# (Old) Things ya gotta 'splain in the MMP **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Tags:** mmp\ **Created:** [April 27, 2026, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588 "2026-04-27T06:01:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/21 "2026-04-27T15:59:05Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Can’t remember the last time I had to explain sump’n basic to someone who just could not grasp the concept. For that I am truly grateful. I had a good friend who just couldn’t understand fractions. She didn’t understand why four quarters made a dollar or that two half cups were one cup and would ask me to double recipes for because it was easier to measure out three cups than one and a half cup twice. She could add and subtract, multiply and divide but fractions just defeated her. The most mind boggling thing I had to explain was Loctite to a young man working in an auto parts store. (It causes corrosion between nuts and screws, essentially chemically welding them together.) Once I explained what it was and how it worked, he got all excited because it was such a good idea! > [@Taters](#): > > I’m not sure what the rest of the week holds Shopping for your son’s new house. His towels need replacing and he probably doesn’t have matching potholders and kitchen towels. His cutlery rack probably needs a good scrub or replacing and he needs curtains. Then you will start looking at the yard… Good luck, don’t hurt yourself. You aren’t 50 anymore and can’t lift like you did back then. So no plans here, except taking my left over starts to the library. I was able to change the sheets without kitty help this morning so they are sloshing and there is a basket of towels waiting to go next. > [@rocking\_chair](#): > > jtc, i’m glad the orange one is on her way to a permanent home. she has had a tough time of it. I wish her feet had looked cleaner in her facebook pic. Sick cats don’t groom ☹ I’m sure she is feeling better though, antibiotics can do wonders. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/22 "2026-04-27T16:55:42Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > I was able to change the sheets without kitty help this morning Something’s wrong. Call the cat mechanic. \*\*\* I remember carefully explaining to my middle school peers in the locker room why tights should be worn over panties, not the other way around (which was what they were doing). \*\*\* No pain killer since last night. A bit tender and itchy at the glued incisions, but doing okay. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_stainless_steel_rat/32/5727_2.png) [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stainless_Steel_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/23 "2026-04-27T17:13:14Z")
Howdy all. I’m probably more likely to have had things explained to me because I was dense than the other way round, but too tired to remember. Spent 12 hours on tour seeing Barcelona, which was nice but after so many sights the past 2+ weeks, I’m all sightseeded out. Start heading back tomorrow, Barcelona-Lisbon-JFK and then JFK-Nashville-home on Wednesday. Still reading all but will be so happy to get back to my desktop and start talking to you all again. After 7pm so time for some dinner. Take care all. ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/24 "2026-04-27T18:13:33Z")
Evenin’ I seem to have a lot of 'splaining epsiodes… One of my more memorable ones was when I had pet axolotls (long before they got trendy), and had some baby ones to rear. They’re exceptionally stoopit little things, I can understand why they’re rare- they’re lucky they’re cute. Among other things, the babies weren’t very good at recognising things that didn’t move as food, so I went to a local pet shop with an aquarium section to get some live food ideally daphnia for them. It’s a pretty standard thing in aquarium shops, sold in little bags of water, as lots of fish like chasing them and will often eat them even if they’re sick and refusing other food, if you’re not familiar. I couldn’t find any, so went up to a staff member and asked if they sold live daphnia. He happily told me that yes, they did and led me off to… …the freezer. And showed me the frozen chunks of daphnia. No, I explained- I wanted _live_ daphnia. He stared at me in confusion “But this is live daphnia!” It went several rounds of me explaining that, sadly, that daphnia was no more, it had passed away, had gone to meet its maker, thus could no longer be referred to as _live_, and what I wanted was _live_ with him insisting that no, this was _live_ food, it was just _frozen_ live food, before I gave up and went in search of an aquarium shop staffed by people with more brain