# '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:** 17\ **Page:** 23
**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 30, 2025, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/441 "2025-12-30T20:04:23Z")
> [@liirogue](#): > > And the fact that my highest quote ($6k!! per year) also had by far the _worst_ coverage leads me to continue searching… From your previous comments I gather that this is for homeowner insurance? That’s $500 a month! Unless you live in a mansion, I’d tell them to fuck right off. I pay a total of just over $250 a month total for all of home insurance, car insurance, and an umbrella policy combined. To a company known to be dependable, who a few years ago replaced my entire roof after a very unusually severe hailstorm, and did not raise my rates. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/442 "2025-12-30T22:56:53Z")
Some shady outfit called [“Reach Lifestyle”](https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/lookupscam/1005570) / [“Monitor Protect”](https://www.whatsthatcharge.com/MONITORPROTECT-COM-866-4620664-NY) [(both have the same phone number)](https://www.vcharges.com/monitorprotect-com-866-4620664-ny-ca) has been hitting various bank accounts with fraudulent checks in the amount of $98.72. My SO noticed one such check from yesterday, which not only drained her account but also our joint savings account for overdraft protection, and filed a fraud claim with our bank. ---
**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 30, 2025, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/443 "2025-12-30T23:30:25Z")
> [@scudsucker](#): > > Use any of a number of CSS tricks to centre the fucking thing. Back in my day you’d have to set up tables to center it, now you just say “center” and it does it for you. Just call this a generic web design rant. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2025, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/444 "2025-12-30T23:36:08Z")
The younger crowd pisses me off on airplanes. Any time 16-30 year olds get a window seat, first thing is shut the shade!! Why??!? You’ve got your hoodie all the way up over your head, nose deep in your smartphone, soon to be sleeping uncomfortably on the tray table. Why so many people do this is beyond me. I feel it’s your responsibility to keep it open unless the sun is glaring directly through it. Is it too cold? Change seats. Afraid of flying? Take a fucking train. When I get a window seat, it stays open. I love the views, especially on take off and landing. And if we’re crashing, I’d like to know where. 😡 ---
**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 31, 2025, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/445 "2025-12-31T11:57:08Z")
From October 1 of 2023 til halfway through September of last year, I had as a couch surfer a best friend of my nephew, a young lady who had fostered my cat when I first moved to Portland in 2022 (she had been living with her grandmother until Grandma went into assisted living and her family would no longer pay for the apartment). So, on Thanksgiving, my sister told me that HER best friend since grade school was homeless down in North Carolina, and her daughter was willing to fly her out here after the first of the year and provide a small monthly stipend for a couch to sleep on, and would I be open to repeating it for a 57-year old woman? Of course I said I would (my sister put me up for six months rent free in ‘22, so it’s hard to turn her down). So now I’m going to have another couch surfer for an indeterminate length of time, starting in just over a week. I’m happy to be in a position to help out, and I recognize that I am privileged wrt shelter, and the only two reasons that I’m putting this in the mini-rants thread are, first, my sister told me that her friend had a crush on me (that I was oblivious to) way back when. No idea if any vestiges of that remain, and I hope that there’s no awkwardness. Second, I was really enjoying being able to walk around my apartment naked. I’m gonna miss that. ---
**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 31, 2025, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/446 "2025-12-31T13:44:50Z")
“Deadline at Midnight!!!” “2X match!!!” “offer extended 3X match!!!” “Double your impact!!” “Last chance!!!” “Sincerely asking!!!” “Double your gift before midnight!!!” SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP ALREADY!!! 🤬 Between the bombardment of donation requests and all the pre-Christmas advertising, there are so many unread emails my deleted items that Outlook just shows the amount as “999+”. ---
**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 31, 2025, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/447 "2025-12-31T14:28:42Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > When I get a window seat, it stays open. I love the views I got scolded the other way. It’s a rare opportunity to see sunrise at 35,000+ feet. Damn right I want to watch it…until the FA came by & asked me to lower it. Seriously? We’re all in coach, sitting up, with lighting on in the cabin. The guy next to you may have light on from his computer/tablet, or maybe he’s sound asleep & sawing lumber 3" from your ear. Every time someone repositions in the row you feel it; if you’re not in the window seat, you need to stand up, _twice_ if someone needs to pee. If you’re in an aisle seat, you’re liable to get whapped by anyone walking past you. IOW, a suite at the Ritz it ain’t. ETA: I did put it back down, but I wasn’t happy about it. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/448 "2025-12-31T15:04:59Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Second, I was really enjoying being able to walk around my apartment naked Your apartment, your rules! ---
**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 31, 2025, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/449 "2025-12-31T17:14:42Z")
Not around someone whose primary salient feature (that I know of) is that she used to have a crush on me, no thank you! ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/450 "2025-12-31T20:44:38Z")
Not seeing the conflict… ---
**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 31, 2025, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/451 "2025-12-31T20:56:27Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > > [@Locrian](#): > > > > When I get a window seat, it stays open. I love the views > > I got scolded the other way. It’s a rare opportunity to see sunrise at 35,000+ feet. Damn right I want to watch it…until the FA came by & asked me to lower it. Seriously? We’re all in coach, sitting up, with lighting on in the cabin. The guy next to you may have light on from his computer/tablet, or maybe he’s sound asleep & sawing lumber 3" from your ear. Every time someone repositions in the row you feel it; if you’re not in the window seat, you need to stand up, _twice_ if someone needs to pee. If you’re in an aisle seat, you’re liable to get whapped by anyone walking past you. IOW, a suite at the Ritz it ain’t.. > > ETA: I did put it back down, but I wasn’t happy about it. I hate window seats and always get an aisle seat. On my last long distance flight a couple months ago a young man was sitting at the window and he actually took pictures on his phone to share with me lol! I appreciated his enthusiasm. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2026, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/452 "2026-01-01T00:51:00Z")
Note to self: “Medium” spicy salsa from the international aisle is several orders of magnitude spicier than “medium” salsa in the regular aisle. Holy fucking shit. 🌶 🤯 🔥 ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/453 "2026-01-01T06:30:03Z")
It is raining here. There are STILL morons setting off fireworks outside, and it’s not even 10:30pm yet. ---
**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:** [January 1, 2026, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/454 "2026-01-01T08:00:46Z")
New year, new rants, new thread: > [@Welcome to Twenty-Twenty-Sucks (January Mini-Rants)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/welcome-to-twenty-twenty-sucks-january-mini-rants/1026231): > > Continuing the discussion from ['Twere the Rants Before Christmas (December Mini-Rants)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280): It’s a new year, and illegal fireworks have been going since it first went dark. Which given the time of year means it has been going for many hours. My dog is going nuts and keeps looking to me to make it stop, as if I can control these assholes. Bring on the new year with a headache. ---
**Author:** ![jerseymule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jerseymule/32/3155_2.png) [@jerseymule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jerseymule)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2026, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/455 "2026-01-10T21:50:15Z")
My little Krampus finally arrived safely at my mailbox today, just in time for… the Martin Luther King holiday? I had actually given up hope that I would ever see him! ---
**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:** [January 10, 2026, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/456 "2026-01-10T23:34:05Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > My little Krampus finally arrived safely at my mailbox today, just in time for… the Martin Luther King holiday? I had actually given up hope that I would ever see him! Oh that is good news! Better late than never. ---
**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:** [January 11, 2026, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/457 "2026-01-11T00:12:32Z")
It’s not late; it’s very _early_ for Christmas 2026! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280.md?page=22)