# Happy New Bitchfest! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2014, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605 "2014-01-01T00:37:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**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:** [January 12, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/301 "2014-01-12T19:20:56Z")
> [@elucidator](#): > > _Carpe tedium_! Seize the boredom! _carpe cerevisi!_ Seize the beer! It really annoys me when businesses use “the holidays” as an excuse to be lazy and incompetent. I had a routine blood draw on December 27th; as of January 10th, I had not heard back, so I stopped by the clinic. The receptionist gives me the “holidays” bullshit and tells me “give it until, oh, next Monday or so and it should get to you”. “How about this: why don’t you just print it out for me?” “I don’t think I can do that, because the doctor might want to talk to you.” “If he hasn’t contacted me in 14 days, I’m pretty sure there’s nothing critical, and besides, you people screwed up the last report you sent me, not to mention it looked like someone allowed their five-year old to scrawl the information in crayon.” “Well, let me ask the nurse if it’s okay.” “You mean if it’s okay for me to have information regarding my health?” ::scurries away:: The nurse brought it out to me and says “The doctor says everything is stable.” Well, great, because apparently if I had been on death’s door, the “holidays” would have meant my early demise, as nobody would have contacted me. I think I need a new provider. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/302 "2014-01-12T19:56:33Z")
Figure skating continues to have no fundamental integrity. Ashley Wagner fell THREE fucking times in two programs at the US championships. She finished 4th in the damned Nationals. She still got named to the national Olympic team. Bleh. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/303 "2014-01-12T20:35:54Z")
I’m having serious problems with my music notation computer program. The one I paid quite a bit of money for. It isn’t letting me make proper PDFs that look good. The music notes look weird when I try making PDFs (the notes look rough and fuzzy around the edges.) Oddly, when I tried printing the “fuzzy”-looking PDF, it printed out not looking too bad. But if the PDFs themselves look bad, people aren’t going to want to buy them in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Miskatonic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.miskatonic/32/310_2.png) [@Mr.Miskatonic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Miskatonic)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/304 "2014-01-12T20:39:44Z")
I have a strained glute muscle that is taking forever to heal. Riding the bike is hard, and even sitting the car seat is painful after a while. This damn thing just won’t heal! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/305 "2014-01-12T21:33:24Z")
What a pain in the ass! ---
**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:** [January 12, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/306 "2014-01-12T22:31:33Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m having serious problems with my music notation computer program. The one I paid quite a bit of money for. It isn’t letting me make proper PDFs that look good. The music notes look weird when I try making PDFs (the notes look rough and fuzzy around the edges.) > Oddly, when I tried printing the “fuzzy”-looking PDF, it printed out not looking too bad. But if the PDFs themselves look bad, people aren’t going to want to buy them in the first place. I know nothing of such programs, but are you sure the notation program is to blame? You could trylooking at the files with an alternate viewer, such as PDF-Xchange, to see if the issue carries through. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2014, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/307 "2014-01-12T23:39:13Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m having serious problems with my music notation computer program. The one I paid quite a bit of money for. It isn’t letting me make proper PDFs that look good. The music notes look weird when I try making PDFs (the notes look rough and fuzzy around the edges.) > Oddly, when I tried printing the “fuzzy”-looking PDF, it printed out not looking too bad. But if the PDFs themselves look bad, people aren’t going to want to buy them in the first place. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I know nothing of such programs, but are you sure the notation program is to blame? You could trylooking at the files with an alternate viewer, such as PDF-Xchange, to see if the issue carries through. I tried various PDF printer programs. Some worked better than others, though none are perfect. I also found a forum thread for the music software I was using (Notion,) posted by someone having similar problems. Another user suggested toying with the printer settings. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/308 "2014-01-13T02:38:47Z")
> [@digs](#): > > My Visa was declined (for $10; three cups of coffee in Seattle), and it scared me, because I’d used it at Target in mid-December. But, noooo, the _drone on the phone_ said “Oh, we blocked your card because it was being used in Seattle.” > > I asked him if he noticed that I’d called to say I’d be in Seattle, that I’d been using that card in Seattle all week, and they allowed all those larger charges. And that at the beginning of the week it was used to buy plane tickets…\* to Seattle\*, and a hotel room… _in Seattle_. > > “Ummm, I guess I can unblock that, then?” Navy Fed Credit Union … Husband active duty Navy at the time … deployed to the Mediterranean in a US Navy Submarine … so they put a hold on his debit card … used at a Navy MWR location to rent diving gear :dubious::rolleyes::smack: ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/309 "2014-01-13T02:44:00Z")
I quick cut one of Baker’s claws and he bit me on the hand. I am not mad at him for that, I was clumsy and he was shocked to be hurt by me so he lashed out. All is good on that front. The problem is that I think that my hand is getting infected from the inside. Sharp kitteh teeth can inject bacteria deep inside a bite and the puncture is so small that it seals over quickly which lets the infection fester. Damn it, how can I call myself a semi-professional cat-wrangler when I let myself get bitten by a housecat?!?! ---
