# '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:** 6
**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 5, 2014, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/101 "2014-12-05T19:43:19Z")
> [@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. ☹ It’s far more likely that he has a FB app on his smartphone that shows him as being online just because he’s looking up where he wants to eat for lunch or something. I wouldn’t sweat it at all. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/102 "2014-12-05T21:27:18Z")
I am in the midst of a heavy sinus cold and cannot sleep at night because of it. I go to the mini clinic in Walgreen so the PA or NP can tell me which flavor of Mucinex I should take and because my insurance covers it 100%. So the helpful medical person employed by Walgreen points out a new product that Walgreen sells (it’s even on sale!) that she swears by… Coldcalm - A homeopathic remedy that will relieve my symptoms in 2-4 days. :smack::mad: Thanks Walgreen, you have lost all my business for the rest of my life and I will bad mouth you to anybody I speak to. Oh, she also told me to avoid Mucinex because that will raise my blood pressure even though I have no blood pressure issues. ---
**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, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/103 "2014-12-05T22:13:58Z")
> [@xizor](#): > > So the helpful medical person employed by Walgreen points out a new product that Walgreen sells (it’s even on sale!) that she swears by… > > Coldcalm - A homeopathic remedy that will relieve my symptoms in 2-4 days. :smack::mad: To be fair, it has been kept in the same room as the Mucinex, so it has the memory of Mucinex to help your symptoms. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/104 "2014-12-06T01:47:29Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > It’s far more likely that he has a FB app on his smartphone that shows him as being online just because he’s looking up where he wants to eat for lunch or something. I wouldn’t sweat it at all. Or he never switches off his home computer. According to Lync, some of my coworkers live at the office. They’re “online” at all hours, all days, so much so that if it was true it would be illegal. ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/105 "2014-12-06T04:03:25Z")
King of the nerds Chris Hardwick is now dating a [billionaire heiress supermodel](http://instagram.com/p/wP81F9JGr8/). I used to like him, and his podcast (though it’s lately been getting a bit boring and relying too heavily on promoting crap), but now I think he’s taken one step too far and lost any “nerd” credibility. There’s no way for us schlubs to relate to him anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Dunkelheit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dunkelheit/32/248_2.png) [@Dunkelheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunkelheit)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/106 "2014-12-06T13:19:37Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > 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. My phone does this when my computer is off and I’m in bed, for some reason it will occasionally show me as actively online, and I’ll get up to messages saying ‘Isn’t it the middle of the night where you are?’ Yes, it was when you sent that, but I was asleep. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/107 "2014-12-06T15:50:43Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > King of the nerds Chris Hardwick is now dating a [billionaire heiress supermodel](http://instagram.com/p/wP81F9JGr8/). Supermodel seems to be one of those words which have lost their meaning through overuse, it gets stuck on any model whose name is known to the writer (it may be known from something else) even if the lady in question advertises hemorroid cream. Or yoghurt that’s good for your regularity. ---
**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 6, 2014, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/108 "2014-12-06T16:06:59Z")
From the coach of Yale’s basketball team (which upset Connecticut yesterday on a last-second three-point shot): > [@](#): > > “I told the guys in the locker room, no matter how old they get, if they get Alzheimer’s or dementia, they’ll remember this for the rest of their lives,” Jones said. Now _there’s_ something to look forward to. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/109 "2014-12-06T18:26:47Z")
> [@Sattua](#): > > Broken seasons are, indeed, complete and utter bullshit. I really dislike this trend. > > Also: it burns my biscuits to read a famous, mass-released, long-awaited, supposedly heavily-edited novel that is full of typos, non sequiturs, and continuity errors. Seriously, people? SERIOUSLY? All of you read through this book multiple times and didn’t catch the dozens of errors that I, a bored former-fan who is skimming the thing, catch on my first read-through? > > Makes me right bitter about the publishing industry, I can tell you that. That’s the main reason I’ve lost patience with John Scalzi. Way too many typos in his books. It’s almost like he just sends his drafts straight to the printers with no editing or even a quick spellcheck run-through in between. My copy of \*The Dragonbone Chair \*has a few typos too for which there are no excuses since it’s a second edition that presumably was edited the first time. Where’s my wite-out wand? ---
**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 7, 2014, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/110 "2014-12-07T00:04:07Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Supermodel seems to be one of those words which have lost their meaning through overuse, it gets stuck on any model whose name is known to the writer (it may be known from something else) even if the lady in question advertises hemorroid cream. Or yoghurt that’s good for your regularity. Good point. I used the word because I saw someone else describe her that way, but it was probably more than what’s warranted. ---
**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 7, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/111 "2014-12-07T02:44:05Z")
I bought a beautiful new mug today at the supermarket. It was the only one of its kind in the store. The cashier hastily flung it into a bag and now it’s chipped. Oh well, at least it was only a small chip, and it’s not damaged. I’m not going to bother reporting it. ---
