A column of final Thanksgiving leftovers

It's a month until Christmas, which means that it's only 10 months until advertising starts for Christmas 2017!

Emptying my notebook, here's a plate full of post-Thanksgiving leftovers, one bite at a time:

• There's nothing more frustrating than trying to get true customer service from a major mobile phone company. They're great at signing you up for service, terrible if you have a question or problem.

• Yes, I may have recently switched providers and tried to get an explanation on my final bill from my former provider.

• Power rankings: The top five remotes at my house, in order of importance.

5. Fireplace. We have a fake fireplace and it has a ridiculous remote control. Who needs that? I haven't even attempted it.

4. DVD. Different from my TV remote, although sometimes used in an unsuccessful attempt to control the TV.

3. Ceiling fan. Yes, we have one. And yes, our remote control changes the speed, beautifully.

2. TV. Could be the top seed, but I could survive without it. Like I could (theoretically) survive without coffee.

1. Garage door. Remember when we didn't have these remotes? We used to have to get out of the car and open the garage, then get in, drive in, then close the door behind us. The caveman days.

• So here are my thoughts on the recent presidential election: Aw, never mind. You don't care. And I don't blame you.

• One confession: Jack Kemp remains my all-time favorite politician. His politics were on both sides of the contemporary left-right split and he was liked by his opponents. Plus, Kemp was a really good quarterback in the American Football league and his son Jeff was Joe Montana's backup on the 49ers. So there's that.

• Speaking of sports, it's remarkable that the Bay Area has one of the best-run franchises in major league baseball (the Giants) and the NBA (the Warriors), while having the worst-run franchise in the NFL (the 49ers).

Bad news for 49ers fans: The best predictor of success is the front office.

Worse news for 49ers fans: There is virtually no chance of an ownership change in the next three decades.

• Remember when we watched network TV? Now, probably 95 percent of the non-sports shows Mrs. Brad and I watch are either on Netflix or Amazon.

• Current hot picks: "Good Girls Revolt" and "Goliath" on Amazon, of course "Stranger Things" and "Bloodline" on Netflix.

• When I occasionally read comments on articles on websites (including the Daily Republic), I wonder if people are actually that mean in person or if they channel all their anger online. And I'm not sure which would be a better outcome: Hypocrisy or constant anger?

• Was that last note an effort to discourage people from bashing this column? Maybe.

• And finally, congratulations to Dungeons & Dragons, Fisher Price's Little People and the swing for earning spots this year in the Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y. In this case, the swing vote was literally the swing vote.

Still on the outside, shockingly: The Nerf ball. Maybe next year.

Brad Stanhope is a former Daily Republic editor. Reach him at bradstanhope@hotmail.com.