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Category Archives: Rants

Rant: Rude People

17 Friday Aug 2012

Posted by SaraS in GLBT, Politics, Rants

≈ 1 Comment

So, I kind of hate to post this. I have been terrible about updating my blog lately. We’ve had a very busy, but great summer with lots of good things happening that I really should be writing about – our trip to Utah back in the spring, some cool backyard landscaping projects, a couple pool parties, a camping trip, river rafting, a brand new truck, river tubing, lots of good bike rides with the dogs, lots of days swimming in the pool, and a relatively good visit with family members. So I sort of hate to go and post something negative.

But this incident made me cranky today. So there you have it.

We were at the courthouse to get plates for our new truck. Montana has an enormous number of specialty plates to choose from to support various organizations. They had a big display on the wall, so we wandered over to look over our options while we waited for them to call our number. We considered keeping our current plate (supporting the Spay and Neuter Task Force), but sort of wanted to try something new.

Our Old Plate

Our old plate for the Spay and Neuter Task Force.

As we browsed the plates, we heard a deep voice say something like “pretty soon even the queers and lesbians will have a plate.” From his tone you could tell he didn’t much like this prospect.

Now, I am not very confrontational and had no wish to get in an argument with someone in a public place. But his comment burned me. For one, there would be nothing wrong with a gay or lesbian group sponsoring a license plate. The “Montana Right to Life Association Educational Trust” has a plate, after all, and abortion is a controversial political issue.

But the other issue was just his derisive tone. And the fact that I really don’t think it was a coincidence that he chose to make this comment right at that moment when two women were standing there discussing the plates they wanted for their vehicle.

Now, unlike me, Renee is not afraid of confrontation (she is a combat veteran after all). She turned to the man and asked, “Is that really an appropriate comment?”

I think he was surprised to be challenged. He dug in his heels “well what else am I going to call queers and lesbians? It’s politically correct.”

Somehow I don’t think his comment had anything to do with “political correctness.”

Renee replied “you’re a rude man. And you’re teaching that to your son. That was an inappropriate comment.”

This went on for a few minutes more, with him focusing on “what else am I going to call them.” He threw in the word “faggot” somewhere along the way and groused that “its pretty common around here.” So there are just too many of those queers and lesbians here in Missoula? Or something?

Somehow we continued looking at the plates and agreed on the one to get (Montana Audobon – we liked the image of the birds.)

The new plate

Our new plate supporting Montana Audobon

Renee was still steaming. But I was proud of her. She managed the entire confrontation without raising her voice, causing a scene, getting in a fight, or calling him any sort of name. She just pointed out that the was being rude. That’s all.

I guess the whole point is, people can think whatever they like and believe whatever they like. I mean, I’ve certainly seen people out in public who appear to live their lives in a way with which I might disagree. But I don’t go out of my way to insult those people when I see them. I ignore them and go about my own business. Because I don’t see a need to be purposely rude to strangers.

(On another note – technology is cool. I drafted most of this post on my phone while we waited for them to call our number. Just edited and filled in a few bits later on at home.)

Rant: Rick Santorum’s Campaign Tour Bus

04 Wednesday Apr 2012

Posted by SaraS in Politics, Rants

≈ 2 Comments

OK, so I’m never going to be a fan of Rick Santorum. He is a bigot, he pushes against women’s rights, and his “google problem” that he likes to complain about was started because of vile things he said about gay people. I find it astounding that he is still in the race; not that it matters to me since I’m not going to be voting in the Republican primary. But still.

Incredibly, he’s managed to find an additional way to piss me off.

This is Rick Santorums Tour Bus with a Montana license plate
This is Rick Santorum’s Tour Bus with a Montana license plate

This is his campaign tour bus. With a Montana RV license plate, similar to the one I have on my own travel trailer parked out in the driveway. The difference is, I actually live in Montana. Unlike Mr. Santorum.

Here is a link to the story last night on KPAX: MT plates spotted on presidential candidate’s bus | KPAX.com | Missoula, Montana

Here’s the deal. Registering an RV in this state is cheap. It is a one-time fee for a permanent plate…no yearly renewals. It cost me $180 to register my trailer when we bought it in 2010 and that was that. It is, absolutely, a great deal.

But it should only be a great deal for people who live in this state and support the state in other ways.

As noted in the KPAX story, it is possible for non-residents to get these plates by establishing a Montana Limited Liability Company (LLC). This then acts as a resident under state law and can be used to register the motor home. It is perfectly legal, but the whole concept feels a little…corrupt…to me.

