# It's time for June mini rants. Be the second... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 1, 2011, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953 "2011-06-01T13:37:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 18
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/341 "2011-06-27T19:29:56Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > Zeriel, have you tried [Meetup](http://www.meetup.com/)? Search for board games. They should list gaming groups local to you. BoardGameGeek also has a [forum](http://boardgamegeek.com/forum/82/boardgamegeek/game-groups)for finding gaming groups. I have. I don’t want to sound ageist, but I live in a college town and I can’t play with 18-yr-old social malcontents anymore. =P ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/342 "2011-06-27T21:00:52Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > What’s the likelihood that you might benefit from discussing this issue with your surgeon and indicating that you’re interested in a shorter time frame? Sweet and fuck all. It hinges on the nerve induction study, because the surgeon doesn’t want to go in to my wrist and then find he also needs to go into my elbow at a later date, and there’s no way I can get in earlier than that. I asked yesterday when the appointments were all being booked and set up. I can’t complain too much. It’s all being done under workcover, so I haven’t and won’t have to pay a cent for any of it. Hence, mini rant 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/343 "2011-06-27T21:05:51Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > I have. I don’t want to sound ageist, but I live in a college town and I can’t play with 18-yr-old social malcontents anymore. =P Yeah, I turn 49 tomorrow. While at one point in time I +was+ an 18 year old social mancontent, I’ve spent over 30 years playing with a large number of different people and I’m no longer willing to tolerate the bad ones. I’m in a decent group now where almost all of us are over 30, but if that goes by the wayside, or should I find the time for more boardgames, I’m definitely looking at posting for “Over 30, no SOs at the same table unless you’re both mature, no idiots, assholes, thieves or the unwashed. Come ready to play and be involved in the game, or don’t come at all.” ---
**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:** [June 27, 2011, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/344 "2011-06-27T21:12:58Z")
Terrible, awful, horrible news this morning. I woke up to a text from my friend Aaron; when his band Waxeater was playing in Austin last night, Elliott (their bass player) was shocked very badly. I believe his heart was actually stopped for a few minutes, though the EMTs were able to get it started again. He’s been in the ICU since early this morning; I don’t think he’s regained consciousness since then. Been checking FB and texts so obsessively all day at work that my phone died. If this was due to negligence on the part of the venue, I swear, I hope they can take them for every single fucking penny they’ve got. Since magically making Elliott okay again isn’t a fucking option. Shit, shit, shit. > [@BigT](#): > > So I just watched a rapist try to argue his way out. A calm, collected, intelligent person thinks it isn’t rape if the woman is drunk enough. If you look at surveys where they don’t use the word “rape” but describe various scenarios, a truly sickening percentage of men think it’s acceptable and/or are already rapists. > [@Chefguy](#): > > My response was “Get here earlier or move to the back”, to which people snickered. _Zing_. > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Shit. The automated cat repellent we use to keep my cat from scratching at the bedroom door all night has run out. Cheap or free tricks: 1.) Tape tin foil to the door, up to the top of the cat’s scratching height. They usually hate the sound/feel of scratching on it. 2.) Keep hefty but relatively soft things (shoes, slippers, balled-up socks, paperback books) next to the bed. When kitty starts scratching, chuck one at the door. IME, this one takes a couple of tries to give the cat the idea, but after that, they leave well enough alone for a loooong time. > [@Zeriel](#): > > I have. I don’t want to sound ageist, but I live in a college town and I can’t play with 18-yr-old social malcontents anymore. =P If you feel like driving a couple of hours to Baltimore, I could put you in touch with my exboyfriend and the people he plays with. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/345 "2011-06-27T23:27:57Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > I have. I don’t want to sound ageist, but I live in a college town and I can’t play with 18-yr-old social malcontents anymore. =P > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > If you feel like driving a couple of hours to Baltimore, I could put you in touch with my exboyfriend and the people he plays with. 😃 \ How Central PA are we talking, here? I’m in a gaming group that plays in Paoli on first Saturdays (noon to 5) and King of Prussia (7 p.m. to 10 p.m.) on third Thursdays. Ages range from fairly young to upper 40s or so, and we love games. Ping me if you’re close enough that you’re interested. ETA: I have an original Arkham Horror, too. \ ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/346 "2011-06-27T23:28:22Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Terrible, awful, horrible news this morning. I woke up to a text from my friend Aaron; when his band Waxeater was playing in Austin last night, Elliott (their bass player) was shocked very badly. I believe his heart was actually stopped for a few minutes, though the EMTs were able to get it started again. He’s been in the ICU since early this morning; I don’t think he’s regained consciousness since then. Been checking FB and texts so obsessively all day at work that my phone died. > > If this was due to negligence on the part of the venue, I swear, I hope they can take them for every single fucking penny they’ve got. Since magically making Elliott okay again isn’t a fucking option. In the absence of any platitudes, I’ll hope the same thing. > [@](#): > > If you feel like driving a couple of hours to Baltimore, I could put you in touch with my exboyfriend and the people he plays with. 