# '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:** 5
**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 4, 2014, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/81 "2014-12-04T17:36:12Z")
**Wolfman** , do you take your lenses out at night? I can get mine to go quite a bit past two weeks by letting them soak overnight. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/82 "2014-12-04T18:38:28Z")
Just when I had thought I’d seen every stupid driving trick possible, here is a new one. We have lots of on ramps which taper to nothing during the merge. Most drivers are good at letting people merge in. But twice in the past week I’ve seen drivers try to use the last bit of the merge lane (down to about five feet wide) to pass the car in front of them. I’ve seen a few people do this thinking the lane was the next off ramp, but not this time. The clown then got stuck when he wasn’t let in. I was just an observer in both cases, but how stupid can some people get? ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2014, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/83 "2014-12-04T19:58:19Z")
Yeah thanks cat. I appreciate your decision to look around the house, avoid paper, plastic, the litter boxes and the linoleum, climb up on the dining room table and pick up the clean laundry to throw up in. I put the thing down for a lousy five minutes and went to get the mail. ---
**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, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/84 "2014-12-04T20:17:12Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > **Wolfman** , do you take your lenses out at night? I can get mine to go quite a bit past two weeks by letting them soak overnight. I do take them out at night, but I smoke, which keeps their viability around 2 weeks. ---
**Author:** ![Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Carol\_the\_Impaler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carol_the_Impaler)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/85 "2014-12-05T01:14:32Z")
If I run out of minutes on my Virgin Mobile account and don’t have access to a computer, I’m screwed because the Virgin Mobile app does not work on my Virgin Mobile phone. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/86 "2014-12-05T01:21:25Z")
I know it doesn’t rain very often in San Diego, especially during California’s current record-breaking drought. But when it does rain, do we REALLY need every fucking local news outlet to spend the first fifteen minutes of the evening broadcast showing video of cars driving through puddles? We get it: there’s water on the ground, and in some low-lying places it even formed pools about a foot deep. But it’s over now, so why don’t you find some actual fucking news to report. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/87 "2014-12-05T02:01:22Z")
Damn darn it, Facebook said one of my friends was online and available for chat, so I sent him a message. He stayed “online” and then went away. Damn, can’t shake my anxiety and the feeling that he doesn’t want to talk to me. So worried. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/88 "2014-12-05T03:36:18Z")
I itch in unmentionable places, and I can’t scratch because that will only make things far, far worse. ARRRRRGH. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/89 "2014-12-05T05:53:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > 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. I’m interviewing people now and I hate the process. There are so many wonderful potential assistants out there and I only get to pick one. I know that you are a wonderful person who would be a real asset on the job place, but do know that your potential employers are also having a difficult time. Good luck, and don’t give up! > [@kayT](#): > > 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? > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > 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. What he said. I don’t want to actually damage anything…OK, well I do sometimes fantasize about tossing them against the walls and then stomping on them, but I won’t do that. I kinda figure that a manager will show up at some point and notice that they aren’t playing and then will try to turn them on. He or she will probably think that the batteries have died, so when s/he has time will come back with more batteries and a screwdriver. At that point, s/he will look at the directions stamped next to the batteries to see how to put the new ones on and realize that they were reversed. > [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > 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. I still don’t want to cause damage to something I don’t own. The clerks do notice what I’m doing, they will sometimes ask and will often give me hugs and blessings. My rant: the honeymoon is over ☹ Today my beloved butthead called me from the store and asked what size PJs I wore because he wanted to buy me some. I don’t actually wear PJs to bed, but I do wear his when we are sitting around after our nightly showers. I guess he wants his PJs back. ☹ ---
**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 5, 2014, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/90 "2014-12-05T06:09:46Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > I do take them out at night, but I smoke, which keeps their viability around 2 weeks. Oh! My allergies somehow cause ‘deposits’ to form on the lenses. If I left them in full time, I would probably get less than 2 weeks of wear out of them. > [@EmilyG](#): > > Damn darn it, Facebook said one of my friends was online and available for chat, so I sent him a message. He stayed “online” and then went away. Damn, can’t shake my anxiety and the feeling that he doesn’t want to talk to me. So worried. ☹ Maybe he keeps Facebook open on more than one device? I’m terrible for leaving Facebook running on my home computer all day while simultaneously accessing it from my phone. Since I don’t have the Facebook messenger app installed, I don’t receive an actual notification when messaged…and when I get home to my computer, new messages don’t always show up unless I remember to refresh the page. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/91 "2014-12-05T12:43:05Z")
Makes sense, **Jeep**. My rant for today: My favourite local comedian has now received\* death threats\*. Because people don’t like his jokes. Lighten up, people. Fucking hell. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/92 "2014-12-05T14:13:24Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > What he said. I don’t want to actually damage anything…OK, well I do sometimes fantasize about tossing them against the walls and then stomping on them, but I won’t do that. I kinda figure that a manager will show up at some point and notice that they aren’t playing and then will try to turn them on. He or she will probably think that the batteries have died, so when s/he has time will come back with more batteries and a screwdriver. At that point, s/he will look at the directions stamped next to the batteries to see how to put the new ones on and realize that they were reversed. The date: last month. The location: Barcelona. Mom: Did I mention your aunt had bought a new clock for your grandma, because she complained she couldn’t see the numbers in the old one? Me: No, but now you have. Mom, taking a large alarm clock out of her handbag: Well, it’s not working and neither your aunt nor your cousin nor I can figure out why, but I said “let’s have Nava check it before tossing it.” Me: _grab clock. Verify it does not work. Open battery compartment, think it looks strange. Take battery out. Verify that it was, indeed, flipped. Put battery back in. Clock starts making a satisfying ticking noise. Set clock’s time. Hand clock to Mom._ Mom, bowing: Thank you, oh Mistress of Mechanical Things. All three have normal intelligence, but all three appear to be missing the “deal with electrical things” package. The Bros, Male Cousin and I have been known to get anguished calls because the TV wasn’t switching on from the remote (someone had switched it off from the actual TV set, so it was really off and not merely in standby). ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/93 "2014-12-05T15:13:22Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > Damn darn it, Facebook said one of my friends was online and available for chat, so I sent him a message. He stayed “online” and then went away. Damn, can’t shake my anxiety and the feeling that he doesn’t want to talk to me. So worried. ☹ Don’t know about your friends, but I have a couple that **appear** to be connected for days at a time. I wouldn’t assume he is being antisocial in the absence of other evidence. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/94 "2014-12-05T15:22:12Z")
I did get a message back from my friend. So I sent a message back. I hope I’ll get a reply. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/95 "2014-12-05T16:34:21Z")
> [@flatlined](#): > > I’m interviewing people now and I hate the process. There are so many wonderful potential assistants out there and I only get to pick one. I know that you are a wonderful person who would be a real asset on the job place, but do know that your potential employers are also having a difficult time. > > Good luck, and don’t give up! > > ( Thanks. Do you want to hire me?? : looks hopeful : Someone brought their doggie into work today. Now I am normally totally OK with this, it’s how I get my doggie fix, not having one, but I was distressed to discover he is a relatively recent rescue, and thus touchy. He has barked aggressively three times already and has kind of lunged at two people. Thankfully she seemed to realize this and has just taken the dog home. I don’t think you should ever bring a dog like this to an unfamiliar place, though. It’s stressful for the dog, and it’s stressful for us. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/96 "2014-12-05T17:07:26Z")
Each year previously, my mother would give each of her children a Christmas ornament. Since I never have a tree\* and she knows it, I would thank her and then it ends up on a shelf or in a drawer somewhere until it gets lost, destroyed by my cat, whatever. This year she decides to give me this big “rustic” (read: rusty metal) nativity scene and tells me to take it to work and put it on my desk to “make a statement”. :rolleyes: Yeah, I’ll get right on that. (And put this thing in the recycling bin) - Inconvenience + expense + bother + Not caring + Cat = No tree. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/97 "2014-12-05T18:04:21Z")
I’m kind of wondering what the heck kind of statement that would make. ---
**Author:** ![Avarie537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/48db29/32.png) [@Avarie537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avarie537)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/98 "2014-12-05T18:28:59Z")
Thanks, ZipRecruiter, for continuing to notify me that the clinic that DIDN’T hire me is STILL LOOKING!!! Nice to know that being understaffed is better than hiring me! ---
**Author:** ![Wednesday\_Evening](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b2d939/32.png) [@Wednesday\_Evening](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wednesday_Evening)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/99 "2014-12-05T19:04:03Z")
My 5th grader came home from school yesterday and said, “Someone told me that you shouldn’t use Xmas instead of Christmas because it’s bad.” So I had to explain about how the early Christians used Greek and that the Greek letter chi (X) was the first letter in the Greek word for Christ and therefore the X is just the Greek abbreviation for the word Christ. And if it was good enough for the early Christians, it should be good enough for everyone else and definitely not “bad”. Which was a good educational opportunity, but sheesh, parents! Stop spreading falsehoods! ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/100 "2014-12-05T19:11:33Z")
> [@EmilyG](#): > > I’m kind of wondering what the heck kind of statement that would make. My mother is a 76 year old Fox News viewing self-made Martyr who still makes the occasional racist comment in the presence of minorities and anti-gay comments despite the fact that my sister came out 37 years ago. So it was a semi-angry comment best translated as “Show those people you’re a CHRISTIAN!” Which would not actually be true, but she doesn’t listen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=6)