Mini rant 6: Taking the Elevator to the Second Floor

At the Crystal Palace Exposition in New York in 1853, an inventor named Elisha Otis demonstrated his new invention known as the elevator.  This invention is extremely convenient when having to ascend many stories in a large building.  However, it has also led to a bit of laziness.

When I enter a crowded elevator, one of the things that really gets me peeved are these people that squeeze in and press the number 2.  I know that the elevator was made for convenience, but to squeeze into a packed elevator to go up one flight is just wrong.  These lazy people should learn to use a staircase once in a while.  They delay everyone else, and furthermore they add to the discomfort of being packed in a small elevator.  Perhaps they should start programming more elevators that skip over the second floor.

4:11 PM - 5 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Mini rant 5: The Microwave Defrost

We have come a long way since salt immersion when it comes to methods of preserving food. One method that can extend the shelf life of most foods is freezing. I have used this method myself, especially with meat products. Although this is useful for keeping food past the expiration date, I have oftentimes become irritated when the time comes to cook the frozen item.
Almost all microwaves have a defrosting feature. As a result, I would simply think that I could defrost something quickly in the microwave and then prepare it. But this is not the case. When I have used this feature, the results I obtained varied. Sometimes the item is defrosted and ready to go but, more often than not, something else occurs.
There have been numerous times that I have found the outside area of some chop meat cooked around a rock solid frozen center. The same can be said of thick steaks, chicken, and many other things. This is a problem. I go through the trouble of wrapping and freezing something in order to preserve it and then it is ruined in a matter of minutes. This pleases me not.
Furthermore, I am not merely referring to one microwave. I have seen this happen with at least three, probably four microwaves. So all of the comments insinuating that it was a faulty microwave should not be posted.
My advice is this: if you freeze something, thaw it out naturally. Simply remove it from the freezer and place it in the fridge in the morning. By dinner time it should be good to go.

7:06 PM - 5 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Mini rant 4: The New Fight Scene Cinematography

Many people, including myself, enjoy watching a good action film every now and again.  Fight scenes are a recurring theme in action films, and I always found them enjoyable to watch.  But lately this is not the case.

There are too many movies that are trying a new technique with fight scenes, and the new technique is simply egregious.  The new technique I speak of involves spinning the camera wildly around in order to give a feeling of the chaos taking place.  Unfortunately, the desired effect is not achieved.  Instead of feeling the chaos during these scenes, I feel dizzy and overwhelmed with everything flashing by the screen.

Call me crazy, but during a fight scene I actually like to see the fight taking place.  Getting a 360° view of the surrounding area of the fight followed by ten more such views does not please me at all.  I know that this is now the trend, and so I must deal with it for the time being.  But I'm hoping the trend ends very soon.

4:29 PM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Mini rant 3: Ambiguity When Referencing Days To Come

Although spontaneity can be exciting and result in a great time, most events in life require some sort of planning.  This is all good and well, except for one thing: people are morons!  If I am hanging out with someone on a Sunday, and people are going out for drinks the following day, there are way too many retards that would say "We are going out for drinks next Monday."  Next Monday?  Are you kidding me?  The much more apropos and much less vague term is tomorrow!  Next Monday would imply a week from tomorrow.

Similarly, if something were to take place on Wednesday the same person would refer to this point in time as "next Wednesday."  While the semantic implications of this statement are debatable, I consider it much less obscure to refer to said day as "this Wednesday."  This is the term I always use in such situations.  Furthermore, if something were taking place a week from Wednesday, I would not simply say "next Wednesday."  With my method I clarify everything.  I state "Not this Wednesday, but next Wednesday we are all..."  I feel that this is the method everyone should use to avoid confusion. 

So if something is happening tomorrow, simply refer to it as tomorrow.  If something is happening this Tuesday, then say "this Tuesday."  Enough is enough with these vague expressions!

3:43 PM - 6 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

Mini rant 2: Addressing Children As Mommy

There are many books filled with named for babies.  When naming a child, many people decide on names weeks or even months in advance.  Although some of the names in those baby books are strange, I have never seen a book that lists "Mommy" as a possible name.

Nevertheless, I have heard many people on many occasions turn to a young child and ask "What's the matter Mommy?"  This is just ridiculous.  Don't confuse the poor child!  The child is the one who should address the mother as Mommy, not the other way around.  So when a child tugs on your shirt to get your attention, do NOT turn to the child and ask "What is it Mommy?"  Call the child by his or her name.  That is all I have to say on this subject.

5:58 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

Mini rant 1: Women In The Mens Room

When people go out somewhere, there comes a point in time when a restroom is required.  It is well known that men tend to be faster than women while relieving themselves.  As a consequence, the line for the men's room is usually shorter.  Unfortunately, there are some women that feel us men should suffer on line as well, even though it is their own gender that is the cause of the waiting. 

To me, it is very infuriating when I have to urinate and yet I am confronted by a woman at the entrance to the men's room.  This woman always says "You can't go in there! My friend is in there."  But I feel differently.  The sign says "MEN", and since you have no penis, you are the one that cannot go in there.  I'm the one with the proper equipment.  So let me say this to all women that act as such: stop using the men's room and forcing us to wait!  It isn't fair and it needs to be stopped.

11:07 AM - 4 Comments - 7 Kudos - Add Comment

The Weekly Rant
Current mood: cynical
Category: Blogging

My longer rants are not posted on MySpace.  I try to rant on a different topic each Wednesday.  To view these you can click on the link below.