# Rant, Write, and Boo (July Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [July 1, 2026, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327 "2026-07-01T07:38:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/241 "2026-07-24T05:27:01Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Spares need regular replacement too. I carry 3 spares on the Jeep. Why? Because I’ve had two flats out in the wilderness. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/242 "2026-07-24T11:35:36Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > > [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > > > existing 17-year-old spare > > Decent bet that thing would not have carried you a mile. Spares need regular replacement too Or worse, it would have caused a crash. Certainly it was dry-rotted after that many years & absolutely NOT safe to use. Any shop that would mount that for you (if they realized how old it was) is incompatent & I would **never** go there again ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/243 "2026-07-24T11:58:31Z")
Agree that ancient spare would be a near-instant failure _if_ they’d ever tried to drive on it. But I don’t think any shop was mounting the tire to wheel or the wheel to axle. It had just sat ignored and untouched baking in the sun on the back of the Jeep since the day the Jeep left the factory. Finally, the Jeep needed new tires and somebody (Jeep owner or shop person?) thought to look at the spare to see it was trash & that a swap with the best tire being removed was way overdue. If your vehicle has a full-sized spare then ideally every time you replace tire(s) you’d pull the old spare tire off the spare wheel and replace it with the best of the tires coming off. Setting aside special cases like dedicated off-roaders = @Gatopescado, very few modern cars come with full sized spares, or even spares at all. So, along with the knowledge of how / when / why to rotate tires, the knowledge about spare mainentance is rapidly disappearing. As is knowledge about manual transmissions, carburetors, chokes, manual spark advances, hand cranked starters and how to harness a team of horses to a wagon. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2026, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/244 "2026-07-24T12:18:08Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Finally, the Jeep needed new tires and somebody (Jeep owner or shop person?) thought to look at the spare to see it was trash & that a swap with the best tire being removed was way overdue. Yep, this was the case! No one tried to use the old spare. I am a little surprised that I had to be the one to suggest using the good tire to replace the spare (although the service advisor did ask if I wanted to keep the good tire). ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/245 "2026-07-24T13:59:44Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > I see the exact opposite; why should I try to work hard & beat my best time when I only need to wait a week & I’ll get a new ‘Fastest Mile’; it’s a participation trophy & you get (at least) 12 of 'em a year. I don’t want the (virtual) clutter! > [@LSLGuy](#): > > Super-rational people like you and I are not the target market for gamification. Running last night, my first mile was faster than my ‘fastest mile’ from Saturday & I _thought_ I figured it out, start out ~~running like crap~~ slowly & build throughout the month so that I get multiple, pointless ‘trophy’ awards…but then when I finished I didn’t see the stoopit, pointless trophy despite being 20 seconds faster than my dismal time on Saturday, so I’m changing my rant to it’s not even consistent on it’s stupidness. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/246 "2026-07-24T14:02:48Z")
_Sigh_ Another, thankfully brief, hospital stay. Saturday I overbalanced myself trying to pick up something and couldn’t get my feet under me to stand up. So I called 911 to get a boost up. I’ve done this before, but this time the EMTs thought I looked real pale and insisted on taking my vitals. Turned out my blood pressure was dangerously low, so they insisted on taking me to the hospital. Tests showed a number of issues, and I ended up getting both blood and an iron infusion. One good thing is that while I was there they gave me an endoscopy and drained fluid from my belly, both of which I was due for anyway. This saved me having to go the the clinic later. ---
**Author:** ![Eric1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/3bc359/32.png) [@Eric1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eric1)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/247 "2026-07-24T15:25:04Z")
Man Lurkmeister - that sounds rough so am sorry to hear about that! ---
**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:** [July 24, 2026, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/248 "2026-07-24T15:31:45Z")
I pit reading glasses that don’t have their magnification imprinted on the earpiece in a font size large enough to read without using a magnifying glass! I have to tape a sticker on every pair myself. I know someone who keeps the sticker on the lens itself. I’ve considered making up some kind of code, but that’s not really any easier than using the actual numbers. Depending on whether I’m wearing progressive glasses or single-vision scleral contact lenses, I need 4 different magifications lying about the house. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/249 "2026-07-24T15:35:06Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I put reading glasses that don’t have their magnification imprinted on the earpiece in a font size large enough to read without using a magnifying glass! This is why my contacts have big Ls and Rs written on their packets in Sharpie. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/250 "2026-07-24T15:43:27Z")
