# March of the Rantoneers (March mini-rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 2, 2023, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582 "2023-03-02T09:22:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 16
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/301 "2023-03-30T00:30:35Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Whoops! Brain fart. It was right side out, but it was backwards. - As long as it wasn’t upside-down. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/302 "2023-03-30T00:42:01Z")
Hoo-ray, it’s snake season again in the Commonwealth. I don’t mind, but Mrs. J. has a powerful aversion to legless reptiles, so she was not at all happy today to see Pluto the spaniel barking and pawing at a snake in his fenced yard, who responded by coiling and lunging at him. Fortunately (?) I was nearby and was able to drive the snake into a large flower pot and eject him from the yard. Based on size, conformation and disposition it was a nonvenomous rat snake, but that cuts no ice with the missus. So now I have been assigned all late-day dog walks, on the theory that p.m. snake encounters are far more likely than early a.m. ones. Swell. ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/303 "2023-03-30T04:29:04Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > I’m told that, during my kindergarten class play (which was being broadcast on the public access channel for some reason), I kept raising the skirt of my dress over my head. At the age of four, my older daughter amused herself during the children’s sermon (for which all the children in the congregation went up and sat on the chancel steps, facing the congregation) by repeatedly rolling the skirt of her dress up to her chest and then letting it fall back to her knees. She saw me urgently trying to signal her to cut it out, but she was clearly puzzled and just kept mouthing, “What??” to me. I wore shirts to work inside out at least twice; I came out of the bathroom with the back of my skirt tucked into the waistband of my underwear once. Thanks to my female co-workers who follow The Code, only one other person ever knew about each of those incidents. (The time I wore one black and one brown ankle boot with long slacks, I believe I’m the only one who noticed. Perks of sitting behind a desk all day, I suppose.) ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/304 "2023-03-30T12:18:23Z")
I put my underwear on inside out today. Didn’t realize it until after I put shoes on so I’m just going to deal. Not only that, the underwire sproinged out on my bra a d this is my last clean one. Today is not my day for clothes. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/305 "2023-03-30T17:15:54Z")
Anti-rant! For nearly a year now, my dishwasher has been making a clunking noise every time I run it. It was easy to find the cause – the lower washer arm, which has a fair amount of play in it, was hitting a raised part of the dishwasher bottom. But what to do about it? Teh Interwebs had conflicting solutions. One guy said the fix was to replace the washer arm, because the part that inserts into the water outlet gets worn with use and becomes shortened. Another said no, the real problem was a worn washer, which turns out to be tricky to replace, but a more plausible explanation. I removed the arm to take a closer look. Judging by the scuff marks, only one end was hitting. I also noticed that some of the holes were plugged on one side. I drilled out the residue and reassembled it. I didn’t have much hope that this would fix the problem, but at least it would spray properly. Huzzah! No more clunking! Apparently the imbalance of spray forces was tilting the arm, causing the hitting. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2023, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/306 "2023-03-30T17:34:25Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > I put my underwear on inside out today. Didn’t realize it until after I put shoes on so I’m just going to deal. Technically, you can turn them right-side-out and re-wear tomorrow, thus saving yourself a smidge of laundry. (Old camping/travel trick, from Ye Olden Dayes before quick-dry fancy materials.) > [@Catamount](#): > > Not only that, the underwire sproinged out on my bra Ouch. No fun. (May I humbly suggest going wireless? Boobies, not tech. But the way they’re made now is so. much. better. than the crap wire-free bras of long ago, I’ve found them to be - unlike my mother - quite supportive.) > [@wolfpup](#): > > Huzzah! No more clunking! Nice! ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/307 "2023-03-30T17:37:46Z")
My coworkers are something else. A man pulled up to the pay window but no order showed. I looked to the woman with the headset who loudly yelled, Tell me to speak english!" He heard that, and said, I do speak english, which I understood clearly. She told him to pull around again but he left. Then the night manager came in, saw we were short staffed and was upset and cursing in front of the customers! ---
**Author:** ![Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mundane_super_hero/32/6304_2.png) [@Mundane\_Super\_Hero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mundane_Super_Hero)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/308 "2023-03-30T21:57:51Z")
Almost the last day of March. Why did it take so long? > **[NY grand jury votes to indict Donald Trump, sources tell CNN | CNN Politics](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/30/politics/donald-trump-indictment/index.html)** > > A grand jury in Manhattan has voted to indict Donald Trump, according to three sources familiar with the matter -- the first time in American history that a current or former president will face criminal charges. ---
