# How's February shorting you? ~ 28 days of mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 1, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815 "2019-02-01T23:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/181 "2019-02-27T13:06:33Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > When someone starts bad-mouthing a third party (who is not present) to me, I tend to wonder how that person will speak of me when I’m not present. YMMV. That has never been, and will never be, a concern to me. Mileage does vary. 😃 Here’s one good point about Japan - they don’t ask pointless job interview questions that are designed to provoke lies. You won’t often hear “why did you apply for this job”? (Because I need money to live) or “Why are you leaving your company” (Because I hate everyone there and they hate me). ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/182 "2019-02-27T13:20:04Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > When someone starts bad-mouthing a third party (who is not present) to me, I tend to wonder how that person will speak of me when I’m not present. YMMV. This is the most succinct description of my relationship with my mother that I have ever seen. ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/183 "2019-02-27T14:03:36Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > What idjit decided Close-Up toothpaste should be red? When I spit into the sink, is it toothpaste…or blood? The first few days of the tube I keep looking in my mouth to see where it’s bleeding (& therefore gets extra attention). :smack: I think it’s FOR the people who often have bleeding gums. So they can lie to themselves over how often/bad it actually is. My current toothpaste is the one that comes out white with red and blue stripes. (I don’t know what it is, I just buy whatever brand is on sale on the endcap, assuming I’ve at least heard of the brand before.) Anyway, it bugs me that the stripes do NOT come out as neat even lines like on the package – they smear and smudge and one of the blue stripes has quit entirely. Harumph! ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/184 "2019-02-27T21:31:35Z")
I pit our school district’s really horribly shitty sex ed class and their abstinence-only curriculum and the parents that encourage it. Why the fuck should someone’s “religious objections” to sexual education result in inadequate, sub-par information being distributed in a fucking public school? My kid came home recently from middle school claiming that he wasn’t getting married because he was going to get AIDS if he had sex with anyone. I asked about contraception and what information they gave him on that and they apparently told the kids absolutely NOTHING about STD and pregnancy prevention or family planning in any way, shape or form. The shithead teacher also told the kids that touching yourself was bad. So I sat overlyboy down discussed at length with him the details of contraception and masturbation. Which he found pretty much horrifying to be talking about with his mom, but apparently they refused to teach any sex ed when my husband grew up in India, so there you go. I got him a book, too, which he promptly hid out of embarrassment, but at least he has access to the information because I sure the hell don’t want him googling his sex ed. Anyway, as an entertaining aside, he had heard of periods, but he didn’t realize that a) they involve blood, b) the bleeding lasts for several days and c) why it happens in the first place. He looks at me in astonishment and said, “Oh, my god, mom! That’s disgusting. Does that happen to YOU???” “Yep, every month.” “I am SO glad I’m not a girl. Where does the blood go? Do you carry it in some weird sack along side?” “WHAT???” So, still…fuck you public school system. I intended to educate my child about this anyway, but it drives me fucking bonkers that religion is getting mixed into my kids’ education. Teach sex ed or don’t, but don’t water every goddamn thing down; at the very least, take some reality into consideration and give these kids the tools to stay safe. Fuckers. ---
**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:** [February 27, 2019, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/185 "2019-02-27T22:09:48Z")
So yesterday I started having trouble getting my trunk door to stay closed (it would just bounce back up when I tried to close it). I thought I got it closed when I took my gym back out at the Y last night, but apparently not since it opened back up on it’s own and drained my battery. So I called OnStar about 9pm and ordered a tow trunk; I didn’t realize the battery was the problem and the last time they send someone out to give me a jump start it turned out that wasn’t the issue and I ended up needed a tow anyway. Because it was so late I didn’t want to take my chance. I was they’d order a tow and text me the details on my phone once one was dispatched. Immediately afterward I get a text confirming this, then nothing for an hour. So I called OnStar again and found out they were having trouble with their automatic dispatch system so the rep said she’d have to manually order one. I stayed on the line this lime and got the name of the towing company, their number, & an ETA (of 11:30pm). This was also texted to me. About 11:50pm I got a call from someone at OnStar to follow up; he was