# The \*REAL\* start of the year! September mini-rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 1, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847 "2011-09-01T15:24:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 2, 2011, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/81 "2011-09-02T23:48:58Z")
> [@SpazCat](#): > > My rant: My cat has fleas. I got some flea stuff from Walgreens and put it on the cat. It stunned the fleas for one day. Now she’s scratching again. The fleas are in the carpet. We’ve put down flea powder–twice. They’re still there. My roommates want to get some Advantage and put it on the cat, but I’m a little leery of trying it so soon because I had a cat die from flea medicine overdose\*\* (never buy Hartz)\*\*. We may have to dose her twice in a month, though, because the fleas are _everywhere_. Listen to your roommates. Get the Advantage. It is safe. It is effective. You could put Advantage on your cat every week and she would be fine. It’s the crap products they have at the grocery store that are liquid death to kitties. Spend money on a product that is actually worthwhile. Get enough Advantage to treat kitty and every other furry pet in the house every 3-4 weeks for the next 6 months. [/veterinarian] ---
**Author:** ![Sierra\_Indigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f0a364/32.png) [@Sierra\_Indigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sierra_Indigo)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/82 "2011-09-03T00:00:29Z")
> [@teela\_brown](#): > > Stoopid bint. Last I checked, computers were there to save the unnecessary duplication of work. Bwa. Bwahahaha. Bwahahahahahahahahahaha. Oh, you’re cute 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/83 "2011-09-03T00:17:21Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Listen to your roommates. Get the Advantage. It is safe. It is effective. You could put Advantage on your cat every week and she would be fine. It’s the crap products they have at the grocery store that are liquid death to kitties. > > Spend money on a product that is actually worthwhile. > > Get enough Advantage to treat kitty and every other furry pet in the house every 3-4 weeks for the next 6 months. > > [/veterinarian] Is Advantage the same stuff as Revolution? My cat and one of my dogs had reactions to that - never again. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/84 "2011-09-03T00:43:58Z")
> [@](#): > > Actually, they come _with_ my period, thankyouverymuch. So I threw a tampon at you. A clean one, since I’m feeling generous. Pity you didn’t duck fast enough - check your hair in the mirror. For the crafty bleeder (warning, might squick some people out): [http://www.tamponcrafts.com/heart.html](http://www.tamponcrafts.com/heart.html) Be sure to check out the other crafts, too! Most of them not nearly as gross looking! > [@](#): > > In the printout of prep instructions, they request me to _bring a list of all meds I take_. There is actually a reason for this. A patient might stop or start a certain medication between visits to the office. I keep a Wordpad file on my computer which lists what I take, both prescription and OTC. This file also has a list of the stuff I’m allergic to. I print out a new copy if I need to see a new doctor for any reason, and I keep a copy of it in my purse. My mini rant is that my husband has gone to visit our daughter until Tuesday. This means that all four cats will be inconsolable until then. There will be much hollering and wailing. In fact, there already is much hollering and wailing. Yes, two of the cats are mine…but all of them love him as well as me. I get enough grief when he works mid shift, the cats are used to having him around in the evenings and they miss their daddy at night. ---
**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:** [September 3, 2011, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/85 "2011-09-03T00:46:02Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Listen to your roommates. Get the Advantage. It is safe. It is effective. You could put Advantage on your cat every week and she would be fine. It’s the crap products they have at the grocery store that are liquid death to kitties. > > Spend money on a product that is actually worthwhile. > > Get enough Advantage to treat kitty and every other furry pet in the house every 3-4 weeks for the next 6 months. > > [/veterinarian] > [@curlcoat](#): > > Is Advantage the same stuff as Revolution? My cat and one of my dogs had reactions to that - never again. Advantage = imidacloprid, a nicotine based insecticide primarily intended to control fleas when used on pets. Revolution = selamectin, a parasiticide and antihelminthic used to control primarily worm infestations, but also as a treatment for flea outbreaks. I have no knowledge on the question of whether sensitivity to one implies an increased risk of sensitivity to the other; check with your vet. Not the same stuff, though. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/86 "2011-09-03T01:33:23Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Advantage = imidacloprid, a nicotine based insecticide primarily intended to control fleas when used on pets. > > Revolution = selamectin, a parasiticide and antihelminthic used to control primarily worm infestations, but also as a treatment for flea outbreaks. > > I have no knowledge on the question of whether sensitivity to one implies an increased risk of sensitivity to the other; check with your vet. Not the same stuff, though. Yeah, well, the vet said the Revolution would be OK, so… ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/87 "2011-09-03T02:46:01Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Eep - I have a suspicious mole on my shoulder, too - not looking forward to having that cut off, either. I agree with **alice\_in\_wonderland**. It won’t won’t really hurt that much. Do it soon, please? If its nothing, it is nothing. If its something, every day that you wait will give the evilness more time to invade your body. I like your posts and would be sad if you had to have your arm cut off because you kept procrastinating about mole removal. > [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Sooooo you know that all really hardcore gamers use corded mouses, right? Better response than you get off a wireless. 😃 Also, if the cord on your mouse is getting in your way… ur doin it worng. So, now I have the choice to confess that I’m a bad gamer, or that I’m such a push over that I can’t keep my cats from playing with the mouse cord. I think I’ll just go into that corner and cry for a while. > [@MissTake](#): > > It was a farm door covered in flies. ICKICKICK!!! > [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Solution: Bring it to work, and leave it on your desk while you’re at lunch. When you return, accuse Shredder Guy of busting it, and make him buy you a new one. I do like how you think 🙂 > [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > My mini rant is that my husband has gone to visit our daughter until Tuesday. This means that all four cats will be inconsolable until then. There will be much hollering and wailing. In fact, there already is much hollering and wailing. Yes, two of the cats are mine…but all of them love him as well as me. I get enough grief when he works mid shift, the cats are used to having him around in the evenings and they miss their daddy at night. OMG! You messed with the kitty routine!!! Bad, EVIL person, who should _know_ better. My decorating colors are peach, smoke blue and cream. My litterboxes are also those colors. Things happen and the boxes get replaced. Once I asked my ex to pick up a couple of boxes for me. He got the right size, but just grabbed the top 2 from the pile. The white one worked, the maroon one had one of my cats freaking out, refusing to go into the litterbox room and going to the outside room in the middle of a snow storm. Don’t mess with their routine! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Vorlon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d07c76/32.png) [@The\_Vorlon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Vorlon)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/88 "2011-09-03T03:24:39Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > You know, I always thought the stories about Massachusetts drivers were just state-chauvinist kidding. I drove in Massachusetts for the first time yesterday. > > They’re NOT kidding! They. Are. NOT! If you think we are bad, just wait for the Rhode Island drivers. Their state is too small for them to correctly learn to drive. Think Massachusetts drivers. Blindfolded.:eek: ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/89 "2011-09-03T03:28:37Z")
> [@eclectic\_wench](#): > > I truly don’t mean this to sound unsupportive, I really hope you find a good new home soon, and maybe it’s because I already had the giggles from another thread, but the thought of the anxiety support group being put next to the clog-dancers is totally cracking me up. We’re able to laugh about it now - it was kind of, WTF is the matter with these people? when we first encountered it. 🙂 > [@flatlined](#): > > I agree with **alice\_in\_wonderland**. It won’t won’t really hurt that much. Do it soon, please? If its nothing, it is nothing. If its something, every day that you wait will give the evilness more time to invade your body. I like your posts and would be sad if you had to have your arm cut off because you kept procrastinating about mole removal. > \ Okay, fine. I’ll show him next time I’m in, in the next couple of weeks (it’s been there for years now, and it is growing very slowly, so I don’t think it’s taking over my body or anything). > [@](#): > > \ > My decorating colors are peach, smoke blue and cream. \ Hey, so is [my cat!](http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s142/featherlou/Family/HPIM3809.jpg) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![pullin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c57346/32.png) [@pullin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pullin)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/90 "2011-09-03T03:44:14Z")