😃 If only. For a while there I was getting my gaming fix in Philly or Pittsburgh on a regular basis, but that hasn’t been happening for a while. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/347 "2011-06-28T01:33:34Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Terrible, awful, horrible news this morning. I woke up to a text from my friend Aaron; when his band Waxeater was playing in Austin last night, Elliott (their bass player) was shocked very badly. I believe his heart was actually stopped for a few minutes, though the EMTs were able to get it started again. He’s been in the ICU since early this morning; I don’t think he’s regained consciousness since then. Yikes. Please keep us updated. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/348 "2011-06-28T01:37:39Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Sorry, I should have put names in there - the one we were using was the Garden Ghost, and the one that is very similar (but not similar enough to have the same refills) and is frigging expensive is the Ssscat system. Skip the Ssscat. You need [Blender Defender!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b9m8BpmD0o) ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/349 "2011-06-28T05:38:40Z")
> [@Projammer](#): > > Skip the Ssscat. > > You need [Blender Defender!](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b9m8BpmD0o) Okay, she does this in the middle of the night, so we need something that isn’t going to give US heart attacks, too! 😃 ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/350 "2011-06-28T15:13:54Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > In the absence of any platitudes, I’ll hope the same thing. > [@Rilchiam](#): > > Yikes. Please keep us updated. Thanks folks. At this point, I’m going to retract my anger at the venue–it sounds like it’s a reputable place run by really nice people, who on their own decided to shut things down until they can figure out the cause of the accident. At this point, what I’m hearing is about as positive as it can be. So now, it’s just down to the waiting game to see how he is when he wakes up. If you’re a touring musician, it’s probably a really, really good idea to carry a [GCFI tester](http://www.amazon.com/50957-Tester-Installation-Operation-110-125V/dp/B002LZTKIU) and use it every time you set up. ---
**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:** [June 28, 2011, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/351 "2011-06-28T22:25:38Z")
All the best to Elliott - here’s hoping he wakes up soon and in good shape. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/352 "2011-06-29T03:19:39Z")
Dear Fellow Drivers: It has come to my attention that some of you have not been properly educated in the use of certain vehicle safety equipment, to wit: your headlights. Allow me to provide you with certain clues.[ul] [li]If it is less than an hour until sundown and it’s raining heavily, _turn on your headlights_.[/li][li]If it is the middle of the day and raining heavily, _turn on your headlights_.[/li][li]If it is the middle of the afternoon and there’s any fog on the road, _turn on your headlights_.[/li][li]If it is raining AT all, from misting to full out gully washers, or even if you only have to swipe the windshield once very five minutes with the wipers, _turn on your headlights_.[/li][li]In fact, unless it is high noon on a cloudless, sunny, baking hot day, _ **TURN ON YOUR HEADLIGHTS** _, because you obviously haven’t figured out when they’re needed so better safe than sorry and keep the fuckers on.[/li][/ul]I don’t CARE if you can see perfectly fine. **I can’t see you**. And I’d really like to see you, preferably before almost meeting you in close and uncomfortable proximity because in addition to not having your lights on, you’ve decided that now is the perfect time to make an illegal pass on a double yellow line, right into my oncoming lane. And don’t forget to turn off the high beams. I want to see you, not be blinded by you. No love, and way too much adrenaline, Me (In this case, the adrenaline is caused by pure aggravation, as I was driving home during a heavy rainstorm in the twilight tonight and saw too many people sans headlights, reminding me of some close calls either experienced or witnessed. Tonight, nothing happened except my getting almighty peeved.) ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/353 "2011-06-29T05:14:00Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Okay, she does this in the middle of the night, so we need something that isn’t going to give US heart attacks, too! 😃 I was hoping that possibility wouldn’t occur to you. 😃 Umm.. Earplugs? ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/354 "2011-06-29T05:49:20Z")
Non-North American English-speaking producers of films, TV, and radio: For the love of Og will you PLEASE stop translating “football” to “soccer” for us Merkins. We’re not as stupid as all that. My enjoyment of a BBC radio adaptation of a P.G. Wodehouse story was much diminished by this. It was disconcerting to be listening to a story placed in rural England, with all of these English actors speaking in various English accents, just as I would expect from having read the novels–plus a couple of cringe-worthy attempts at American\*–when they start talking about the village “soccer” team. \*Not that some American actors’ “English” accents aren’t just as bad. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/355 "2011-06-29T14:45:23Z")