surprised the tow trunk hadn’t arrived yet and assumed they were on site because they weren’t answering their phone. He was going to keep looking into it and call me back. I called tow company myself; the guy who answered sounded like I work him up, didn’t know what I was talking about, then said the order was just coming through now and he’d get back to me. Then about 12:15am I got a call from another tow company to confirm my location, vehicle info, etc. I got at ETA of between 1:15am and 1:30am. This entire time I’m sitting in my freezing car, in an empty parking lot with everything around me closed. Also I kept getting alternating text messages with both towing companies’ info; the first one still giving an 11:30pm ETA). The guy from the 2nd company showed up at exactly 1:15 and once we driving away he said he’d originally gotten the call about a \*possible \*pickup at 10:45pm, but there was no follow up until after midnight. So to sum up I spent over 4 hours freezing in a parking lot last night. If I’d know when I called OnStar the firm time I wouldn’t get a tow until after 1am I would’ve just left my car there and gotten a ride home. Hell I could’ve \*walked \*to a hotel in about 10-15 minutes (granted I would’ve needed to cross a highway in the middle of the night wearing a back coat). I didn’t get home until after 2am, ended up calling off work, and slept until 11am. And I feel like crap. > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’ve received exactly one wedding invitation in the past twenty years, so I can’t tell you if it’s normal; I CAN confirm that it’s [not _acceptable_.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=10454871&postcount=48) Yes, traditionally wedding invitations don’t have any mention of gift registries; one was supposed to make discreet inquires to the bride’s mother or sisters for that information. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/186 "2019-02-28T00:29:23Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I pit our school district’s really horribly shitty sex ed class and their abstinence-only curriculum and the parents that encourage it. Why the fuck should someone’s “religious objections” to sexual education result in inadequate, sub-par information being distributed in a fucking public school? > > My kid came home recently from middle school claiming that he wasn’t getting married because he was going to get AIDS if he had sex with anyone. I asked about contraception and what information they gave him on that and they apparently told the kids absolutely NOTHING about STD and pregnancy prevention or family planning in any way, shape or form. The shithead teacher also told the kids that touching yourself was bad. > > So I sat overlyboy down discussed at length with him the details of contraception and masturbation. Which he found pretty much horrifying to be talking about with his mom, but apparently they refused to teach any sex ed when my husband grew up in India, so there you go. I got him a book, too, which he promptly hid out of embarrassment, but at least he has access to the information because I sure the hell don’t want him googling his sex ed. > > Anyway, as an entertaining aside, he had heard of periods, but he didn’t realize that a) they involve blood, b) the bleeding lasts for several days and c) why it happens in the first place. He looks at me in astonishment and said, “Oh, my god, mom! That’s disgusting. Does that happen to YOU???” “Yep, every month.” “I am SO glad I’m not a girl. Where does the blood go? Do you carry it in some weird sack along side?” “WHAT???” > > So, still…fuck you public school system. I intended to educate my child about this anyway, but it drives me fucking bonkers that religion is getting mixed into my kids’ education. Teach sex ed or don’t, but don’t water every goddamn thing down; at the very least, take some reality into consideration and give these kids the tools to stay safe. Fuckers. I am so grateful that I came of age in the split second between the beginning of the AIDS crisis and the pearl-clutching from the religious right that my class got real sex education. Bullshit like this makes me want to spit nails. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/187 "2019-02-28T02:20:35Z")
> [@StarvingButStrong](#): > > I think it’s FOR the people who often have bleeding gums. So they can lie to themselves over how often/bad it actually is. > > My current toothpaste is the one that comes out white with red and blue stripes. (I don’t know what it is, I just buy whatever brand is on sale on the endcap, assuming I’ve at least heard of the brand before.) Anyway, it bugs me that the stripes do NOT come out as neat even lines like on the package – they smear and smudge and one of the blue stripes has quit entirely. Harumph! Just be glad your toothpaste isn’t made by Epson or HP, or when the blue stripe quit it wouldn’t give any more toothpaste at all… ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/188 "2019-02-28T02:28:33Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > I pit our school district’s really horribly shitty sex ed class and their abstinence-only curriculum and the parents that encourage it. Why the fuck should someone’s “religious objections” to sexual education result in inadequate, sub-par information being distributed in a fucking public