# Winter's a-coming! Season of Death Mini-Rants **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 18, 2010, 9:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833 "2010-09-18T09:03:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 36
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/701 "2010-10-26T05:31:48Z")
My husband always calls it “a short between the headset”. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/702 "2010-10-26T13:14:28Z")
By alledgic sinusitis if makin’ me blue… got any paint left, **Bibliovore**? ☹ Seriously, I get to the point where getting my nose unclogged is so hard it may count as exercise. All GPs tell me is “have some OTC antihistamine”, but none of them has seen an actual episode; the antihistamines seem to be doing less and less. No idea whether an allergologist would take it more seriously without actually seeing me go “aaagh, ngggggh, hrrrk, hrrk, HRRRK! Aaaaah, air!”, though. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/703 "2010-10-26T15:07:33Z")
Why on earth aren’t you trying a \*prescription \*anti-allergy medication yet? Just say, “OTC drugs aren’t working, I would like a prescription anti-allergy medication.” It’s not like you’re asking for morphine, FFS. ---
**Author:** ![kushiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bbce88/32.png) [@kushiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kushiel)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/704 "2010-10-26T15:27:46Z")
WHEN DID IT EVER BECOME APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER A CELLPHONE IN A MEETING? I can understand putting it on vibrate and taking a quick look at the caller ID to make sure it isn’t law enforcement or a hospital, but otherwise, leave it. And if you do answer it, please excuse yourself and leave the room, do not answer it while sitting in your chair at said meeting. This cellphone culture is weird. I’ve left my cellphone at my desk to go talk to my boss and the text message tone will go off and he’ll be like, hey that’s your phone. And I’m like, yeah it is, but I’m talking to you, my boss. The text can wait. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/705 "2010-10-26T15:29:29Z")
> [@kushiel](#): > > WHEN DID IT EVER BECOME APPROPRIATE TO ANSWER A CELLPHONE IN A MEETING? It’s not. You just have the [del]poor[/del] common yet deplorable luck to work with a jackass who doesn’t give a fuck about anybody but himself. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/706 "2010-10-26T16:08:03Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > Why on earth aren’t you trying a \*prescription \*anti-allergy medication yet? Just say, “OTC drugs aren’t working, I would like a prescription anti-allergy medication.” It’s not like you’re asking for morphine, FFS. I have yet to discover a prescription antihistamine that was more effective than benadryl at releiving allergy symptoms. Puts you to sleep, too, so it solves 2 problems in one. Allegra (Rx only) can provide some releif, but is nowhere near the medication that benadryl is. There are some areas where prescription meds just aren’t up to the task. Nava, you have my sympathy. For chronic sinusitis, there is not a whole lot that can be done. My mom has suffered through it for a good part of her life, has had endoscopic procedures done on her sinuses to clean them out and remove polyps and cysts, and she has had her turbinate removed. Nothing seems to provide her with effective, lasting relief. ---
**Author:** ![WolfpackJeep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpackjeep/32/2921_2.png) [@WolfpackJeep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WolfpackJeep)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/707 "2010-10-26T16:15:13Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I have to confess, my handwriting was never really elegant, and ever since I’ve had the deadly combination of arthritis and access to a printer at home, I almost never hand write things, other than the occasional short grocery list. However, I’d never hand write a voter guide, I’d use the printer. Well, part of it looked photocopied; the titles were written in by hand. My own handwriting is rather blocky, for what it’s worth. I have a followup to the rant (probably in the other thread) about the mechanical pencil/headphone thief in my office…apparently, one of the cleaning crews had been bringing their sticky-fingered brats in with them. Lovely, espcially from an insurance point of view! :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/708 "2010-10-26T17:04:48Z")
I’m really getting tired of certain cliche FUD phrases. They’re a slap in the face to any sensible person and they have a chilling effect on discussion. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/709 "2010-10-26T17:14:56Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > I have yet to discover a prescription antihistamine that was more effective than benadryl at releiving allergy symptoms. Puts you to sleep, too, so it solves 2 problems in one. > > Allegra (Rx only) can provide some releif, but is nowhere near the medication that benadryl is. There are some areas where prescription meds just aren’t up to the task. > > Nava, you have my sympathy. For chronic sinusitis, there is not a whole lot that can be done. My mom has suffered through it for a good part of her life, has had endoscopic procedures done on her sinuses to clean them out and remove polyps and cysts, and she has had her turbinate removed. Nothing seems to provide her with effective, lasting relief. Flonase. I have a moderate case of hay fever, and anything with even a whiff of antihistamines puts me out like a light (non-drowsy? not for me it isn’t), so I use Flonase nasal spray, and it works like a charm for me. There’s that whole concern about your nose getting addicted to using the steroid spray to breathe, but in my experience, I wasn’t breathing very well with my nose for the decades before I started using it, so in the sense that I’m addicted to breathing through my nose, I am indeed addicted to it. I do turn my usage down in winter, though, to once every other day instead of every day. ---
