired from popular culture and am now officially an old clueless fogy. Thanks. Gives secret _old clueless fogy_ handshake. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-rants-thread-of-2015-january-minirants/708681.md?page=17)