# Silver Hells: December Minirants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 2, 2018, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468 "2018-12-02T23:29:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/61 "2018-12-07T06:18:25Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#): > > And the Christmas season in general. I made the mistake of reading an article about Christmas gift-giving etiquette, and from reading it, I’m supposed to give a “small personal gift” or a tip not only to teachers at my children’s school, but also to my postman, my trash guy, my recycling guy, the lady who cuts my hair, the childcare, the guy that cuts my grass, my co-workers and my boss (I’m only listing services I receive; apparently people also tip dog-walkers, doormen, elevator guys, dry cleaners and yet more service people). Are you motherfucking kidding me??? Yes, it is the season and all that shit, but fucking WHY? I’ve been getting co-workers and bosses gifts for a while, but I barely have the headspace to get my own kids’ gifts, and now I need to load up on cash and presents for all these other service providers? When the fuck did that happen? I mean, I guess I can stock up on gift cards and shit, but holy hell, according to this article and what I’ve heard from other parents, a $40 gift card or tip is normal for at least a few of those people. Seriously? No, really - who the hell does this? That’s like an additional $200-$300 easy. > > Also, my colleague at work. The guy who keeps IM’ing me that he can’t wait for us to be bought and hoping for a severance package instead of keeping his job. Who is a “not my job” employee that chides me via IM for hours every time I happen to provide a response to something that’s just outside my swim lane but super easy to answer. “Well, overly. Now you own it.” “See? They’re coming back for more.” “Shouldn’t have done that.” “I don’t know why you’re working on that - that doesn’t fall into our product.” Holy shit man, my job is to provide expertise and an opinion. For that matter, so is yours! You may be done with your job, but I’d like to keep mine, thanks. This sounds like an article from the kind of magazine that recommend that you eat before going to a Christmas party, so you’ll eat less once you get there, and that broiled fish and chicken are good for weight loss. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/62 "2018-12-07T09:38:11Z")
dear cable networks if your going to have 2-30 days of a f’n holiday please have more than 6-12 f’n movies that way you’re not showing the same damn thing every day for a month ---
**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:** [December 7, 2018, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/63 "2018-12-07T15:31:06Z")
[Goddamned private option on polls.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/poll.php?do=showresults&pollid=8604) I WANNA KNOW WHO VOTED FOR OPTION #1! I also wouldn’t mind knowing who voted for Option #2 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2018, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/64 "2018-12-07T23:01:30Z")
Not sure where to put this, but the ‘monthly mini thread’ has been my home for years, so thought I’d tell y’all: I just filled out the form that says I’m retiring after this school year. I feel like I did as a kid at the top of the high dive. Scared, but I can’t climb back down now. And it’s gonna be an adrenaline rush, even if I land on my tummy. This is pretty much unplanned. Financial advisor called me in, and she said I could retire if I was willing to live on a little less than I make now. I volunteered to work an extra year, she stared at her spreadsheet and said “Well, according to the numbers, that won’t make any difference in the long run.” I looked over at wife, who said “Well, I’ll keep working, so go ahead. Just don’t be underfoot.” They always say “Don’t retire from something, retire to something.” But I have ZERO plans at this point. I mean, I’ve had a couple of art shows, and I can step that up. And I can teach one class a semester, and I live near two colleges that let you audit classes for free if you’re over 60. And I’ve got over twenty stacks of comics that aren’t going to read themselves… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/65 "2018-12-08T08:54:20Z")
X-fucking-finity. I can feel the hate flowing through the board already; maybe I don’t even need to finish this rant. But I must. So I get an email out of nowhere the other day that says my order from Xfinity is on it’s way. Great. I didn’t order anything from Xfinity, but there it is on the UPS tracking site, somewhere over Peoria, on its way to my house - whatever the fuck it is. Through some intrepid investigation, and another email received a day later, I discovered that they’ve decided to upgrade my modem to their new handy WiFi version. Why? I’ve got my own WiFi router, I don’t need theirs and I don’t feel like setting that shit up again. Apparently, I had no choice. I got home from work yesterday (a 10 hour shift) to find the package in my driveway but I just didn’t have the energy to open it up and put it all together. With the old equipment still set up, I plop down on the couch and turn on the news (via