# Unjust August (Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [August 1, 2025, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570 "2025-08-01T05:04:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/102 "2025-08-12T03:05:58Z")
… but it’s a wet heat. (That’s to get back at all my friends in deset climates that claim their triple-figure temps are fine because “it’s a dry heat” with their lack of humidity) But, yeah, I’m getting tired of walking outside and feeling like nature just slapped a hot, soaking washcloth over my face. ---
**Author:** ![pjd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pjd/32/3009_2.png) [@pjd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjd)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/103 "2025-08-12T11:09:41Z")
The A key is a slider/toggle switch which can be either A or M↓ The B key is for bolding. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/104 "2025-08-12T13:31:32Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > I’m going to have to go to the Asurion store and mix my yoga class. > > Dammit. Two-turntable yoga! 🤣 > [@Ellecram](#): > > And yes I remember the DOS days. I had a function key insert I kept on my keyboard for a long time. But did you have an Any key? [![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg) ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/105 "2025-08-12T13:40:26Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > > > I’m going to have to go to the Asurion store and mix my yoga class. > > > > Dammit. > > Two-turntable yoga! 🤣 > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > And yes I remember the DOS days. I had a function key insert I kept on my keyboard for a long time. > > But did you have an Any key? > > [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg) I don’t think I had an ANY key but then my memory from that era is blurry. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/106 "2025-08-12T13:57:14Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > But did you have an Any key? I press N+E as a key combination and that works. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/107 "2025-08-12T15:17:27Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > > > And yes I remember the DOS days. I had a function key insert I kept on my keyboard for a long time. > > > > But did you have an Any key? > > > > [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg) > > I don’t think I had an ANY key but then my memory from that era is blurry. But then, how do you continue? ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/108 "2025-08-12T15:20:54Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > > > I’m going to have to go to the Asurion store and mix my yoga class. > > > > Dammit. > > Two-turntable yoga! 🤣 I did miss my class, but I have a new Z-Flip 5 on its way to me. Thank goodness for phone insurance. I would not be able to afford a new phone right now. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/109 "2025-08-12T16:57:39Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > > [@Spiderman](#): > > > > > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > > > > > And yes I remember the DOS days. I had a function key insert I kept on my keyboard for a long time. > > > > > > But did you have an Any key? > > > > > > [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Keyboard-anykey-cropped.jpg) > > > > I don’t think I had an ANY key but then my memory from that era is blurry. > > But then, how do you continue? Frantic mashing of keys until something works. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/110 "2025-08-12T17:31:30Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Frantic mashing of keys until something works. Don’t get one with square [holes](https://food.fnr.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/products/2024/10/9/rx_amazon_chef-craft-potato-masher.jpg.rend.hgtvcom.616.616.85.suffix/1728495775415.webp), the keys fit thru & then you don’t mash 'em. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/111 "2025-08-12T17:33:28Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I’ve seen the same argument used a lot against bilingual signage, where it is also a fig leaf covering bigotry. You know what really expresses bigotry? Unilingual traffic signs that are in French only, located in tourist areas of Quebec frequented by drivers from all over the North American continent, some of whom don’t speak a word of French. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/112 "2025-08-12T17:52:28Z")
I’m going to disagree here. I don’t think the entire world is required to switch to the majority language for our convenience. There are people driving in New York who don’t speak a word of English: they get by. There are people driving in Munich who don’t speak a word of German. English speakers often seem to expect the world to cater to them, because the world often does, but (1) the vast majority of traffic signs are numbers or symbols, and (2) the vast majority of the remainder are either street names or a very limited number of commonly used words. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/113 "2025-08-12T18:04:54Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I don’t think the entire world is required to switch to the majority language for our convenience. Not “the entire world”. Just Quebec, a French enclave in the middle of a large English-speaking continent, from which it gets a lot of tourists. And it’s not about “convenience”, it’s about traffic safety. You don’t find it just a little bit ironic and culturally indicative that the Ontario government puts up bilingual road signs while the Quebec government has spent millions to **replace existing bilingual signs** with French-only ones? At one time bilingual traffic signs were common, at least in and around Montreal. Not any more. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/114 "2025-08-12T18:05:08Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > I’m going to disagree here. I don’t think the entire world is required to switch to the majority language for our convenience. There are people driving in New York who don’t speak a word of English: they get by. There are people driving in Munich who don’t speak a word of German. I also disagree, because in addition to your reasoning which I think is solid, I think there is another angle to consider. There is some value in keeping tourist areas authentic, as that is what draws visitors to them, and the more changes you make for the sake of convenience to tourists, the less appealing it might be. If you’ve come to immerse yourself in French-Canadian culture, you lose some of that immersion with English included. I’m sure there’s a balance to be had but I’m also sure that’s not always easy to get right. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/115 "2025-08-12T18:28:20Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > There is some value in keeping tourist areas authentic, as that is what draws visitors to them You might have missed the part where I pointed out that traffic signs in much of Quebec, especially areas like Montreal, were bilingual for virtually the whole of the 20th century. I don’t think anyone considered traffic signs to be a contributor to culture. The Quebec government spent millions to have all the bilingual signs taken down. And while @Dr.Drake has a point that many traffic signs are pictorial or use a few common words, that’s not always the case. Imagine a warning sign like this rendered in French only, to an American driver who speaks no French – or a sign warning of some unusual hazard up ahead: [![](https://static.epermittest.com/media/filer_public/a4/80/a480d3cc-832a-4703-86e2-2d8a47481d59/watch-for-ice-on-bridges.jpg) ](https://static.epermittest.com/media/filer_public/a4/80/a480d3cc-832a-4703-86e2-2d8a47481d59/watch-for-ice-on-bridges.jpg) This is the same idiotic policy that formed the so-called “language police”, whose job is to go around making sure that business signs have the French portion some prescribed amount much larger than the English portion, for fear of something – no one is really sure what it is they fear. Also the same policy that causes driver’s licenses and birth certificates to be issued in French only, overturning a longstanding policy where they were bilingual or issued in either French or English per the user’s choice. This policy causes needless grief when using these documents for official purposes in the US, since police and government officials have idea what the hell they say. OK, enough hijack. I’m just glad I got the hell out of Quebec in my youth before the place went to hell. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/116 "2025-08-12T18:47:00Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > OK, enough hijack. I’m just glad I got the hell out of Quebec in my youth before the place went to hell. This just makes me think of _South Park_. [![](https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyeGJsbnB2bGtyOW84c2dvaXVuc3UxOTF5emJlbDc4ZDhoeWJ2YXIzZyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/26ufeJSiyCmv3uTOE/source.gif) ](https://media2.giphy.com/media/v1.Y2lkPTZjMDliOTUyeGJsbnB2bGtyOW84c2dvaXVuc3UxOTF5emJlbDc4ZDhoeWJ2YXIzZyZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw/26ufeJSiyCmv3uTOE/source.gif) ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/117 "2025-08-12T20:08:16Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > The Quebec government spent millions to have all the bilingual signs taken down. I have no idea how the Quebec government did this, but the lifespan of road signs is about five to seven years or so (depending on conditions). The smart way to do this would be to simply replace the bilingual signs when they needed to be replaced anyway. The dumb way would to be replace a bilingual sign even though they were still serviceable. At any rate, a French only sign would be a bit cheaper that a bilingual sign. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/118 "2025-08-12T20:22:19Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > At any rate, a French only sign would be a bit cheaper that a bilingual sign. Is that because of the foreign exchange rate? ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/119 "2025-08-12T21:04:13Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > At any rate, a French only sign would be a bit cheaper that a bilingual sign. Wouldn’t those economies be the same in Ontario, which continues to roll out bilingual road signs while Quebec rolls them **back**? And if Quebec wanted to save money, maybe they could have fewer battalions of Language Police with measuring tapes going around making sure that the French text on business signs is at least 3 times bigger than the English, or whatever the fuck the current language laws demand. This is the province where Canada’s oldest and most venerable department store, Eaton’s, had to change its trademarked name to “Eaton” in Quebec, because the provincial government could not tolerate having a name on a building within the province carrying the distinctive apostrophed possessive of an English pig-dog (a term from Monty Python, I believe 😁)! Here’s the thing that seriously irks me, and there’s no way to rationalize it. Canada made the decision many decades ago to declare itself officially bilingual, meaning among other things that all government services in all provinces and territories would be available in both official languages. This was done in recognition of the unique French culture in the Province of Quebec and in solidarity with it as a co-founding culture of the nation. There is only one province in Canada that steadfastly refuses to embrace this unifying principle of bilingualism, is openly hostile to it, and is aggressively _de facto_ unilingual, and that is the Province of Quebec. ---
**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:** [August 12, 2025, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/120 "2025-08-12T23:19:48Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > aggressively _de facto_ unilingual I think the piece of the picture you don’t have is the fact that French, as a minority language, faces an uphill battle not to lose ground, with the ultimate result assimilation to the surrounding anglophony. This is not because of who they are, but because of the numbers. Any incentives they take that _require_ French and incentives that insure their survival. And yes, this is aggressively anti-English. Where English has been a minority in power (for example, Ireland), they were so aggressive that Irish is now completely marginalized in its own (and only) country, not to mention all of Canada’s Indigenous languages. It’s just a human thing: the natural direction is for the linguistic majority to take over. If there are reasons you don’t want that to happen, some annoyance of that majority is inevitable. Personally I think all Canadians should have a working knowledge of both English and French, and all Americans of both English and Spanish. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2025, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570/121 "2025-08-13T00:35:59Z")
I had to buy a replacement bathtub mat a few months ago. I ordered the same kind of rubber product that I have been purchasing for years. I was not expecting any difficulty with this purchase but wow has the quality deteriorated significantly. The underside of the suction cups were uncomfortably poking through the top of the mat. Now I love rocks but I don’t want to feel like I am standing on small, squishy pebble lozenges when I shower. I endured this abomination for about a month and then decided to order a more expensive brand. What a difference it made. Worth the price. The “pebble mat” will get a wash and land in storage for whatever task I can conjure up for the rest of its life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unjust-august-mini-rants/1021570.md?page=7)