# UTIs and other crap - August Minirants! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 1, 2011, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020 "2011-08-01T09:10:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 27
**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:** [August 31, 2011, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/521 "2011-08-31T18:03:23Z")
Oh, you reminded me, **Avarie** - my printer is currently useless because I bought an off-brand black ink cartridge - now it says that there is no black ink. I knew this printer was particularly fussy about ONLY using HP ink, but I tried once again to get away with a cheaper cartridge. I guess HP knows how to program a printer to maximize their hosing of customers - I’m not particularly surprised. Annoyed, but not surprised. Back to the HP cartridge, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/522 "2011-08-31T18:30:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Oh, you reminded me, **Avarie** - my printer is currently useless because I bought an off-brand black ink cartridge - now it says that there is no black ink. I knew this printer was particularly fussy about ONLY using HP ink, but I tried once again to get away with a cheaper cartridge. I guess HP knows how to program a printer to maximize their hosing of customers - I’m not particularly surprised. Annoyed, but not surprised. Back to the HP cartridge, I guess. HP and other manufacturers put chips inside the cartridges. To quote from Wikipedia: > [@](#): > > [All current inkjet printers attempt to enforce this product tying using microchips in the cartridges to hinder the use of third-party or refilled ink cartridges. The microchips monitor usage and report the ink remaining to the printer. Some manufacturers also impose “expiration dates”. When the chip reports that the cartridge is empty (or out of date) the printer stops printing. Even if the cartridge is refilled, the microchip will indicate to the printer that the cartridge is depleted.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkjet_printer#Underlying_business_model) ---
**Author:** ![cwthree](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9de0a6/32.png) [@cwthree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cwthree)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/523 "2011-08-31T18:49:08Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Goddamnit, this is the second time in three months that I’ve had to run to not be mowed down by a car while I was legally crossing a road. This time it was in a crosswalk with a walk light - the car was making a left turn right into me (I wasn’t keeping my eye on him because he didn’t have his left turn signal on and it was raining). Maybe it’s true what they say about women being invisible when they’re over 40 - I think I’m going to get a high-visibility vest. I looked this guy right in the eye after he almost hit me - he was a teenaged guy, and he didn’t look remorseful; he just looked irritated that I got in his way. Fucker. Same here, except it happens even more frequently. The city put in some combination crosswalk/stop signs near my workplace (picture of someone crossing the street plus a miniature stop sign), the gist of thing being that if someone is using the crosswalk, you should _stop your goddam car while they finish crossing_. For a week or so after the signs went up, confused drivers would stop at the signs even if no one was in or near the crosswalk. Once they figured out that this wasn’t a new way of indicating a garden-variety 4-way stop, they went back to blowing through the intersection without paying attention. Assholes. ---
**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:** [August 31, 2011, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/524 "2011-08-31T19:26:27Z")
> [@cwthree](#): > > Same here, except it happens even more frequently. The city put in some combination crosswalk/stop signs near my workplace (picture of someone crossing the street plus a miniature stop sign), the gist of thing being that if someone is using the crosswalk, you should _stop your goddam car while they finish crossing_. You’d almost think drivers would know that, but I’m not assuming that any longer. Idiot kids who don’t stop texting the whole time they cross roads will learn this the hard way, I figure. > [@](#): > > For a week or so after the signs went up, confused drivers would stop at the signs even if no one was in or near the crosswalk. Once they figured out that this wasn’t a new way of indicating a garden-variety 4-way stop, they went back to blowing through the intersection without paying attention. > > Assholes. Agreed. ---
**Author:** ![Mom-of-Andrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Mom-of-Andrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mom-of-Andrew)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/525 "2011-08-31T20:38:06Z")
Who was it who declared August to be UTI month? ::looks around suspiciously:: Yesterday I get a text from my idiot brother, who lives with my 70-something parents, that they’ve taken Dad to the emergency room for a suspected stroke. I didn’t hear the text chime, so by the time I get the text two hours later and call back, brother is home from the ER and now the docs are thinking pneumonia. Two hours later, Mom calls. She & Dad are home. Turns out it was a UTI and he is resting comfortably in his own bed. “Don’t worry, no big deal” she says. So this morning I’m checking email and get the daily email blast from my folks’ preacher. Having a good day, lists the menu for the Wednesday night meal, and just got back from visiting (my Dad’s name) in the ICU at (location) hospital. WTF!!! Call home–get my idiot brother. “Oh, Mom didn’t want to worry you since you live five hours away and couldn’t do anything anyway.” Long rambling story from my drunk brother telling me everything about yesterday’s visit that I already knew. Finally Mom walks in and I get her on the phone. Apparantly the UTI is more severe than they thought. Dad started hallucinating about midnight so they took him to the ER. They’re keeping him on IV antibiotics for a couple of days, so they have to keep him in the hospital. There was a “minor issue” with his blood pressure being too low, so that’s why he’s in the ICU for now. But he’s in the corner bed, out of sight of the nurses’ station, so the docs aren’t _too_ worried about it. Mom says, “No, don’t drive all the way up here. We’re just sitting around the hospital and nothing is happening. I was waiting to call you until I had some real information.” :smack: Mom, I love you, but Dad in the ICU _is_ real information. And if things go south, I need to have some warning to line up childcare and get my ass up there. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/526 "2011-09-01T02:39:34Z")
