# It's a new year - time for fresh new mini-rants! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 4, 2010, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629 "2010-01-04T16:26:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/261 "2010-01-22T17:14:59Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > When “angsty pseudohipster upper-middle-class suburban white teenager” became a marketable demographic. Isn’t that one of the signs of the “end times”? 2012 is too far away!😛 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/262 "2010-01-22T17:20:03Z")
> [@otternell](#): > > Isn’t that one of the signs of the “end times”? 2012 is too far away!😛 Yeah, but I just noticed that \*\*my \*\*calendar ends at December 31, 2010! **That’s less than a year away!** ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/263 "2010-01-22T17:29:21Z")
Dear people who interviewed me for a job yesterday and promised to call today with the news: please call me already! Please please please? I am all a-flutter. It’s noon-thirty. I don’t think I can stand to wait until 5. ---
**Author:** ![emmaliminal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emmaliminal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emmaliminal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2010, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/264 "2010-01-22T18:30:26Z")
Rats. They called. I didn’t get the job. ---
**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 22, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/265 "2010-01-22T19:22:39Z")
That’s got to be the worst feeling, doesn’t it? The fact that they’re considerate enough to call and let you know catapults them up toward the top of the list of great companies to work for… ☹ Oh well. Time to get back up on the horse and concentrate mental energies on other potential leads. Best of luck to you, **emmaliminal**! ---
**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:** [January 23, 2010, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/266 "2010-01-23T00:05:19Z")
I feel bad about Haiti and I support the relief effort, don’t get me wrong. But do you really have to hijack 32 of my cable,broadcast and PBS channels for this event? Yes, 32 and I’m not including HD duplicates. Frankly I would rather watch the city traffic camera feed channel than watch George Clooney smug up my small screen. Unfortunately that’s what I may actually end up watching unless there is something deliciously weird on Public Access. ---
**Author:** ![Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Hazle\_Weatherfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hazle_Weatherfield)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/267 "2010-01-23T02:43:04Z")
Read a book! 🙂 Plus there’s already a discussion going on this. [I feel bad for Haiti, I really do. But is there any reason why this concert has to be on 20 channels - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=549036) ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/268 "2010-01-23T03:57:38Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > That’s got to be the worst feeling, doesn’t it? The fact that they’re considerate enough to call and let you know catapults them up toward the top of the list of great companies to work for… ☹ > > Oh well. Time to get back up on the horse and concentrate mental energies on other potential leads. Best of luck to you, **emmaliminal**! Sounds a little too similar to my recent experience on [match.com](http://match.com). Damn, my ex girlfriend was less trouble than this. Other than that, things have been going so well for so long that it is only a matter of time before something comes along to screw it up. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Headrush042](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a5b964/32.png) [@Headrush042](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Headrush042)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/269 "2010-01-23T06:19:14Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > When did whining become a stylistic choice for male pop singers? I’m listening to The Fray, and they’re not bad, but I’ve bounced one song off my iTunes already for excessive whining. They’re not the only band doing this, either. Personally, I blame Pearl Jam. Their first album was monstrously good, but after that it was way too whiny for me. And everyone loved them even more. And then all I heard on the radio was whiny guys. And then the emo movement was born. Justified or not (I admit my perception on this may be skewed), I blame all of emo and its unholy offspring on Eddie Vedder. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 6:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/270 "2010-01-23T06:31:29Z")
> [@Headrush042](#): > > Personally, I blame Pearl Jam. Their first album was monstrously good, but after that it was way too whiny for me. And everyone loved them even more. And then all I heard on the radio was whiny guys. And then the emo movement was born. Justified or not (I admit my perception on this may be skewed), I blame all of emo and its unholy offspring on Eddie Vedder. Hell, I blame Bobby Goldsborough. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/271 "2010-01-23T07:06:13Z")
