# Jewel Eye: Staring down the beryl (July Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [July 1, 2025, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332 "2025-07-01T03:26:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/201 "2025-07-15T02:53:30Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I have spinal surgery scheduled for Thursday. It was arranged in June. Today the hospital let me know that my insurance still hasn’t okayed it yet. I’ve already made all the arrangements, scheduled time off work, transport, etc. The surgery is clearly necessary\* and all the records confirm this; all the possible options (physical therapy, etc) have been exhausted, etc. Hospital thinks insurance will okay it at the last minute. > > Not really a huge biggie, since the surgery _will_ happen, but I’d really like it to happen per my arrangements. > > \*My physiatrist (back doc), after offering many months of non-invasive options per x-rays, took one look at my MRI and said, “I’m giving you the name of a good neurosurgeon.” Will the hospital actually go forward without the approval or will they make you reschedule until it comes through? That sounds frustrating as hell. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/202 "2025-07-15T03:09:52Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Will the hospital actually go forward without the approval or will they make you reschedule until it comes through? They’ll have to reschedule until such time as the insurance approves, which they no doubt will in their sweet time. The hospital needs to make sure somebody can pay, and I sure don’t have $200k (the rack rate of my previous, albeit more complex, spinal surgery in 2018). Luckily, I have a completely accommodating employer, but I’ve managed my workload and my personal schedule for that time frame. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much because it’ll all eventually work out, if not on my planned time frame. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/203 "2025-07-15T03:15:49Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > > [@Ellecram](#): > > > > Will the hospital actually go forward without the approval or will they make you reschedule until it comes through? > > They’ll have to reschedule until such time as the insurance approves, which they no doubt will in their sweet time. The hospital needs to make sure somebody can pay, and I sure don’t have $200k (the rack rate of my previous, albeit more complex, spinal surgery in 2018). Luckily, I have a completely accommodating employer, but I’ve managed my workload and my personal schedule for that time frame. I guess I shouldn’t complain too much because it’ll all eventually work out, if not on my planned time frame. I hope everything works out for you this week. Surgery itself is such a burden to bear let alone all the arrangements necessary for it to take place. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/204 "2025-07-15T03:35:55Z")
Thanks! It’s very much appreciated. ---
**Author:** ![OldOlds](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/a3d4f5/32.png) [@OldOlds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldOlds)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/205 "2025-07-15T13:12:14Z")
WTF. Now the BBC is putting up paywalls. This is getting ridiculous. I understand that these sites need revenue, but get it from ads. Very few are worth paying for (CNN, you’re only useful for the headlines). I do pay for those that are worth it, but to me that’s The Economist and The Wall Street Journal. And as for ad blockers, I resisted for a long time, wanting to support these sites. Then they started with full screen pop ups, complete with sound, and hidden close window buttons. Sitting in the office, when suddenly your computer starts bleating about herpes treatments is not a good look. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 2:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/206 "2025-07-15T14:03:46Z")
Jebus, @needscoffee! I’ll give something a frustrated kick on your behalf. 😡 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/207 "2025-07-15T14:46:05Z")
Came home Thurs evening & the water company was working in the street nearby; there was a big hole in the street which they ended up covering up with a large steel plate when they left for the night. They obviously turned off the water with whatever they were doing because when I turned on the sink it burped & sputtered out air until the water ran. They must have come back on Friday & finished the job; however, I was away for the weekend & forgot all about it. Turned on the water for to take a shower while only half awake…I was fully awake by the time the water was flowing. ~~Two~~ Three (didn’t even see the third one for a bit) teens on e-scooters last night, cruising down the street, going the wrong way, against the direction of travel, even though there were no cars coming at that time. Only the last one was lit up at all. There was a cop in front of me. Now I’m not saying he should have given them tickets or even pulled them over but how about slow down & tell them to get on the correct side of the road & get some form of headlight if they want to be out at 10pm. There were asking to become hood ornaments! ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/208 "2025-07-15T15:51:14Z")
