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    Recent iRANTs

    There’s Always Room for Pizza (or Don’t Trust the Homeless)

    Leftover pizza presents an interesting challenge for me. There are so many different factors and options that there’s no clear-cut obvious answer. Don’t finish Chinese food? Save it for later! Can’t finish a salad? Throw it out. But pizza is more challenging.

    Probably the biggest obstacle leftover pizza presents is there doesn’t have to be leftover pizza. I might be full after two or three slices–but that doesn’t mean I have to stop eating. The only time I truly have to stop eating pizza is when there’s no more pizza left. My ability to continuously (and gluttonously) eat pizza is slightly short of being remarkable (probably because it’s disgusting to see a guy eat slice after slice of pizza for three hours). Back when I was a teenager Pizza Hut started to roll out all-you-can-eat pizza buffets. Now they’re all gone. Why? Because they all lost money when I came in through the door. A lot of money. Why, I think it’s safe to say I am solely responsible for Pizza Hut’s disappointing third quarter in 1996.

    I like to eat–this is no surprise to anyone who knows me. I’ve often said eating if my favorite hobby–and pizza is perhaps . . . . .

     

    May 19th, 2012 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Complaints, iRANT, Real Life Adventures | Comments are closed

    Sucka: How to get shafted by a used car salesmen

    On of the great aspects of the internet is it gives everyone a voice. Any schmuck–including me–can post anything they want online. It’s great insight to what makes people tick…and away to see what real people are like out there. I stumbled across a web site call ripoffreport.com. It’s a consumer advocacy site that encourages people to discuss potentially fraudulent enterprises. From lost rebates to poor customer service, consumers can share their complaints with other consumers–all in the name of warning the public.

    One company that seemed to get a lot of hate was Drivetime Autosales (it also goes by the name Ugly Duckling Car Sales). The list of complaints went on and on. And as I read about a dozen of them, I failed to see a single instance where the consumer was wronged. Sure, the dealer did a lot of shady stuff–but consumers have a right to walk away. People should know better. Anyone who acts that stupid deserves any sorta rip-off that comes there way.

    The majority of complaints were what you’d expect for a used car dealer. People complained about this not working or that needed repairs. Anytime you buy a used car you’re taking risks . . . . .

     

    January 21st, 2009 | Tags: , | Category: Complaints, iRANT, Social Observations | Comments are closed

    Charity is for suckers (give it away now)

    The company Christmas party is coming up and we’re feeling the affects of a fleeting economy: we went from a catered affair to a potluck dinner. On top of that, my employer is requiring a $5 donation to attend the Christmas party. They told us they’re collecting the money for a charity to “help those less fortunate than us.” While I suppose technically, it’s a ‘good’ cause I’m still very uncomfortable with it. This isn’t just because I don’t believe in charity–I really don’t like the idea of being forced to donate. The loophole around this is probably that this isn’t a required event and attendance isn’t mandatory. But I know if I spend the afternoon in my office, it’ll be a bad PR move. What right do the party planners have to say there’s other people in more need of money than me? I have about $3 of disposable income every month–people should be collecting donations for me. I get paid jack squat. My rent goes up. The cost of food goes up. The cost of gas goes up. Why doesn’t someone pass the hat around for me?

    One time I was having lunch with The Wife at Wienerschnitzel . . . . .

     

    November 26th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: iRANT, Social Observations, The TV Station | Comments are closed

    Early results; early disappointments

    The early results are in and I’m sad. Just when you think our society is willing to accept, you see the prejudice that resides in people’s hearts. As of now, Prop 8 is failing–54 percent to 46. It’s early–but the race is nowhere near close. I’m surprised by the results–I assumed it wouldn’t pass–but I guess that just goes to show you everyone’s opinion is different.

    I really thought this thing would fail. It feels like our society is becoming more tolerant of gay people. I figured intelligent folks would see through the misleading and negative ad campaigns. And yet here we are, another civil liberty denied.

