# Ook-tober Mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [October 1, 2026, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511 "2026-10-01T14:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**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:** [October 11, 2026, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/141 "2026-10-11T10:32:41Z")
> [@Spoons](#): > > Somebody is spending money to advertise to me in a language that I do not understand. I, for one, welcome our foreign-language advertising overlords. Or at least the ones whose marketing spend is being directed to people who simply do not understand the ad. May they go broke within the next financial quarter! (For a while, a few months earlier in the year, my ads were very internationalised, despite my browser settings - EN-za, ZA, ZAR, etc (for language, country, currency). It was often interesting to attempt to guess the language - is it, for example Bengali, Marathi or Punjabi, none of which I know aside from the fact they all have a “line” abover the letters\* - once I guessed the general region in which the ad originated. ) \* Google tells me this is (in Hindi) called a **Shirorekha** (शिरोरेखा). ---
**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:** [October 11, 2026, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/142 "2026-10-11T14:39:50Z")
TIL something new about modern thermostats, or at least mine. I loved my mechanical “Honeywell Round” in the old house, but they don’t make them any more. Of course not. They were cheap, simple, and reliable. So obviously they must be discontinued and replaced by something worse and more expensive. My old thermostat in this house was a “programmable” piece of shit in which I always turned off the “program” function, and which featured a “temperature down” button that had to be fiercely pressed about 1800 times before it would respond. It also featured a reluctance to turn on either heating or cooling – especially cooling – but when it did turn on, by golly, it had an equal reluctance to turn itself off. Engineers refer to this lag as “hysteresis”. When the painters who redid the downstairs installed a new thermostat (a basic non-programmable Honeywell), I was surprised that on a cool night the furnace would come on for only a few minutes. The owner’s manual had no info about how to adjust this, as it was written for dumbasses who needed to be told things like “press the UP button to increase temperature”. 🙄 The installation manual was slightly more informative, but not much. One of the modes was to set what kind of heating/cooling system you have. It explained how to change the setting but not a clue about what they really did. ChatGPT came to the rescue. You can’t explicitly change the hysteresis, but you sorta kinda by changing that mode setting. The key thing here with digital thermostats seems to be CPH – the maximum allowed “Cycles Per Hour”. That’s what those numbers mean on that setting, between 1 and 5, which is not explained in the manual. It’s as if – in Dilbert world – the thermostat was designed by Dilbert and competent fellow engineers, and the manual was written by the marketing department under the supervision of the Pointy-Haired Boss. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2026, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/143 "2026-10-11T16:18:18Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > It’s as if – in Dilbert world – the thermostat was designed by Dilbert and competent fellow engineers, and the manual was written by the marketing department under the supervision of the Pointy-Haired Boss. I think that is exactly what happens. You ought to see my hearings, a $5000 wondrous piece of technology and an absolutely inscrutably manual. ---
**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:** [October 11, 2026, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/144 "2026-10-11T18:21:59Z")
Lol that’s hilarious! Sometimes when I travel I come home with all kinds of multi language ads on my tablet. One year I had great difficulty getting rid of persistent ads in the Dutch language. Mine finally disappeared. Maybe yours will too. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/145 "2026-10-12T03:42:41Z")
Crappy day at 🍕 work. Someone was talking about personal stuff w/relatives & hospital stuff, which unexpectedly triggered my memories of my late husband’s 6 mo.s (including an absolutely harrowing 2+ month ICU stay) so crying at work, yeah that’s super fun. I have an almost-healed burn on my arm, so OF COURSE I snagged the edge of the 550+F oven in the exact same spot. Probably cuz my eyes were leaking. But wait … We had a customer being such a polite-but-passive-aggressive $%&@ I thought my Sweet Manager was gonna lose her shit, all because we didn’t SLICE this dude’s pizza how he wanted … and then we both had to wait around on one of the crew (who is supposed to be training as a new mngr. but I dunno … ) show up late, while I’m rubbing this poor woman’s shoulders and thinking, “You better show up, @$$hole…” cuz I can’t leave till he makes his belated appearance. Oh, wanna know the ^^ customer problem? He ordered a large, and wanted it cut “pie triangles” which is nutzzz on a 16" large. It turns into 8 floppy 📐 messes .. but that’s what he wanted, so badly he was willing to sit there staring at us for 10 min while the rest of his order sat around in a warmer, so we could re-make THE EXACT SAME PEPPERONI but, yanno, sliced up all weird. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/146 "2026-10-12T03:45:55Z")
