# They're Not Just Spineless -- They're Spineless About Their Spinelessness **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 11, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284 "2006-09-11T14:05:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Syntropy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@Syntropy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Syntropy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/21 "2006-09-11T20:38:01Z")
[QUOTE=Happy Clam] …why do the Google Ads advertise sausage making kits? [/QUOTE] probably because on my end it advertises: > [@](#): > > Addicted To Online Porn? - End It Now, Make Your Mother Proud > Proven, Effective, 100% Money Back What could be more American? Making mama proud and eating apple pie while surfing the Hun…I mean…some porn site I’ve never heard of. Yeah. ---
**Author:** ![lisacurl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/41988e/32.png) [@lisacurl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisacurl)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/22 "2006-09-11T20:39:29Z")
Hey, I got cleaning products _and_ mold remover! I guess the Google ad oracle is telling me that, given my location, I should celebrate Patriot Day by heading down to New Orleans and working on cleaning up my mother’s home since the federal government has only given her a princely $5200 so far to repair her home since Katrina. ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/23 "2006-09-11T20:53:06Z")
[QUOTE=Maureen] What could be more American? Making mama proud and eating apple pie while surfing the Hun… [/QUOTE] Ironically, during WWI, surfing the Hun could’ve gotten you thrown in jail for treason. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/24 "2006-09-11T22:57:20Z")
[QUOTE=Max Torque] I have a page-a-day calendar of Bush quotes (“The Very Curious Language of George W. Bush”). Today, for some reason, is marked as “Patriot Day (USA).” I wasn’t aware of any formal holiday declaration, but there it is. [/QUOTE] :mad: :mad: :mad: This is the part that chaps my ass! Can there be no patriotism without 9/11? What did we call people who love their country before 9/11? Oh, that’s right. A patriot is no longer someone who loves their country. A patriot, I’m now given to understand, is someone who, when offered a shit sandwich from the obfuscator in chief, requests a double decker and another one for later. :mad: :mad: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2006, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/25 "2006-09-11T23:06:19Z")
Now the ads are all for increasing one’s IQ. Is the Google-ad-bot developing a sense of humor? What’s next, passing the Turing test? ---
**Author:** ![Kat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b19c9b/32.png) [@Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kat)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/26 "2006-09-12T00:16:28Z")
Nope. It’s back to cleaning products. I’d rather get a sausage making kit, myself. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/27 "2006-09-12T00:26:23Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I’m in. There’ll be blood in the streets the day I see a 9-11 sale. [/QUOTE] I’m curious, have you ever seen a Pearl Harbor Day Sale? I would like to think no one would ever have a 9/11 sale and I hope I am right. If I am wrong, I guess I will sign up with you in **kaylasdad99** ’s militia. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/28 "2006-09-12T00:35:11Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] The first year Sit-n-Sleep has a 9-11 Mattress sale, I’m going to activate an armed rebellion. Sign up now, and you could be a commissioned officer when the day comes to storm the ramparts. [/QUOTE] I’m in! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/29 "2006-09-12T03:37:07Z")
[QUOTE=Ponder Stibbons] A patriotic American is a _comsuming_ American! Back in the 50’s it was “duck and cover”, today it’s “clean and cower” … [/QUOTE] Hey, when it’s me vs. the terrorists, I want Mr. Clean on my side. All those muscles and bald head and everything, I bet he can beat those dirty terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Ale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Ale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ale)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/30 "2006-09-12T03:46:28Z")
[QUOTE=Mama Tiger] Apparently I’m supposed to be spending Patriot Day at home cleaning my house. My Google ads are for quick shine floor care products, dishwasher cleaner, rinsing baskets, and Mold Away. So apparently I’m supposed to clean while I cower? [/QUOTE] Well, you can use the opportunity to clean under your bed, or under your desk, or you may go up to the attic to cower and clean; obviously there are many places you can clean while you´re cowardly hiding. 😉 ---
**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:** [September 12, 2006, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/31 "2006-09-12T04:19:48Z")
[QUOTE=Mama Tiger] Apparently I’m supposed to be spending Patriot Day at home cleaning my house. My Google ads are for quick shine floor care products, dishwasher cleaner, rinsing baskets, and Mold Away. So apparently I’m supposed to clean while I cower? [/QUOTE] I feel an ad campaign bubbling up: > [@](#): > > Don’t just cower! _SCOWER!!!_ Nah, I guess it was just the burritos I made for dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/32 "2006-09-12T07:13:05Z")