    Prop 8 passing means one of two things:

    1) People truly aren’t open and accepting of homosexuals. Sure, they might say all the right things in public. But when it comes to anonymous private opinions, people hate the gays. That’s the only reason I can think of to deny them the same opportunity that’s available to everyone else. Either that…

    2) Either that or people are truly stupid. The television campaigns focused on the children. Everyone always wants to protect the children. The quickest way you can get anyone’s emotions riled up is . . . . .

     

    November 5th, 2008 | Tags: , , , | Category: Complaints, Current Events, iRANT, Politics, Social Observations | Comments are closed

    Con Fare (You don’t get what you pay for)

    When life gets too busy or I have nothing to complain about, I just reach back and find something I wrote earlier but never posted (usually because it was uninteresting or poorly written…or maybe even both). This is one of those stories.

    I don’t mean to be a troublemaker–things just sorta happen to me. I think the reason why is because I’m a fighter–I simply don’t lay down when unjust situations arise. I don’t wanna inflate my own ego here, but I believe strongly in my convictions and I’m never going to back down. Some might call it stubborn, but I prefer ‘determined’–it puts a positive spin on things.

    The Girlfriend and I went to Jack in the Box because she was craving one of their fruit smoothies. “Should I buy the small one for $2.69 or the large for 3.39,” she asked after studying the menu.

    “Go with the small,” I told her. She rarely finished drinks like that and it didn’t make sense to spend the extra 70 cents on something she wasn’t going to drink. We went through the drive-thru and ordered the smoothie. The cashier didn’t tell us a total–only to pull up to the window.

    . . . . .

     

    September 21st, 2008 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Business Beefs, Complaints, iRANT | Comments are closed

    From voting discouragement to getting screwed with Lube…

    During a baseball broadcast, I heard a promo specifically encouraging Dodger fans to vote. Yeah, that’s what American needs: Dodger fans determining how the country is run. Not every uneducated literate with a criminal record deserves a voice. It’s this sorta propaganda that pisses me off. I hate voting season.

    I’m not completely helpless. The Girlfriend might think I am, but there are plenty of things I can do on my own–one of which is basic car maintenance. I took a year of auto shop in high school. I like working with tools. I wouldn’t call myself a man’s man–but I can perform rudimentary vehicle maintenance like replacing air filters, changing spark plugs, and jump-starting a battery.

    One of the things I won’t do is change my own oil. Sure, I could do it–but it’s just too darn messy…especially when I can take my car somewhere and get the oil changed by a professional for 20 bucks. It seems like money well-spent.

    I needed an oil change and opted to go to Jip-U-Lube. It’s right near work and I had a coupon for a $20 oil change. It was for the deluxe package that includes the 14-point inspection. Personally, I . . . . .

     

    August 21st, 2008 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Business Beefs, iRANT, Politics | Comments are closed

    Corporate Restitution (The ‘Nerd has fun with phone bills)

    I’m getting tired of fighting the good fight. Corporate America keeps screwing up and I’m the one who has to fix it. I’m starting to realize why most folks don’t care–it takes too much time resolve a billing error. Too much stress. Too much hassle.

    I can’t even begin to tell you how much time I wasted with my credit card fiasco a few weeks back. Easily three or four hours. Not too mention all the stress it caused me. And for what? It was a situation that was entirely not my fault.

    Well no more. See, all the corporations have no problem charging us extra here or there because most people don’t notice or care enough to do anything about it. But not me (I only get dicked over by family). I call and complain and get the situation resolved.

    But it doesn’t seem fair. Why should I hafta do this? Why should I have to waste my time to fix your screw up? The companies don’t care about your time–it doesn’t cost them a dime. Well not anymore. An idea came to me this week when T-Mobile screwed up my phone bill: restitution. The way I see it, . . . . .

     

    January 15th, 2007 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Business Beefs, Complaints, iRANT, Petty Justice | Comments are closed