# Happy Cranks-giving! (November mini-rants)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477
**Category:** The BBQ Pit
**Tags:** monthly-mini-rant
**Created:** [November 1, 2025, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477 "2025-11-01T14:32:21Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/81 "2025-11-06T15:23:14Z")
I had a fun drive home late last night; 40-50 mph winds meant dodging branches down on curvy country (no streetlight) roads…on top of dodging the usual road pancakes; it also meant lots of leaves departing their trees & raining down. I was tired, which didn’t help.
My dad used to say he was in training for the Nap Olympics, he would do nap sprints & long-distance naps. I inherited his napping genes; I can power nap with the best of them, which I did last night to ensure I made it home safely. 15 mins in a parking lot alongside the road did wonders.
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### Author:  [@Kelevra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kelevra)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/82 "2025-11-06T15:39:14Z")
Someone left a message on my work phone. This can’t be good. It makes me want to claim I’m sick so I can avoid it. Maybe it will be gone on Monday…
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### Author:  [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/83 "2025-11-06T15:43:07Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#):
>
> Does anyone else use the neck and giblets to make a stock for gravy?
I do. That’s Stage One of the gravy-making process.
When the bird comes out of the oven and is resting, I deglaze the roasting pan with white wine, pour that mixture in with the stock I made to simmer the neck and giblets. Saute the liver in the roasting pan, remove and chop. Then make a roux in the pan with flour and more butter. Add back the stock and stir with a spatula to scrape up any remaining fond. Simmer till thickened and add the giblets. Best gravy ever!
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### Author:  [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/84 "2025-11-06T18:34:27Z")
When I was growing up, neck and giblets were cat food.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/85 "2025-11-06T19:16:43Z")
> [@Kelevra](#):
>
> It makes me want to claim I’m sick so I can avoid it. Maybe it will be gone on Monday…
[ ](https://despair.com/cdn/shop/products/apathydemotivator.jpeg?v=1403275888)
I used to have that as an actual poster in my office once.
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/86 "2025-11-06T22:01:51Z")
I hate the way Amazon keeps pushing their “Prime” subscription. They’re so obnoxious about it that I wouldn’t get it now just on general principle even if there was a clear financial advantage.
Those without Prime know how they practically trick you into subscribing whenever you order anything, and you have to click on the little tiny fine print that says “Continue without Prime benefits” with the implication that they can hardly believe what an idiot you are for turning down this fantastic service.
And now there’s a new twist. When I order small stuff I usually try to bundle it together or add some item I don’t necessarily need right now, but lately I’ve ordered a couple of small things that I really needed and just paid the shipping. Now Amazon is tracking and totalling my shipping charges so that every time I place an order, they can remind me of how much I spent and once again pitch Prime! Sorry, dudes, now you’re pissing me off more than ever!
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### Author:  [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)
#### Post date: [November 6, 2025, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/87 "2025-11-06T23:49:00Z")
Probably more of a workplace rant, but…I was in a meeting today, and sitting near one of my favorite coworkers. She’s really great at her job, and she’s fun to be around too. But today she was wearing a cologne that smelled exactly like Play-Doh. 😕
> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> Those without Prime know how they practically trick you into subscribing whenever you order anything
I thought Amazon got into some legal trouble over stuff like that?
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### Author:  [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/88 "2025-11-07T00:15:14Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#):
>
> Probably more of a workplace rant, but…I was in a meeting today, and sitting near one of my favorite coworkers. She’s really great at her job, and she’s fun to be around too. But today she was wearing a cologne that smelled exactly like Play-Doh. 😕
It could have been worse – she could have smelled exactly like B-Oh! 😁
My understanding is that perfumes and colognes take on a different scent once on the body. She may have liked the scent when sampling it, but was unaware of the final effect!
It is unfortunately very socially difficult to gently confront someone with the message that “you stink!” 😟
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### Author:  [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/89 "2025-11-07T00:33:20Z")
Yeah, I’ve had coworkers on the other end of the scent spectrum too, most recently someone who I’m guessing has a healthy mildew colony in their washer. 😕 I don’t want this to become a scent-free workplace, but between this coworker and the new lady who wears so much cologne that I have to air out anything she leaves in my inbox before reviewing it…oof.
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### Author:  [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/90 "2025-11-07T00:50:15Z")
> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> It is unfortunately very socially difficult to gently confront someone with the message that “you stink!.” 😟
Unfortunately I have had to do this … twice.
I think the next time (if there is one) I am just tossing a hand grenade of Secret Solid into their office.
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### Author:  [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/91 "2025-11-07T01:07:54Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#):
>
> But today she was wearing a cologne that smelled exactly like Play-Doh. 😕
Less unpleasant than some fragrances I’ve had co-workers marinated in. One boss I had on a former job is a great guy, but you could tell if he’d been in a room in the last five minutes or so by lingering cologne. I was tempted to put up something along the lines of “I’m not saying that your perfume is too strong. I’m just saying that _ **the canary was alive** _ before you got here”, but decided that might be a bit mean.