Fellow NH Drivers, Let’s talk about your inablity to drive properly. Again. 1. If you are the first person at the light, it is your responsibility to pay attention to the lights. Don’t space out until halfway through the green light, making many people behind you later for work/school when they miss the light you force people to sit through. What I’d like to know is if it’s consistantly the same asshole with their thumb up their ass every morning, or if they take turns. 2. Speaking of lights, if there is one straight lane and a left turning and right turning lane, it’d be swell if you don’t wait until the light to decide to coast into one of the turn lanes. They’re pretty long, you could probably get over before you wait for the light, even. 3. We’ve gone over this one before, but you’re slow learners: the sun. I know it’s bright and dazzling at 7:30 during the winter, but there are indeed better ways to cope with this than slamming on your brakes or going under the speed limit whenever you see the sun. To avoid hitting the car in front of you, wear sunglasses, idiot. To avoid being rear-ended turn your fucking lights on so the driver behind you can see your tail-lights even when _s/he’s_ sun-dazzled. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2010, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/272 "2010-01-23T16:10:12Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Fellow NH Drivers, > Let’s talk about your inablity to drive properly. Again. > > 1. If you are the first person at the light, it is your responsibility to pay attention to the lights. Don’t space out until halfway through the green light, making many people behind you later for work/school when they miss the light you force people to sit through. What I’d like to know is if it’s consistantly the same asshole with their thumb up their ass every morning, or if they take turns. > \ Especially if it’s a short dedicated green arrow for left-turners (a few cars get through if everyone’s on the ball, then the light turns red and you sit and wait again). In those situations, if someone in the line is too busy with something more important behind the wheel than actually _driving_, I think it should be okay for the drivers behind the idiot to get out and pummel them a little (but just a little, because we’re not savages after all). ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/273 "2010-01-24T01:32:03Z")
The only reason I accepted your Facebook friend request was out of morbid curiosity to see whether you’d aged worse than I had. Finding only a half-dozen photo albums of your stupid kid and dog makes me regret my generosity. ---
**Author:** ![Butterscotch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Butterscotch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Butterscotch)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/274 "2010-01-24T12:53:55Z")
> [@kathmandu](#): > > Look, Visa folks, I know there’s a lot of fraudsters out there, and I appreciate that you’re trying to minimize your losses. However, when you decide you’re going to put a hold on my credit card because of “suspicious activity”, could you at least, ya know, CALL ME TO LET ME KNOW? I’ve spent a good part of the morning sorting out automated payments that were declined. I’ve also probably lost the super duper cheap airline seats that I couldn’t buy online because my card didn’t work, because the airline’s reservation line is now busy because of an “unexpectedly high call volume”. And since when is a small charge at a reputable chain store that’s not outside my usual spending pattern “suspicious activity” anyways? This. Me too. Except when I called to ask why my card had been stopped after a series of stopped payments I had this conversation: “Why can’t I use my card anymore?” Idiot Jobsworth at Credit Card Central: “It was stopped because of suspicious activity.” “And you didn’t call me?” IJACCC: “We sent a letter.” (They did, it arrived 3 weeks after the call, postmarked 2 weeks before) “Well, as I am speaking to you now, can I tell you it is all ok, and I need to start using it again.” IJACCC: “Oh no, you can’t use it anymore, we stopped it. As you have called we will now send you a new one, with a new number.” (That came a month later) And now for the best bit… “So, can you please tell me what is was that set off the alarm about suspicious activity?” IJACCC: “No.” “Excuse me? I would like to know why you can cancelled my card…” IJACCC: “I can’t tell you for reasons of privacy.” “But is was MY card, whose privacy are you protecting?” IJACCC: “I can’t tell you that, it is a privacy issue.” I ended the conversation there before frustration got the better of me, but for fuck’s sake… ---