> [@Runestar](#): > > That’s 2 1/2 miles of walking that I won’t get credit for when I upload my steps to my company’s WalkingSpree website. > > Grumble, grumble. I clip my pedometer to the collar of my [Min-Pin](http://www.google.com/imgres?q=min-pin&hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1024&bih=548&gbv=2&tbm=isch&tbnid=LKLlthhyIojy7M:&imgrefurl=http://miniature-pinscher.net/miniature-pinscher-handbook/&docid=WR9HbZkirxUpRM&w=500&h=347&ei=6KFhTuaLG8unsAKZr4z8Dw&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=655&vpy=153&dur=2461&hovh=187&hovw=270&tx=141&ty=118&page=3&tbnh=110&tbnw=134&start=34&ndsp=17&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:34) every evening. You can get distance awards that way. I know, I know.. I’ll send some postcards from hell when I get there. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/91 "2011-09-03T03:53:44Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Okay, fine. I’ll show him next time I’m in, in the next couple of weeks (it’s been there for years now, and it is growing very slowly, so I don’t think it’s taking over my body or anything). > Hey, so is [my cat!](http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s142/featherlou/Family/HPIM3809.jpg) 🙂 I think I can speak for a lot of Dopers when I say thank you for taking care of your health. As to kitty boy…AWWWWWWWWW!!! I wants to bury my hands in his plush fur and just smoosh him all over. I think its very clever of you to buy a couch with just the right colors to showcase him wonderfully. To the Houston Dopers, your water problems deserve a Pit thread all of their own. M has a crack in his swimming pool and a crack in the garage floor because of the land drying out. He has told me that this is a very common problem. Heck, he couldn’t even get his wife’s headstone set for 6 months because the ground was so dry that they were afraid it would fall over. I understand that many, many people are finding cracks in their walls because of the ground shifting and breaking the foundations of their homes. If it was covered by insurance, it wouldn’t be so bad, but its not. If this keeps up, people are going to start losing homes. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/92 "2011-09-03T04:04:13Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > Yeah, well, the vet said the Revolution would be OK, so… What was the reaction your pets had? All of the high-quality parasites preventatives can have reactions. They are medicine, and it is possible for a given individual to be sensitive to any kind of medicine. However, when the good products cause reactions, they tend to be exceedingly mild, making them far and away safer than pretty much any of the cheaper brands. The reaction **SpazCat** describes in particular seems to only happen with the cheap brands. ---
**Author:** ![BaneSidhe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c5a1d2/32.png) [@BaneSidhe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BaneSidhe)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/93 "2011-09-03T04:33:54Z")
Oh yeah, HRH Cleokatra is dealing with a major flea infestation right now that we’re using Frontline and Capstar to try and halt [vet’s advice]. Hubby and I agreed we’re going to head up to PetSmart tomorrow to get some flea meds for the outdoor kitties because that’s where the fleas are coming from, and poor boys are starting to itch and fuss. We used a natural flea powder last year but this year it’s not working as well. ---
**Author:** ![tumbleddown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9bcb4/32.png) [@tumbleddown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tumbleddown)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/94 "2011-09-03T04:45:08Z")
Muscle spasms in my back, playing merry hell on my life in concert with my (newly diagnosed as rheumatoid) arthritis? Please to be going straight to hell now, thank you. ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/95 "2011-09-03T05:06:44Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > What was the reaction your pets had? The dog had two - episodes I guess I’ll call them. The first one she was laying down and she just fell over and didn’t move for (forever!!!) about 2-3 minutes, the second she acted like it was exercise induced collapse - lost control of her rear end for about 2-3 minutes again. It’s been almost a year and nothing since then. The cat was more immediate - right after I applied it, she literally freaked out. When I caught her, I bathed her in that special shampoo used to remove these things. She was shaky for the rest of the day but seemed fine after that. > [@](#): > > All of the high-quality parasites preventatives can have reactions. They are medicine, and it is possible for a given individual to be sensitive to any kind of medicine. However, when the good products cause reactions, they tend to be exceedingly mild, making them far and away safer than pretty much any of the cheaper brands. The reaction **SpazCat** describes in particular seems to only happen with the cheap brands. Which is what I was told by both my vet and the manufacturer, yet two out of the three animals I put it on had bad reactions, and the third was diagnosed with a heart problem a month later (most likely a coincidence tho). We don’t have fleas here so it’s a non-issue for me (we were using it because the dogs had picked up a mite someplace) but I am a little sensitive about the subject now! ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/96 "2011-09-03T05:25:27Z")