I’ll bite. What are “pie triangles,” and how are they different from your regular way of slicing? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/147 "2026-10-12T03:51:36Z")
For a large (that’s 16" diameter) we normally slice it in squares. 3 slices across, 3 up’n’down. Don’t come at me, this place has been in business for decades, that’s how they do. I just work here. But for a big ol’ pizza, those “pie” triangles are large & awkward. I guess you gotta do it NYC style and fold it, then go shark-mouth on it. ETA: why is slicing your pizza in such-and-such way so important? does it change the taste? … not the first time I’ve had, “Oh, I’m sorry, I meant to say, I wanted it cut in { _whatever_ } Is it too late?” AS I’M HANDING THEM THEIR BAGGED ORDER. Yeah, hun, bit too late. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/148 "2026-10-12T03:54:44Z")
I’m pretty sure “pie triangles” are the standard way pizzas are sliced: four straight cuts, one in half, one in fourths, the other two to get eight equal triangular-shaped slices. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/149 "2026-10-12T03:56:06Z")
That’s the only alternative I considered, but IME perpendicular cuts of round pizzas are very rare; triangles are the nearly universal norm, regardless of how difficult some may find them to eat. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/150 "2026-10-12T03:57:15Z")
Dunno about rare, but this place has been in business since before I was born, so “cut in squares” it is! ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/151 "2026-10-12T03:57:23Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > I have an almost-healed burn on my arm, so OF COURSE I snagged the edge of the 550+F oven in the exact same spot. > > Probably cuz my eyes were leaking. I’m really sorry Shoe. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/152 "2026-10-12T04:04:58Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Someone was talking about personal stuff w/relatives & hospital stuff, which unexpectedly triggered my memories of my late husband’s 6 mo.s (including an absolutely harrowing 2+ month ICU stay) so crying at work, yeah that’s super fun. > > I have an almost-healed burn on my arm, so OF COURSE I snagged the edge of the 550+F oven in the exact same spot. What a rotten night. 😢 I’m so sorry, shoe. I hope Monkey gave you some good snuggles. Big hugs to you. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/153 "2026-10-12T04:38:40Z")
> [@commasense](#): > > but IME perpendicular cuts of round pizzas are very rare; triangles are the nearly universal norm, I think in the Midwest it’s pretty common, esp for very large pizzas. “Party cut” or “tavern cut” are two names for it. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/154 "2026-10-12T06:08:43Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Don’t come at me, this place has been in business for decades, that’s how they do. I just work here. That is how the very best pizza in my town is cut. The joint was started by Italians over from the Old Country in the 1930s and that is Just How It Is Done. Squares. Sheesh on that guy. And yes, here we call it ‘party cut’. Too many Lutherans to call it ‘tavern cut’. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 6:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/155 "2026-10-12T06:41:06Z")
> [@BippityBoppityBoo](#): > > Lutherans to call it ‘tavern cut’. Never encountered that (yet!) but at least I’ll know what the heck they mean when it happens. ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 8:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/156 "2026-10-12T08:28:06Z")
Doesn’t matter to me how it’s cut. It’s pizza. Mmmm! (Hold the anchovies.) ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/157 "2026-10-12T12:17:16Z")
Do I have to? They’re kind of slimy. Maybe leave them in the jar? ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/158 "2026-10-12T12:43:15Z")
I am here to argue that round pizza should be cut in triangles, then folded as necessary while eaten. I am actually with the customer on this one. What is weird to me is considering _that_ weird. mmm ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2026, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/159 "2026-10-12T13:07:07Z")
Why can’t the time change be the last Sunday in October so the trick-or-treaters can take advantage of the extra hour of dark? ---
**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:** [October 12, 2026, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511/160 "2026-10-12T13:11:47Z")
That was brought up in the semi-annual re-revival of the DST thread. Lotta over-protective modern parents want to finish trick or treat before dark. Not start it afterwards. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ook-tober-mini-rants/1033511.md?page=9)