# Welcome to Twenty-Twenty-Sucks (January Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [January 1, 2026, 7:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231 "2026-01-01T07:59:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**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:** [January 20, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/241 "2026-01-20T17:41:31Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Last week Walmart was out of generic immodium. > > No shit! That is what I am aiming for! ---
**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 20, 2026, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/242 "2026-01-20T17:53:34Z")
-2F wind-chill today, and of course my car wouldn’t start. Husband got his working and a few hours later we’re trying a jump. Jump doesn’t appear to be working so far. This really sucks because I have to pick my kid up from school in two hours. It’s not a great day to be outside fucking around with your car, either. ---
**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:** [January 20, 2026, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/243 "2026-01-20T18:58:43Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > If you have (or can borrow) a drill, put a few drainage holes in the bottom. Like you’d see on a flower pot. That’s not a bad idea. (And I do have a drill.) It doesn’t 100% solve the problem of being wet inside of the can, but if there is a way to drain then at least I don’t have to dump out the water or at minimum there will be a lot less to dump out. ---
**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 20, 2026, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/244 "2026-01-20T23:05:56Z")
I don’t know why the fuck I thought things would calm down starting this week. We could not jump my car and it’s an old-ass battery so after 90 minutes of trying we finally just bought a new one. Then I was out in negative wind-chill watching YouTube racing daylight to install the new one, but praise the universe, it fucking worked. I got it installed in about 90 minutes with an adjustable wrench which is not ideal - guess I’m gonna buy a ratchet set so I don’t have to do that shit ever again. My car is running with a brand new battery. I finished just as it got dark. So much for getting any fucking work done today. I got two hours of actual labor in before the battery fiasco. Also it’s going to be -20F Friday and it’s going to fuck all of our plans up because of course they will cancel school. I had rescheduled an important doctor’s appointment that I was supposed to do tomorrow but can’t because of work stuff. Friday I’m supposed to drop my son off at school and my husband is touring a local school for our son. Now I need to ask him to reschedule the tour so I can go to the appointment. Tomorrow is in the office with wall-to-wall meetings. I ain’t catching my breath anytime soon. I can’t remember what happens Thursday but I think I have something Thursday. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [January 21, 2026, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/245 "2026-01-21T00:48:43Z")
Facebook is driving me nuts again. I had previously installed FB Purity to stop the posting of Reels and other crap I don’t want to see. Well, Facebook has rewritten their coding, and FB Purity hasn’t caught up with the changes. So now in addition to Reels my FB page is flooded with posts from Native American groups (which I don’t mind so much), random historical info, etc. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/246 "2026-01-21T12:35:36Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Not gonna post another weather forecast chart, because it’s almost exactly the same as the previous one. We are experiencing snowmageddon! Just for something completely different, several days later, we are currently getting – get ready for this – a major snowfall warning! At least 10 cm expected, with blowing snow and reduced visibility. No, I am not taking out the recycling bin for pickup. No, I am not leaving the house for any reason. I rejoice in ample supplies of rum and vodka, and there are not only frozen dinners in the freezer, but fresh bread and sandwich fixings, too. But I’m a little spooked by having only two remaining cans of Caesar mix! ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/247 "2026-01-21T14:38:57Z")
It’s mid-January. We had snow _both_ this past Sat & Sun. We’re looking at a whopper of a snowstorm this weekend. Temps were in negative single °F all the way up to positive single digits °F this morning depending upon which thermometer was looked at (the car showed the warmest outside temp at 4°) So what did Dick’s (Sporting Goods) have an _entire wall_ full of last night? Bathing suits! 😡 Unless you’re going on vacation, who the eff is thinking about bathing suits in the middle (technically _before_ the middle) of winter??? I’ll bet by mid-June they’ll already be in the clearance aisle & by July they’ll be gone. 😡 😡 😡 > [@Spiderman](#): > > Plan B (which the weather is looking to make Plan A) for this weekend is a snowshoe race. Current forecast for race time — 9° with a feels like of -2° 🥶 Confirmed. No travel flying this weekend. 😢… **&** the race forecast has _greatly_ improved - it’s now forecast to be 10° & -1° but whooboy, it’s gone up enough to be DOUBLE DIGITS!!! Shhh, don’t remind me that it’s gonna be a _whopping_1° degree warmer, which is still really _::bleep::_ cold! ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/248 "2026-01-21T18:15:24Z")
We’re predicted to have over a foot of snow this weekend. We also have tickets to **Mrs Magill’s** favorite show, _Les Mis_. Hopefully the TPAC will offer refunds after they inevitably cancel the show. ---