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### Author:  [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/92 "2025-11-07T01:24:04Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> > [@WolfpackJeep](#):
> >
> > But today she was wearing a cologne that smelled exactly like Play-Doh. 😕
>
> Less unpleasant than some fragrances I’ve had co-workers marinated in. One boss I had on a former job is a great guy, but you could tell if he’d been in a room in the last five minutes or so by lingering cologne. I was tempted to put up something along the lines of “I’m not saying that your perfume is too strong. I’m just saying that _ **the canary was alive** _ before you got here”, but decided that might be a bit mean..
I am trying to imagine a Play-Doh scent on a living person.
I am so going to use _the canary was alive before you got here_ comment next time some aroma offends me.
I am old and don’t care some days.
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### Author:  [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/93 "2025-11-07T17:12:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#):
>
> I hate the way Amazon keeps pushing their “Prime” subscription. They’re so obnoxious about it that I wouldn’t get it now just on general principle even if there was a clear financial advantage.
As a long-time Prime user, I can tell you that you’re not missing a lot. They try to reel you in with all their other Prime services, like Amazon Prime Video, which now contains ads even if you’re paying for Prime, and usually the video you want isn’t even on Prime, so you have to pay to rent it. There is only one reason to get Prime, and that’s if you order so much stuff you will pay more for shipping than without it.
The main reason I have Prime is I have a Prime VISA and I get a 5% kickback on everything I buy on Amazon. It adds up if you order a lot. I regularly have the balance converted to cash and deposited in my checking account.
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### Author:  [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/94 "2025-11-07T21:28:45Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#):
>
> There is only one reason to get Prime, and that’s if you order so much stuff you will pay more for shipping than without it.
>
> The main reason I have Prime is I have a Prime VISA and I get a 5% kickback on everything I buy on Amazon. It adds up if you order a lot.
This is why I have it. First the free shipping, then later the card.
I actually use Prime Video quite a bit but that on its own wouldn’t come close to being worth it.
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### Author:  [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)
#### Post date: [November 7, 2025, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/95 "2025-11-07T21:50:42Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#):
>
> There is only one reason to get Prime, and that’s if you order so much stuff you will pay more for shipping than without it.
I don’t order much online at all. Prime would cost me more than the shipping charges that I would pay, even if most of my few online purchases were thru them. I give someone any Amazon gift cards I get/win & then have her order for me the literally, one or two things a year I have to order from them. She definitely comes out ahead in that deal.
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2025, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/96 "2025-11-08T00:57:44Z")
I opened LinkedIn and was greeted with a celebration post of a career anniversary for a beloved coworker.
She died of cancer at 50 less than a year ago.
I was not prepared for that gut-punch.
Miss you, C! ❤
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### Author:  [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2025, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/97 "2025-11-08T01:21:19Z")
> [@Seanette](#):
>
> One boss I had on a former job is a great guy, but you could tell if he’d been in a room in the last five minutes or so by lingering cologne.
When I started at my current job, there was an older lady there who wore so much of a very distinctive cologne that I could pretty much track her through the building by following the scent trail.
> [@Ellecram](#):
>
> I am trying to imagine a Play-Doh scent on a living person.
It was a choice, that’s for sure. Although, as **wolfpup** noted, I’m sure it smelled different when it was sprayed out of the bottle. Maybe the original scent was meant to resemble baked goods? Bath & Body Works used to have one that smelled like lemon pound cake…
> [@mnemosyne](#):
>
> I was not prepared for that gut-punch.
Sorry for your loss…I guess LinkedIn doesn’t have a way for loved ones to convert the page to a memorial? ☹ At least Facebook offers that, not that anyone I know has ever used it (maybe some people are soothed by the “it’s Grandma’s birthday, help her celebrate!” Facebook notification a year after she died).
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### Author:  [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2025, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/98 "2025-11-08T02:29:39Z")
Years ago there was a drugstore scent called emeraude. To me that scent was very close to play do. I understand that it has been reformulated.
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### Author:  [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2025, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/99 "2025-11-08T02:50:47Z")
I don’t know if there’s such a feature on LinkedIn or if her family chose to leave things or simply haven’t gotten around to it. I met her husband a few times, and know she has three kids, mid-teens/adults.
My husband has all my passwords. I have his (at least, the master password to his password manager and vice versa). Though I doubt it would be a priority to hit up these sites based on our usage. So many more important things to do.
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### Author:  [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)
#### Post date: [November 8, 2025, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/happy-cranks-giving-november-mini-rants/1024477/100 "2025-11-08T03:07:39Z")
> [@rocking\_chair](#):
>
> Years ago there was a drugstore scent called emeraude. To me that scent was very close to play do. I understand that it has been reformulated..
My mother had that and I just recall it was a cloying, thick scent.
But I can see how it might give off a Play-Doh aroma.
Haven’t thought of that in years!
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