# 'Tis the season to be ranty - December Minirants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 1, 2014, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028 "2014-12-01T14:11:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![elninost0rm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ed655f/32.png) [@elninost0rm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elninost0rm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/61 "2014-12-03T17:35:45Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Your little shtick is becoming tiresome. I quite enjoy it, actually. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/62 "2014-12-03T18:03:25Z")
> [@Count\_Dracula](#): > > I hate people who don’t wash their necks! > [@Chefguy](#): > > Your little shtick is becoming tiresome. Just string a bunch of garlic around your neck. That’ll keep him away. Of course, it might also keep your friends, family, and coworkers away, too. ---
**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 3, 2014, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/63 "2014-12-03T18:15:03Z")
FFUUCCCKKK So I thought all this sewer crap (heh) was supposed to be done yesterday. That’s what the city said. That’s what the company said. They’re back. It took us until 10pm last night to de-funk and clean the bathroom and basement from the sewage. To top it off, TheKid caught a nasty stomach bug causing her to spend a lot of time in the bathroom today. AND I have a mandatory meeting in about an hour that my boss will not allow me to attend by phone. All the towels that just finished drying from yesterday are being placed back down in the bathroom, garbage bags at the door to prevent crap (literally) from possibly spewing onto the wood floors of the hallway, and the window is back open in this balmy 22F weather. ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/64 "2014-12-03T18:33:19Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > Its that time of year again. The time when all the stores have those stupid animated, singing, motion activated things by the doors. I used to shut them all off, then following advice I got here, I started reversing the batteries so the managers can’t just walk by and turn them back on. The fucking manufactors are on to me and are now making me carry a little phillips head screwdriver in my pocket so I can get to the batteries. Now they are using straight slots as well. > > What next? Am I going to have to start carrying a minature tool kit in my pocket? With different mini-sockets? It doesn’t matter, game on dudes. I’ll fight the good fight. I know I can’t win, but at least I can make one person’s life better for a couple of hours. > > Assholes, all of them. (The people who actually buy those fucking things, so they keep being made as well as management who puts them by the cash registers so the poor clerks have to listen to them all day long.) > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > Small roll of electrical tape. Put a little square over the sensor. Prolly faster and easier than futzing with the battery compartment. Christmas time is that special time of year for vandalism. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/65 "2014-12-03T20:58:12Z")
No new employers want me, none of them love me, I’ll just go and eat worms. Seriously, I know it takes time! But I can’t help but feel like my life is wasting away while I wait for these ninnies to realize my value. ---
**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 3, 2014, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/66 "2014-12-03T22:08:39Z")
> [@MissTake](#): > > AND I have a mandatory meeting in about an hour that my boss will not allow me to attend by phone. AND parking was $22 fricking dollars for two hours. Ridiculous! (Luckily, no sewage was spewed while I was gone) ---
**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:** [December 3, 2014, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/67 "2014-12-03T23:48:11Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Are you in the U.S.? Because if so, and you want to stay here, I can’t think of anywhere that’s lovely and warm-ish in the winter, or at least just not snot-cicle cold, that’s not also insufferable around July. > > I woke up with a really puffy eyelid (just the one) and aft a hot compress and ice and just being vertical all day the swelling went down but now both my eyelids have been itchy as HELL the past few hours and the skin is red from me rubbing and wiping and what the hell is going on? I look like ass. Same thing again today. I think it’s my mascara - gonna toss that sucker in the trash. I can’t think what else could be causing it, and it’s definitely the skin around my eyes and not the eyeball itself (i.e. it’s not pinkeye or something like that) so it must be an allergy to that brand and/or the mascara itself is old/contaminated. > [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > This is a great post. There are people out there who genuinely think the worst insult you can throw at any woman is to call her ugly - because looks are clearly the most important thing about any woman, including politicians, artists, scientists, athletes, etc etc etc; way more important than anything these women actually _do_. They make me want to throw up. … I remember this during the [Kagan nomination broo-haha](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elena_Kagan). Absolutely ugly filth that people were spewing, just because they happened to consider her to be not-fuckable, like that somehow has anything to do with her qualifications for the friggin’ SCOTUS. > [@cochrane](#): > > Just string a bunch of garlic around your neck. That’ll keep him away. Of course, it might also keep your friends, family, and coworkers away, too. I happen to LIKE garlic. Ain’t no keepin’ me away! > [@MissTake](#): > > AND parking was $22 fricking dollars for two hours… That’s totally effed up. