# Decemberrants: Yule post'em here, plz **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207 "2013-12-01T14:01:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/101 "2013-12-03T20:19:11Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Speaking of copying foreign customs without understanding the context… > Today I took the day off and went to downtown Barcelona. At the door of a department store there was a Santa ringing a bell, Salvation Army-style, only it wasn’t from the SA or anything like that; dude is just part of the “Christmas decorations” :rolleyes: What, the muzaky carols aren’t bad enough, now we get a guy going clang, clang, clang with a hand bell that somehow can be heard all through Portal de l’Angel just “for decoration”? I’m glad the guy got a job but want to dunk the exec who came with the idea into the dirtiest part of the harbor. What’s the Santa supposed to be doing then? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/102 "2013-12-03T20:25:42Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > It is that time again. I hate going out in public: goddam christmas music everyfuckingwhere. I’m so glad I have XM radio; I can keep the Blue Collar Comedy channel on while I’m in my car and have some peace and quiet. > > If I ran a retail establishment, I would not play Christmas music and I’d advertise that fact. My store would be packed with people trying to get away from it everywhere else. Not to be insensitive, but I understand that you have some free time on your hands these days. Sounds like a good time to open that establishment. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/103 "2013-12-03T20:33:57Z")
“Sir, your shop appears to be empty. What are you selling?” “A complete absence of Christmas music. Have a seat. It’ll only be $10 an hour with free wifi.” ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/104 "2013-12-03T20:35:21Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > “Sir, your shop appears to be empty. What are you selling?” > “A complete absence of Christmas music. Have a seat. It’ll only be $10 an hour with free wifi.” Throw in some mediocre coffee, and I’m there. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/105 "2013-12-03T20:44:58Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > What’s the Santa supposed to be doing then? Not be there would be a good start. But if he’s going to be there adding that goddamned clang, clang, clang to the din at least have it be for charity like in the place they copied it from. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/106 "2013-12-03T21:13:50Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > Spilled coffee all over my phone, now it only randomly decides if it wants to play audio or not. Blah. At least it works but I’m hoping it won’t decide it doesn’t feel like doing other things as well. > > I think my contract is up so I can get an upgrade but this is just not the time of year to be spending on that stuff. Nope. 4 months to go before I can upgrade at a discount. Ah well. ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2013, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/107 "2013-12-03T22:02:08Z")
Even when the temperature gets above freezing, it’s foggy and raining. :(:mad: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/108 "2013-12-04T00:02:53Z")
> [@Kimballkid](#): > > How about [this](https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/143928/zombie_zombies_icon) one? > > Or one of [these](http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-131908730/stock-vector-zombie-undead-attack-apocalypse-survival-defense-outbreak-stick-figure-pictogram-icon.html). Sweeeeeet! > [@Draelin](#): > > Throw in some mediocre coffee, and I’m there. Can I get a stale donut, too? > [@James\_Toothpaste](#): > > Even when the temperature gets above freezing, it’s foggy and raining. :(:mad: We went out and shovelled the sidewalks today - I have never shovelled such difficult, hard snow. The big wind yesterday packed the snow down like concrete - it felt like we were chipping the sidewalk out. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/109 "2013-12-04T02:14:15Z")