Crossing my fingers for you dad **MoA**. Keep us posted. ---
**Author:** ![Mom-of-Andrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8c91f0/32.png) [@Mom-of-Andrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mom-of-Andrew)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/527 "2011-09-01T03:26:23Z")
Called Mom again this evening for an update. When I offered (again) to come up, the answer wasn’t “Absolutely no need!” – it was, “Well, if you really want to come…” I’m headed up in the morning. I’ll be on a smartphone, but I’ll try to post updates when I can. Thank Og “UTI month” ends tonight! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/528 "2011-09-01T13:18:50Z")
We just had a Surgery Dept. staffer wheel a specimen into Pathology and ask if we had a scale that could weigh it in grams, since their own scale only weighs in kilograms or pounds. :dubious: I explained that she could take the measured weight in kilograms and multiply that by 1000, yielding (hey presto!) the weight in grams. She gave me a doubtful look, then the lightbulb switched on. I am a fount of wisdom today. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/529 "2011-09-01T15:14:09Z")
\*\* shakes head sadly at **Jack** ’s staffer buddy \*\* Y’all remember that The Other Shoe and I took in a friend who’s going through custody issues with his psycho-bitch ex-wife? Yes? Ok. So he was on the phone yesterday, for a long time, getting more and more upset. Nothing new. He comes back in, crying, freaking out, and tells us: “She has to go get a biopsy. She has a lump.” Late twenty-something, and she’s going in for a motherfucking biopsy. He’s a mess, doesn’t know how to feel. “I don’t WANT to care this much!” He hates her … but he’s in fear for her life. I can’t even begin to imagine how mixed-up that must feel. She’s the mother of his son, after all - they’ll always be inextricably tied to each other, divorced or not, till death do them part. OK, I can admit this here, because I consider this a safe space, but be honest with me if I’m going straight to hell … but my first thought was, “Well, once she’s dead, your custody problems should get easier.” \*\* hangs head in shame \*\* ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/530 "2011-09-01T15:23:42Z")
**purplehorseshoe** , I always say that I know people secretly envy me and my husband…both of our ex-spouses died. If she really is a psycho hose-beast, maybe she’s lying. ---
**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 1, 2011, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/531 "2011-09-01T16:42:01Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > \ > OK, I can admit this here, because I consider this a safe space, but be honest with me if I’m going straight to hell … but my first thought was, “Well, once she’s dead, your custody problems should get easier.” > > \*\* hangs head in shame \*\* I would consider it more of a reflection on her, that her death would make other people’s lives better. ETA: I went and got the official HP ink cartridge - now my melonfarming printer is working **fabulously!** I should just give up and join the ranks of people who just replace the printer, never mind the stupid cartridges. ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/532 "2011-09-01T16:49:36Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > I explained that she could take the measured weight in kilograms and multiply that by 1000, yielding (hey presto!) the weight in grams. Well, there’s the problem of the granularity of the result they need. A scale designed to measure in kilograms might not give an accurage weight for something that only weighs a few grams. The fact that the specimen was “wheeled in,” however, suggests that this might not be a problem. And I see that thanks to \*\*StarvingButStrong \*\*we have a new thread for the new month! **[GET YOUR BUTTS OVER THERE](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=622658)**, and I’ll ask a mod to lock this one. ---
**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 1, 2011, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/533 "2011-09-01T16:57:52Z")
Last post, bitches! ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/534 "2011-09-01T17:09:30Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Last post, bitches! HA HA, I’m last! 😃 ---
**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 1, 2011, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/535 "2011-09-01T17:47:42Z")
Dammit! Oh, wait…🙂 ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/536 "2011-09-01T17:49:58Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Dammit! > > Oh, wait…🙂 Race race!!! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/537 "2011-09-01T18:18:03Z")
Oooh. Can I get last of this month AND first of the current? Go me! ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/538 "2011-09-01T19:25:30Z")
Turns out: no. Sorry! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![curlcoat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ea5d25/32.png) [@curlcoat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curlcoat)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/539 "2011-09-01T20:03:07Z")
Oooo, it’s still open! \*\* post \*\* ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2011, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utis-and-other-crap-august-minirants/591020/540 "2011-09-01T21:45:31Z")
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