**Author:** ![peedin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peedin/32/14095_2.png) [@peedin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/peedin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/309 "2023-03-30T22:00:50Z")
Getting into my pjs tonight, I realized I had been wearing my sweater front to back all day. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2023, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/310 "2023-03-30T23:55:48Z")
My job entails a lot of needing things from other people. I have a grant due tomorrow. I asked two people several questions last week. I told them I needed answers by Wednesday because I have to wordsmith everything into a cohesive grant proposal. More than enough time for what I needed. They met Tuesday to iron out the details. Nothing from them on Wednesday. Talked to one of them Wednesday afternoon. “Other person is just about to send it out,” she said. Nothing Thursday morning. Emailed them today, Thursday noon. Said, “Hey, I’m really busy tomorrow which is why I asked for this by yesterday, and I need your answers today.” “We’ll send it this afternoon,” they said. Now 8pm on Thursday and my inbox is empty. Are they really going to give me this shit on the day the grant is fucking due? I really wasn’t fucking kidding when I said I was really busy tomorrow. I guess some people don’t want any fucking money for their program. Also I’m stuck in a nightmare of food addiction right now and I don’t know how to get out of it. I don’t want to die young. I’m just having a real hard time with self care. I set myself a rock bottom goal of touching my toes once a day. Mission accomplished. But it was a psychological struggle _to touch my fucking toes_ so IDK what the fuck is going on. I’m so tired. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/311 "2023-03-31T07:37:34Z")
Why do newer automated phone services seem to think that voice is superior to touch tone? It’s always worse, since it has to recognize what you say. And it’s much slower, since you can’t just press the buttons before they finish talking. I couldn’t ever get it to understand my birthday for my prescription. At least in the past, you could press numbers or say words. But that seems to be gone. I’m hoping that it will have to page a real person often enough that they’ll realize the old system was far more efficient. I’ve never had trouble with an automated phone system until now. I tried twice and I couldn’t get things done. And I’m already late for bed, so it was easy to get frustrated. Jus needed to vent a bit. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/312 "2023-03-31T08:03:42Z")
I swear. I mean I swear a lot when I have to deal with those so-called voice-recognition. The worst of it is when you have no option but to say something to the thing, then it says, “I think you said ‘Bzmplforf’. If that is correct, say or press ‘1’.” Look, you obviously have the capability to have key input. Let me do that from the beginning if that’s what makes me happy in my dealings with you. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/313 "2023-03-31T16:09:04Z")
Literally day of deadline now, and I have nothing from my coworker. I told her I don’t know if I’ll have time to submit the grant today or not. I sent several fucking reminders I don’t know how I could have done much better. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/314 "2023-03-31T18:02:17Z")
Really the only choice is to throw coworker under the bus and copy their manager or someone-high-up-who-really-cares-about-the-grant on the email chain. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/315 "2023-03-31T19:06:29Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I don’t know how I could have done much better. I don’t, either. This seems to fall firmly into Not Your Problem. They’re possibly going to squawk, blame you, etc., but: 1. You communicated clearly and specifically. 2. They acknolwedged and agreed to your terms. 3. They didn’t come through. How is this on you? ---
**Author:** ![InternetLegend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/internetlegend/32/13154_2.png) [@InternetLegend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InternetLegend)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2023, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/316 "2023-03-31T19:27:45Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Why do newer automated phone services seem to think that voice is superior to touch tone? It’s always worse, since it has to recognize what you say. And it’s much slower, since you can’t just press the buttons before they finish talking. I **hate** this trend! What if I _don’t_ want everyone in the immediate area to know my business? How about if I’m remembering to complete a phone-based task while others are trying to watch TV or sleep? And what if - remote possibility for an aging person, I know - I can’t hear all that well? It’s not just phone services, either. My own new Roku remote has turned on me and is constantly offering to let me talk to it instead of pressing buttons. Thanks but no thanks. ---
**Author:** ![dorvann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@dorvann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dorvann)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/317 "2023-04-01T16:48:07Z")
Replying to my own post to say my mother got another package in the mail TODAY with free COVID 19 tests(4 boxes with two tests each) She now has stack of about 60 boxes. Is this a common thing? Anyone else keep getting FREE covid tests in the mail? ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/318 "2023-04-01T19:49:28Z")
Well, no, cuz your mom is hogging them all. 😋 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2023, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582/319 "2023-04-01T20:17:47Z")
> [@dorvann](#): > > Is this a common thing? Anyone else keep getting FREE covid tests in the mail? Yes, but I’m in the habit of testing myself anytime I think there’s a hint I might have it, so they get used. And thanks to them I’m pretty sure I haven’t had it in a long time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-of-the-rantoneers-march-mini-rants/980582.md?page=15)