
14 minute read
Letters
from Aug. 1, 2013
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Welcome to this week’s Reno News & Review.
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You guys know me. I’m all about local. All local all the time. Unless, of course, I feel like teeing off on a controversy of critical national import, like creeping fascism or health care. So anyway, please take this with the good intentions with which it is offered. I don’t want to shock anyone, but it turns out I’m a bit of a prude: I have never sent a picture of my dick to a stranger. Or a friend. In fact, I think I can say with full certainty that I’ve never even taken a picture of the mighty maquette.
Thursday afternoon, I had a moment of peace in the eye of the storm, so I was cruising around the internet, and I happened across the uncensored versions of those photographs former Republican congressman and current NYC mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner sent to that 23-year-old sorta-hottie Sydney Leathers under the name Carlos Danger. You, too, can see Weiner’s wiener at thedirty.com. I imagine by the time this column gets read, it’ll be old news, so you might have to root around on the site to find them. But really, for a short time, this penis belonged to the most powerful and exclusive club in the United States. How often do you get to lay your eyes on a nubbin like that?
People often suggest that men seek positions where they have power over others—like cop, gun collector, elevated four-wheel-drive-pickup driver or politician—to compensate for their lack of lanyard. I don’t think it’s true. Or at least, it doesn’t appear to be true from what I’ve seen in a few locker rooms over the years. Of course, I’ve been wrong before.
Still, it’s funny because Anthony Weiner’s pee pee is just so almost average. If this is the type of peter that launches wars from Capitol Hill to prove its equity, you got to wonder what some of our recent past presidents have been packing. But, at least, they’re not sending pictures. Right, Bill?
I mean, sheesh, you put a macro lens on anything, and you’d think you could at least reach the appearance of normal. But normal is apparently not what passes for electable in that congress of bros. —D. Brian Burghart brianb@newsreview.com Editor’s note: Last week, I wrote a column asking people if they knew anything that worked against these seasonal allergies that have been so rough this year. At any rate, while all of these letters came to me, the editor, some I’m sure came without the intention of seeing their names in print. Still there’s a lot of wisdom and information in here, so I’ll run them without attribution. Thanks to everyone who offered their advice and sympathy.
—D. Brian Burghart
All choked up
Re “All choked up” (Editor’s Note, July 25):
I am Queen of Allergies, allergic to so many things it’s a shorter list to say what I am not allergic to. I suffer from all of the typical pollen and dander allergies, and I’m sensitive to just about everything going including lots of foods, legumes in particular (soy, peanuts), and even yellow jackets. I always have been. Sometimes they land me in the hospital, and I have to take steroids to clear them up.
So, I suffer. I make my husband vacuum and change the HVAC filters at unreasonable intervals. I take Claritin and compensate by drinking coffee. And sometimes I take Benadryl. I take half a pill at night since it’s drowsy-making and after a few nights, I’m feeling fine and allergy free. Have you tried this? And I’ve tried allergy shots, but they just don’t work for me because I am too sensitive. The most effective thing I have done is acupuncture. It takes time—each season has different pollens—so each year you do it again and over the long-term, a few years, your sensitivity decreases. I take cat hair and dog hair in, too. I notice immediate effects, probably because acupuncture sets my whole system right, puts everything in balance. But it wears off over days and weeks. But then you can do it again. It’s a wonderful healing medicine. All in all, I can fight the allergies better when I’m healthy and haven’t started to experience symptoms; I take Benadryl proactively in the spring and fall. Once I’m in the allergy pit of despair it is really hard to climb out, so I try to stay out in the first place.
I hope this gives you a few things to consider. Something else I heard years ago: Dr. Dean Edell on Channel 3 in Sac said that those of us who suffer from allergies have dramatically lower risks of cancer (because our immune systems are overreactive). I read in an allergy magazine several months ago that allergy sufferers have dramatically fewer brain aneurysms, too (same reason). So if nothing else, count your blessings.
Keep using the neti pot, love the neti pot! I see Kristin Field for acupuncture and also go to Dr. Nancy Conley’s office for medical care (they offer acupuncture too). Lots of medical insurances cover acupuncture.
