# '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:** 6
**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 7, 2025, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/101 "2025-12-07T05:20:04Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > I have yet to see / hear Rufus do anything but be a clickable link I’m careful to avoid. > > What fresh hell am I in for when Amazon decides it’s my turn to be Ruffied.? It came on all of a sudden without warning over the last few days. I finally couldn’t stand it any longer and did what I could to eliminate that pest. It seems the only way to get rid of it is via an ad blocker of some sort. ---
**Author:** ![commasense](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/commasense/32/3017_2.png) [@commasense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/commasense)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/102 "2025-12-07T14:50:20Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > Well there is no direct option to eliminate the thing but I figured out a way to custom filer it out through my ad blocker for now. > [@Ellecram](#): > > It seems the only way to get rid of it is via an ad blocker of some sort. Perhaps you could tell us exactly what you did? ---
**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 7, 2025, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/103 "2025-12-07T15:45:36Z")
It’s a little different for each ad blocker. I have Ad Blocker Ultimate in my Firefox browser and U Block Origin Lite on Chrome on my desktop. For Ad Blocker Ultimate, I went into Block Element, hovered a red square over the word Rufus and added it to custom filters. For U Block Origin Lite I went into Create Custom Filter, hovered the red square over the name Rufus and hit the Create button. So far Amazon is working perfectly without the intrusive little AI bot. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2025, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/104 "2025-12-07T17:45:34Z")
> [@Ellecram](#): > > I usually wait until a week or a few days before but delivery times have become much longer this year. You’re not kidding. I ordered something on Cyber Monday that’s still floating around out there. Friday it was at one distribution center in town, and yesterday it was at a different distribution center. 🙄 It’s allegedly going to be delivered today. We’ll see. I got an invite to a Christmas party I couldn’t attend and the invite had a QR code to RSVP. So I scanned the code and it pops up with a place to type my name and “Are you attending?” yes and no radio buttons. I add my name and click no… and a box pops up asking how many people are attending. I couldn’t leave it blank or go to the next screen until I put something in the box so I typed a zero. Then it asked if I was bringing a guest and how many people were coming total. I had to click no to bringing a guest and type a zero for the total people before I could move on. THEN it asked if any of my guests were under 21 or had special dietary needs. I had to answer no to both of those before it would submit my “regrets”. Dumbest thing I’ve seen in a while. ---
**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 8, 2025, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/105 "2025-12-08T00:17:56Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > I got an invite to a Christmas party I couldn’t attend and the invite had a QR code to RSVP. So I scanned the code and it pops up with a place to type my name and “Are you attending?” yes and no radio buttons. I add my name and click no… and a box pops up asking how many people are attending. I couldn’t leave it blank or go to the next screen until I put something in the box so I typed a zero. Then it asked if I was bringing a guest and how many people were coming total. I had to click no to bringing a guest and type a zero for the total people before I could move on. THEN it asked if any of my guests were under 21 or had special dietary needs. “I am not attending. I am bringing 0 guests. Of the total of 0 attendees, 4 are under 21 but they’ve been drinking for years so it’s OK to serve them alcohol. 2 are raging alcoholics and it’s not OK. 7 will require kosher food, 4 need halal, 114 are vegetarian, and there will be one (1) Swede who eats nothing but surströmming.” ---
**Author:** ![Mollie\_Magill](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mollie_magill/32/20882_2.png) [@Mollie\_Magill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mollie_Magill)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/106 "2025-12-08T18:28:47Z")
> [@Dr.Girlfriend](#): > > Holy bananas… the side effects of the second dose of the shingles vax are awful! I went from shivering violently to soaked in sweat and back again multiple times during the night last night. But I’d rather feel crappy for a day than get shingles. I know two people who had it **bad** and I don’t want to deal with that. There are two shingles vaccines. **Mrs Magill** had gotten one and I the other. She felt horrible after her second shot. I just had a headache. I just wish I could remember which of us had gotten which vaccine. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/107 "2025-12-08T21:32:49Z")
after serving the surströmming, there will be the ceremonial evacuation. ---
**Author:** ![MeepersC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meepersc/32/12088_2.png) [@MeepersC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeepersC)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/108 "2025-12-08T22:29:32Z")
I told my 74 year old father (who is one of the main reasons I dread “family holidays” such as Thanksgiving and Christmas) to start acting his age and not his shoe size this Thanksgiving, and caused so much whining. It wasn’t until his aunt told him I was right that he quieted down and let us have some peace. ---
