# ...Bring May Glowers (Monthly Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [May 1, 2025, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737 "2025-05-01T05:11:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![MagicEyes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@MagicEyes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MagicEyes)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/141 "2025-05-11T01:50:00Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > When I was in college, I was in a play that used this as a joke. I should clarify that the joke was about putting holes in donuts, not putting holes in coworkers. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/142 "2025-05-11T02:16:21Z")
I thought that was weirdly specific to have happened twice! ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/143 "2025-05-11T07:26:10Z")
Bit of an anti-rant here. As told earlier, for the nonce at least, I no longer have a working UPS, and actually since the battery had more or less totally failed, I effectively haven’t had one for awhile. I’m using a good heavy-duty surge protector with about a dozen outlets. So anyway, there was a brief power glitch earlier this evening, a fact which I know because the computer was off instead of sleeping when I came to use it just now, and the microwave clock informs me that the time is 88:88. All of which is leading up to an interesting point about Windows sleep mode. Maybe this is common knowledge, but I wasn’t aware of it. While it maintains memory contents in a minimal power mode, it **also** writes all context information to disk. Thus “sleep” is really equivalent to “hibernate”, except that hibernate is explicitly intended to allow complete power-down, while sleep is intended for an immediate quick start. This is a really great feature in the absence of a UPS. When I powered the computer on, it appeared to be going through a normal boot sequence, and then announced “Resuming Windows” and everything was back the way I had left it. Every once in a long while, Microsoft does something right. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/144 "2025-05-11T17:20:08Z")
I’m not too happy with the update either. It’s silly, but I don’t like what they did with the clock… I’m still playing with it to try to find a setting I can live with. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/145 "2025-05-11T17:28:31Z")
When I graduated from the University of California in 19mumble mumble, I was promised an email account for life. Perhaps that was a stupid promise for them to make, but it was a promise, and they made it. Lately, they keep contacting me with new conditions. You can have the email, but if you go over a certain storage limit, if you don’t install dual-factor authentication, we’ll cut off your account forever. None of these are unreasonable, but **they weren’t part of the deal**. There’s just something unpleasant about the tenor of these communications: they’re using their power to force me to accept a modification of the contract, and hoping I fail so they can cancel it. Of course, none of that beats when Chase bank bought Washington Mutual and introduced a monthly fee to my “Free Checking for Life” account. Again, it wasn’t me who gave it that name! Bastards, all. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/146 "2025-05-11T17:34:35Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Of course, none of that beats when Chase bank bought Washington Mutual and introduced a monthly fee to my “Free Checking for Life” account. I’m glad I closed my account with WaMu before that happened. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2025, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/147 "2025-05-11T20:49:17Z")
> [@Dr.Drake](#): > > Of course, none of that beats when Chase bank bought Washington Mutual and introduced a monthly fee to my “Free Checking for Life” account. Silly - you thought it meant _your_ life! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/148 "2025-05-12T00:43:44Z")
Free checking for the life of … our willingness to offer free checking to you peons. > [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > I don’t have a baby any more. > > I have a big boy. My GF is having Mother’s Day dinner with her son as we speak. He’s 32. She tells me this “kid growing up” thing happens fast. The good news is that he’s buying. So you have that to look forward to. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/149 "2025-05-12T02:36:45Z")
I did that on our other TV - thanks for the suggestion. I was even able to paste it in from my password vault. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/150 "2025-05-12T02:38:52Z")
Awwwwww. Dweezil’s transition to a regular bed was a non-event: we had the third bedroom decorated with all new furniture when Moon Unit was a newborn, so he got to move into his Big Boy room, which was pretty exciting. Moon Unit, when we moved her to a new bed, we put away the toddler bed. She was excited… but then when we gave away the toddler bed a few months later, she really got upset with us. That was 25ish years ago and I’m sure she’s forgotten. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/151 "2025-05-12T12:52:22Z")
Beautiful weather this weekend, so where did I spend most of it? Suffering inside after being outside for bit; stoopit tree orgies! ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2025, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/152 "2025-05-12T14:00:31Z")