**Author:** ![kbear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4491bb/32.png) [@kbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kbear)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/275 "2010-01-24T22:01:13Z")
My VISA rant involves the teeny tiny small print on the back of my statement. I have a Canadian VISA but I live in the UK (to keep a Canadian credit rating for when I move back) My December statement for November purchases was paid a couple of days late. No big deal. It wasn’t a large amount. I won’t cry over a little interest on my next statement. BUT because I live outside Quebec where the card was issued 15 years ago and because my prior statement was paid late (for which I paid interest) I also have to pay interest on my current month…you know Christmas, airfare, hotel costs, to the tune of $5000 (purchases not the interest!)…even though it was paid before the due date. I can’t even wrap my brain around the logic of that! ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/276 "2010-01-24T23:28:56Z")
Yeah, what you got there is \*credit card company \* logic (same for you, **Butterscotch** ). It’s the same as bank logic that allows them to double-dip charging customers and businesses for the same transaction, cry poor and raise fees across the board, then post yet another quarter of record profits. ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2010, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/277 "2010-01-24T23:51:26Z")
> [@elfkin477](#): > > Fellow NH Drivers, > Let’s talk about your inablity to drive properly. Again. > > 1. If you are the first person at the light, it is your responsibility to pay attention to the lights. Don’t space out until halfway through the green light, making many people behind you later for work/school when they miss the light you force people to sit through. What I’d like to know is if it’s consistantly the same asshole with their thumb up their ass every morning, or if they take turns. > > 2. Speaking of lights, if there is one straight lane and a left turning and right turning lane, it’d be swell if you don’t wait until the light to decide to coast into one of the turn lanes. They’re pretty long, you could probably get over before you wait for the light, even. > > 3. We’ve gone over this one before, but you’re slow learners: the sun. I know it’s bright and dazzling at 7:30 during the winter, but there are indeed better ways to cope with this than slamming on your brakes or going under the speed limit whenever you see the sun. To avoid hitting the car in front of you, wear sunglasses, idiot. To avoid being rear-ended turn your fucking lights on so the driver behind you can see your tail-lights even when _s/he’s_ sun-dazzled. Now that I’ve lived in more than one part of the country, I’m confident in saying that most people are stupid and bad drivers. Additionally, people with plates from South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida are even worse than the rest. No science to back this up, just my opinion based on observation. There, I said it. I feel better. No offense to the good drivers from those states.\* If you exist…\* ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/278 "2010-01-25T00:11:34Z")
> [@Southern\_Yankee](#): > > Now that I’ve lived in more than one part of the country, I’m confident in saying that most people are stupid and bad drivers. Additionally, people with plates from South Carolina, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Florida are even worse than the rest. No science to back this up, just my opinion based on observation. There, I said it. I feel better. No offense to the good drivers from those states.\* If you exist…\* Were you to venture to South America or Asia, for example, you would likely gain a new appreciation of even the worst U.S. state’s drivers. Which is akin to saying that swallowing broken glass grants one a new appreciation of coprophagy. ---
**Author:** ![Runestar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/74df32/32.png) [@Runestar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runestar)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/279 "2010-01-25T02:34:54Z")
Here in Hoosierland, you can get (as a no-cost option when you obtain your license plates) a license plate with “In God We Trust” on it. Any other specialty plate (such as for a university or other charity) costs an additional $45.00 There are a lot of cars on the road with the “IGWT” plates. My entirely unscientific sampling has determined that if a driver does something stupid, 75% of the time s/he will be driving a car with one of the “IGWT” plates. My personal preference is for a little less “In God We Trust”, and a little more “In What We Are Doing We Will Pay Attention” from these folks. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2010, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629/280 "2010-01-25T02:45:02Z")
I (mildly) pit people who begin SDMB threads with “Am I the only one who…”. I’ll give you a hint: There are 6 billion+ people on earth. You are NOT the only one who… It’s a dumb device, and it really makes the thread starter sound like the kind of person who likes to frequently drop into conversation that they don’t have a TV. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-a-new-year-time-for-fresh-new-mini-rants/523629.md?page=15)