# New Year’s Rant Solutions (January mini-rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 1, 2024, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437 "2024-01-01T06:00:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/201 "2024-01-10T17:45:07Z")
I just finished a game I got for free called A Plague Tale: Requiem. Beautiful, great setting, OK mechanics, emotionally intelligent, and an awesome main character. But I haven’t been more pissed at a game’s ending since Last of Us. Spoilers Ahoy! You spend the entire game (and the previous game apparently) trying to save your cursed, 5 year old little brother from various bad guys and an evil force called the Macula. You kill dozens of people, die repeatedly, watch family and friends perish, all in order to save your brother. The “ending” forces you (or your companion if you were too pissed at the game to do it) to kill your brother to save the world. That’s right, you murder, get stabbed, shot, fall from heights, suffer massive injuries, watch your family and friends die for absolutely nothing. And, working to keep him alive results in the death of tens to hundreds of thousands, maybe millions, of people in the game because your brother can’t control anything. The best actual outcome for the game would be to allow yourself and your brother to die in the first scenario. It would save millions of lives, save your family and friends, and stop months of massive pain and suffering by the protagonists. I actually thought about that when the game first started introducing the world. That maybe just killing him immediately is the best outcome ever. Turns out I was right. I don’t need happy endings to love a game. Hell, Walking Dead Season 1 is my favorite game of all time. But this was ridiculous. Silly rant over. ---
**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:** [January 10, 2024, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/202 "2024-01-10T18:53:29Z")
I feel so tired and put-upon today. I’m working on something someone else should have done. Half the people failed show up to my meeting today, which was pretty important, and I wasn’t able to get that piece done as a result. I’m very tired. I gave myself extra time to fall asleep last night and I slept another hour after I got my kid off to school and I’m still tired. I hope it’s not long COVID. ---
**Author:** ![slalexan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@slalexan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slalexan)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2024, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/203 "2024-01-10T19:29:32Z")
> [@slalexan](#): > > My grandfather lives in a nursing home. He’s been falling a lot lately. Luckily he doesn’t get seem to get hurt when he falls but he can’t get himself up. It’s been happening a lot and my mother, who is the primary decision maker for health care things for him, doesn’t seem to think anything is seriously wrong because he isn’t hurt. It kind of makes sense. One of the times he fell, he was found with a pillow under his head. He might be “falling” for attention but it’s happening too much. I kind of wish they’d find something wrong so we could fix it. It’s just weird and hard to see people age right in front of you like that. Annnnnndd now he’s in the hospital. He didn’t fall again but he was acting weird and his blood pressure and heart rate were really low. They have him in the ICU on a CPAP. My mom gave me all the details in a weird, discombobulated way. I don’t really know what is going on with him. But he’s definitely sick. Meanwhile, the toddler greeted me today by puking all over the kitchen. The husband stayed home with him today and I’ll be home with him tomorrow. What a great start to the year. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/204 "2024-01-11T02:13:02Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > And the mouse invasion continues. And at the campus where I work in Beijing, there’s a herd, nay, a plague of feral cats. Why? Someone got the bright idea to have the student-run charity association “raise money to buy cat houses\*, blankets, and food” for the critters. So we now have a bunch of miniature houses occupied by wild animals. And the food? Oh, that’s wonderful, too. If you’re putting out food to feed feral cats, you’re also putting out food to feed other animals, such as mice and rats. Years ago, when the school had a foreign headmaster, he and I tried to do the trap, neuter, and return program for the feral creatures. No dice. The students are addicted to the idea that “cats = cute, cuddly, and friendly”. So what we have now is unvaccinated, non-neutered predator animals all over the campus. I’m wondering how soon it will be before one of the students gets a serious consequence from this. I already know what happened to the bird population on the campus. \*Seriously, that’s how the things are labeled. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/205 "2024-01-11T02:22:04Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > So what we have now is unvaccinated, non-neutered predator animals all over the campus. So, colleges in China really aren’t all that different from colleges in America. ( How many different ‘Meows’ can the cats say on a match…? ) ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/206 "2024-01-11T03:36:49Z")
This school is a private pre-K~12 school. ---
**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 11, 2024, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/207 "2024-01-11T07:13:50Z")
> [@Hamlet](#): > > I actually thought about that when the game first started introducing the world. That maybe just killing him immediately is the best outcome ever. Turns out I was right. What happens if you restart the game and do exactly that? Or is that possible? ---
**Author:** ![Hamlet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hamlet/32/2818_2.png) [@Hamlet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hamlet)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/208 "2024-01-11T13:53:59Z")
It doesnt bring about an actual ending. If your character dies, it’s game over. If you dont save your brother or he dies, it’s game over. Anything outside of the ending is just head canon. ---