**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 9, 2025, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/109 "2025-12-09T00:52:09Z")
My son is getting evaluated for ADHD in part because he’s regularly getting in trouble at school due to impulsive behavior, and he actually got a series of self-report surveys to fill out. He is five. My husband insisted on giving them to him. What stirring insights have these surveys revealed? He never lies. He’s always nice. He never gets in trouble. Everyone likes to be around him all the time. The only halfway honest response was when he said he thinks he’s smarter than everyone else. So glad we have this illuminating information. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Girlfriend](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.girlfriend/32/193_2.png) [@Dr.Girlfriend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Girlfriend)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/110 "2025-12-09T01:07:22Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > “I am not attending. I am bringing 0 guests. Of the total of 0 attendees, 4 are under 21 but they’ve been drinking for years so it’s OK to serve them alcohol. 2 are raging alcoholics and it’s not OK. 7 will require kosher food, 4 need halal, 114 are vegetarian, and there will be one (1) Swede who eats nothing but surströmming.” Believe me, I was tempted to mess with it… but it was a business associate giving the party so I decided I probably better not. 🤣 > [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > There are two shingles vaccines. **Mrs Magill** had gotten one and I the other. She felt horrible after her second shot. I just had a headache. I just wish I could remember which of us had gotten which vaccine. I got the Shingrix vax. My doctor had asked how the first shot went and I said it wasn’t too bad. She said the second one is going to knock you on your butt. She was right. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2025, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/111 "2025-12-09T01:25:32Z")
> [@Mollie\_Magill](#): > > There are two shingles vaccines. **Mrs Magill** had gotten one and I the other. She felt horrible after her second shot. I just had a headache. I just wish I could remember which of us had gotten which vaccine If you are in the US the earlier vaccine series would have been Zostavax, not as effective as its successor, Shingrix I am of an age where right after I finished the somewhat unpleasant Zostavax series (c. 2006) the significantly more protective Shingrix version came out (c. 2017). I took both series since I had nursed many older people through harrowing bouts of shingles in my career and I would do anything to avoid that for myself. The day or so of feeling crappy was well worth the 40% or so more protection. Since I’d done shingles vax before I knew to get that 2nd shot the afternoon after I’d finished work before 2 days off. I just planned for a lounging around in my pajamas day with Tylenol nearby for the day after, with a second day off cushion. ---
**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 9, 2025, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/112 "2025-12-09T01:32:52Z")
I have a friend who had the shingles vaccine scheduled for later that month, but he got shingles before he could get it. On his balls. 😬 If they let me take it early, I’d do it! My grandma has had it twice. ---
**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 9, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/113 "2025-12-09T01:55:22Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > he got shingles before he could get it. On his balls. That’s good weather protection though. ---
**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:** [December 9, 2025, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/114 "2025-12-09T15:21:48Z")
I am such a sucker for impulse purchases. And nowadays I can’t just stay out of the local stores because I am frequently browsing around on my phone and ads pop up in Facebook for intriguing products which I don’t need and never knew existed! My will power is weak. A couple of weeks ago I ordered a “pocket pal” that’s supposed to be a cute Krampus. Almost every day I get an email letting me know the status update of my order’s shipment. For the last few days I’ve been informed that my package has arrived at the customs office in Spain. I live in St Louis Missouri USA, and I am not aware of the origin of this little item, but if I had realized it was not being shipped from Canada or USA, I might’ve been able to resist buying it in the first place. ---
**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 9, 2025, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/115 "2025-12-09T15:51:51Z")
I go through spurts like this. Recently got some Christmas money so I’m on a roll. At my worst I’m anxiously tracking the shipment. I’m running out of things to want, though. I bought some stuff to better organize my cross stitch supplies. I don’t like a bunch of extra clutter so I always go crazy on organizing or something that will improve the house aesthetically or functionally. I guess there are worse vices. ---
**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 9, 2025, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/116 "2025-12-09T15:57:15Z")
> [@jerseymule](#): > > For the last few days I’ve been informed that my package has arrived at the customs office in Spain. I live in St Louis Missouri USA, and I am not aware of the origin of this little item, but if I had realized it was not being shipped from Canada or USA, I might’ve been able to resist buying it in the first place. I chuckled at this but I do hope your Hispanic Krampus gets to you soon! ---
**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 9, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/117 "2025-12-09T17:06:58Z")
Friend sent me a screenshot of a small business store near me to get pictures with Krampus. It showed they were available until 4pm. We got there at 3:09; the door was locked & there was one employee inside behind the counter. When I knocked, she mouthed, “We’re closed.” Why advertise a time if you close an hour earlier than that time? This was _not_ a case of they shut off the line early because there were so many people in it; they just closed early. What a way to spread **bad** will ---
**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 9, 2025, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/118 "2025-12-09T17:16:56Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > What a way to spread **bad** will You were going to see Krampus, not Santa. ---
**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 9, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/119 "2025-12-09T17:37:32Z")
but we went out of our way to go to that store for no reason, & not even be able to shop there. You think I’m going back there now? ---
**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 9, 2025, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280/120 "2025-12-09T17:38:40Z")
Krampus strikes again! [![](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/212894-050-6FF90A24/Krampus-Austrian-postcard-1910.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop) ](https://cdn.britannica.com/94/212894-050-6FF90A24/Krampus-Austrian-postcard-1910.jpg?w=400&h=300&c=crop) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/twere-the-rants-before-christmas-december-mini-rants/1025280.md?page=7)