I don’t have cats, but our dogs use the latest generation Advantage, and I couldn’t be more pleased. The Pyrenees went walkabout a couple of months ago, and came home with fleas, so I immediately treated all three critters. Within minutes, fleas weregone dying, and withinthe just a few hours, (maybe 6?) all sign of fleas gone! And this stuff is the combo flea/tick/heartworm preventative, so I don’t have to wrestle with Mojo to shove a pill down his gullet. Highly recommend. Back to the rants: a stomach virus has been rampaging through Chez Matata. I’m officially tired of dealing with all digestive byproducts. Also, I’m tired of my phone’s automatic updates. It took me quite a while to change my keyboard back to normal. Also? Swype is beyond me. I see absolutely no advantage to it, unless “advantage” is a synonym for “lots of typos.” ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/97 "2011-09-03T06:22:44Z")
> [@curlcoat](#): > > The dog had two - episodes I guess I’ll call them. The first one she was laying down and she just fell over and didn’t move for (forever!!!) about 2-3 minutes, the second she acted like it was exercise induced collapse - lost control of her rear end for about 2-3 minutes again. It’s been almost a year and nothing since then. > > The cat was more immediate - right after I applied it, she literally freaked out. When I caught her, I bathed her in that special shampoo used to remove these things. She was shaky for the rest of the day but seemed fine after that. The dog sounds suspicious for a possible real reaction. But the cat sounds classic for a pet who is just super annoyed that something sticky is on their skin. My cats walk around all crouched low to the ground and twitch their skin repeatedly when they get their flea control. They did the same thing the time they got Christmas tree sap on them. > [@curlcoat](#): > > Which is what I was told by both my vet and the manufacturer, yet two out of the three animals I put it on had bad reactions, and the third was diagnosed with a heart problem a month later (most likely a coincidence tho). We don’t have fleas here so it’s a non-issue for me (we were using it because the dogs had picked up a mite someplace) but I am a little sensitive about the subject now! ☹ Fair enough. ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/98 "2011-09-03T13:47:37Z")
> [@Pullet](#): > > Listen to your roommates. Get the Advantage. It is safe. It is effective. You could put Advantage on your cat every week and she would be fine. It’s the crap products they have at the grocery store that are liquid death to kitties. > > Spend money on a product that is actually worthwhile. > > Get enough Advantage to treat kitty and every other furry pet in the house every 3-4 weeks for the next 6 months. > > [/veterinarian] So, the PetArmour is not exactly like Advantage as I’ve been told? It got rid of my Momo’s icky fwea pwobwem (sorry, I can’t not say it like that, haha) in short order, but I don’t want to give him anything TOXIC. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [September 3, 2011, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/99 "2011-09-03T14:20:07Z")
To whom it may concern, This is to notify you that I, the Body Owner, did not authorize the trading of my brain for an extra internal furnace. I live in southern Tennessee, I have scant need for extra heat, barring a few weeks in January and February. During those weeks it is no trouble to wear an extra layer of clothing. I DO however require a brain. There is a lot going on in life that I need to keep track of efficiently, and a properly functioning brain is paramount. Please see to the removal of the extra furnace and the return of my once useful brain immediately. It’s 98 degrees out there and I have deadlines to meet. Your cooperation in this matter will be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, saje (who apparently put her reading glasses in the fridge last night and this morning can’t remember her login name to the Remote Access which hasn’t changed in 2+ years. And who is very tired of the personal sauna effect. ) ---
**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:** [September 3, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847/100 "2011-09-03T14:52:27Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Advantage = imidacloprid, a nicotine based insecticide primarily intended to control fleas when used on pets. > > Revolution = selamectin, a parasiticide and antihelminthic used to control primarily worm infestations, but also as a treatment for flea outbreaks. > > I have no knowledge on the question of whether sensitivity to one implies an increased risk of sensitivity to the other; check with your vet. Not the same stuff, though. > [@curlcoat](#): > > Yeah, well, the vet said the Revolution would be OK, so… New vet, then. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-real-start-of-the-year-september-mini-rants/594847.md?page=6)