**Author:** ![RoniaBorkason](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9dc877/32.png) [@RoniaBorkason](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RoniaBorkason)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/710 "2010-10-26T17:16:57Z")
I started to deep-clean the bathroom yesterday and broke my baby toe on the door jamb as I walked in there with the cleaning supplies. Ow. Nice little bruise, though. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/711 "2010-10-26T17:35:15Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Flonase. I have a moderate case of hay fever, and anything with even a whiff of antihistamines puts me out like a light (non-drowsy? not for me it isn’t), so I use Flonase nasal spray, and it works like a charm for me. There’s that whole concern about your nose getting addicted to using the steroid spray to breathe, but in my experience, I wasn’t breathing very well with my nose for the decades before I started using it, so in the sense that I’m addicted to breathing through my nose, I am indeed addicted to it. I do turn my usage down in winter, though, to once every other day instead of every day. The steroidal sprays don’t have a “bounce-back” effect, which is what I believe you mean by “addictive” (see [here](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nasal-spray-addiction/AN01241)). I use a steroidal spray twice a day (Nasonex), and I’ll top that up with an OTC nasal spray (Drixoral) if I’m having a bad day. I need to be able to breathe through my nose to use my CPAP. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/712 "2010-10-26T18:09:13Z")
> [@crazyjoe](#): > > I have yet to discover a prescription antihistamine that was more effective than benadryl at releiving allergy symptoms. As with all things, YMMV. My worst allergies bleed right through OTC meds; I finally got a prescription a couple of months ago for whatever the generic version of Flonase is, and it’s been _marvelous_. > [@Bosstone](#): > > I’m really getting tired of certain cliche FUD phrases. They’re a slap in the face to any sensible person and they have a chilling effect on discussion. Yes, Female Urinary Devices can be rather offputting. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/713 "2010-10-26T18:14:31Z")
What’s offputting about a sheet of paper? ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/714 "2010-10-26T18:39:17Z")
… If the women there are peeing on paper, remind me to never visit your office. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/715 "2010-10-26T19:04:25Z")
> [@Dante](#): > > The steroidal sprays don’t have a “bounce-back” effect, which is what I believe you mean by “addictive” (see [here](http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/nasal-spray-addiction/AN01241)). I use a steroidal spray twice a day (Nasonex), and I’ll top that up with an OTC nasal spray (Drixoral) if I’m having a bad day. I need to be able to breathe through my nose to use my CPAP. Yeah, that’s probably what I mean. Good to know. 🙂 One thing I’ve noticed about Flonase is that it clears up my “gak gak gak” - always feeling like I’ve got something stuck in my (what’s that back of your throat between your nose and mouth called?). Anyway, it helps with that too. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/716 "2010-10-26T19:06:55Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > One thing I’ve noticed about Flonase is that it clears up my “gak gak gak” - always feeling like I’ve got something stuck in my (what’s that back of your throat between your nose and mouth called?). Giggedy. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/717 "2010-10-26T20:47:21Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > By alledgic sinusitis if makin’ me blue… got any paint left, **Bibliovore**? ☹ > > Seriously, I get to the point where getting my nose unclogged is so hard it may count as exercise. All GPs tell me is “have some OTC antihistamine”, but none of them has seen an actual episode; the antihistamines seem to be doing less and less. No idea whether an allergologist would take it more seriously without actually seeing me go “aaagh, ngggggh, hrrrk, hrrk, HRRRK! Aaaaah, air!”, though. When you have really bad allergies, it’s time to consider desensitizing shots. I don’t know if this considered real medicine or voodoo, but I was a mouth-breather as a child. Late in grade school I think it was I got tested by an allergist and we started the shots. Being as oblivious to most things as I am, I’m not sure when they started to work but I was on them for several years. When I finally finished the process, I looked and felt almost human. And I think you can start them at any point in your life. I used to work with a guy who began treatments and he was in his late 50’s or early 60’s. ---
**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:** [October 26, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/718 "2010-10-26T20:50:10Z")
Yeah, apparently my dad had really terrible allergies when he was younger, and then got the shots. Of course, after that he started getting really terrible sinus headaches, which may or may not have been related. YMMV and all that. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/719 "2010-10-26T21:28:47Z")
Two lights out of three are out in my condo bathroom, so I call the complex manager. “Hi, are bathroom light bulbs something you guys provide to us or do we take care of that ourselves?” “Hold on; let me ask…you there? Well, we can send someone over to install them if you purchase it, but…” but what? I laughingly say no thanks, I can handle a light bulb. She says, “Yeah” and hangs up. Hey you fucking cunt, it’s just a question! You provide air filters, excuse the fuck out of me for wondering. Bitch. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833/720 "2010-10-26T21:55:39Z")
People, if you’re going to ask me a question, don’t just hover until I look up. A soft cough, an “excuse me,” even a “Hey bitch, look up!” will do. I don’t like having multiple heart attacks when I look up from what I’m doing to find someone staring at me over the desk. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=35) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/winters-a-coming-season-of-death-mini-rants/554833.md?page=37)