YouTubeTV) and it freezes up after five minutes. I restarted the Roku and tried different channels and services, but nope, nothing more than five minutes of service before freeze up. On my laptop, pretty much every site I navigated to came up as “Unsecured.” I didn’t even check to see what fresh hell was going on with my phone. I couldn’t take it; I just went to bed. Two in the morning. I’m up (because I have an eight hour shift scheduled today). I crack this shit open, unplug my perfectly good WiFi router and mothball it, set up the new WiFi modem and … it doesn’t work. Ok, it turns out it was partly me, but still, it’s 2am ferchrissakes. Do you really think I need this shit? I finally figured out how to activate it through their website, and I think I’m back to normal now - except for my blood pressure. Oh yeah, I still have to resend their old modem back to them but they didn’t provide a box for it. So I guess they’re going to get their shitty little old modem (the size of a Nintendo game) in the box in which they sent me the new modem (the size of steering wheel). I hope it rattles around in there and cracks into a dozen pieces. I’ve been hovering around getting rid of these fuckers for good and going with a local internet company that offers the same speeds for about the same price, I just haven’t wanted to change my email at all the various subscriptions and autopay services I’ve got going. This may have been the tipping point. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 9:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/66 "2018-12-08T09:15:33Z")
wow even time warner/spectrum gives ya a return label so ya just drop it in the box the new one came in and they even have fed ex come to you to get it if you ask nicely im so glad the government didn’t let comcast buy time warner ive heard there the worst ever ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/67 "2018-12-08T09:22:21Z")
Well, they provided a return UPS label, but no return box of any sort. Just the one the new one came in. It’s not like I have packing tape laying around so they’re going to get a heavily duct-taped box with a modem floating around in there on the turn-around. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2018, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/68 "2018-12-08T10:31:43Z")
its odd tho when they sent me a new modem they said don’t bother sending the old one back since its junk ---
**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:** [December 9, 2018, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/69 "2018-12-09T01:42:58Z")
When Time Warner/Spectrum sent a tech out to install the modem I purchased (yes, really, this required a tech visit), he took one look at the Time Warner-supplied modem and informed me that it was a piece of crap, and that he was surprised it had lasted so long. While we were waiting on the super-special tech support line for my new modem to be activated, he showed me what Spectrum is currently supplying to its customers…it’s an all-in-one unit (modem, wireless router, phone equipment) that’s about the size of a mid-'90s VCR. Yikes. My current setup is now a tiny modem and a router with an excessive number of antennas – it provides decent coverage upstairs though, and has a neat-looking set of status lights, so no complaints. ---
**Author:** ![Lightray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightray/32/391_2.png) [@Lightray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightray)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/70 "2018-12-09T21:44:33Z")
Missouri has a problem with people swiping licence plate renewal tags, even after switching to ones that were already razorcut so they couldn’t be easily removed. So they’ve decided to change designs again, to tags that have the license number printed on them… and that required re-issuing everyones’ plates as they come up for renewal. I’ve been given plates that _seem_ like they’re a custom-plate l33t-speakish phrase, but which actually means nothing. Except everyone who sees them will _think_ it means something, and will probably assume they should take offense for some reason. “ZB4 GOP” It _looks_ like it’s saying _something_ about before the Republican party… and I live in Missouri, which is a blood-Red State. Wherein live simple farmers, the people of the land, the common clay of the new West. This is going to be annoying. (at least it’s a number I’ll finally remember.) ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/71 "2018-12-09T22:50:22Z")
dear relative : you have so many xmas decorations that no one will miss the dollar tree swirl lollipop ornament that you hang in the corner on the tinsel you do not need to empty sheds and all ready closed boxes and the like to find it …… Niagara and international will still fall , Christmas and the republic will still stand if you don’t find it …. How ever your ocd will require you look for it \ **Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/72 "2018-12-09T23:24:16Z") > [@Lightray](#): > > “ZB4 GOP” > > It _looks_ like it’s saying _something_ about before the Republican party… and I live in Missouri, which is a blood-Red State. Wherein live simple farmers, the people of the land, the common clay of the new West. This is going to be annoying… “Dadburn libbatards an’ they’s fancy vani-tee plates! So this feller wants ta Zeebeefor thuh Grand Ol’ Party, eh? Well, ah’m a-gonna Twobeefour his windowshield. Hold muh Missoureh Chestnut Beer, an’ staaaand back…” ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_McQwark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4da419/32.png) [@Steve\_McQwark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_McQwark)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2018, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/73 "2018-12-09T23:32:58Z")