But that would be a permanent solution to the problem of their stupidity, versus the ticket bandaid. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/209 "2025-07-15T17:56:21Z")
Last week I was looking on Amazon for Bluetooth game controllers I might be able to use with a tablet, and today I went back on Amazon and decided to look again. This is what Amazon is presenting to me as suggestions: [![](https://i.imgur.com/klmxil3.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/klmxil3.jpeg) Yes, a controller is vaguely shaped like a pair of boxer briefs, but I doubt that underwear will connect to Bluetooth. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 15, 2025, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/210 "2025-07-15T18:15:10Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Yes, a controller is vaguely shaped like a pair of boxer briefs, but I doubt that underwear will connect to Bluetooth. Not unless you try. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/211 "2025-07-15T19:49:25Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I have spinal surgery scheduled for Thursday. It was arranged in June. Today the hospital let me know that my insurance still hasn’t okayed it yet. Today, the hangup with the insurance company is I didn’t complete all 6 sessions of PT 6 months ago because it wasn’t helping, it was making things worse, and looking at the MRI there was no possible way it even _could_ have helped. Hopefully they absolve me of the remaining 2 sessions. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/212 "2025-07-15T20:29:40Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > but I doubt that underwear will connect to Bluetooth. IoT - wouldn’t it be _great_ if you phone knew to tell you you crapped yo’self! 🤔 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/213 "2025-07-15T20:44:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > IoT Internet of Tighty-Whities ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/214 "2025-07-15T23:36:12Z")
So I’ve ended up with a small pile of Shell gift cards, so I tried using one at the pump today. “SEE CASHIER.” No. So I came home and tried to check the balance, just in case I accidentally put one back in my wallet after using it…and the website tells me that balance check feature is “temporarily unavailable.” 🤬 ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/215 "2025-07-15T23:39:34Z")
So it’s a Shell game. ---
**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:** [July 15, 2025, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/216 "2025-07-15T23:46:05Z")
🥁 [cymbal crash] I guess so. 😃 ---
**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:** [July 16, 2025, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/217 "2025-07-16T00:30:09Z")
A few weeks prior to going on vacation, I went online and submitted a hold mail request at the USPS website. I’ve had issues with them before, so I started the request to hold mail a couple of days before I actually leave. On the day the mail hold was supposed to begin, I noticed that the mail truck had stopped at my mailbox and sure enough, they delivered mail on the day that they shouldn’t have. I go to the post office to inquire, and they have no record of the hold mail request. So I submit one right there and then, and clearly check the box that says I will pick up the mail rather than have the mail carrier deliver it at the end of the holding period. I had a friend stop by my house, and he confirmed that there was no mail delivered, so at least they did start holding the mail. Yesterday was the last day of the hold request, so I went to the post office to pick up my mail. After standing in line for about ten minutes, I finally get to the counter, only to be told that the carrier had the mail for delivery. So much for reading instructions. I go home, expecting that the carrier would drop off the mail today. Except they didn’t. Where the hell is my mail? I have informed delivery so I know most of it is junk, but there are a few items like the letter from the state tax office that I would really like to have. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2025, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/218 "2025-07-16T11:02:10Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > > [@Atamasama](#): > > > > Yes, a controller is vaguely shaped like a pair of boxer briefs, but I doubt that underwear will connect to Bluetooth. > > Not unless you try. That underwear won’t. But there are Bluetooth-enabled underwear out there. Or at least underwear incorporating ahem … “special features” … that are Bluetooth remote controlled. The 21st Century is a glorious place. ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [July 16, 2025, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/219 "2025-07-16T13:09:20Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > But there are Bluetooth-enabled underwear out there. Or at least underwear incorporating ahem … “special features” … that are Bluetooth remote controlled. The 21st Century is a glorious place. I… I did not need to know that. ---
**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:** [July 16, 2025, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332/220 "2025-07-16T13:22:53Z")
Do not send to ask for whom the robotic goat comes. It comes for thee. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewel-eye-staring-down-the-beryl-july-mini-rants/1020332.md?page=12)