Just a reminder that a mobile phone camera makes a dandy magnifying glass. Another approach is to get 4 very different colors of nail polish, and paint one or both ear piece ends in the appropriate color. Something like Black, Green, Red, White in alphabetical order from weak to strong correction. Yes, that stuff is stupid expensive these days. But one set of nail polish bottles will last the rest of your life marking [whatevers] so you can tell them apart. I have red, white, and black from 15 years ago that are still mostly full and fully liquid. Being as you’re a lady, there’s even some chance you already have a couple of easy to tell apart colors. 😁 ---
**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:** [July 24, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/251 "2026-07-24T15:49:35Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Another approach is to get 4 very different colors of nail polish, and paint one or both ear piece ends in the appropriate color. Something like Black, Green, Red, White in alphabetical order from weak to strong correction. Yep, this is one of the schemes I’ve considered. Or a tag dangling from the earpiece. ---
**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:** [July 24, 2026, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/252 "2026-07-24T15:50:55Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Being as you’re a lady, there’s even some chance you already have a couple of easy to tell apart colors. 😁 Probably due to a lack of coffee, but I can’t figure this out… ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/253 "2026-07-24T15:56:47Z")
I’m a guy. When I need nail polish as marking paint I have to go buy some. Conversely, if my GF needed nail polish for marking paint she could go “shopping” in a drawer in her bathroom and choose from probably 20 shades. With the result that her marking paint would be “free” as in “already paid for.” I don’t know if you polish your nails; I can’t see them from here. But it’s at least plausible that you might. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/254 "2026-07-24T16:08:31Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Yes, that stuff is stupid expensive these days. 🤔 $1-$2 is super expensive? You don’t need to buy a $14 bottle of Essie if you just need to paint a dot of color on something. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/255 "2026-07-24T16:34:29Z")
The cheapest stuff I found at CVS or Walgreens was $7 about a year ago. Where should I be shopping instead? Not that I’m likely to need another bottle during my remaining life. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/256 "2026-07-24T16:37:41Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Being as you’re a lady, there’s even some chance you already have a couple of easy to tell apart colors. 😁 appropriate _non_-XKCD How the sexes see colors - Men vs. women [![](https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4E22AQHGbIex2BaPfw/feedshare-shrink_800/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1575594508697?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=vLyiVxrC9cMG7s3b8euRDZwlOBsKkOy1_APUSF8vXsQ) ](https://media.licdn.com/dms/image/v2/C4E22AQHGbIex2BaPfw/feedshare-shrink_800/feedshare-shrink_800/0/1575594508697?e=2147483647&v=beta&t=vLyiVxrC9cMG7s3b8euRDZwlOBsKkOy1_APUSF8vXsQ) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/257 "2026-07-24T16:37:58Z")
For this purpose, a stop at Dollar Tree (which has most items at $1.25 these days, but that’s a separate grumble) would be quite sufficient. A hobby shop might well also have multi-packs of small containers of inexpensive paints in the kids’ section. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/258 "2026-07-24T16:39:36Z")
Wally-world also has cheap polish. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/259 "2026-07-24T17:39:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Another approach is to get 4 very different colors of nail polish, and paint one or both ear piece ends in the appropriate color. I’m a guy. I do not wear nail polish. but I have a couple of bottles for just this purpose. Works great. Also, If your ‘nubs’ wear off of your F and J keys. A little dab will allow you to feel them again. ---
**Author:** ![moes\_lotion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ba0ec/32.png) [@moes\_lotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/moes_lotion)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2026, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327/260 "2026-07-24T19:16:54Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Factually speaking, it is not irresponsible. Many driving schools teach braking approaching “stale greens” and bus drivers and truck drivers are always supposed to do this because they’re ferrying so much mass that they don’t want to try to brake suddenly and inadvertently running reds are bad when your job is on the line. Here in Toronto probably 95% of all traffic lights also have pedestrian walk/Don’t Walk display that start counting down the number of seconds until the light is going to switch from green to yellow, so drivers should have sufficient information to know if they need to start braking. Of course, more than half of the drivers (and I admit that sometimes I’m one) use this as a trigger to speed up so they can get through the intersection before the light turns red. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rant-write-and-boo-july-mini-rants/1031327.md?page=14)