**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 11, 2024, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/209 "2024-01-11T20:21:30Z")
My mother has been texting me for two days asking about my opinion on something on FB. The “something” is a nice birthday video her frienemy posted in honor of her (my mother’s frienemy’s) daughter. I replied at first that I hadn’t seen it. She sent me a direct link. It’s the mom proudly talking about her daughter’s achievements. Cool, cool. Did I mention, “frienemy?” Her daughter has a PhD. I only have a masters. Her daughter does fancy lectures at important universities. I currently work (quite happily, thankyouverymuch) at a pizza joint. You think I haven’t been compared, for years? The kicker is my mother’s last two messages. 1a.) Why don’t you ever post like that for my birthday, or your father’s? (_cue pose of utter woe_) and 2b.) I can stop messaging your phone forever. … I believe the final was meant as a threat, but, just like every group chat or message board thread _ever_ where someone flounces out saying, “You’ll NEVER hear from me again!!” I can only just wish that were true. > [@Monty](#): > > have the student-run charity association “raise money to buy cat houses\*, blankets, and food” for the critters. I suppose a charity fundraiser to get birdseed, volunteers to build bird feeders and birdhouses, and **pamphlets explaining how feral predators impact local wildlife** is out of the question? ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/210 "2024-01-11T20:43:13Z")
My work, and specifically the department I’m in, did a series of dumb things at a bad time. Right after our blackout period, when no one can schedule vacation, which is also right after Jan 1, when paid time banks get a boost, meaning that people can take time off spontaneously, multiple big processes got an overhaul. Meaning individual steps take more time, as we need to review multiple new policies and references. Just as the larger department has updated what is transferred to the department I’m in, increasing intake. So more contacts, more complex contacts that take longer, on the fly corrections being made for sops where mistakes were made, when people have scheduled vacation or are potentially indulging in spontaneous time off, and things are crazy at work. Any one of those factors would have been a busy time, but doable. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/211 "2024-01-11T20:47:32Z")
Might as well put this here too, since it’s a pretty small rant: The Polls Only thread has stopped updating me about new posts so I keep reading replies to ones I haven’t seen yet. I’ve tried changing from “tracking” to “watching” and back but that hasn’t worked. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/212 "2024-01-11T21:04:19Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Her daughter has a PhD. I only have a masters. Her daughter does fancy lectures at important universities. I currently work (quite happily, thankyouverymuch) at a pizza joint. > You think I haven’t been compared, for years? It sounds like you both have annoying mothers in common. You’re doing good. We’re proud of you. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/213 "2024-01-11T22:26:38Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > You’re doing good. We’re proud of you. Indeed we are! Shoot, I brag about our **shoe** to just about any friend or family who will listen. Being **@purplehorseshoe** ’s friend gives me cool kid cachet. ---
**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 11, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/214 "2024-01-11T22:31:48Z")
{ _blushes_ } { _looks down_ } { _wiggles toes self-consciously_ } Aw, shucks, y’all. Thanks. I kinda really needed that. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/215 "2024-01-11T23:02:26Z")
I pit long outerwear (think rain coats or trench coats) that lack usable pockets. For a long time I have owned a Misty Harbor trench coat with a detachable lining. Now that I live in Oregon it could be far more useful than it was where bought it, but I never use it, because of the pockets. It has only two outer side pockets, slanted down towards the rear, and on the rearward side each pocket is only about three inches deep. So I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of carrying anything important like my wallet, keys, or phone there; in other words, any item the loss of which would be a day-wrecking minor disaster. Also there can be no pockets easier to pick, although that’s not something I usually have to worry about. In addition to trench coats and similar garments, even short jackets should have at least one, but preferably two, inside pockets with zipper closures. Far more common are button pockets,but those are a pain to use. ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/216 "2024-01-11T23:21:16Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > Far more common are button pockets,but those are a pain to use. It is fairly easy to replace buttons with Velcro. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/217 "2024-01-11T23:28:35Z")
Today is six years since my niece was killed in a car crash. I ask that in her memory, you be kind to stranges, kind to animals, and eat Nutella. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2024, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/218 "2024-01-11T23:29:51Z")
I’ve never tried Nutella, so I’m going to soon.💚 ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/219 "2024-01-11T23:30:27Z")
Scottevest and lands end are my go to for outer wear. Good pockets. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2024, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437/220 "2024-01-11T23:48:51Z")
> [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](#): > > I pit long outerwear (think rain coats or trench coats) that lack usable pockets. A couple of days ago, it rained. My son (44) walks about two miles to work and he put his last two layers on in the front room, where I was checking email. He zipped up a plastic-covered trench coat, shoved his hands down into the big front pockets and said: “You jealous, Mom? Seventeen pockets!” (That included all the layers and the cargo pants.) And, yes, I kind of was. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-year-s-rant-solutions-january-mini-rants/995437.md?page=12)