# March Nemesis (Monthly Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [March 1, 2026, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100 "2026-03-01T05:47:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**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:** [March 13, 2026, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/101 "2026-03-13T20:01:47Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > Maybe, but he’s also really bright from how you’ve described him, so he might catch on quicker than other kids once he figures out what he’s doing. Yeah, this is the kid who took about three examples and four seconds to figure out how to write numbers in binary. He’s sharp. It might be harder for _me_ to figure out Minecraft. But weekend time is our time and I could see us figuring it out together, and hopefully turn it into a positive thing. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/102 "2026-03-13T21:13:59Z")
Yet another in my series of micro-rants. There seems to be a conspiracy by MGM+ and/or AT&T Uverse to keep me from seeing the third episode of _American Classic_. I was able to watch the first two episodes with no problem, and was sufficiently impressed to add it to my watch list. So I programmed my DVR to record future episodes. However, when I started watching the third episode it had obviously started recording partway into the episode. So I did a search to see when it would be aired again, and requested that it be recorded then. This time, when I went to watch it, I was shown the middle of a movie. So I did another search, only to have the same thing happen again. And again. And again. It’s like MGM+ or Uverse can’t agree on when it’s going to be available for me to watch. When it happened again today I decided to try a shotgun approach. I currently have my DVR set to record every time it’s supposed to be aired over the weekend. I also double-checked to make sure that episode four is set to record on its first airing Sunday night. ---
**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2026, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/103 "2026-03-13T21:15:12Z")
I bought a house less than two months ago. On Tuesday, we got nailed by a nasty hailstorm. Roof is totaled, wood siding is damaged, the house will likely need to be repainted, garage door is dented, etc. etc. An insurance adjuster is scheduled to be out in a little over a week. The neighborhood is crawling with roofing companies going door to door. I stuck a company’s sign in the yard and at least they’re passing my place by now. The joys of home ownership… ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/104 "2026-03-14T00:53:10Z")
When trying to record things potentially affected by things like sports with unknown durations, I found it works well to record the program before and the program after in addition to what I wanted. Fast forward to get to your actual program. This assumes that MGM+ has a schedule that has programs starting on the hour/half-hour/whatever, but it sounds like they do? But badly, of course. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/105 "2026-03-14T05:02:30Z")
Back when I relied on ESPN for watching F1 races, the fuckers got me lulled into complacency when I had the DVR set to record all the events - the practice sessions, qualifying, and the actual race. It worked fine until the Monaco race. There, they aired the practice and qualifying on ESPN (which were recorded) but the assholes at Disney decided that they would air the actual race on ABC. Guess who didn’t get to watch that race because the DVR was set to record F1 on ESPN? I mean, it’s Monaco, so I didn’t miss anything since the outcome is decided in qualifying, but I was still a bit pissed off. ---
**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:** [March 14, 2026, 8:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/106 "2026-03-14T08:51:42Z")
A couple of days ago spring had sprung. The sun was shining, birds were singing, and trees and plants appeared ready to return to bloom. Then yesterday we had a freaking **snow storm** , with significant enough accumulation that the road plows were out and so was Snowplow Guy, who must be getting tired of this and I bet he’s going to take it out on all his customers in his rates next season. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2026, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/107 "2026-03-14T14:56:13Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > When trying to record things potentially affected by things like sports with unknown durations, I found it works well to record the program before and the program after in addition to what I wanted. Fast forward to get to your actual program. One of the options on my DVR is to extend the recording time by various amounts. So for anything airing on one of the broadcast networks on Sunday evenings I always add a half-hour to the scheduled recording time. This is usually enough to account for anything running late. This is the first time I’ve recorded shows on MGM+ so I’m not sure what the problem is. I have recorded movies there, and they have always run as scheduled. It may be an issue with the DVR scheduling. ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [March 15, 2026, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/108 "2026-03-15T04:20:55Z")
I now have gnats. (is that the same as fruit flys?) A guy gave me a house plant I didn’t want. Turned out it was full of gnats. I bought gnat traps and sticky tape but I cannot get rid of them. The plant is gone, I think they stay for cat food. Now they’re in the bathroom. Any hints, o wise ones? ---
**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:** [March 15, 2026, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/109 "2026-03-15T07:35:30Z")
> [@dummygladhands71](#): > > I now have gnats. (is that the same as fruit flys?) “Gnat” is a descriptive term, not a phylogenetic term, and there’s no real scientific consensus on what is or isn’t a gnat. But generally, although they’re around the same size, fruit flies aren’t considered a type of gnat. Among other shared features, species of gnats have elongated antennae at least six segments long, while fruit flies typically have stubby, feathery antennae. ---
**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:** [March 15, 2026, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/110 "2026-03-15T10:22:44Z")
> [@dummygladhands71](#): > > Now they’re in the bathroom. Any hints, o wise ones? Very small hand towels?? ---