than the axolotls, who at least knew the difference between a live organism and a dead one. Somewhat frustrating day today, if not as frustrating as some previous ones. Tomorrow I will be invigilating exams for a bit of extra cash; hopefully I’ll be able to do some writing, as it’s normally OK to bring a laptop into the room. Previously I’ve found it fairly productive, as I have to stay put with almost no distractions. **Mollie** , your season is much further advanced than here- my raspberries are just starting to put out their first leaves, while my tomato plants are just having their first few supervised nights out under cover and may still need bringing back in overnight, as we could still get a hint of frost. Fruit is months away! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/25 "2026-04-27T18:28:07Z")
I’m reminded of the time I sent a young troop over to the supply warehouse for a galvanized reducing tee fitting. He came back empty-handed and said that unfortunately they didn’t have galvanized tees, only red ones. Ummm. . .huh? So he shows me on the inventory sheet where it says “tee, 3/4-1/2 red”. I laughed and said “that means 'tee, 3/4” to 1/2" reducing’" and we laughed together about it. Then he says “But why do they have to be red?” Face-palm. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/26 "2026-04-27T18:44:49Z")
The CO2 cartridge has come home and (don’t be jealous **swampy** ) I swung through Hartz Chicken for a two piece with a roll (less than $5) for lunch. Now, I’ll take Nelson out and do a few odd and end chores before putting my feet up. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/27 "2026-04-27T19:24:14Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > So it’s like Vidalia onions. Or Champagne Or Cornish pasties Or Scotch whisky ---
**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:** [April 27, 2026, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/28 "2026-04-27T21:08:28Z")
Cool & previously rainy afternoon over here in western Mitten State. Now it’s just bird-song-y and damp. Contemplating which of my many varieties of soooooouuuuuuup will complement this weather. Leaning towards the pumpkin/acorn squash, but something with a nice chicken broth could be nice. Texted my mom, she’s out shopping (as evidenced by the photo of a parking lot she sent me .. ??) but I have made contact with the mother ~~ship~~ and opened the door for Monkey, who is currently standing in front of a closed window meowing his fool head off. When the open door is a few dozen feet away. **JtC** did G.G. borrow the shared brain cell for the day? Speaking of soup, and shopping, I may need to obtain more ~~booze~~ ~~devil lettuce~~ croutons. Which will necessitate the obligatory Putting On Of Pants. Please keep me in your thoughts’n’prayers. Last time it rained really hard while I was at work, we were slow, I asked if I could step outside for a coupla puffs, then looked out the window at the bucketfuls of rain sheeting down, and made a joke about _maaayyyybeeee_ quitting smoking. { _crickets_ } ---
**Author:** ![JaneDoe42](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/janedoe42/32/14104_2.png) [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/29 "2026-04-27T22:44:28Z")
> [@susan](#): > > I remember carefully explaining to my middle school peers in the locker room why tights should be worn over panties, not the other way around (which was what they were doing). Too many Superman movies? > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > **JtC** did G.G. borrow the shared brain cell for the day? Oh I don’t think Jolene would trust him to not lose it! So all of the things got done and then I did more things as well. The library ladies were happy to take the plants and and made some suggestions for the food box which included hard boiled eggs so I’ll bring a couple of dozen when I go back next week. I bought a couple of books on dvd while I was there, fifty cents each is a bargain - plus I can donate them back when I’m done. yes I know I can borrow them, but then I have to worry about due dates or damage. Other than that, I was able to bask in the praise and thanks of some internet strangers. One lady in the needlepoint forum was wishing she could find a place that sold little bits of different threads so she could try them out and I offered to send a random selection from my stash. Three other people also asked for my leftover threads so I mailed them out last week. I am currently very well loved, but that might change when they start trying the Kreiniks, those are a bitch to work with even when you know how to do it. My new friends are all new stitchers and I’m concerned that they aren’t going to understand how to avoid tangles and snags. So I expect Hubs to start getting loud in about twenty minutes. That’s when his new game is coming online and it will be laggy and not working right. I already have my DVD player hooked up and my needlepoint ready, so my entertainment for the night is sorted. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/30 "2026-04-27T23:03:09Z")