I am currently getting chemotherapy for breast canceer. I got a call on Friday while I was hooked up to the IV and asleep because they gave me Benadryl. The call was from HR telling me I’ve used up all my intermittent FMLA and it won’t reset until December. I am getting chemo through the beginning of July and then I have to get my radiation treatment scheduled. The actual fuck? I sent a message to my oncologist to see what we can do, but I think she’s out of the office on Mondays. So I’m at work today, trying not to fall over. I may not be clinical staff, but I do work with patients and my brain and energy levels are not up to providing the best patient care right now. I prioritize that if HR doesn’t. Also I found out this morning that one of my former co-workers died yesterday of metastatic breast cancer. This week can fuck all the way off right now. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/153 "2025-05-13T02:27:45Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > This week can fuck all the way off right now. Agreed, on your behalf! ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/154 "2025-05-13T03:52:58Z")
Why in the fuck can’t Fitbit make a fitness watch that doesn’t fall apart after two years? My first one failed when the button on the side fell apart. The second one had a band that attached to the watch with a little latch that had a metal bearing surface that was only about 0.2mm deep and didn’t work when the plastic around the latch fell apart. And the latest one fell off my wrist when the hasp on the band fell off because the plastic failed again. During the very strenuous activity know as sleeping. And why do I keep getting Fitbits if they are junk, you ask? Good question. If it was up to me I would not, but my wife buys a new one and gives me her old one to use. Gift horses and all that. So I shouldn’t complain, but then again I can’t get her to stop buying this cheap crap. For a device designed for an active lifestyle, these things are not robust. She will upgrade before it turns to shit so she doesn’t believe me when I tell her they are crap. I thought that Garmin made complete crap, but they are a Rolex compared to Fitbit. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 12:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/155 "2025-05-13T12:42:20Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > That was 40ish years ago and I’m sure she’s forgotten My sister, two years younger than me, still holds a grudge against me that I got an icecream lolly after a visit to the doctor. I was 7 and she was 5. She was not even at the doctor visit, she learned because I discarded the wrapper on the floor of the family car. Little sisters never forget. We are now 49 and 47. She brings it up fairly often. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/156 "2025-05-13T12:50:36Z")
> [@MagicEyes](#): > > I don’t go to Dunkin Donuts because one of the employees shot a coworker and I’m not going to a place where the employees try to shoot each other. Best get rid of your mailbox then! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/157 "2025-05-13T15:58:57Z")
On the strength of @MagicEyes’ recommendation, I stopped in a nearby DD yesterday. It’s very close to home so I drive by it every day at least twice, if not more. First time I’ve been inside one in probably 20 years. I never liked their coffee and don’t eat donuts. I saw no shooting. But there was a nice lady behind the counter wearing a Muslim headscarf, so shooting (or a police raid) seems to be just a matter of time. Something else I noticed: at 9am they had darn few donuts. Clearly it’s a front for something else. Highly suspicious. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/158 "2025-05-13T16:01:18Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Something else I noticed: at 9am they had darn few donuts. It’s all Dunkin’, no Donuts. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/159 "2025-05-13T16:03:22Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Why in the fuck can’t Fitbit make a fitness watch that doesn’t fall apart after two years? Because they want people to buy more than one Fitbit per lifetime? Given the pace of progress in consumer electronics / “smart” stuff, 2 years much longer than the technological half-life of those things anyhow. Most people will want a new one at least that often, even if the old one is still 100% as good as the day it was born. There is no point in building in device lifespan beyond the first-time purchaser’s intended use time. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2025, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737/160 "2025-05-13T16:09:28Z")
> [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > Why in the fuck can’t Fitbit make a fitness watch that doesn’t fall apart after two years? > [@Dag\_Otto](#): > > If it was up to me I would not, but my wife buys a new one and gives me her old one to use. Does it last for only 2 years after you get it, or in total? And how rough is your wife on them? All that being said, an electronic device meant to be worn during exercise should be engineered to be extremely durable if it is expected to last for any length of time. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bring-may-glowers-monthly-mini-rants/1017737.md?page=9)