school? > > My kid came home recently from middle school claiming that he wasn’t getting married because he was going to get AIDS if he had sex with anyone. I asked about contraception and what information they gave him on that and they apparently told the kids absolutely NOTHING about STD and pregnancy prevention or family planning in any way, shape or form. The shithead teacher also told the kids that touching yourself was bad. > > So I sat overlyboy down discussed at length with him the details of contraception and masturbation. Which he found pretty much horrifying to be talking about with his mom, but apparently they refused to teach any sex ed when my husband grew up in India, so there you go. I got him a book, too, which he promptly hid out of embarrassment, but at least he has access to the information because I sure the hell don’t want him googling his sex ed. > > Anyway, as an entertaining aside, he had heard of periods, but he didn’t realize that a) they involve blood, b) the bleeding lasts for several days and c) why it happens in the first place. He looks at me in astonishment and said, “Oh, my god, mom! That’s disgusting. Does that happen to YOU???” “Yep, every month.” “I am SO glad I’m not a girl. Where does the blood go? Do you carry it in some weird sack along side?” “WHAT???” Heh. You should have told him about diva cups… ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/189 "2019-02-28T05:21:18Z")
The “block unknown numbers” option doesn’t seem to do jack fuck-all, at least not on my Galaxy whichever-the-hell version running Android. I get multiple calls a day now, about improving google search results for my small business (don’t own one) or good news about my student loans (never had any) or any of myriad other assorted flavors of bullshit. These calls are getting really disruptive and I’m increasingly annoyed at the complete inability to stop or even slow this tide of interruptions. I’ve been woken by one on a rare sleep-in morning, and they’re a brief but intrusive distraction at work. GAH!!! ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/190 "2019-02-28T06:34:42Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Is it normal for modern wedding invitations to include double-sided, excruciatingly detailed lists about the registry, which items can be purchased as a group, which items cannot be purchased as a group, the acceptability of gift cards, how to send the gift if you will not be attending, how to send a gift card if you will not be attending, etc.? > > Also, this is the first time I’ve seen printer ink on a wedding registry. Granted, they clearly used a home inkjet printer to print the invitations and accompanying materials, but still… > [@alphaboi867](#): > > Yes, traditionally wedding invitations don’t have any mention of gift registries; one was supposed to make discreet inquires to the bride’s mother or sisters for that information. In Spain they’re usually printed and have been for decades; heck, nowadays it isn’t unusual for them to be electronic. For some reason the US tends to be a lot more conservative on social mores and etiquette than Europe is. Indicating the store that’s got the registry in the invitations isn’t normal, but if it’s the bride or groom handing you the invitations in person it’s perfectly normal to ask them. What, if you’re on the groom’s side and don’t even know the bride, much less her mother, you still have to get the mother’s phone somehow? “Uh, hi, I know we don’t know each other but I’m one of the coworkers Paco has invited to the wedding. Can you tell me please where are they registered?” I was taught that manners are about making everybody’s life easier by giving predefined answers to frequent questions. Y’all seem to believe it’s about marking class differences. Completely different outlooks. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/191 "2019-02-28T08:25:25Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > In Spain they’re usually printed and have been for decades; heck, nowadays it isn’t unusual for them to be electronic. For some reason the US tends to be a lot more conservative on social mores and etiquette than Europe is. Indicating the store that’s got the registry in the invitations isn’t normal, but if it’s the bride or groom handing you the invitations in person it’s perfectly normal to ask them. What, if you’re on the groom’s side and don’t even know the bride, much less her mother, you still have to get the mother’s phone somehow? “Uh, hi, I know we don’t know each other but I’m one of the coworkers Paco has invited to the wedding. Can you tell me please where are they registered?” > > I was taught that manners are about making everybody’s life easier by giving predefined answers to frequent questions. Y’all seem to believe it’s about marking class differences. Completely different outlooks. I’m of two minds about wedding registries. Yeah, it’s nice to know that the stuff the newlyweds are getting aren’t all just different brands of the same thing. On the other hand, looking at the prices of the stuff on the registries…well, no, that’s not happening either. It makes me appreciate much more the way weddings are handled in South Korea. After we got married in the Temple in Hawaii, we flew back to Korea for the “wedding hall” bit. The tradition in Korea is for the guests when they come to the check-in counter to drop off envelopes of cash for the happy couple. Anyway, yeah, I’ve seen both print and online invitations with the registry website on them. If you’re going the registry route, you might as well inform your invitees. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/192 "2019-02-28T14:28:37Z")