**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 21, 2026, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/249 "2026-01-21T18:26:57Z")
The weather is wreaking complete havoc with my schedule. Last week after a two hour commute home, we had to reschedule a bunch of shit because of a snow day. This week my car battery died in subzero temperatures, so there went the whole fucking day, and this morning it took me 90 minutes to get to work (usually 40 minutes) and it’s still fucking snowing. Friday my son’s school will probably be cancelled along with another school tour because of -20F wind chills. The only question is whether we make it to tomorrow’s tour, which has already been rescheduled once. Looks like I’m leaving early today for another heinous commute home. The only thing is, this is really more like the winters I remember, back when climate change wasn’t so obvious. But having a snow day as a kid was glorious. It fucking sucks for adults. ---
**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:** [January 21, 2026, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/250 "2026-01-21T20:09:58Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > But having a snow day as a kid was glorious. It fucking sucks for adults. Having cxl’d my Friday off because we’re not going away now due to weather (too windy) & Sun/Mon looking to be heavy snow (one model is 12"+) I already told my boss I may take off on Mon. He said he expected it to be a WFH day, I said I wasn’t planning on going in, I just want to take it off to go _play_! I have (multiple pairs of) snowshoes & a fat-tire bike. I am _ **not** _ spending it cooped up in the house all day! ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/251 "2026-01-22T00:14:18Z")
Our local forecast has gone from rain to SNOWPOCALYPSE 2026 to freezing rain to ICEPOCALYPSE 2026. Now we’re supposed to get regular watery rain prior to the winter weather, so naturally the state has started hosing down every paved surface in sight with brine. (For my dear darling coworkers, it’s bri **n** e. Not bri **m** e. And I don’t get upset about it because it makes my vehicle look dirty, I hate it because it’s fucking corrosive.) Mom went to a grocery store today (no panicking, it’s her usual grocery day) and reported that the soup shelves and sushi counter were completely wiped out. Tonight, she wants to know if I have a plan for making coffee if we lose power. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/252 "2026-01-22T00:30:29Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Tonight, she wants to know if I have a plan for making coffee if we lose power. Well, do you??? ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/253 "2026-01-22T00:48:21Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Tonight, she wants to know if I have a plan for making coffee if we lose power. Ever since I became a fan of cold-brew coffee, this isn’t a problem. Cold-brew is very different (and much smoother) than regular coffee. It can be enjoyed black (no cream or sugar) and either hot or cold. I prefer it hot, heated in the microwave in a small cup like espresso (because it’s very strong) but it’s fine cold. Oddly, I can’t stand regular coffee without a bit of sugar and a lot of cream, but cold-brew is just fine black. There is something about the cold-brew process that produces a very fine, delicate beverage that needs no additives. ETA: In my house cold-brew isn’t a replacement for regular coffee, which has its own virtues. It’s just a different beverage entirely. There’s nothing finer than a cup of hot regular coffee in the morning with toast or a bagel. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/254 "2026-01-22T01:11:43Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Well, do you??? Yep! > [@wolfpup](#): > > Ever since I became a fan of cold-brew coffee, this isn’t a problem. This is my plan! She doesn’t like it very much though, because she associates “cold brew” with “iced coffee” and won’t even taste it. I love the stuff. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/255 "2026-01-22T01:16:51Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > she associates “cold brew” with “iced coffee” and won’t even taste it. Remind her that “cold brew” refers to the lengthy and delicate method of brewing, not to the temperature at which it’s consumed! I always have my cold-brewed coffee hot, but because it’s so smooth, I always have it black. But I can forgive folks who dislike cold-brew, because it’s a whole different thing from regular coffee. I happen to love it, some might not. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/256 "2026-01-22T01:20:46Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > The only thing is, this is really more like the winters I remember, back when climate change wasn’t so obvious. Climate change has had the opposite effect here in the Mid-South. We historically had a major ice/snow event about once a decade. We’ve had at least one each year since 2020. On one hand, I’m retired now so I don’t _have_ to get out in it. On the other hand, I’m getting older and feel anxious about being stuck in my house without power when it’s 10 degrees. I was supposed to get blood work done today for a doctor’s appointment next Tuesday. I cancelled that. No matter if it’s ice or snow we get this weekend, with high temps only in the low 20s for the following days, the streets are still going to be a mess on Tuesday. I’m going to wait until Friday to see how the rest of next week looks before I reschedule everything. I really hate putting if off. I need some answers. ---
**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 22, 2026, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/257 "2026-01-22T01:20:46Z")
I prefer regular iced coffee to cold brew. Must have mocha, 8 shots of it. ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/258 "2026-01-22T02:27:51Z")
It was gray all day, ~70F/21C from midnight to midnight, and drizzled a bit. And folks from the US Northeast and Quebec where everywhere underfoot. Winter SUX. 😉 ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/259 "2026-01-22T02:49:36Z")
Snowbirds & no sun? Awww, you poor, poor baby! ---
**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:** [January 22, 2026, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231/260 "2026-01-22T03:01:32Z")
It’s a tough life, but somebody has to do it. It’s scant reward for dealing with DeSantis’ silliness. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231.md?page=14)