*** Just read your Editor’s Note on allergies. I have used Afrin Nasal Spray (non-drip version) for the last few years during allergy season. I use half the recommended dose—only one spray in each nostril. It’s the only thing I have found that works almost instantaneously with no side effects. With a full dose, I do feel mildly antsy, but no noticeable side effects at all with a half dose. *** I have also been a sufferer of severe allergies: cat dander, tree pollens, grasses, etc. A few years back, I discovered the only remedy, after trying OTC allergy medicines, experimental scientific drugs—Hismanal, which has since been withdrawn from the U.S. market—and others I can’t recall the names of. I found a product called Kenalog. It is a once-a-year shot administered by my family doctor. Allergies were reduced by 90 percent, and the few I still suffer are very mild. *** Good news! I too developed allergies here in Reno and discovered a good treatment: Zicam nose drops. I told my sister in Chicago, and she says I saved her life, and she uses them daily. Unfortunately, they are hard to find. When you do find them, buy plenty. Toll free (877) 942-2626 for questions at the company. The active ingredient is oxmetazoline and not epinephrine. Also, I had to remove several beautiful flowering plants from my yard as they were contributing to my misery. *** Allergies can be a “motha,” can’t they? I have lived here about 30 years now. First 20, no problems; last 10, pretty big problem.
My first line of defense is Claritin-D 12 hour. I know you said anything with ‘D’ wigs you out. Me too, but not the 12-hour stuff. Yes, it has the bad stuff in it because you have to show your I.D. to get it, but for me it’s a miracle drug. Having said that, it’s expensive, $30 for 30 tablets, plus the sales counter person thinks you’re boiling up meth with it.
This stuff works quick, but I don’t want to take it year round. Around June 1, I get a Kenilog shot. Yes, it’s some kind of steroid, but I only have to take it one time a year, and it gives me 70-80 percent relief within 24 hours and 99 percent relief by 48 hours.
Well, now that you are miserable from the dry, blowing heated particles invading your body, good luck. And yes, it seems to be worse in our dry, windy years. Keeping hydrated by drinking a lot of water seems to help.
*** I suffered for about 15 years and was under the impression that allergies could never be cured, but low and behold, I found something that worked for me after trying all of the chemicals across the counter at every store in Nevada. I came across a homeopathic product called Luffeel Nasal Spray, which is distributed by Heel Incorporated. Anyway, I used this product for a total of about 15 times, and it made the symptoms dissipate to almost nothing. I used it a couple of times a year, and now it’s basically something I keep in the truck and I use maybe once or twice a year. *** One method that I have found to greatly reduce my irritation from allergens is to treat the allergens like a biological attack. Back when I was a nuclear weapons officer in the Navy, we used to practice getting doused with chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
The key is to set up your home as a clean zone. When you come home, enter the house via the laundry room or go directly to the laundry via the shortest route. Strip off your clothes and head straight for the shower. Scrub well, especially around your eyes and nose.
Keep your house clean and a sealed as possible. Vacuum, clean walls, install a new vent system filter and change your bedding, before starting your clean zone program. If you go out in the evening, you have to shower again and toss your clothes in the laundry again.
If you are foolish enough to own a pet, the pet must stay outside, or you have to vacuum the pet before it comes back inside. Some pets actually like this once they get used to the noise.
In your car, keep the windows up. Use recirculation mode if you have that. Some cars have a cabin air filter. Change it often and vacuum your car often. Wipe down the dash and vents with a tacky cloth to remove pollen and dust.
If you can, have your vent ducts cleaned and install a very high grade filter.
Once you have cleaned your house, keep the windows closed and keep your contaminated clothing away from furniture and bedding. Try to shower every time that you go outside.
This process is a pain in the ass, but you will have a home that is very good at fighting pollen and dust, and you will be ahead of the game if we are ever nuked.
For the times that you are out, keep a saline spray in your car and at work. Use the saline spray (not a gel) to irrigate your sinuses and blow out any pollen and dust that you accumulated while out on the job or at lunch. Don’t overdo it with the saline, or you will dry out your sinuses. Just a light squirt before blowing your nose will work just fine.
