# Ranting like March Hares - or somesuch **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 1, 2013, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705 "2013-03-01T06:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![R3d\_Anonymous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/aeb1de/32.png) [@R3d\_Anonymous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/R3d_Anonymous)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/21 "2013-03-02T00:28:46Z")
Also, according to this Dark Phantom Review article, a recent poll was done to show that 72% of Spaniards have no interest in bullfighting. This climbs to over 80% in Catalonia. While this doesn’t clearly imply that their “opposed” or “against” bullfighting, it does show that 72% of the people living there wouldn’t really give a shit if it was abolished. So to all of you that say, “It’s a tradition. How would you like it if (some example),” it’s time you realize that a lot of Spaniards don’t have interest in this activity either. > [@](#): > > The latest polls in Spain show us that over 72% of Spanish people have no interest in bullfighting. This climbs to over 80% in the autonomous region of Catalonia. Anti-bullfighting sentiment is growing across Europe and Latin America – people are standing up against the protection of bullfighting as part of national heritage and calling for an end to this cruel spectacle. > > Furthermore, the WSPA believes that culture is no excuse for cruelty, no matter where in the world it happens or the rationale behind it. > > Unfortunately a huge amount of support also comes from tourism; again because tourists are led to believe that bullfighting is part of a particular country. They are unwittingly supporting a dying industry that thrives on the torture of an animal: many leave the fights shaken and disturbed by what they have witnessed, which is, simply, animal cruelty for the sake of entertainment. > [@](#): > > In Spain, there is a small group of powerful and influential people behind the bullfighting industry that are keeping it alive. Bullrings are suffering from declining attendance and a lack of patience from the public in terms of its increasing awareness of animal welfare. Unfortunately, government officials often hesitate to speak out against the spectacle; as was the case a few years ago with foxhunting in the UK. However, the Spanish people are telling us they have had enough, as shown in Catalonia and the Canary Islands (who have also banned bullfighting), and by the recent banning of the broadcast of bullfights on state TV, following the assertion that it is too violent for children. We think it is about time that the government listens to its citizens and ends bullfighting for good in Spain. EVERYONE WHO IS AGAINST BULLFIGHTING, HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO TO FURTHER WEAKEN THE EXISTENCE OF BULLFIGHTING IN SPAIN: > [@](#): > > The number one thing that people can do to help end bullfighting is not to visit bullfights when they go abroad. Tourist money is a huge factor in keeping the industry alive. Whilst curiosity can often lead people to ‘just go once’, this is enough to sustain the industry and the animal cruelty that it promotes. > > You can pledge not to visit a bullfight at WSPA member society The League Against Cruel Sports. > Sign the WSPA/ADDA petition to end bullfighting in Catalonia. > Spread the word to any friends, family and colleagues, especially if you know they are visiting Europe anytime soon. > Write to politicians in your own country, asking them to call on bullfighting countries to improve standards of animal welfare and not to promote cruelty for entertainment’s sake. ETA: If you’re really so desperate to fulfill your curiosity about bullfighting, view it on TV. Don’t attend the bullfights; the real way to stop bullfighting in Spain is by _weakening their revenue from tourists_. Once they stop earning the kind of money they earn right now, we may actually have a chance to get this evil practice abolished. ---
**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 2, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/22 "2013-03-02T00:31:10Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > I found these about five years ago. They have never leaked. Quite pricey but worth every penny. > > [Tupperware Midgets](http://order.tupperware.ca/pls/htprod_wwwcan/tup_show_item.show_item_detail?fv_item_category_code=10201&fv_item_number=P10068217000) I second this! I have several in rotation for holding mustard…I’ve never had one leak or pop open, even when placed in a smallish cooler with ice packs. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/23 "2013-03-02T00:33:13Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > All the water soaked into the dirt under the house, or as I like to think of it as having been released back into the wilds from captivity. 😛 You realize your house is going to sink straight into the ground now. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/24 "2013-03-02T01:47:22Z")
Ah Farkety fuck fuck fuck. Brace yourselves for another wave of trolls and morons. FARK just linked a SD article on their main page. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/25 "2013-03-02T02:31:28Z")
My mini-rant for today is that it took me forever to find this – um – mini-rant thread. Because no one posted a link in the February one, and because I was searching for march instead of March. Who knew search was so picky? ---