Katie Couric is doing a [hatchet job](http://katiecouric.com/2013/12/04/the-hpv-vaccine-controversy-rosie-perez/) on the Garadasil vaccine tomorrow. Her stupid commenting page is now a morass of sheer evil on this subject. Perky is not supposed to be a synonym for dumb shit. Author Seth Mnookin calls her on her bullshit and points out: > [@](#): > > [http://blogs.plos.org/thepanicvirus/2013/12/03/katie-couric-promotes-dangerous-fear-mongering-with-show-on-the-hpv-vaccine/](http://blogs.plos.org/thepanicvirus/2013/12/03/katie-couric-promotes-dangerous-fear-mongering-with-show-on-the-hpv-vaccine/) > > As I assume Couric and her staff know — they are, after all, literate — here are “all sides” of the HPV vaccine issue: > > - More than 25,000 new cancers attributable to HPV occur in the United States each year. Almost 12,000 of these cases are cervical cancer in females; another 6,000 are oropharyngeal cancers in men. > > - More than 100 million doses of the vaccine have been given since it was approved in 2006. > > - A study published in the British Medical Journal in October evaluated 997,000 girls, 296,000 of whom had received at least one dose of the HPV vaccine. More than 150,000 of those girls received all three doses. The results? Absolutely no link to short- or long-term health problems. As Lisen Arnheim-Dahlström, the lead researcher on the study, told Reuters Health, “There were not really any concerns before our study and no new ones after.” ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/110 "2013-12-04T02:58:05Z")
I managed to create an account with [healthcare.gov](http://healthcare.gov) the first week of October, but never managed to get beyond the stage of putting some personal info in. Then I started a new job so I figured I’d wait and see what those benefits are. Two and a half weeks ago I finally got the benefit packet, and it was hilarious. Said benefits would cost over 20% of my gross, which as the packet itself points out meets the ACA definition of unaffordable and directs me to the Marketplace. So I try to log in, but I’ve forgotten my password. :smack: This shouldn’t be a problem; there’s an option to put your user ID in and have a password reset email to you. Which I did, and it never arrived. The next day I actually called in and spoke to a representative who manually reset my password. That email never arrived either (& I did confirm I had the right user ID & the right email account on file). So I called again the next day. That CSR told my account was “invalid” for reasons he didn’t have access to. So he escalated it to the “Advanced Resolution Center” and gave be a tracking number. He also promised me a call back within 2-5 business days. That never happened either. So I called again and asked to speak with a manager. I was put on hold for 15 minutes, then it defaulted to an automated survey asking me about the customer service & disconnected me when I completed it. I called again and was able to get thru to a manager who could do nothing than apologize and ask me for my patience. And he “reescalated” to the ARC. Naturally he couldn’t tell me why my account was invalid either. Since then I’ve contacted Secretary Sebelius’s office directly and leave a voicemail (in a box I’m sure nobody actually monitors). I’ve also contacted Senator Casey’s office, and actually got a response from one of his constituent advocates. I finally got the release forms they made me sign back to them Monday, but I’ve no timeframe or info on what exactly they can do. I’m now on my 6th or 7th call with the Markeplace’s customer support (counting the calls that got dropped). I spent 15 minutes on hold before I got to a CSR who actually agreed to transfer me to the ARC. That was an hour minutes ago, and I’m still on hold. :mad: All to _reset a password_. A dog in Colorado can sign up, but not me. It only took Speaker Boehner 4 hours to sign up, and he’s spend his entire fucking speakership trying to obstruct & repeal the ACA. Oh, and the was a huge fucking update over the weekend. I fucking voted for Obama twice, volunteered and/or gave money to both campaigns, and repeatedly defended him to racist relatives (against both legitimate & insane criticisms). And at this point I want every fucking penny back. The companies that designed this fucking site should be dissolved, the assets of their shareholders confiscated, and their directors & senior management enslaved. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/111 "2013-12-04T03:38:00Z")
I’m being sued. Don’t know exactly why, as asking my mom to read the notice apparently was too damn difficult. It appears to be about a residence I haven’t lived in since 2006 that my parents owned. After I moved out, my nephew and wife moved in, proceeded to default on rent. Mom let the place go into foreclosure almost 18 months ago. I was on the title while I lived there, was never on the mortgage. Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/112 "2013-12-04T04:16:10Z")
I gave up after two hours on hold. ☹ I don’t like what dealing with these crap is turning me into. The fourth paragraph is not me. ---
