# 'Twere the Rants Before Christmas (December Mini-Rants) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Tags:** monthly-mini-rant\ **Created:** [December 1, 2025, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280 "2025-12-01T05:04:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/361 "2025-12-23T16:10:53Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > We have a nice collection of Marvel superhero tumblers. Should be big enough. I hope. We found some wine glasses for sale where you could honestly tell your docssshter _::hic::_ that you only have one glass of wine at night since said glasses would allow one to pour a _whole_ bottle of wine into them. > [@icon](#): > > I don’t really want to drive what is essentially a rental car far from home Why not, they should be newish cars w/o any issues; as a bonus you’re wearing out their tires, brakes & oil while not racking up miles on yours. I’d call them up in a couple of days & see if they have any larger rentals returned & available for you as what they gave you is too small. ---
**Author:** ![icon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c6cbf5/32.png) [@icon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/icon)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/362 "2025-12-23T16:29:32Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > Why not, they should be newish cars w/o any issues; as a bonus you’re wearing out their tires, brakes & oil while not racking up miles on yours. It’s a matter of comfort while driving. I am used to my vehicle, how it handles, how big it is, etc. even though the loaner is nice enough, it just don’t feel comfortable to me, yet. > [@Spiderman](#): > > I’d call them up in a couple of days & see if they have any larger rentals returned & available for you as what they gave you is too small. This is a good idea that I will have to consider. `//i\\` ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/363 "2025-12-23T16:30:11Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I can recall some neighborhoods that were famous for insane levels of XMas decorations back in the day. And which were well-known enough that the police had to set up one-way traffic flow through the neighborhood every evening. When I was a kid, in my home town there was an upscale neighborhood with a street that (I shit you not) was really called “Cand Cane Lane”. That was the official street name. I assume that they named the street that after years of crazy decorating. Anyway, everyone there went full-out. Like Clark Griswold in _National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation_, except more tasteful. My mom would bundle me and my brother up in our car at night at some point around Christmas and drive us through there for some free entertainment. I’m not a huge Christmas person, it’s not my favorite holiday ever (that would be Halloween) but I always did enjoy those trips, because it really was something to see. And we didn’t have to get in a line of cars or anything, it was just a quiet little neighborhood that went batshit about decorating every Christmas. This was in the 80s. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/364 "2025-12-23T16:57:09Z")
Which of course means you’d get a better fitting loaner as soon as you get comfortable in this one & have to start all over again. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/365 "2025-12-23T17:39:57Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@icon](#): > > > > I don’t really want to drive what is essentially a rental car far from home > > Why not, they should be newish cars w/o any issues; as a bonus you’re wearing out their tires, brakes & oil while not racking up miles on yours. In general I agree w @Spiderman; the best kind of car to rack up miles on is somebody else’s car. But …there is a potential issue … Rental cars are often limited to the state you rented them in. A common exception being that you’re in a metro area straddling a state border, in which case the state across the river or whatever is usually fair game too. Usually. A loaner isn’t exactly a rental, but there are still some details the borrower agrees to whether they noticed them or not. If I was @icon I’d be asking that question sooner rather than later if my itinerary will take me out of state, or worse yet, outside the USA. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/366 "2025-12-23T19:04:06Z")
Oh, I’ve done that a lot. The problem I’ve occasionally run into is that the cords on some of the hotel’s crap aren’t always long enough to allow them to be put on the floor or otherwise out of the way. But I do agree with the idea that my stuff has priority over the hotel’s. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/367 "2025-12-23T21:39:12Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > When I was a kid, in my home town there was an upscale neighborhood with a street that (I shit you not) was really called “Cand Cane Lane”. That was the official street name. I assume that they named the street that after years of crazy decorating. The one in Seattle? That’s only its pretend name for a few weeks a year, never its official name. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2025, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/368 "2025-12-23T21:51:25Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > The one in Seattle? My hometown is Bremerton, I’ve never lived in Seattle. (Just the general area; I currently live in a suburb of it.) And my memory was faulty, because apparently it isn’t actually named that. I think when I was a kid someone put up a fake street sign with that name, but that’s not the actual street name. Here’s an article about it. > **[How Candy Cane Lane Came to Bremerton](https://www.kitsapsun.com/story/news/2017/12/09/how-candy-cane-lane-came-bremerton/936874001/)** > > Two families started a Christmas tradition in the 1950s that continues to this day on View Crest Drive. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/369 "2025-12-24T00:09:21Z")