**Author:** ![illoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a3d4f5/32.png) [@illoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/illoe)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/111 "2026-03-16T06:26:12Z")
Try pouring boiling water down the sink? I suspect that’s where those small jerks reproduce. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 9:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/112 "2026-03-16T09:01:19Z")
My wife has a super friendly friend. The friend is best friends with everyone in the world, if you go by the way she talks to people. But then she trashes the people behind their backs. I thought we were finished with junior high decades ago. When I first met her, I genuinely thought we were good friends, but in the 20 years I’ve known her, it’s the same fake intimacy over and over again. At some point in the conversation, she uses a lowered voice to tell you a secret about a mutual friend. The first time that happened, I assumed she and one of her best friends had a serious problem and they were finished. But no, still besties. I think that the secret to dealing with her is to not engage, but our kids go to the school so I see her sometimes. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/113 "2026-03-16T09:43:09Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > At some point in the conversation, she uses a lowered voice to tell you a secret about a mutual friend. The first time that happened, I assumed she and one of her best friends had a serious problem and they were finished. But no, still besties. > > I think that the secret to dealing with her is to not engage, but our kids go to the school so I see her sometimes. Social interaction is not my strong point, but this kind of thing really riles me up. I’m not saying this is the best course of action, but dammit, if it were me, the next time she gossiped in a lowered voice I’d tell her to fuck right off and that I no longer wanted anything to do with her. There’s some kind of mental problem happening here and I don’t have time in my life to explore it or mitigate it.. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 9:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/114 "2026-03-16T09:56:49Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Social interaction is not my strong point, but this kind of thing really riles me up. I’m not saying this is the best course of action, but dammit, if it were me, the next time she gossiped in a lowered voice I’d tell her to fuck right off and that I no longer wanted anything to do with her. Did you read the part where we are in inter lapping circles? Telling people to fuck off creates more problems than it solves. The key is to just not engage. Smile from across the room but don’t talk. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/115 "2026-03-16T09:58:07Z")
> [@TokyoBayer](#): > > The key is to just not engage. Smile from across the room but don’t talk. Yeah, probably the best approach. But people like that are annoying as hell. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/116 "2026-03-16T10:07:46Z")
Sometimes, the only way to win is not to play. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/117 "2026-03-16T11:31:31Z")
Bloody Youtube has decided I am clearly in need of Evangelical Christianity. No matter how often I hit the dislike button, I keep getting ads for god. And not just the usual bland new testament god, instead the one that requires overly enthusiastic worship, sold by overly spray-tanned American preachers. I am an atheist. My youtube diet is a mixture of science documentaries and older British humour. How did the algorithms decide on god? I mean, yes, I have watched the Rowan Atkinson sketch where he is the devil, several times, but the the Evangelicals are more about guilt tripping people into giving money to the church. I am so far from their target market, I might as well be in outer space. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/118 "2026-03-16T13:41:33Z")
Alas, we have lost our Internet. It’s been down since yesterday afternoon. They won’t come out until tomorrow, probably because this fucking wind will last through tonight. I keep waiting for that moment where I adjust to the time change but it hasn’t happened yet. I’m tired as fuck this morning. > [@TokyoBayer](#): > > But then she trashes the people behind their backs. It’s always good to know who trashes you behind your back. My father in law and his brothers gossip about their children’s parenting like a bunch of old ladies. Which is quite bold of them because they are collectively terrible parents. Every time I see my FIL he’s complaining about what a terrible parent so-and-so is. In one case it’s a cousin who has four kids, three with ADHD and other issues. Okay, sir, when you saw her overwhelmed did you step in to help out? No? Then shut the fuck up. The nerve is he’ll spend all of three hours with these kids and then diagnose the problem like he’s got any fucking clue who they are. He did that for a while with our son, complaining that kids are overdiagnosed, until he spent a week with him, and then was at a museum when our kid had a bit of a meltdown (not even a full meltdown.) I think that woke him right up. Hasn’t said shit since. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [March 16, 2026, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/119 "2026-03-16T14:10:18Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > It’s always good to know who trashes you behind your back. Back in junior high, I still assumed that I was so special that people who told me gossip did it because I was . . . . special. I don’t have time for that kind of drama anymore. I assume that everyone has a certain amount of flaws, does / did a certain amount of bad things and has bad breath in the morning. But it is nice to know who you can’t trust with private information. ---
**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:** [March 16, 2026, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100/120 "2026-03-16T14:58:47Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > No matter how often I hit the dislike button, I keep getting ads for god. Make sure you are doing the “don’t recommend this channel” action to ensure you won’t see anything from that particular source. It won’t necessarily change the algorithm (though it won’t hurt) but it’ll prevent you from getting the same stuff from the same creator. Hitting dislike just tells YouTube you don’t like that specific video. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/march-nemesis-monthly-mini-rants/1028100.md?page=7)