> [@JaneDoe42](#): > > Three other people also asked for my leftover threads so I mailed them out last week. I am currently very well loved, but that might change when they start trying the Kreiniks, those are a bitch to work with even when you know how to do it. My new friends are all new stitchers and I’m concerned that they aren’t going to understand how to avoid tangles and snags. Good lord, as pretty as the work turned out, I always hated working with DMC metallic threads. Did a lot of FROGging when I used them extensively to make a purse. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/31 "2026-04-27T23:03:21Z")
Howdy Y’all! True to my earlier post, I have been a RDOS sloth all day except when I made sup. OK, makin’ sup and draggin’ my neighbor’s and our trash cans all the way back up from the road required some effort, so not like total sloth. Still, I pride myself in my slothfulness. **Cookie** I have heard of velcro, of course, but can honestly say I have not seen it in the wild on its own. I have bought things that contain velcro, but I have considered that one could buy a row? roll? strip? container? of velcro. Now I will just have to find that. I won’t buy it, but I need to see it! I like Cuban black beans. Your week sounds exhaustin’! I may have to go lie down from just readin’ about it. **Mollie** I am sure that person was quite amused at your knowledge of such primitive items. They probably thought you had a pet dinosaur as well. **pjd** in my corner of the world we have a special onion. People go nuts over [Vidalia onions](https://www.bing.com/search?q=vidalia+onions&form=ANNTH1&refig=69efb843f2954a3cb7c1c584ae8f9489&pc=U531&pq=vidalia&pqlth=7&assgl=14&sgcn=vidalia+onions&qs=LS&sgtpv=LS&smvpcn=0&swbcn=10&sctcn=0&sc=10-7&sp=1&ghc=0&cvid=69efb843f2954a3cb7c1c584ae8f9489&clckatsg=1&hsmssg=0). There have been major lawsuits over where they can be grown. 🙄 I see **doggio** has already mentioned 'em. **rocker** I would be suspicious if I didn’t get texts, emails, calls etc. to remind me of an appointment. Good call. You had to explain area codes. I just don’t know what to say! **doggio** I just know there were some juicy details about the cause of that power outage. **JtC** are my potholders _ **and** _ kitchen towels supposed to match each other? Why was I not informed of this! I mean, I would not have cared and still do not care that they don’t match, but I would much prefer that it be from willful stubbornness that ignorance. **Nuts** does this mean I have been eatin’ frozen live cow, pig and chikin all these years? 😲 **red** I am jealous. I mentioned Hartz fried chikin to OYKW recently. He has never eaten it. **shoe** I hold you in my thoughts and prayers in your hour of need as you go bravely forth amongst the great unwashed. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/32 "2026-04-27T23:06:01Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > I have heard of velcro, of course, but can honestly say I have not seen it in the wild on its own. I have bought things that contain velcro, but I have considered that one could buy a row? roll? strip? container? of velcro. Now I will just have to find that. Try a fabric or crafts store. I’ve bought stand-alone velcro in various shapes for various needs, including helping DH attach accessories to Christine. ---
**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:** [April 27, 2026, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/33 "2026-04-27T23:29:46Z")
I was on a call for nine hours today. My brain is fried. Good thing I pulled out a bag of sauce last night. At least dinner is sorted. **FCM** One of the many things my Mother had collected was the old candlestick phone and ring box from her childhood home. The phone was useless, but my Father had hooked the ring box to his HAM radio set. **Lily** it can be useful to wear shaping panties over your hose or tights, so the waistband doesn’t roll up. And good news about not needing the pain pills to sleep. **Swampy** you can also find velcro at the Home Despot or Lowe’s in the fasteners aisle. Also, I was only ten years older than the dude. Things couldn’t have changed that much in ten years. ---
