The Vent and Rant Thread

[wodin]

I have a white tie affair coming up, a banquet on Halloween evening. So I ordered a white tailcoat tux from Amazon on Oct 9, it was delivered on Oct 15; plenty of time to have the alterations done. At the same time I ordered white formal patent leather shoes, a cravat, and a cummerbund (pink in observance with Cancer Awareness Month), they were all delivered either on the 12th or the 13th. All was good. On the 14th I decided to wear a pink ruffled shirt instead of a pleated tuxedo shirt so I ordered one, it was delivered on the 19th; still good.

Since I already have a fine Irish blackthorn whacking stick, I rounded out the outfit, by ordering white braces, white gloves and a white top hat on the 22nd. The gloves and braces were delivered on the 26th but the top hat bounced around California with UPS for four days, then was transferred to the US Postal Service as PARCEL SELECT!!! ARRGHHH, Parcel Select is the next thing to death for shipments to Hawaii, that means it's coming by slow boat in four to six weeks.

I would have happily paid for expedited shipping, but it wasn’t offered, only standard shipping. So I’ll get to attend my fancy white tie event COVERLESS! And I’ll probably never have another occasion to wear a white top hat in my lifetime. I’ve always had excellent experiences with Amazon’s shipping policies, and even more so in recent months but they dropped the ball on this one. I’m not one to return items I’ve ordered from them, but this time I’m sorely tempted.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by Hitch

We see a LOT of very young moms--many not even out of their teens--with a LOT of children here in AZ. It's disturbing.

People should need to get a license to have children.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

People should need to get a license to have children.

Honestly? For heaven's sake, we license them to DRIVE, don't we? Do we really think that the public safety is less impacted by the effect of a vehicular accident, versus raising hooligans or worse--whom will also most likely procreate yet another generation of who-knows-what? (No, that doesn't mean I feel that couples have to be licensed to have children, but we ALSO license people to WED, don't we?)

We reside in a state that's next to another that has a creepy-high percentage of "child brides," almost all of which instantly being to procreate--children having children. The problems caused by this are so widespread in that state that there are billboards and signs about "getting help for child abuse" about every 100 feet, throughout the entire state. And I can't be the only one here that's seen the effects of neglected, at best, kids on society.

And, yes, @Katsunami, I think almost everyone knows the purported Socrates quote. He was, I'd note, alleged (by Plato) to be discussing young adults, or early teens, but...whatever. I'll tell you one thing: I believe that the absence of spanking from accepted cultural behavior hasn't advantaged today's kids at ALL.

I'm going to stop there, because discussions about kids having kids can/may start to impinge upon belief systems, and that's a no-no.

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Hitch

Honestly? For heaven's sake, we license them to DRIVE, don't we? Do we really think that the public safety is less impacted by the effect of a vehicular accident, versus raising hooligans or worse--whom will also most likely procreate yet another generation of who-knows-what? (No, that doesn't mean I feel that couples have to be licensed to have children, but we ALSO license people to WED, don't we?)

We reside in a state that's next to another that has a creepy-high percentage of "child brides," almost all of which instantly being to procreate--children having children. The problems caused by this are so widespread in that state that there are billboards and signs about "getting help for child abuse" about every 100 feet, throughout the entire state. And I can't be the only one here that's seen the effects of neglected, at best, kids on society.

And, yes, @Katsunami, I think almost everyone knows the purported Socrates quote. He was, I'd note, alleged (by Plato) to be discussing young adults, or early teens, but...whatever. I'll tell you one thing: I believe that the absence of spanking from accepted cultural behavior hasn't advantaged today's kids at ALL.

I'm going to stop there, because discussions about kids having kids can/may start to impinge upon belief systems, and that's a no-no.

Hitch

I heard about one mom that told her girls to get pregnant as soon as possible to get housing. Mind you this was in the early 80's. I think there were at least 4 generations that had first child at 14.

[Rumpelteazer]

Originally Posted by CRussel

FWIW, this seems to be a recurring problem with Kindles and Calibre. Slightly less with .AZW3 v. .mobi, but still a problem. One thing I've found that seems to help is to Update Cached Metadata On Device (from the dropdown list in the Device button on the main toolbar.)

OTOH, a periodic cleanout of one's Kindle isn't a bad idea either.

Even after the reset the book didn't show up. But after I converted the mobi file to azw3 it showed up.

