Happy holidays, dear readers! I am an easygoing guy, generally speaking—but there are a few things that I’ve come to recognize as pet peeves, trivial little occurrences that become opportunities for me to work myself into a state of high dudgeon and righteous indignation.

As the saying goes, “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”

I am writing this column, my friends, at the very last minute. I’m right up against deadline—it’s late on Friday, June 24, 2022, about 11 in the evening, moving quickly towards …