Why it Annoys Me

We don’t have a sales tax here, and our motorhome registration fees may be low, but we do certainly have a state income tax. Back when I first moved here, it did seem as though the MT income tax was a bit more than what I paid back in Illinois, so it seems we probably are in line with most other states in that respect. I of course pay property taxes on my home. And the vehicle registration fees for normal trucks and autos are renewed every year, and are significantly more that what I paid back in Illinois (back in 2005, I paid about $70-$80 a year in Illinois. Here, it is based on the value of the vehicle, so for a few years there I was shelling out around $300 a year for my 2004 Honda Civic).

So I am contributing considerable money to this state to keep it running. In addition, I live here. I spend my salary here, on goods and services right here in Montana, thus presumably helping to keep local businesses in business and keep Montanans employed.

In other words, yes, I get a really nice break on registering my RV for dirt cheap. But I pay for it in other ways.

These people who work around residency laws with their LLCs are not contributing to our state’s economy in the same way. Yes the registration fee tosses a little money at the state government, but they do nothing else to support the state that is giving them this great deal on their motorhome license plates.

Furthermore, they are cheating their own state out of taxes they should be paying there.

I find it annoying when normal people do this. They should be lobbying their own states to change their registration fees rather than using a different state. But normal people often don’t have much power to change their governments, so I have a small amount of sympathy.

I have zero sympathy for a politician who actually holds political power and influence.

Note to Mr. Santorum: If you don’t like the fees charged by the state of Pennsylvania, perhaps you should work with the elected officials there to change those fees. And put Pennsylvania plates on your damn tour bus.

(Minor caveat: I suppose it is entirely possible that the tour bus was rented from a Montana-based company rather than owned by Santorum. In which case, consider my rant against Santorum null and void…although I stand by my irritation with the LLC practice in general. And I’ll still never like the man.)

Trapping Rant Part 2

19 Sunday Feb 2012

Posted by SaraS in Dogs, News, Outdoors, Rants

≈ 1 Comment

I just realized I never followed up on my previous post regarding KPAX’s special report on trapping.

I think this page is the summary of part two. They did at least acknowledge concerns about pets getting trapped, but it was very brief. Overall, I wasn’t especially impressed with their “special report” on this issue.

But in related news, this Saturday the Humane Society here in Missoula is hosting a workshop on releasing your pets from traps. The workshop will be put on by Footloose Montana, a non-profit organization fighting against trapping on public land. They were (briefly) mentioned in the KPAX piece.

Renee and I are definitely planning on going to this…hopefully this will help us keep all our dogs a little safer when out in the woods.

Trap Workshop Poster

Trapping Rant

07 Tuesday Feb 2012

Posted by SaraS in Dogs, News, Outdoors, Rants

≈ 1 Comment

Last night, our local CBS channel (KPAX) had a “special report” about trapping on public land on the ten o’clock news. It turned out to be just “part one;” the second part should air tonight. Part one made me extremely cranky, especially right before bed.

Here’s the story. The text on this page is most of what they covered in the story:

Trapping Remains Hot Topic – Part 1

They spent most of the time talking to trappers and people who support trapping as a “traditional way of life.” They alluded to people who oppose trapping, but sort of implied that the opposition is mostly concerned with the animals that are being harvested via trapping. They didn’t mention at all that much of the opposition is about safety of the people and pets that are also out in the public lands.

For example, the trapper they talked to said he didn’t see that this was any different from hunting or from hooking a fish. And, from the perspective of cruelty to wild animals, that’s mostly true – the animal ends up dead either way. I would point out that at least the hunter or the fisherman normally kills the animal cleanly, not leaving it to perhaps suffer for hours or days. But set aside that issue for a moment. 

My big issue is that I don’t want to see one of my dogs get caught in a trap. I’ve heard too many horror stories. The trapper they interviewed sounded relatively responsible, but not all people doing this are going to do things the right way. Some will set their traps right near trailheads, for example. What a lazy way to “hunt!”

Then there was this quote from a Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks spokesman:

We certainly respect the opinions of those people that are opposed, there are differing opinions on hunting, fishing, trapping – you name it. That’s personal opinion and some of it’s the result of information they’ve heard that maybe correct, or incomplete or inaccurate information. It’s a value thing and people have different opinions which they’re entitled to,” he added.

Nothing in there even hints at the fact that people might be opposed for safety reasons, not because of “differing opinions on hunting.” And I totally don’t get the “value” thing. Yes, I value my dogs being alive and safe and unhurt. Is that what he means by “value thing?”