**Author:** ![Chef\_Troy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/85f322/32.png) [@Chef\_Troy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chef_Troy)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/26 "2013-03-02T02:54:33Z")
I signed up with a temp agency to get some more freelance editing and proofreading work. They were careful to say they couldn’t guarantee me work but added that they generally keep their editors and proofreaders pretty busy. They’ve called me about a couple of jobs, but nothing has panned out. This despite the fact that I scored higher on their editing and proofreading tests than almost everyone who has ever taken them. I’m GOOD at this job. I’m almost certainly better at it than the people who actually got picked. What is your fucking problem, temp agency clients? I just want to work. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/27 "2013-03-02T03:44:24Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > HEY! It’s March already! > > Stop posting in the other thread 😛 I flatlined it 😃 Bob the cat put Lucky the cat in the trash can again today. He did it in the 20 minutes between the time that we left for work and Karen the housekeeper came in. Karen now wants a raise because her heart just can’t take opening the trash can and having a cat jumping out at her. I want her to just keep the kitchen door closed. She doesn’t want to do that because she is in and out so often, and she likes having Lucky hanging out with her. Karen’s raise is Bill’s problem, my problem is that if she doesn’t keep the cats out of the kitchen, Bob will put Lucky in the trash can and I will have to give Lucky a water bath. Lucky and I are not best friends tonight. I’m not especially happy with Bob, either. ---
**Author:** ![Flutterby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/28 "2013-03-02T03:48:52Z")
> [@perfectparanoia](#): > > I found these about five years ago. They have never leaked. Quite pricey but worth every penny. > > [Tupperware Midgets](http://order.tupperware.ca/pls/htprod_wwwcan/tup_show_item.show_item_detail?fv_item_category_code=10201&fv_item_number=P10068217000) > [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > I second this! I have several in rotation for holding mustard…I’ve never had one leak or pop open, even when placed in a smallish cooler with ice packs. I’ll see if I can find some nearby, maybe a Tupperware lady. I swear one of the other Moms at the school hands out flyers like that. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/29 "2013-03-02T03:56:12Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Karen now wants a raise because her heart just can’t take opening the trash can and having a cat jumping out at her. I want her to just keep the kitchen door closed. She doesn’t want to do that because she is in and out so often, and she likes having Lucky hanging out with her. Can you get a different type of garbage can? Or put it in a cabinet? ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/30 "2013-03-02T04:04:28Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Fine, bullfighting is not the worst practice out there, but are you just going to dismiss this issue just because other places are worse? Nope.. I’m going to dismiss your argument because, as always, you research part of an issue and regurgitate it as if it’s New And Shiny. My point was that bullfighting is practiced in France, Japan, and Texas, as well as a number of other countries who practice non-lethal forms of it ( but which still result in injuries ) but you completely ignored them in favor of dissing the Spanish. So it’s only bad if the Spanish are doing it? If not, then why not phrase your argument as “bullfighting is bad” full stop? Or, hey, “animal cruelty is bad”? Or was that just a wee bit too obvious? ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/31 "2013-03-02T04:25:14Z")
> [@bobkitty](#): > > Can you get a different type of garbage can? Or put it in a cabinet? Both are very good ideas, however I’m in love with an engineer who is trying to fix the can instead of thinking about doors. He also doesn’t believe that it takes TWO cats to get the lid open (one to stand on the pedal and the other to jump in when the lid is open), and Bob is great about being innocent. Bob is a cat, after all. Bill has messed with the pedal wire to make it harder to open the lid. He has also glued weights to the underside of the lid to make it harder to open. I’m totally up for a new trash can/location, but Bill is determined to defeat the cat. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/32 "2013-03-02T04:37:42Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I’m totally up for a new trash can/location, but Bill is determined to defeat the cat. Yikes. I suspect Lucky is going to be spending a lot of time in the trash. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/33 "2013-03-02T05:28:44Z")
Humans outwitting cats? Bwah ha ha ha! Well, it will give Bill a new hobby. Maybe enough of a hobby so he will drop the motorcycle nonsense (has he given up on that grand idea yet?) I had the joy of spending 7 hours today with the two people I love most in the world - my mother and my daughter. Car shopping. Good gawd, I could easily strangle them. My mother felt the need to come with because I’m an idiot just waiting to get hoodwinked by those “scummy used car guys”. TheKid came with, as she is minorly funding this vehicle, and it will eventually become her car. No, Mom, I doubt they’ll take Dad’s toy pedal cars in trade. I know they’re worth a decent sum, but they want green moolah. I’ve given you a few phone numbers to call and sell them, not my fault you haven’t actually followed through. Yes, Mom, I did test drive like a maniac. You’re supposed to. Unlike you, I don’t drive 45 on the freeway. Like you, I slammed on the brakes a few times; however, I did it to test the brakes, you do it because you think a hummingbird farted in the jungle 1000 miles away and “you never know”. My darling daughter? A bumpin’ stereo is great. However, a car that runs decently is even more favorable. Yes, I do expect you to come on the test drive - remember whatever car we pick will be yours in a few years. I did find a car. A 2005 GrandAm. Personally, I think they’re uglier than fuck. I call them Coon Rapids cars, named after a suburb filled with women who still feather their hair to Jesus and men with mullets. It had some minor issues, which could be fixed - the dealer dropped the price accordingly. Not good enough for my Mom, she felt they should pay us to take the car off their hands. Mom was being a jerk, TheKid was being huffy at both Mom and me (I guess I was dithering), so we left. Since we’ve been home, I’ve found another 5 cars to look at in the morning. Boring, semi-ugly cars, but affordable. Luckily, only Mom is joining as she has the transportation. Her, alone, I can deal with. Both? Want to clang their friggin’ heads together. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/34 "2013-03-02T09:24:45Z")