> [@Lightray](#): > > Missouri has a problem with people swiping licence plate renewal tags, even after switching to ones that were already razorcut so they couldn’t be easily removed. So they’ve decided to change designs again, to tags that have the license number printed on them… and that required re-issuing everyones’ plates as they come up for renewal. > > I’ve been given plates that _seem_ like they’re a custom-plate l33t-speakish phrase, but which actually means nothing. Except everyone who sees them will _think_ it means something, and will probably assume they should take offense for some reason. > > “ZB4 GOP” > > It _looks_ like it’s saying _something_ about before the Republican party… and I live in Missouri, which is a blood-Red State. Wherein live simple farmers, the people of the land, the common clay of the new West. This is going to be annoying. (at least it’s a number I’ll finally remember.) It could stand for something like “Zebediah be for GOP.” Your blood-Red neighbors might be happy to see your new plate. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/74 "2018-12-10T00:01:11Z")
You can watch the movie Hold The Dark on Netflix. You shouldn’t. I wish I hadn’t. Wanted to throw the remote at the TV when it was over. You can also go see the movie Robin Hood. Same thing. I wish I hadn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/75 "2018-12-10T00:04:44Z")
nm… ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/76 "2018-12-10T12:16:12Z")
I continue to not understand how it can be that website design is getting worse. It’s uglier, harder to read, slow to load, and completely colourless with no borders or differentiation at all. It’s just huge acres of white space, pale grey lines, and tiny text, liberally sprinkled with obnoxious advertising and constant demands to sign up for a newsletter. Who the fuck is spearheading this bullshit, and why is it so prevalent when it SUCKS SO GODDAMN MUCH? ---
**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:** [December 10, 2018, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/77 "2018-12-10T12:27:02Z")
The Boston Herald just redid their web page. The 1990’s called and wants their design back. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/78 "2018-12-10T14:34:17Z")
Usually, when I go down to see my daughter, my sister comes along. I tend to get all mopey on the two and a half hour drive home, so she keeps me company and doesn’t let me get all in my emotions. This past Saturday, my daughter, her boyfriend and I met halfway and spent the day together as a belated birthday get-together. My sister was not pleased. Why was I not invited? Well, I have to get through the emotional crap at some point, it was for daughter’s birthday (which is usually not a family affair anyways), and we did a lot of walking, which you cannot do. Yeah, because of that Zumba class! Oh, FFS. SIX months ago, I talked her into trying Zumba. One class. She didn’t even make it through, spent most of the hour kind of dancing to her own beat. Since then her knees have been “wrecked”. It couldn’t possibly be due to the extra 75lbs she’s carrying on her 61 year old knees, no! It’s all my fault. Then she found out we went antiquing. I noted the place we went to was over three floors, no elevator. I was supposed to send pics of stuff I would think she may have wanted, since I was too selfish and didn’t invite her. Well, Sis, you just guaranteed no more invites. At least anger took over the sadness. ---
**Author:** ![ENugent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/4af34b/32.png) [@ENugent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ENugent)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/79 "2018-12-11T00:20:56Z")
My son came home without his trumpet today. :mad: He thinks he had it getting off the bus, and he thinks maybe he set it down on the street corner while he was waiting to cross the street and forgot to pick it back up. :eek: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Rysto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecccb3/32.png) [@Rysto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rysto)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2018, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468/80 "2018-12-11T18:41:53Z")
I went for a sleep study last night. What the fuckers didn’t tell me until I was in the building and on the hook for cancellation fee if I left was that my results won’t be available for 50 weeks. That’s not a typo. This borders on insurance fraud in my view. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/silver-hells-december-minirants/825468.md?page=5)