Category Archives: Rants

Sometimes the world and human behavior seem to have no other objective than to vex me. Gotta let off some steam!

Forward Slash?

Or even more nonsensically, forwardslash.

Where in the world has this new trend come from? I refer to the tendency of calling a “slash” a “forward slash.”

The keyboard has always had a slash character. On the “qwerty” keyboard, it’s there in the lower-right corner under the question mark. It’s a slash. It always has been, at least since Civil War days.

Now people in the media are referring to it as a “forward slash,” and the trend is growing. Why would this be? Where did all this unnecessary folderol come from? I’m thinking it has to do with the various marketing departments of many large firms and their constant efforts at idiot-proofing the world.

Continue reading

More on Dogs

Or is that Moron Dogs?

Naw, it’s not the dogs’ fault if they cause problems, is it? It’s those silly, silly owners, right? Of course, it is.

Here’s another little behavior of theirs that makes me wonder: In this aforementioned neighborhood with its aforementioned network of walking trails, dog walking is something of a national sport. Thing is, most of these dog walkers seem to think it is proper for them to walk on the left.

Continue reading

Dogs – Gotta love ’em (or do we?)

shhhh.jpgI live in Woodcroft subdivision in Durham, NC. This little blurb appears at the bottom of a long page in the Homeowners Association Web site’s “Neighborhood News” section.

PET PEEVES
Dog owners please remember the walking trails are often located very close to your neighbors yards and are used extensively by non-pet owners as well. Please take a plastic bag and clean up any “accidents” that your pet may leave along the trail. The same consideration is appreciated in all of the common areas, traffic circles etc. Thank you in advance for being a considerate Woodcroft neighbor!”

Well, let’s just say that if anybody actually sees the blurb, not many abide by it. It’s a shame, too. This great neighborhood is made less appealing by the large amount of dog waste scattered everywhere. I mean, you can smell it driving through the subdivision. It just brings up the issue of why people have so many dogs anyway, and once they have them, why they don’t keep in mind the effect of their dogs on other people.
Continue reading