So trivial, yet it really ticks you off.

[LizzieMaine]

We used to do the "Prince Albert in a Can," "Is your refrigerator running?" gags, but they seldom generated any more reaction than a strong hangup. The "Hugh Jass" type of gags were not known in my neighborhood, but "The Simpsons" has made them seem more omnipresent than they actually were.

 

[Trenchfriend]

We used to do the "Prince Albert in a Can," "Is your refrigerator running?" gags, but they seldom generated any more reaction than a strong hangup. The "Hugh Jass" type of gags were not known in my neighborhood, but "The Simpsons" has made them seem more omnipresent than they actually were.

Aaaah right, now you brought the Bart and Lisa Simpson telephone pranks back to my mind!
But I only watched The Simpsons on age 12, not before, not after. Maybe I missed some good ones.

 

[ChiTownScion]

Aaaah right, now you brought the Bart and Lisa Simpson telephone pranks back to my mind!
But I only watched The Simpsons on age 12, not before, not after. Maybe I missed some good ones.

<Moe Szslak holding phone> "Amanda Huggenkiss?? I'm looking for Amanda Huggenkiss !!"

<Barney Gumble> "Don't look at ME !!"

 

[Edward]

Other question, linked to the youtube world.

Do young folks really do this "Mike Oxbig/Anita Blackman/Ben Dover"-pranks with staff in North American diners?? Is this a real classic?
I mean, I know, that the majority of youtube stuff is professional fake. But otherwise you got this diner system, that the customers are called when food ready, which is not common in Germany.

A friend swears he was once in a Starbucks where someone had given their name as 'Spartacus', and half a dozen people tried to claim the coffee...

 

[Inkstainedwretch]

My favorite was Heywood Jablome.

 

[LizzieMaine]

In my radio days, when we'd do charity-auction broadcasts and a member of the station staff wanted to bid, there was a "house name" they used that I won't repeat here, but it was one of these types of puns. I was young enough and naive enough in 1983 that I fell for it and raed the bid over the air. They tried to use this same name calling in to our Santa Claus program later on, and that's where the line was drawn.

 

[Tiki Tom]

Many years ago, had a friend who made reservations, etc, under names like “Miguel Abdul Wo Chung Eisenstein”. I‘m pretty sure such nonsense wouldn’t fly today.

 

[GHT]

Many years ago, had a friend who made reservations, etc, under names like “Miguel Abdul Wo Chung Eisenstein”. I‘m pretty sure such nonsense wouldn’t fly today.

Don't kid yourself, it's just that the nonsense is in reverse. Have you had any dealings with the likes of utility companies? The oil company Shell, have a division that has bought the company that provides our broadband. From day one it's been a catalogue of frustration and futility.

It doesn't help when they address me as: "Hello Robert." That faux, friendly, obsequious manner just irritates me. This morning the, Hello Robert, letter arrived, I am three weeks late with my payment. The invoice actually arrived about nine days ago, it was late but not their fault, there's a postal dispute going on in the UK. When it finally arrived I paid it immediately, over the phone, helped by a very kindly lady. You have to press your card numbers this way and that. I was sorely tempted to say that I still have a rotary dial phone, which I do, but I also have the push button type too.

The lady on the other end of the line was most helpful and she didn't hang up until she was sure that payment from my card to Shell's account had been approved. That made this morning's correspondence like a red rag to a bull.

Shell have tried and tried to get me to pay either direct debit, through my bank, or electronically via email. Stone age I may be, but paying an invoice at the bank or post office, after it's arrived is how I have always paid it, so why change? For their convenience, that's why. Just to emphasise my old school approach, I fired off a letter, hand written, giving them both barrels. What's the betting that their reply starts with: Hello Robert?

 

[FOXTROT LAMONT]

Good afternoon sir,
Better Hello Robert than 'Dear John.'

We conversed briefly over pipes I recall, and I found my long lost bulldog at last. Will give the pup a walk today.

 

[Trenchfriend]

As for the new german word of the year, I would vote for:

S.T.I.L.L.H.Ü.T.C.H.E.N

nipple shields

Oh, the marketing boys...

 

[Turnip]

„Fiebersaft“ (Feversyrup) would be my favorite.
No idea how our parents brought us alive through all those colds, childhood illnesses… without liquid painkillers…

 

[KILO NOVEMBER]

Dear Turnip and Trenchfriend,

My apologies for being picky, but what, exactly do these things have to do with "So trivial, but it really ticks you off"?

 

[Trenchfriend]

Dear Turnip and Trenchfriend,

My apologies for being picky, but what, exactly do these things have to do with "So trivial, but it really ticks you off"?

Here is Speaker's Corner, you didn't saw, yet?

 

[LizzieMaine]

Someday I'm going to get serious about learning German. I've got a set of Linguaphone records and the accompanying guidebook that I started with a few years ago and never finished, and I've been meaning to sit down and really put my mind to it for, and yet I've never quite gotten around to it because as I get older my attention span....what I was I talking about again? Always I start to say something and then can't remember what it was. Jeez that ticks me off.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Instant lemon tea from childhood, anyone?

 

[Trenchfriend]

Quick question:

Versatile home fitness barbells: >>> 0,5 or 1,0 kilogram for all day use?

 

[Trenchfriend]

Question solved.

1,0 kilogram is fine!

 

[tonyb]

In my radio days, when we'd do charity-auction broadcasts and a member of the station staff wanted to bid, there was a "house name" they used that I won't repeat here, but it was one of these types of puns. I was young enough and naive enough in 1983 that I fell for it and raed the bid over the air. They tried to use this same name calling in to our Santa Claus program later on, and that's where the line was drawn.

I don’t suppose the first name was Mike?

 

[tonyb]

I can appreciate safe driving. I practice it myself.

But you in that late-model AWD Ford Escape I was stuck behind for the better part of a mile …

Maybe 15 mph over that well-packed snow would be reasonable. I can see even as slow as 10, on the corners or when there’s oncoming traffic. But I could have covered that distance on foot in less time.

 

[Trenchfriend]

Not really a negative thing, more funny, I would say.

Got a nice storebrand night shirt in department store, went to a checkout and while Mrs. Cashier was making bill, she pointed with her finger on the shirt, looked at me:

"NightSHIRT !?"

Me: Yep!

I shouldn't be shaved and wear a bobble cap, next time...