# March Minirant Madness **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 1, 2011, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063 "2011-03-01T15:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/101 "2011-03-03T08:43:29Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Can we include irrational irritations here, too? The assholes I see driving around in their driving wheel on the right side cars piss me right off - that’s not how cars are made here, and that’s not where the driver goes. I don’t think it’s safe to drive like that, either - our cars and roads and everything are set up for left-side driver’s wheel (I’m not entirely sure, though, hence my somewhat-irrational irritation). I don’t have a linky, but apparently there was a stat a couple years back in the UK showing that a very high percentage of car accidents there involved left-side-driver cars, usually driven by tourists from mainland Europe who brought their car over. The guys on the radio were turning that one around for a few days, one of them wondered whether it might even make more economic sense to leave the car home, fly and rent - instead of running some back of the envelope calculation, he got actual figures and yes, for many people it was cheaper. Their guess (and mine, based on the conversations I’d had with the rest of my Spanish coworkers there) is that people were more afraid of driving an unfamiliar car than on driving on roads set the wrong way for your car. Our own experience was that it didn’t take much longer to get used to “everything is flipped” than to “this is not my car and where the bloody hades do these people hide the lights?” I know someone who bought a wrong-hand car on purpose (well, Littlebro does): his hobby is fancy cars, he buys them preferably in not-so-good shape, fixes them and doesn’t go beyond four of them. If there is another one he wants, he must sell one of the four current toys. The only time he drove his wrong-side car was for hobby car meetings or on the racetrack (the garage where he keeps the toys is beside one): the idea of risking this doll in regular traffic made him go white, Littlebro says. “Local cabbies are scary enough when I’m in the A4, I’m not letting the Rover within 100km of them!” ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/102 "2011-03-03T13:52:53Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > How funny that you got that completely backward. You think everyone ignores you? Only in the dream SDMB that lives in my head. SEE, even I get sucked in ☹ ---
**Author:** ![PoorYorick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecccb3/32.png) [@PoorYorick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PoorYorick)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/103 "2011-03-03T15:32:39Z")
> [@Grapefruit](#): > > A piece of my tooth fell out. ARGH! It doesn’t hurt and I don’t think it’s affecting the root, but I’m annoyed because it’s on the front of my teeth and I keep running my tongue over it. My dentist is always crazy busy so I don’t even know if she’ll have time to see it this week. And my fortune cookie last night said “Luck is with you this month”. Stupid lying fortune cookie!!! Well, just imagine if it _wasn’t_ your lucky month. Your whole tooth might have fallen out, or your tongue, or uvula, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/104 "2011-03-03T15:43:51Z")
I pit people like Luis Moreno who still see animals as inanimate objects to be kicked aside when they get in the way. ---
**Author:** ![slumtrimpet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@slumtrimpet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slumtrimpet)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/105 "2011-03-03T15:53:15Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I don’t have a linky, but apparently there was a stat a couple years back in the UK showing that a very high percentage of car accidents there involved left-side-driver cars, usually driven by tourists from mainland Europe who brought their car over. The guys on the radio were turning that one around for a few days, one of them wondered whether it might even make more economic sense to leave the car home, fly and rent - instead of running some back of the envelope calculation, he got actual figures and yes, for many people it was cheaper. Their guess (and mine, based on the conversations I’d had with the rest of my Spanish coworkers there) is that people were more afraid of driving an unfamiliar car than on driving on roads set the wrong way for your car. > > Our own experience was that it didn’t take much longer to get used to “everything is flipped” than to “this is not my car and where the bloody hades do these people hide the lights?” > > I know someone who bought a wrong-hand car on purpose (well, Littlebro does): his hobby is fancy cars, he buys them preferably in not-so-good shape, fixes them and doesn’t go beyond four of them. If there is another one he wants, he must sell one of the four current toys. The only time he drove his wrong-side car was for hobby car meetings or on the racetrack (the garage where he keeps the toys is beside one): the idea of risking this doll in regular traffic made him go white, Littlebro says. “Local cabbies are scary enough when I’m in the A4, I’m not letting the Rover within 100km of them!” Speaking from experience, it’s far easier to drive on wrong way around roads than it is to drive a flipped car - especially a standard shift one! ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/106 "2011-03-03T16:07:19Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > The assholes I see driving around in their driving wheel on the right side cars piss me right off Not that I’m doubting you, but how often do you see this? I don’t think I’ve ever seen a right-hand-drive car except when I was in a country that drives on the left side of the road. > [@Alice\_The\_Goon](#): > > With all due respect, it’s not really up to the other person to change. They are who they are. It’s up to you to either accept them for who they are, or move on. All well and good when you have the option, as with friends (or sometimes even family). Not so much with something like a job. > [@Lionne](#): > > I pit people like Luis Moreno who still see animals as inanimate objects to be kicked aside when they get in the way. [Wow.](http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/mar/02/owl-colombia-luis-moreno-dies) What a dick. I especially love his “It wasn’t my intention to hurt the animal.” What, you think kicking a living creature is going to help it? ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/107 "2011-03-03T16:43:31Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > What, you think kicking a living creature is going to help it? That calls for an experiment. I can think of a few test subjects we could use. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/108 "2011-03-03T16:56:31Z")
> [@Avarie537](#): > > I’m almost done with my last quarter of in-class work for my AAS degree. I have to have an internship lined up by next week (I think) and I’m scrambling here! I had one place I was really hoping to sign on with, and apparently the person who reviews resumes has very odd hours. It’s been over two weeks and I still haven’t heard anything back. I know I was stupid to pin my hopes on one place, but my instructor is one of the DVMs there and we get along really well, plus i KNOW they just had someone quit. > > So yesterday I called 14 places and am going to be spending a large portion of my day sending emails and preparing cover letters for faxes. My anxiety levels are rising right now … I haven’t worked at all in three years, and haven’t interviewed for a job since 2005. I really really need a paid position so I can pay for day care for my two kids as well. Otherwise we are going to spend the bulk of our tax refund on day care for three months instead of paying down one of my credit cards. > > AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHH! Update … I asked the gal at the front desk (at school) to fax things for me on Tuesday night. When I called the places on Wednesday, all of the faxes had gone through BLANK. Yep - she loaded the pages upside down! So I had to ask the daytime receptionist to send them for me again (we are not allowed access to the fax machine). She gave me attitude about even doing it, even though we’ve been told that we can have things faxed for us. And then I call the places again today to ensure that they’ve gone through properly, and only one of them did! ARGH again. Thankfully, those clinics do have email, so I was at least able to re-re-send them today. I am having HORRIBLE anxiety issues over this and all of these little bumps along the road are not helping! ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/109 "2011-03-03T17:16:32Z")
> [@villa](#): > > That calls for an experiment. I can think of a few test subjects we could use. Board rules prevent me from making the specific candidate suggestions I otherwise would. > [@Avarie537](#): > > When I called the places on Wednesday, all of the faxes had gone through BLANK. Yep - she loaded the pages upside down! Could be worse. She could be retarded instead of just unobservant: she might have faxed them folded, for privacy. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/110 "2011-03-03T17:18:32Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Could be worse. She could be retarded instead of just unobservant: she might have faxed them folded, for privacy. Let’s not joke about this sort of thing. I was found once faxing a reference letter to a grant agency. Trouble is, said letter was in a sealed envelope. I had no idea why everyone in the office was standing around laughing at me sending a fax. ---
**Author:** ![Double\_Foolscap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85e7bf/32.png) [@Double\_Foolscap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Double_Foolscap)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/111 "2011-03-03T17:22:39Z")
The librarian at my old school was surprised to find out that you needed to fill the fax machine with paper; she thought that it was sent along with the message. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/112 "2011-03-03T17:29:29Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Let’s not joke about this sort of thing. I was found once faxing a reference letter to a grant agency. Trouble is, said letter was in a sealed envelope. I had no idea why everyone in the office was standing around laughing at me sending a fax. My condolences. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/113 "2011-03-03T17:41:20Z")
It was a long time ago. Technology was a new thing! I think I imagined it as some sort of Star Trek transporter device. But I got the grant, anyway. My current rant - just completed my first resume in over 7 years. I fucking hate doing that. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/114 "2011-03-03T17:41:43Z")
> [@villa](#): > > I was found once faxing a reference letter to a grant agency. Trouble is, said letter was in a sealed envelope. My entire view of you has just been shattered. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/115 "2011-03-03T17:42:49Z")
Three times in two days these Escoffiers down the hall have burned the microwave popcorn. I’m struggling not to retch. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/116 "2011-03-03T17:47:15Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > My entire view of you has just been shattered. It was 1989. Or early 1990. Around that time you would probably have tried to fax your My Little Pony to Santa. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/117 "2011-03-03T17:53:37Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > For my mini-rant, is anyone else getting that incredibly sexist ad from Time Warner about the washing machine? It wouldn’t bother me so much if I didn’t have to hear it 20 times a day… YES. Fuck Time Warner. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/118 "2011-03-03T17:54:38Z")
> [@villa](#): > > My current rant - just completed my first resume in over 7 years. I fucking hate doing that. Ugh, gross. My symathies. Current dire need (i.e., lost your job), anticipating dire need soon (i.e., expecting to lose your job), or looking for something different (i.e., hate your job)? > [@villa](#): > > It was 1989. Or early 1990. Around that time you would probably have tried to fax your My Little Pony to Santa. Actually, IIRC around that time I was programming in BASIC. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/119 "2011-03-03T17:58:23Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Ugh, gross. My symathies. Current dire need (i.e., lost your job), anticipating dire need soon (i.e., expecting to lose your job), or looking for something different (i.e., hate your job)? Anticipation. Reaching near certainty level. > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Actually, IIRC around that time I was programming in BASIC. Well you were programming about your My Little Pony then. So there. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2011, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063/120 "2011-03-03T18:17:33Z")
> [@villa](#): > > Anticipation. Reaching near certainty level. You’re a better man than I, then–there’s a decent chance I’m looking at a layoff but hell if I can bring myself to even look at my resume. I loathe that shit with a passion. > [@](#): > > Well you were programming about your My Little Pony then. I did \*not \*have a My Little Pony, TYVM. I had a \*basket \*of them. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-minirant-madness/573063.md?page=7)