[QUOTE=Marley23] I’m in. There’ll be blood in the streets the day I see a 9-11 sale. [/QUOTE] I’ll take a sergeant post, please. Sergeants get to yell at people, officers in theory don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Rosewater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/898d66/32.png) [@Mr.Rosewater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Rosewater)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/33 "2006-09-12T07:38:55Z")
I thought April 19th was [Patriot’s Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot%27s_Day). In honor of the battles at Lexington and Concord. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/34 "2006-09-12T07:52:41Z")
[QUOTE=beergeek279] Shit…that’s going to make calling for help pretty tough 😃 “Operator, what’s the new number for 911?” [/QUOTE] They’d better find a new number … I still can’t find the “11” key on the dial. ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/35 "2006-09-12T18:09:53Z")
If they decide to give us another day off for September 11 (assuming they don’t take away one of our existing holidays), I’m all for it, mattress sales or no mattress sales. Of course, then again, I’d be all for “ **Anne Neville** Is A Big Fat Ugly Smelly Bitch Day” if it meant one more day when I didn’t have to get up and commute in to work… ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/36 "2006-09-12T18:41:48Z")
Every time you let a Terrorist action affect your life, you are hellping the terrorists. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/37 "2006-09-12T18:58:11Z")
[QUOTE=Bippy the Beardless] Every time you let a Terrorist action affect your life, you are hellping the terrorists. [/QUOTE] I thought I was helping the terrorists if I didn’t volunteer for - nay, insist upon, a full rectal search before entering an airport? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Terrifel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c68b51/32.png) [@Terrifel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrifel)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/38 "2006-09-12T23:48:35Z")
> [@Merijeek](#): > > I thought I was helping the terrorists if I didn’t volunteer for - nay, insist upon, a full rectal search before entering an airport? So _that’s_ what the guy in the concourse men’s room was asking about! Now I feel kind of bad for reacting the way I did. But really, he should have made it clear that he was asking in an official capacity, instead of just making oblique remarks about my pants. They need to provide some sort of uniform for these people. [QUOTE=Frank] [Patriot Day](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriot_Day) [/QUOTE] That’s a new one on me. I remember the “National Day of Prayer and Remembrance,” which at least had some kind of applicability to the events of 9/11, but I hadn’t realized that it had since devolved into “Patriot Day.” Granted, the original name was ludicrously unwieldy (“Today in local news, people across The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations observed the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance…”), but “Day of Remembrance” seems like it would have been a reasonable adaptation (not that it was ever too likely to be called anything but a permutation of “9/11” anyway). But “Patriot Day” to commemorate the attacks makes no sense at all! It sounds like people should be wishing each other a Happy Patriot Day, or setting off fireworks or something. “This year’s thrilling post-summer blockbuster-- **Patriot Day**! Check out the new trailer for **PD11**!” I note that “Patriot Day” was approved by the House of Reps the day before Bush signed off on the Patriot Act.\* That’s a curious coincidence, isn’t it? Almost as though someone in the government cynically thought that the word “Patriot” was a useful buzzword to be applied at random. \*or more formally the USA PATRIOT Act, or even more formally the UaSAbATRtIaOT Act of 2001. The mind boggles at the amount of time it must have taken to concoct that stupid acronym; maybe the authors consulted with Marvel Comics. I wish I could see evidence of any government action since then reflecting such a level of rigorously premeditated thought. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/39 "2006-09-13T00:24:33Z")
[QUOTE=kaylasdad99] I feel an ad campaign bubbling up: Don’t just cower, SCOWER! Nah, I guess it was just the burritos I made for dinner. [/QUOTE] Haha. The farmer’s term for diarrhea in cattle is “scours.” Ha. Agricultural joke. ha. Ninja smoke! They’ll never know I was here! ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284/40 "2006-09-13T03:00:04Z")
Well, as of this hour, the googlyads are advocating Home Tamale Making Kits. I welcome our new Tamale Overlords. Tamales shuck for no one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/theyre-not-just-spineless-theyre-spineless-about-their-spinelessness/372284.md?page=3)