And again the trapper they interviewed:

It’s the perception that we’re these people that are beating animals over the head with a club – and that’s not true,” Kempthorne told us.

No, actually, I didn’t have that perception. I had the “perception” that you left dangerous traps (perhaps even baited with food) in areas where pets out for a hike in the woods might stumble over them and be hurt or killed. And nothing in the interview or overall report did anything to erase that perception of trapping.

Anyway, I suppose I will tune in to the news again tonight for part two, and see if the “special report” gives a fair hearing to the other side, and clarifies the reasons people oppose trapping. But so far, I was not very impressed.

Black Friday Insanity

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by SaraS in Rants

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

holidays, shopping

OK, so I’m not really a huge shopping fan. My mom still tells this story from when I was in high school and my sister had just started college. She was home for Thanksgiving. The day after, we all went to a mall to do some shopping. It turned into a nine-hour endurance test. I ran out of things to look at and was getting bored, but they were still going strong. So I bought a book (probably from B. Dalton – remember them?) and found a relatively comfortable bench and read until they were finally ready to go home.

This was all way back when the day after Thanksgiving was a big shopping day, but before stores started opening at ridiculously early hours. This article at Wikipedia claims that the term “Black Friday” has been in use for the day after Thanksgiving since 1975, but I really don’t remember hearing that term much back in my high school days.

Anyway, where am I going with this? Nine hours in a suburban mall was enough to scare me off shopping the day after Thanksgiving. Getting up at four in the morning and waiting in line to race around to get the best deals? No thanks. Not going to happen.

Now I do like shopping for fun things, and I can’t claim to be put off the materialism of buying stuff. I like shopping for backpacking gear, outdoor/camping gear, dog stuff, and electronics. Shopping for clothes at REI or Bob Wards is fun. Getting packages from UPS is fun. Shopping in a billion little mall stores full of “trendy” clothes, not so much. At least not for me.

This year, it seems that some retailers are going even further and opening at midnight or late Thanksgiving night, like around ten. I think this is appalling. I feel bad for all the employees who have to catch up on sleep all day on Thanksgiving so that they can work all night. Whose idea was this, really? Wasn’t opening at four AM early enough?

I pretty much agree with this Target employee who started a petition to push back the opening to 5 AM.

I think it is pretty sad that things are at a point where opening at 5 AM is now the REASONABLE alternative. I mean really. Yikes.

Again, I’m not some anti-consumer-culture person here. I like shopping for certain things. I like getting expensive new toys when I can afford them (I just got a new Kindle Touch last week after all). But really. Why ruin a really nice, fun holiday that is all about food, friends, and family (and football for some, but I don’t really care too much about that personally) by opening stores at 10 PM or midnight?

Answer: I Have No Idea! Question: Why?

24 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by SaraS in Rants, Television

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

game shows

So this is just sort of a silly rant type post today. Something has always sort of bothered me — what is the deal with “answer in the form of a question” on Jeopardy?

I mean, I know how it works, but I’ve always found it kind of silly. Many times the “clues” are not really answers to the “questions.” At least they aren’t the answers I would give to those questions.

For example, if someone asked me “What is Denmark?” my first response would be “a Scandinavian country in Europe.” For a more detailed answer, maybe I would pull up facts about the country, like its population, geography, type of government, and so on. The sort of info you might see in the first few paragraphs of an encyclopedia entry labeled “Denmark.” Maybe like the info here.

My answer would not be:

a country whose exports to the Middle East went down 15% in 2006, as a result of caricatures of Muhammad.

But look at the clue of the day for October 19, 2011 (you can see the “clue of the day” for the last few days here:

Clue: This country’s exports to the middle east were down 15% in 2006, backlash from caricatures of Muhammad

Correct Response: What is Denmark?

I mean yes, that is an interesting fact about Denmark, and maybe it is something that would be buried a few paragraphs down in that encyclopedia entry (although as of today, it is not mentioned in the Wikipedia article), but this is not the definition of Denmark. This is just not the answer to “what is Denmark.”

Just for the heck of it, I did some poking around online and ran across the Wikipedia article on Jeopardy. It mentions how Merv Griffin originally came up with the idea for the show and the answer in the form of a question thing and a sample question his wife came up with:

She fired a couple of answers to me: “5,280” – and the question of course was “How many feet in a mile?”.

Now that one actually makes sense!

Anyway, I admit this is a sort of silly rant. I’m probably taking the question/answer thing a bit too literally. But still. Sticking the words “what is” or “who is” in front of an answer doesn’t really make it a question.

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