Dear Comcast, Stop it with the “PLEEEEEEEEASE COME BACK” offers. After sending me who knows how many of these come-ons in the past month and not hearing a peep from me, ya might want to take a hint, y’know? The fact that I got rid of you should be the biggest one, y’know? They must be losing more and more customers in the neighborhood. The other day I saw no fewer than three vans from their competition within a three-block radius of my house 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/35 "2013-03-02T12:19:23Z")
So, I went out this morning to buy a paint brush. Some paint brush. There was a huge shit fight at the hardware store where the manageress threw out a couple of jerks who were “molesting” some kids of Asian background (that was her words not mine- I didn’t see the actual incident). Stopped in at the antique store. I bought: 1. a 1904 Edwardian walnut display cabinet. 2. an 1881 mantle clock 3. A set of ducks flying up the wall, and 4. A 1905 treadle sewing machine. I think the paint brush has cost me about $2500 so far. And I got home too late to use it. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/36 "2013-03-02T12:48:31Z")
> [@Anonymous User](#): > > Bullfighting is a cruel and barbaric practice in Spanish countries. I completely disapprove of it as they make extremely poor living conditions for the bulls a couple of days before their death. They give it crap to eat, and really make it so that it’s weak and completely unhealthy. Then they piss it off by sticking a needle in its genitals, half-blinding it, and doing some other nasty things to it. They piss it off even more and at this point it’s really in pain. I have no idea what you’re talking about in half the post and the half I understand doesn’t make much sense (you’re against bullfighting because of their last two days _before_ the actual fight? Do you realize the rest of their lives are in conditions your average milk cow would kill for?) but hey, take courage, sometimes the bulls and cows still win. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/37 "2013-03-02T14:19:13Z")
As I said earlier, my mom needs a liver transplant thanks to years of alcoholism. She is in complete denial. I called her the day I learned how dire her situation is from her doctor, who indicated that her liver could fail at any moment. Her response? A sunny, “Oh, I know! Isn’t that just crazy?” Like she’d found a mole and needed to get it burned off. And then she missed her first AA meeting. She didn’t want to go to “that part of town.” And besides, she went shopping and she was tired! When I reminded her that she had to go, she sang out, “Oh, c’mon - you know I’ll go. I just had things to do! Besides, I had to get ready for bridge.” Goddammit - if she doesn’t go, she doesn’t get on the transplant list or, if I’m compatible, she can’t take part of mine. If she doesn’t do her job - going to AA, taking her meds, doing her urine tests (and passing) - she may well be dead within several months to a year. I can’t force her to do this. I get it. But this is so fucking frustrating and I’m terrified for her. Plus, I live in a town three hours away and have a family, including young children. How can I take care of her and limit stress on my family? And how do I prepare my kids for the worst, which now seems inevitable? I mean, I don’t expect her to be screaming hysterically, but taking this seriously would be nice. And I realize it’s because she’s had 20 years to build up a pattern of denial - anything that’s unpleasant goes sounds like the Peanuts’ adults: “Wah, wah, wah, wah.” Minor sub-rant: I’ve also been so fucking stressed, I’ve been more or less constantly nauseated since I heard on Tuesday. And I’m PMS-ing like no one’s business, so I’ve been having back pain like a motherfuck, so reining in the anger I’m feeling right now and not taking it out on anyone around me hasn’t been fun. Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/38 "2013-03-02T14:25:05Z")
Overlyverbose, there is nothing more you can do. I had a relative die of cirrhosis and from my experience they don’t really want to address the obvious. Even after the umpteenth time in hospital from collapsing he insisted that the doctor said he could still have an occasional brandy (which was nonsense). So, don’t beat yourself up over it. I can’t add much more but you sound like you have done all that you can. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/39 "2013-03-02T16:18:29Z")
**Overlyverbose** , you have my sympathies. My former husband was initially denied acceptance to the transplant (double lung) list, then was temporarily removed from it, due to his inability to understand that part of being on the list is jumping when doctors say jump. It was incredibly, unbelievably frustrating for me and everyone else who cared about him, because we were trying everything we could to keep him alive, and it seemed he was more interested in being right. The incident that got him removed from the list was him sticking needles in his legs to drain off some of the fluid that was accumulating **while he was in the hospital.** They were extremely unimpressed with his behaviour. You take care of her and limit stress by only being willing to work as hard as she is. You can’t drag her to AA, you can’t force her to take this seriously, and you can’t make her follow doctor’s orders (unless, of course, you’re willing to go the route of 'I will not provide part of my liver if you don’t X, Y, Z," which I don’t recommend). I know she’s your mom and you love her and don’t want to lose her, but you can only meet her where she is. ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705/40 "2013-03-02T17:56:25Z")
YouTube. Quit randomly asking me if I want to replace my “hard to read” username with my real name. My “hard to read” username IS my real initials plus my real last name. I have reasons for doing it that way, why would I want to change it? Every couple of weeks it asks, and when I say no, it pops up another windows saying “Are you sure?” with a couple of choices, neither of which are obviously “Yes.” How many times do I have to say no? I hate when web services try to gently annoy you into compliance. If you want everyone to use their real name, just make it mandatory, for pete’s sake, and quit pretending you’ll eventually let me do what I want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ranting-like-march-hares-or-somesuch/651705.md?page=3)