**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 7, 2014, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/112 "2014-12-07T03:01:36Z")
Oh joy, the tree is leaning. I think I know what the problem is (a branch stuck under part of the cable securing the tree) but I won’t be able to get any help with it until tomorrow. Meanwhile, my mother has started throwing a complete fit, even going so far as to suggest that I switch the leaning tree out with the smaller one in the dining room. (They’re both live, completely decorated trees.) Oh, now she’s blaming the tree lot. \>.\< ---
**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2014, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/113 "2014-12-07T09:26:20Z")
My solution to the despair I feel looking at news coming out of the US is to apply for another working holiday visa. I don’t particularly even want to go to NZ, but I don’t actively dislike sheep and, well, it’s easier to distance myself from all the deplorable bullshit going on back “home” when I’m abroad. I really wish my country would get it’s shit together, though. > [@Jackmannii](#): > > From the coach of Yale’s basketball team (which upset Connecticut yesterday on a last-second three-point shot): > > Now _there’s_ something to look forward to. Boy, that’s motivation. “Go out there and kick some ass. But don’t forget that you’re going to someday be old and shriveled in a wheelchair and this will all just be the disjointed ramblings to your nurse as they help you get dressed. Then you’ll die! Now get out there and play ball.” ---
**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 8, 2014, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/114 "2014-12-08T02:28:03Z")
I’ve had these weird patches of skin on my feet (1 per foot) for most of my life. I saw a doctor about them when I was about 5 years old, and I don’t know if the doctors were able to diagnose anything, but they said it was harmless. And those patches of skin haven’t caused me any problems. Until tonight, when they’re swollen. One more than the other. My mother has severe foot problems, and I hope to God and whoever else is up there that I haven’t inherited what she has. (I don’t want to say what my mother has, because she might google the term and come up with this thread. I also don’t want to google the term myself, at least not at this time of night, because I’d possibly scare myself and not be able to sleep.) ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/115 "2014-12-08T02:36:03Z")
I have been crying for days. A school report came back on my darling three year. They are suggesting she has major cognitive deficits. We have a meeting with local school officials on Thursday. I am hoping they can provide her with the help to overcome such deficits. I’m terrified they’re going to tell me there’s not much they can do. ☹ ---
**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 8, 2014, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/116 "2014-12-08T02:46:08Z")
**{{{{LavenderBlue}}}}** ---
**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 8, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/117 "2014-12-08T02:48:40Z")
I’m so sorry, **LavenderBlue**. And sorry too that the meeting is so far off; I know it’s going to be a long time for you until Thursday. Fingers crossed. And bear in mind that there are always second opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/118 "2014-12-08T03:24:16Z")
> [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > Oh joy, the tree is leaning. I think I know what the problem is (a branch stuck under part of the cable securing the tree) but I won’t be able to get any help with it until tomorrow. Meanwhile, my mother has started throwing a complete fit, even going so far as to suggest that I switch the leaning tree out with the smaller one in the dining room. (They’re both live, completely decorated trees.) > > Oh, now she’s blaming the tree lot. > > \>.\< When I was stationed in Germany, my roommate and I got a tree and took it back to our apartment, and it turned out it wouldn’t stand up unless we tied it to a chair. 😃 So we did. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/119 "2014-12-08T04:03:48Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I have been crying for days. A school report came back on my darling three year. They are suggesting she has major cognitive deficits. How do you see her, in comparison with siblings and cousins? The next days are going to be horrible no matter what, but she’s three - it wouldn’t be the first or the last three-year-old who gets misdiagnosed as “slow” on account of being more of “in a different track”. ---
**Author:** ![Mirka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@Mirka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirka)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2014, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028/120 "2014-12-08T14:14:46Z")
So, hubby and I moved to the dreaded Inner City a couple of months ago. (Not so dreaded, actually. It’s a historic southern city of 250k, and the area of it that we are in has been gentrifying for a while.) Yesterday, while grocery shopping, we overheard a young couple talking in all seriousness about how robbing a bank shouldn’t be illegal if they already had money in that bank. That, along with the post office experience (a guy in line ranting at his girlfriend about how he shouldn’t have gotten 30 days probation for knowingly buying a stolen TV; he actually asked someone else in line if they agreed with him. Thankfully, the older gent did not.), has finally convinced me that, yes, some people out here are just plain idiots. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tis-the-season-to-be-ranty-december-minirants/706028.md?page=7)