When I think about how tired I am, and I think about the fact that there are, somewhere, people more tired than me - probably quite a lot of them - it blows my mind. I’m not just physically tired, I’m tired of thinking and of feeling. I just want to shut everything off for a little while. I just want to run away and hide. I’m really glad I’m starting therapy again on the 7th. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/370 "2025-12-24T00:48:05Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Rental cars are often limited to the state you rented them in. I’m certain this varies by location - and I understand that you said “often” - but I recently rented a car and drove it from the U.S. to Canada, and back, with zero issues. Your mileage (har) may vary. mmm ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 4:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/371 "2025-12-24T04:57:43Z")
A White Christmas? A Silent and Holy night? Fuggetaboutit! Instead of a welcoming blanket of snow for Santa, right now we have the following, associated with unseasonably warm temperatures: > Strong winds expected tonight. Northwesterly winds gusting to 70 km/h with isolated gusts to 80 km/h. And when Santa actually arrives late on Christmas Eve: Freezing drizzle. It wouldn’t surprise me if Santa just gave up and retired, and put the reindeer out to pasture. The Elves could subsist on unemployment insurance until they got jobs in a circus. With everyone growing older and no little kids around, Christmas is kaput anyway. Un-Christmasy weather is just the last straw. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/372 "2025-12-24T11:39:43Z")
Freezing drizzle? Wow, you really did draw the short straw this year. 'Tain’t fair! ---
**Author:** ![JaneA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JaneA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneA)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/373 "2025-12-24T20:43:09Z")
I just learned that I have arthritis in my cervical spine. And whatever can degenerate and press down on nerves is doing that, so I have all kinds of pins and needles in my shoulder. This is not happy making. Nor was finding the bottom half of a rabbit in my basement some years ago when my dogs. I guess my dogs were saving it for later. ---
**Author:** ![Ellecram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellecram/32/18948_2.png) [@Ellecram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellecram)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/374 "2025-12-25T00:15:57Z")
> [@JaneA](#): > > I just learned that I have arthritis in my cervical spine. And whatever can degenerate and press down on nerves is doing that, so I have all kinds of pins and needles in my shoulder. This is not happy making. That is difficult to deal with. I have similar issues. I hope that you can find some treatments that give relief. ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/375 "2025-12-25T00:33:41Z")
Here in NE KS record high temperatures are colliding with a cold front. Temp = 51.6, Dew Point = 51.3. 🎶Then one foggy Christmas Eve Santa came to say (Ho Ho Ho) Rudolph with your nose so bright Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight? NOTE: Not a rant. I love fog. ---
**Author:** ![JaneA](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b5a626/32.png) [@JaneA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneA)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/376 "2025-12-25T01:50:53Z")
Thank you! I didn’t even know you could get arthritis in the spine before yesterday so I have a lot to learn. ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/377 "2025-12-25T18:06:36Z")
I’ve got arthritis in various places, some in the spine… right where it impinges on my sciatic nerve. So pain and weakness all the way down my leg. BUT… PT and chiropractic have helped immensely. And as soon as it was enough that I could get active again, that did wonders! ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/378 "2025-12-25T18:10:52Z")
> [@Catamount](#): > > Now I’m going to have to get tested to see if I have the Alzheimer’s gene. I’d skip that. Or at least wait until you talk to a Serious Doctor (I have a Gerontologist who doesn’t think science is at a point yet where they can pinpoint “Alzheimer’s Yes or No” genetically). I say that as someone who got a false positive: I was part of an Alzheimer’s study where they tested for a protein in my blood. Got a call from the clinic that said “Congratulations, I have good news! You have the Alzheimer’s protein, so you get to be in the study and test an upcoming drug!” The sweet older candy-striper didn’t understand when I said “Umm, that’s _not_ good news…” My dad died with Alzheimer’s, so I wasn’t surprised, but I was worried how my wife could deal with a dottering fool (well, _more_ dottering…). But nine days later the same woman called to say “Ohhh, I have bad news… I’m afraid I was reading across a line of our spreadsheet and I accidentally gave you the results of the woman on the line above yours. I’m so sorry you don’t have the protein, because that means you don’t get to be in our study…” “I don’t mind at all, ma’m!” ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [December 25, 2025, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/379 "2025-12-25T18:14:58Z")
> [@digs](#): > > dottering Doddering. Remebering how to spel is one of the frist things to go. Or so my docter told me. 🤪 ---
**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 25, 2025, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/380 "2025-12-25T18:16:34Z")
Well, when I try to write my name in the snow, I’m dottering… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280.md?page=20)