**Author:** ![vbob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vbob/32/4439_2.png) [@vbob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vbob)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/34 "2026-04-27T23:44:22Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > Can’t remember the last time I had to explain sump’n basic to someone who just could not grasp the concept. I did tech support at a prestigious art school for many years. A young man from Kansas asked me if I could help him find a ‘ridgy piece of round metal’ to fix his bike. It took a long time to determine that he was looking for a bolt. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2026, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/35 "2026-04-28T00:15:22Z")
> [@swampbear](#): > > They probably thought you had a pet dinosaur as well For **Mollie** > **[3.2M views · 113K reactions | Tiny dinosaurs 🦎 This trend felt way too...](https://www.facebook.com/reel/5502346243323787/?rdid=dxDxG0NCIqzXRvMN&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fr%2F1HnPJhnoDj%2F)** > > Tiny dinosaurs 🦎 > > This trend felt way too accurate 😅 > > \#leopardgecko #gecko #reptiles #deltamorphs #funny ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/36 "2026-04-28T00:25:30Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > (by now my wife is pulling me away as my frustration with this fool is making me angry) I was at a clothing store. I do some light yardwork and feed the birds, rain or shine, do some walking.. So I wanted a rain jacket- waxed cotton or Gore-Tex. The shopgirl pointed out some puffy jackets, she had no freaken idea what a raincoat was. Mind you, I know some of the younger generation think a cotton/poly. hoodie is a rain jacket, I have watched them. I guess if all you have to do is run from the car to the door, then you dont understand the need for a water-proof coat. So yeah, my wife pulled me away from that poor shopgirl. If you have a Gore-Tex hat and jacket, with water-proof shoes, then walking around in light- moderate rain is kinda pleasant. Not a torrential downpour. > [@SCAdian](#): > > Currently 44 Ferrets, out of an expected 66 for the day. That is a LOT of mustelids. 🙀 ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/37 "2026-04-28T00:31:34Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The shopgirl pointed out some puffy jackets, she had no freaken idea what a raincoat was. My encounter with a teen was at a farmers’ market in Portland. A booth was selling fish and chips, so I bought two of them at 6$ each and handed the girl, who was probably 16 or so, a 20. She turned to her mother and said “he gave me twenty dollars.” Her mom says “so give him his change”. She says “but I don’t have a calculator!” ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/38 "2026-04-28T01:12:43Z")
I napped. i dreamed I was being attacked by a penguin during apartment renovations. Now I’m up and having cheseburgers and an Old Fashioned. > [@Filbert](#): > > It went several rounds of me explaining that, sadly, that daphnia was no more, it had passed away, had gone to meet its maker, thus could no longer be referred to as _live_, and what I wanted was _live_ with him insisting that no, this was _live_ food, But it still had beautiful plumage! > [@swampbear](#): > > **doggio** I just know there were some juicy details about the cause of that power outage. Atlantic Avenue, so it’s either racing, drunk, or drunk racing. > [@The\_Stainless\_Steel\_Rat](#): > > Howdy all. I’m probably more likely to have had things explained to me because I was dense than the other way round, but too tired to remember. Filling gaps in you knowledge is fine. But when if I pound knowledge into your head, and you pull the drain plug on the other end… ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2026, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/39 "2026-04-28T02:42:53Z")
> [@dogbutler](#): > > i dreamed I was being attacked by a penguin during apartment renovations Or was that Sister Margarita? 😛 Welcome back **bobbio**! :tacklehug: Just finishing sharing a bowl of popcorn with Nelson. I’ll take him out for his bedtime constitutional in a bit. ---
**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:** [April 28, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588/40 "2026-04-28T02:52:30Z")
It’s quarter 'til ten, and time for your regularity scheduled **Mollie Magill** self pity party. Today’s edition: My body Isn’t How I Want It To Be. This is one of those thing that never bothered me before. “Those always seem to get in the way, and _those_ never get in the way at all.” Things were much easier before I figured out things about myself. Ignorance wasn’t exactly bliss, but misery was easier to navigate. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-things-ya-gotta-splain-in-the-mmp/1029588.md?page=3)