**Author:** ![keturah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e95f7d/32.png) [@keturah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/keturah)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/113 "2013-12-04T05:00:45Z")
If it helps, everyone who created an account in October is being instructed to make a new account. Maybe try that? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/114 "2013-12-04T05:35:27Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Today is one of those days that I wish for an apocalypse of some kind, zombie or otherwise, because I realize that 99.999% of the human population is actively useless. I want to wish screaming death on that percentage of the population, but only if that death is followed by a split-second of realization of their utter fucking uselessness on the part of the people who are about to die screaming. I was with ya, **Kolga** , right up to this part: > [@](#): > > only if that death is followed by a split-second of realization of their utter fucking uselessness on the part of the people who are about to die screaming. Wouldn’t it be more effective if the realization of people’s uselessness _preceded_ their screaming death? It might even make the screams more satisfying to hear. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/115 "2013-12-04T06:24:50Z")
This week is apparently not my week. My mother died on Sunday. Or rather, her body stopped functioning. Her mind stopped functioning gradually over the years. It’s sad, but in a way, it’s also a relief. She was capable of feeling some enjoyment, but not much, but for the most part she seemed to be in distress almost all the time. Today, well, yesterday afternoon, I managed to trip and fall again (I’ve done this before), and I couldn’t get up. I have a lot of nerve damage in my legs, which means that they don’t function very well at all. I lay on the floor for a couple of hours until Bill came home. The cats did NOT go and fetch help. Two of them decided it was snuggle time, and two of them decided it was time to hold a wrestling match. Bill called the fire department to come help me up because he’s not as strong as he used to be, and the firefighters insisted that I go to the ER. My left little toe had two broken bones, and I very nearly took some skin off of it, there was some exposed muscle. So, ER visit consisting of various shots and X rays and sutures and learning to walk on crutches. Since I’ve got such a lot of nerve damage in my feet and legs, I didn’t even feel the local anesthetic shots, which generally burn like hell. This is the first time that I’ve been grateful for that condition. Of course, if I didn’t have the neuropathy, I probably wouldn’t have tripped in the first place. I actually was seen and treated very quickly, it must have been a slow day, because I was out of the ER in under 3 hours. Bill told me that he’s staying home tomorrow, and that he’s going to be doing all the cooking for a while. I might not survive. I think that we’re going to be eating a lot of takeout and precooked meals. If anyone wants me, I’ll be in my bed, sulking. Or enjoying the drugs, whichever. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/116 "2013-12-04T07:39:54Z")
Sorry to hear about your mother, **Lynn** , but I’m glad to hear she’s no longer in distress. My mother was very ill the last few months of her life and got to the stage where she needed hospice care. I was sad when she passed away, but glad she no longer suffered. I’m diabetic. I have neuropathy. I have had most of my toes amputated and have some balance issues. I’ve fallen a few times, myself. So far, I can manage to get up, but it’s difficult. I need to brace myself on a couch or bed. If I’m in the middle of the floor, I have to crawl over to the couch or chair for support to get back up. So, I do sympathize. I don’t laugh at those “I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials anymore. I hope you survive your husband’s cooking. Either that, or I hope the drugs make you feel too good to care. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/117 "2013-12-04T12:06:59Z")
I think I may start my own Pit thread soon… ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/118 "2013-12-04T14:07:04Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > …If anyone wants me, I’ll be in my bed, sulking. Or enjoying the drugs, whichever. I vote for option 2. Or at least enjoying _something_. If not today, hopefully soon. **{{huge hug}}** ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/119 "2013-12-04T14:31:08Z")
I’m going back to the ER. It looks like my stitches have ripped. Goddamn it. So if anyone wants me, I’ll be in the ER, sulking. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207/120 "2013-12-04T16:06:03Z")
Hugs, chocolate, painkillers, and decent USA health insurance all around. Also, kittehs and anti-HPV Gardasil vaccines as needed. Good luck, **MissTake**. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/decemberrants-yule-postem-here-plz/675207.md?page=7)