I have the tendency to fill up my Kindle when I go on vacation, even if it's just a couple of days and I have access to my library. So after two trips this summer a clean up was needed.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

I heard about one mom that told her girls to get pregnant as soon as possible to get housing. Mind you this was in the early 80's. I think there were at least 4 generations that had first child at 14.

It's horrifying. And the problem is, the real victims are the children themselves. Both of them--the one birthing them, and those that were borne by her. Does this mean that every kid born to a teen or gods-help-us, a tween, will be "bad," or whatever? No. But if you've ever read up on some of the most definitive studies on teen pregnancy, the odds are badly stacked against both mother and child.

AND my bum, legs and lower back, which don't deserve to be cart-whacked.

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

Originally Posted by Hitch

It's horrifying. And the problem is, the real victims are the children themselves. Both of them--the one birthing them, and those that were borne by her. Does this mean that every kid born to a teen or gods-help-us, a tween, will be "bad," or whatever? No. But if you've ever read up on some of the most definitive studies on teen pregnancy, the odds are badly stacked against both mother and child.

AND my bum, legs and lower back, which don't deserve to be cart-whacked.

Hitch

There is one other problem with teenage pregnancies.
If you do what is best for the child, some people will call you selfish, a horrible person, and you did not do what was right. Also you are evil. How could you even think of doing that. You should keep that child and no we won't help. I will disown you if you give up that child.
Yes, I heard all those things personally.
I was lucky in I had support for my decision too.
My son was raised by the most wonderful couple. They thought it showed great maturity on my part to do what was best for him. Both of them have told me, that was the most unselfish thing I ever did. I gave my son to his dad's parents. I knew they were the best choice.

Anyway there is my two cents.

[poohbear_nc]

I'm having a squirrel hunt this week at my house .... followed by a squirrel BBQ!! I wish .....

So, last weekend I ordered 2 pallets (40 bales) of pine straw to bed the newly trimmed juniper bushes for the winter .... and the forecast promptly changed to rain for the delivery date.

So, the dump truck driver was really great, and stacked the bales in the most compact formation possible on the driveway, and helped me enclose them under a drop sheet. I even put rakes on top to anchor the plastic.

So, I went to bed, listening to the drumming of a steady downpour all night, feeling no anxiety about the straw bales.

So, I got up this morning and looked out the deck door .... at my now exposed bales blissfully soaking up the steady downpour. Why? It seems that the curious squirrels had burrowed under the drop sheet and began pulling straw out of the bales ... who knows - maybe burying nuts in a safe place. I ran out and slid over the loose wet straw now covering the driveway and reattached the drop sheet over the now largely sodden bales.

So, it rained all day.

So, I got home from work and found that the culprits had returned, and once again removed the drop sheet over most of the bales. Which now weigh more than I do ....

Anyone have a 12 gauge that I can borrow? I'll invite you to the BBQ!

[poohbear_nc]

Did I mention it's raining again?

[cromag]

Several years ago we got a family of gray squirrels in the attic. I opened the door to check on the source of the noise ... and one of them darted past me and into the computer room (being used at the time as my wife's home office). Fortunately, my wife was out that day. I closed the door to the room and opened the windows. Then, I put on a pair of heavy leather welder's gauntlet gloves.

If I'd caught him, he'd have been a goner. As it is, after about 20 minutes of chasing he found a window, paused on the ledge for a moment to gloat, and then jumped out.


Still, a 12 gauge is probably too much gun for a squirrel.

[poohbear_nc]

Still, a 12 gauge is probably too much gun for a squirrel.

Not when you're looking at 40 bales of sodden pine straw .... in the rain ... dripping ....

[wodin]

Mmmm, I fondly recall good ol' squirrel frys at Aunt Evelyn's house, they look like rats but taste like chicken. But you can't use a 12 gauge unless you want squirrel sausage laced with lead bird shot. The best squirrel guns were bolt action 22 long rifle, but if you were a bit challenged in the aiming department, you could be forgiven for using a 410 shotgun.

[wodin]

What was it that the Veep said? Oh yeah, "Get a shotgun!"

[Cinisajoy]

I was going to suggest a 22 myself.

[poohbear_nc]

Originally Posted by wodin

Mmmm, I fondly recall good ol' squirrel frys at Aunt Evelyn's house, they look like rats but taste like chicken. But you can't use a 12 gauge unless you want squirrel sausage laced with lead bird shot. The best squirrel guns were bolt action 22 long rifle, but if you were a bit challenged in the aiming department, you could be forgiven for using a 410 shotgun.

Squirrel Sloppy Joes?