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2014, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/68 "2014-12-03T23:57:47Z")
Did she listen to my prolific navel-gazing during the last ten months, which I spent pouring all my creative energy into producing half a million words of smutty sci-fi, which completely absorbed my attention, my time, my effort, my heart, and make up the four best damn books I was capable of writing at the time? No. No, her ears perked up when I suggested that sci-fi/fantasy is largely chosen by authors for its “fun” and/or “too lazy to research historical fiction” aspects. And then she got all shitty with me. Now I am the fucking establishment, grinding down the validity of her childhood rape experience or some fucking shit like that by casting ALL sci-fi/fantasy EVER written as “less than”. I mean, seriously bitch? Keep your own fucking issues off my fucking LiveJournal. You are not my problem. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_Hey_Paula)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/69 "2014-12-04T02:36:31Z")
One of my (four) cats has feline idiopathic cystitis. I just got the call from the vet that all cultures and blood tests were negative. Our orange boycat had this a few years ago, so I knew the symptoms and took her in as soon as I noticed. Problem is, there’s not really much to be done, except figure out what’s stressing her, and making some adjustments to her food, making sure she’s drinking enough water, etc. Orange boy finally stopped having this problem when I tried a new wet food and kept it up for a while. But that food has been discontinued, so I can’t try that again for Miss Girlcat. I think it’s at least partly a litter box problem. Husband is supposed to be in charge of day to day litter box maintenance, but he’s in such pain lately that he’s been seriously slacking off. So now I’m going to have to figure out how to add litter box maintenance to my daily chores, in addition to working full time, doing all cooking, laundry and shopping, etc. etc. Great, just great. Oh well, time to plug in that extra Feliway diffuser and check the litterboxes. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/70 "2014-12-04T03:10:18Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#): > > Christmas time is that special time of year for vandalism. You are right, I won’t use the electrical tape because then those things will get damaged out and cost the stores money. I will continue to reverse the batteries. That hurts nothing and gives the cashiers a few hours of quiet. They aren’t allowed to shut those obnoxious things off, but sure do seem happy when a customer does. Paula, I’ve had lots of success by adding water to canned food. All cats need to drink more water, it really does seem to help. Plus regular litter box cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/71 "2014-12-04T04:16:53Z")
I’m confused, **flatlined** and **Drunky Smurf**. How is putting electrical tape on the sensor vandalism? And why won’t the tape just get taken off? If you are afraid the store personnel won’t figure out the tape use a bright colored plastic tape. And if they’re too dense to notice the sensor is covered what makes you think they’ll figure out the battery problem? ---
**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 4, 2014, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/72 "2014-12-04T04:41:55Z")
Many of these toys have “furry” bits around the sensors. Removal of electrical tap will remove some of the fur, and leave adhesive residue on some more of the fur that gets left behind. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/73 "2014-12-04T05:25:48Z")
Oh whatever, they’re beat up display models, who knows how many they even go through every week. A tiny piece of tape is discreet and quick and probably less likely to get any attention compared to someone picking them up and putting a screwdriver to their butts. Tomato tomahto. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Imp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58956e/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Imp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Imp)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/74 "2014-12-04T09:02:25Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Speaking as someone with kids around the same age as yours, no one’s gonna be judging you. They’ll all be too busy hoping their own kids behave themselves and remember to say thank you. And kids at birthday parties for that age don’t care much about the food/drink, as long as there’s cake. This is very reassuring, thank you. There will be cakes, crisps and sweets 😉 > [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > Also, going into hibernation mode with a sickish kid is a lovely thing. If you’re actually feeling agoraphobic and depressed, maybe you need to keep an eye on it - but if you just want to cuddle on the sofa and watch cartoons because it’s cold and your kid is huggable, enjoy it. Mystery solved - the apathy was me coming down with her bugs. Ugh. Another sick day, but one with a trip to the supermarket to buy cake, yay. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/75 "2014-12-04T12:25:04Z")