**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:** [January 13, 2014, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/310 "2014-01-13T06:51:18Z")
Same way a beekeeper still retains his qualification, even though he sustains a few stings now and then. Don’t be so hard on yourself. And DO seek medical attention for that bite. Cheers! 🙂 ---
**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 13, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/311 "2014-01-13T16:19:29Z")
Please have the bite wound seen by a medical professional. ---
**Author:** ![SerafinaPekala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecae2f/32.png) [@SerafinaPekala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SerafinaPekala)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/312 "2014-01-13T16:26:33Z")
Absolutely get medical care, flatlined. Its no shame. Cat bites on the hands are dangerous, you need antibiotics. Ive been bitten by cats and had to soak in Epsom salts (the old time vets swear by this treatment it seems.) ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/313 "2014-01-13T16:29:47Z")
Nope, too late. That hand will have to come off. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/314 "2014-01-13T17:28:14Z")
I’ve seen several actual professionals think they can “suck it up” with a cat bite on the hand, only to end up hospitalized on IV antibiotics with drains in their hands, for as long as a week. Other parts of the body, not so bad, but hand bites nearly 100% get infected. Employees get sent immediately to an outpatient workers comp clinic where they know us well, get a tetanus shot, and an Rx for antibiotics and back to work if it’s not too painful, otherwise stay home for the day and see you next shift. ---
**Author:** ![eulalia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eulalia/32/457_2.png) [@eulalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eulalia)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/315 "2014-01-13T17:30:13Z")
**Flatlined** , I hope you’ve gotten that bite looked at by now. My mom got bitten by my nephew’s cat last year and she ignored it for a couple of days because of my dad going into the hospital with COPD. We noticed that her hand was swelled up to twice its normal size when we all went to talk to dad’s doctors, so we made her go down to the emergency room. They put her on an antibiotic drip for three hours. She had a fairly high fever and was really pretty sick but was in denial about it. She could have ended up right in there with my dad if she’d waited much longer. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/316 "2014-01-13T18:24:44Z")
Darn it, the clock in my classroom is three minutes behind! I know, this seems like the absolute most trivial thing ever ranted about in a mini-rants thread, but when most of the people in class have to take the bus home (sometimes multiple buses,) and have to catch the bus at a certain time or else wait half an hour until the next bus, it’s not suuch a trivial matter. Luckily, the teacher does realize that the clock is behind, and lets us out at the proper time, so far anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/317 "2014-01-13T18:27:48Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m having serious problems with my music notation computer program. The one I paid quite a bit of money for. It isn’t letting me make proper PDFs that look good. The music notes look weird when I try making PDFs (the notes look rough and fuzzy around the edges.) > Oddly, when I tried printing the “fuzzy”-looking PDF, it printed out not looking too bad. But if the PDFs themselves look bad, people aren’t going to want to buy them in the first place. May I recommend [Bullzip](http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php)? I know you said you tried several pdf printers, but so far that one and Foxit have been the ones I’ve been happiest with. **flatlined** , if you haven’t gotten that bite looked at, I’ll come over and yell at Bill! ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/318 "2014-01-13T18:32:58Z")
Maybe I can try BullZip. I also contacted the notation program support and they said they might be able to help. ---
**Author:** ![Gedd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gedd/32/4938_2.png) [@Gedd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gedd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/319 "2014-01-13T18:34:52Z")
Curse you [Cheaptickets.com](http://Cheaptickets.com)! My wife is flying down to visit my sister who just had her first kid. She figured with the combo of January travel and waiting for a baby it was worth the trip insurance. Well my wife is back in school and with the recent weather they cancelled some classes and moved them to the day after she is booked to fly. She figured having travel insurance would help with being able to move her flight one day or at least get a refund since she found one the next day for a cheaper price. After being bounced to three different people on the phone she was told the trip insurance is only for a death in the family or hospitalization. Can she get a refund? Sure! She can get a full refund in [Cheaptickets.com](http://Cheaptickets.com) credits. Then when she goes to use those credits there will be a $275 processing fee. Her ticket was $350. I think the last time I heard my wife use such language we were in the labor and delivery room. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2014, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605/320 "2014-01-13T20:15:31Z")
Very mini-rant Because of the unorthodox ordering systems thread, I decided to try Jimmy Johns again to decide if my initial impression of absolutely terrible food was in error. Nope. Still tasteless, gummy bread and soggy, unappetizing filling. I remain slightly agog at the number of people who do like it. They can’t all be wrong but at the same time, I’d rather eat raw potatoes than one of their sandwiches. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-new-bitchfest/677605.md?page=17)