The Vent and Rant Thread

[ownedbycats]

Yeah, I'm in Canada. Unfortunately, there's a push here for privatization - basically just underfunding public healthcare, then go 'it doesn't work anymore, let's go private!'

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Sirtel

I guess it was free in any case (Canada, like Europe and many other parts of the world has universal health care).

Oh, right, that's right, I'd spaced that. Mea Culpa!

Hitch

[Sirtel]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Yeah, I'm in Canada. Unfortunately, there's a push here for privatization - basically just underfunding public healthcare, then go 'it doesn't work anymore, let's go private!'

Public healthcare is underfunded here as well. But no politician not wanting to get lynched by a furious mob would dare suggest losing public healthcare altogether. Eastern Europeans are a lot poorer than people in the Western Europe, Canada et al, and most of us can't afford private healthcare.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

Yeah, I'm in Canada. Unfortunately, there's a push here for privatization - basically just underfunding public healthcare, then go 'it doesn't work anymore, let's go private!'

And it's a push that _must_ be stopped! But saying any more than that will get us shunted off to P&R.

[John F]

Posting political posts.

Some people have no self control.

[Rumpelteazer]

It's a tradition in the Netherlands for people to set off fireworks on New Year's Eve. Officially fireworks are for sale for only three days; from the 29th until the 31st of December. This year it could be sold from the 28th and not the 31st, because it's not allowed to sell fireworks on a Sunday (day of rest).

In reality you hear fireworks set off all of December, getting worse the closer it's to the 31st. This year wasn't too bad, but that was because of the huge amount of rain we've had. Yesterday was a dry day and all afternoon, evening and into to night.

Today it's not only rainy, but also windy. Which makes it more dangerous. My sister and I plan to stay inside. Do some cleaning in the morning and relax the rest of the day.

More and more people want to stop the tradition of people setting off fireworks; the danger to not only individuals but also emergency services, the stress it causes for people, pets and wild animal and the pollution and mess it leaves behind.

But tonight from 6pm until 2am it'll be allowed to set of fireworks in most places, a couple have forbidden it and a lot of places forbid it in certain areas in the city (around hospitals, care homes, parks, etc).

[ownedbycats]

Originally Posted by Rumpelteazer

More and more people want to stop the tradition of people setting off fireworks; the danger to not only individuals but also emergency services, the stress it causes for people, pets and wild animal and the pollution and mess it leaves behind.

A few years back in my province, a horse died after spooking at a firework and running off. To make things even worse, the owner of the horse was just about to bring them inside (early, to avoid such an accident) but some idjit decided to set them off while it was still light outside.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

A few years back in my province, a horse died after spooking at a firework and running off. To make things even worse, the owner of the horse was just about to bring them inside (early, to avoid such an accident) but some idjit decided to set them off while it was still light outside.

We've had cats that would hide, luckily my parents' current cats aren't that afraid. Luna does tend to get pissed off by the loud noise after a while and get cranky. Maru loves to watch the pretty fireworks. They're weird; someone can sneeze and they panic, but fireworks are generally okay.

For me I'm not scared of the bangs, but all the noise does overstimulate me and I get cranky and tired. So far today (nearly noon) it hasn't been too bad. But if it gets worse I might wear my noise cancelling headphones intermittently throughout the day and listen to my own music (because everyone knows metal is so soothing, lol) to try and not get too tired and cranky.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by ownedbycats

A few years back in my province, a horse died after spooking at a firework and running off. To make things even worse, the owner of the horse was just about to bring them inside (early, to avoid such an accident) but some idjit decided to set them off while it was still light outside.

Yes. Horses bless their hearts, despite their big ol' heads (and, she said, whispering, not very big ol' brains), can sometimes be awfully silly and, yup, kill themselves. I knew a wonderful stallion that used to amuse his paddock visitors by picking up a feed bucket (plastic) and running around with it in his teeth. His best trick--right up the to point where he slammed head-on into a tree at a full gallop and killed himself dead, to be tautological.

[SMH]

I admit I love fireworks, dearly but nobody--nobody--that lives where I do should be setting them off, etc. We live in a massive never-ending Fire Hazard zone, and unless we've had a week's worth of downpours prior to NYE (always possible) or the Fourth of July (US Independence Day, which is never possible, it's JULY and it's 115F outside), then they should never be set off. Fires here are...beyond serious and they run at speeds faster than people can imagine. And yup, fireworks, dry brush everywhere, in massively unpopulated High Desert areas...gods.


Hitch

[BetterRed]

Why can't people ask before barging in with unsolicited 'help'. Just a simple "May I help you?" is all I ask.

[DNSB]

I'm wondering about one person in my area. They are claiming that they saved $630 Cdn last year by going dry in January, 2023 and saved $7,900 Cdn over the year. Considering that is approximately $22 per day, one has to wonder just how much they was drinking as a "light drinker" who mostly drank wine at home. A bottle-a-day woman? Not what I would consider a light drinker.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by BetterRed

Why can't people ask before barging in with unsolicited 'help'. Just a simple "May I help you?" is all I ask.

If you're referring to retail sales people, we are trained not to ask that, because it invites a simple "no" in response.

[ownedbycats]

Oops, that respiratory illness I thought I'd been recovering from decided to make its reappearance.

[BetterRed]

Originally Posted by ApK

If you're referring to retail sales people, we are trained not to ask that, because it invites a simple "no" in response.

Nope - I was thinking of late middle-aged women who happen to be in the same place as me. Many seem to think any man older than themselves is incapable of doing anything for himself. All I ask is they seek permission before intervening with their unsolicited 'help'.

Younger women always ask, men of any age only help if asked… often begrudgingly.

I'm not sure Australian retail workers get that training, at least in the stores I frequent. If they ask "Can I help you?" they seem happy with a genuine smile and "No thanks, I'll let you know if I do."

BR

[ownedbycats]

I stepped in a puddle. Wearing socks.