I think envelopes of cash was also at the mobster wedding in “Goodfellas” and I heartily endorse making it an American custom as well. Of course, headlines will tout, “Millenials are killing the gift registry industry!” but, well, I suppose that’s the price we all must pay. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/193 "2019-02-28T14:52:25Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I think envelopes of cash was also at the mobster wedding in “Goodfellas” and I heartily endorse making it an American custom as well. > > Of course, headlines will tout, “Millenials are killing the gift registry industry!” but, well, I suppose that’s the price we all must pay. I think in the USA, it’s often a regional thing. In the Northeast, the cash gift is fairly standard and there are “unwritten rules” linking the size of the cash gift to the expense of the wedding and reception. Your gift is supposed to be at least enough to cover the cost of you and your guest. And you’re supposed to figure it out. Of course, there’s no gift table at the reception but the bride carries a special purse for cash gifts. I had a colleague once that was complaining that he had received a wedding invitation that he felt was a “non-vite”. I asked him what his reasoning was and I got… “She’s having a sit-down dinner with a live band at the SuperSnoot Moneybags Resort Hotel, that is AT LEAST $500 bucks a head and she KNOWS there’s no way I can afford to give $1000”. So he didn’t go. But in the South, where I grew up, non-cash gifts and registries still abound. I have bought some registry gifts recently and I noticed the couples were very considerate and loaded the registry with lots of \<$25 options. But I assume that varies from couple to couple, and lots of couples don’t do that. ---
**Author:** ![Reeses\_Monkey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reeses_monkey/32/2885_2.png) [@Reeses\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reeses_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/194 "2019-02-28T17:00:43Z")
I spent months planning a big blowout trip to Vegas for my 50th birthday. We flew in from PA on Monday and had a great time with friends. Tuesday my husband and I ran around doing fun stuff and then went out for a romantic dinner. The steaks came and my phone rang. My husband’s uncle had died (not quite unexpectedly) and the funeral is today (Thursday) in Texas. There’s no way we can make it. If it had been any week but this week, we would have been there. My husband is dealing with it well but I feel really bad about the timing of the whole thing. We had skipped Uncle Frank’s wife’s funeral in December because of weather and now we never get to see him again. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/195 "2019-02-28T19:06:43Z")
Years ago, one of my fraternity brothers was getting married. His roommate took charge of the gifts–he set up in the reception hall parking lot and handed the wrapped gifts out. I wonder what they did with 42 identical toasters. ---
**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:** [February 28, 2019, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/196 "2019-02-28T19:09:18Z")
> [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > I wonder what they did with 42 identical toasters. [http://www.flamingtoasters.com/poptart/](http://www.flamingtoasters.com/poptart/) ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/197 "2019-02-28T20:21:02Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Just be glad your toothpaste isn’t made by Epson or HP, or when the blue stripe quit it wouldn’t give any more toothpaste at all… Good one! ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/198 "2019-03-01T00:50:26Z")
I guess it is a southern thing, but I’m very accustomed to seeing a statement on the invitation to the effect of “The couple is registered at [department store].” The mention of the registry didn’t strike me as odd…what baffled me were the incredibly detailed instructions about how to purchase the gift, along with when and where to deliver the gift (depending on the type of gift). Also, a copy of the registry instructions has now appeared on this person’s social media…I’m guessing because people didn’t start buying up gifts as soon as the invitations went out? ---
**Author:** ![Karen\_Lingel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karen_lingel/32/18649_2.png) [@Karen\_Lingel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Karen_Lingel)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/199 "2019-03-01T02:34:29Z")
Fuck cancer. What kind of cancer kills a person so fast that he dies before any of his friends know he has cancer? ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2019, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815/200 "2019-03-01T03:11:50Z")
Got whacked in the balls while playing soccer a few days ago. Still hurts. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hows-february-shorting-you-28-days-of-mini-rants/828815.md?page=11)