> [@Hey\_Hey\_Paula](#): > > One of my (four) cats has feline idiopathic cystitis. I just got the call from the vet that all cultures and blood tests were negative. Our orange boycat had this a few years ago, so I knew the symptoms and took her in as soon as I noticed. Problem is, there’s not really much to be done, except figure out what’s stressing her, and making some adjustments to her food, making sure she’s drinking enough water, etc. Orange boy finally stopped having this problem when I tried a new wet food and kept it up for a while. But that food has been discontinued, so I can’t try that again for Miss Girlcat. > > I think it’s at least partly a litter box problem. Husband is supposed to be in charge of day to day litter box maintenance, but he’s in such pain lately that he’s been seriously slacking off. So now I’m going to have to figure out how to add litter box maintenance to my daily chores, in addition to working full time, doing all cooking, laundry and shopping, etc. etc. Great, just great. > > Oh well, time to plug in that extra Feliway diffuser and check the litterboxes. I don’t know if it’s in your budget, but I’ve found the [CatgGenie](http://www.catgenie.com/) self-washing box and the [LitterRobot](http://www.litter-robot.com/) to be worth every penny. I got them because I have a houseful of cats (9, at the moment) and scooping duties and litter cost were nuts, but a friend who has just one cat says it’s still worth it (the CatGenie, that is) because she’s not lugging litter in and out, there’s no smell, and her finicky boy always has a clean box and so no excuse to pee elsewhere. The Robot does need regular litter and litter removal, but it’s so much easier because you only have to change the bag every so often. I have 4 that use it and I change the bag about every three days. Anyway, good luck with Miss Kitty, I hope she’s feeling better soon and not adding to your stress. Oh, and for the sensors, how about a piece of mini post-it note? That glue doesn’t leave a residue and the thing will fall off eventually, but it’d give some temporary peace and quiet. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/76 "2014-12-04T13:25:22Z")
Today’s Stupid Media Stereotype Award goes to ABC News online for a feature on “Holiday Health Hazards To Avoid”, featuring a photo of a blooming poinsettia. Dear Nimrods: Poinsettias are NOT poisonous. They’re not a tasty snack and you might conceivably get a bellyache if you ate a big plate of them but they’re not a freaking health hazard (the actual story, when you get into it refers to mistletoe and holly but doesn’t rag further on poinsettias). Oh, and it also warns about decorative pine cones being a choking hazard. Remember children, don’t eat the pine cones. And whatever you do, don’t consume yards of ribbon and wads of wrapping paper. Keep that stuff out of the home. ---
**Author:** ![Sattua](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sattua/32/11906_2.png) [@Sattua](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sattua)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/77 "2014-12-04T13:34:42Z")
> [@Cinnamon\_Imp](#): > > Mystery solved - the apathy was me coming down with her bugs. Ugh. Another sick day, but one with a trip to the supermarket to buy cake, yay. Gimme dap, sister. I’m sick today too. Second time in a month. What’s really offensive about it? The kid isn’t sick. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/78 "2014-12-04T13:50:52Z")
Why the hell does a year’s supply of contacts consist of enough contacts to last 48 weeks? 8 boxes \* 6 contacts\*2 weeks / 2 eyes = 48 damn weeks. Every year about this time I have to start stretching wearing time past the limit to make it to the new year when my vision plan reloads. And why won’t the stupid counter lady let me get 9 boxes of the damn thing? because the doc doesn’t want people going longer than a year without an exam, so I can only get a years supply. But it’s not a goddamn year’s worth. Then the doc bitches at me because my eyes look a little red because of the extended time I have had to wear them. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/79 "2014-12-04T13:54:54Z")
So on the next batch, add the time at the front end. Or, add a tiny bit more time to each set, or every other set. Or ask your doc if he can give you an extra sample pair, just to tide you over and keep your eyes happy til the next visit. ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/80 "2014-12-04T17:03:50Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Dear Nimrods: Poinsettias are NOT poisonous. They are mildly poisonous to cats & dogs though. > **[Are Poinsettias Poisonous to Cats & Dogs?](https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/pet-safety-tips/are-poinsettias-poisonous-to-cats-dogs/)** > > Are Poinsettias poisonous to pets? Learn about the toxicity of a Poinsettia plant to cats and dogs, symptoms and treatment options at Pet Poison Helpline®. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=5)