The local medical laboratory system where we pretty much all go to get bloodwork done when a doctor wants some tests done has…I suppose _they_ think they’ve upgraded their system. Now, instead of going to a local clinic and waiting half an hour for my blood to be taken, I have to go online or call and book an appointment for a week in the future. So, a week until the tests are even _started_, then a week or two to get the results at my doctor’s office - look, guys, wait times for medical procedures are a serious problem in this city - why are you changing your policies to INCREASE them? (I’m going to try the walk-in route today anyway, since some of my tests really do need to be done quickly.) ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/356 "2011-06-29T15:16:47Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > I don’t CARE if you can see perfectly fine. **I can’t see you** The number of people who don’t understand that this is quite possibly the #1 purpose of headlights astounds me. I don’t have a license and have driven a car exactly once in my life and even \*I \*fucking know this. > [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > For the love of Og will you PLEASE stop translating “football” to “soccer” for us Merkins. We’re not as stupid as all that. Yeah, actually, we are. ☹ Not that I don’t agree that changing lexical items that differ between U.K. and U.S. English is completely obnoxious. > [@](#): > > My enjoyment of a BBC radio adaptation of a P.G. Wodehouse story was much diminished by this. Which Wodehouse story? > [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > look, guys, wait times for medical procedures are a serious problem in this city - why are you changing your policies to INCREASE them? Spite. Not to spite you, but to spite Americans who point to Canada as a bastion of health care system perfection. Sorry about that. ---
**Author:** ![SurrenderDorothy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/surrenderdorothy/32/1221_2.png) [@SurrenderDorothy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SurrenderDorothy)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2011, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/357 "2011-06-29T16:15:34Z")
I have a “friend in need” situation and obviously I have to help, but it kind of fucks up my life. She needs a place to stay, along with her two-year-old son. I have enough space for her and we had discussed it months and months ago. Problem is, months and months ago, I didn’t have two probably-not-good-with-kids (and kids would certainly not be good with them) foster dogs. If my friend and her son came to stay, my dogs would probably have to go. Since they’re fosters, I could conceivably find someone else to take them and ask them to match me up with two easy, kid-friendly dogs instead. It’s not quite the same as getting rid of a pet. But I’ve put a lot of work into these two dogs and they’ve made a lot of progress that they weren’t making anywhere else. Sending them to live in another foster home at this point could undo all that. So, on one hand… they’re just dogs. I don’t think they should have priority over my friend, who loves dogs and isn’t demanding that I give them up. It’s just that they really do better in a quiet house and one of them bites pretty badly and they wouldn’t be able to safely and peacefully co-exist with a two-year-old. But on the other hand… I mean, they’re my dogs. And they’re not goofy friendly dogs who take transitions just fine, either. They’re scared little mill rescues, on their way to learning that people, in general, aren’t going to hurt them… but not yet too sure of that. I don’t really know what’s right. Both seem wrong. I feel like a lousy human being. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/358 "2011-06-29T16:22:14Z")
That’s a shitty situation, **SD**. There’s really no good solution. ☹ Maybe find someone close by who can take the dogs so you can visit them a lot at first to help with the transition? If the kid were a little older, it could maybe be helpful for the dogs to have an opporunity to be exposed to more people, but two is probably just the worst age: old enough to be ambulatory, young enough to not be able to really understand how to be safe around a dog with a history of abuse. ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/359 "2011-06-29T17:04:21Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > All the best to Elliott - here’s hoping he wakes up soon and in good shape. It was an induced coma, I found out yesterday. He was scheduled to come out of it today… and he did! He’s alert and responsive. Thanks to everybody for the good thoughts. If you’re in the Austin area, [there’s going to be a benefit concert on Saturday](http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/music/entries/2011/06/29/beerland_holds_benefit_for_wax.html). You can also find the event on Facebook as “A Benefit for ELLIOTT TURTON of Waxeater.” ---
**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:** [June 29, 2011, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953/360 "2011-06-29T17:25:54Z")
Oh, sweet. I saw you’d bumped this thread up, **Guns** , and I was hoping that exactly this was the reason why. Yay “alert and responsive!” 🙂 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/its-time-for-june-mini-rants-be-the-second/583953.md?page=19)