RN&R Readers
Our Mission To publish great newspapers that are successful and enduring. To create a quality work environment that encourages people to grow professionally while respecting personal welfare. To have a positive impact on our communities and make them better places to live. Editor/Publisher D. Brian Burghart News Editor Dennis Myers Arts Editor Brad Bynum Calendar Editor Kelley Lang Editorial Intern Sage Leehey Contributors Amy Alkon, Chanelle Bessette, Megan Berner, Matthew Craggs, Mark Dunagan, Bob Grimm, Michael Grimm, Ashley Hennefer, Sheila Leslie, Dave Preston, Jessica Santina, K.J. Sullivan, Kris Vagner, Bruce Van Dyke, Allison Young Creative Director Priscilla Garcia Art Director Hayley Doshay Design Brian Breneman, Vivian Liu, Marianne Mancina, Skyler Smith Advertising Consultants Meg Brown, Gina Odegard, Matt Odegard, Bev Savage Senior Classified Advertising Consultant Olla Ubay Office/Distribution Manager/ Ad Coordinator Karen Brooke Executive Assistant/Operations Coordinator Nanette Harker Assistant Distribution Manager Ron Neill Distribution Drivers Sandra Chhina, John Miller, Jesse Pike, David Richards, Martin Troye, Warren Tucker, Matthew Veach, Sam White General Manager/Publisher John D. Murphy President/CEO Jeff vonKaenel Chief Operations Officer Deborah Redmond Human Resource Manager Tanja Poley Business Manager Grant Ronsenquist Business Mary Anderson, Tami Sandoval Systems Manager Jonathan Schultz Systems Support Specialist Joe Kakacek Web Developer/Support Specialist John Bisignano 708 North Center Street Reno, NV 89501 Phone (775) 324-4440 Fax (775) 324-4572 Classified Fax (916) 498-7940 Mail Classifieds & Talking Personals to N&R Classifieds, Reno Edition, 1015 20th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 or e-mail classifieds@ newsreview.com Web site www.newsreview.com Printed by Paradise Post The RN&R is printed using recycled newsprint whenever available. Editorial Policies Opinions expressed in the RN&R are those of the authors and not of Chico Community Publishing, Inc. Contact the editor for permission to reprint articles, cartoons or other portions of the paper. The RN&R is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts. All letters received become the property of the publisher. We reserve the right to print letters in condensed form.
ThiS Modern WorLd by tom tomorrow



What’s your best friend like?
Asked at Michael’s Deli, 628 S. Virginia St.
Trevor Southwick
Student We became friends early on in elementary school. Kind of just grew up together and shared a lot of the same experiences. We just had a lot of similar interests. We shared a passion for sports, and we both played growing up. Even though we root for different teams, we always enjoyed going to the games and doing that stuff together.
Lynn Van Orden
Legal secretary Kind, considerate, always there. We’ve known each other for 20 years, I think. I don’t know why we became friends. Something just led me to her.
Plan ahead for new breaks


Washoe County schools start classes next week on Aug. 12. Many parents who’ve had 30 or 40 years to get acclimated to a schedule that starts closer to the beginning of September are just coming around to the cold hard fact. Students, some of whom with older siblings may have had 18 years to get acclimated to long summer breaks, are reeling in shock. Some students are actually happy and ready to get back at it.
How could our school board have done this to us?
As usual, we at the Reno News & Review are a little ambivalent toward the changes. The fundamental reasoning for the change makes good sense: Students get out of the habit of learning during the long summer break, and they forget things they’ve learned. Students also perform better when there are more frequent breaks.
The argument that’s been tossed around that these changes somehow lessen families’ abilities to take vacations is just absurd. Most families had 59 days to plan a vacation during the summer. With the new plan, families will have new and longer opportunities for trips in the fall, winter and spring.
On the other hand, working parents with younger children are going to get hit with new planning responsibilities. Many day-care providers are not going to be prepared to accept additional children. In other words, many day-care companies will have to hire additional help in October, January and April or not be able to take on more children during the new and extended breaks.
As parents who’ve had to deal with sick children, unnecessary delays for testing, and unexpected days out of school because of weather, we know this is not an inconsequential problem. However, there is an option built in for children to go to school during those breaks that will somewhat alleviate the day-care issue and also allow struggling students to get additional help. Of course, the battles between parents and students who get sent to school while their friends stay home could be apocalyptic.
So it’s not all good news, not all bad news. But let’s take it one step farther. There’s room for more reform in school year scheduling. Washoe County schools could consider more ideas, like breaking the school year into a trimester system that goes all year round with three-week breaks in between trimesters. Students would attend classes in waves, which would decrease the number of students in front of a teacher by 30 percent at any one time. This could alleviate five problems: It would decrease student-to-teacher ratios, which could improve instruction; it would decrease the time students spend forgetting what they learned the previous year; it would decrease crowding in schools; it would decrease staffing issues; and it should increase graduation rates by creating a more stable school environment.
Teachers, politicians and parents can be expected to make the usual claim—“This is not how we’ve always done it!”—but is that really the argument that should be made in Washoe County schools? This new school calendar is just a baby step toward the reforms that must be made to build the school system that our children deserve. Ω Jim Forman

Attorney She likes her family, children, being around them, spending time with them. We’ve known each other for 30 years. She’s caring, hard working and easy to get along with.
Anna Remaklus
Property manager Hilarious. Outgoing. He’s extremely knowledgeable in business. A wonderful father. And I learn something from him every day. He and my brother became best friends in high school. That’s how we met.
Jake Helfrich
Violin luthier Wild and crazy. Loves to play music. We’ve been friends 10 years. We met through music and mutual friends. You meet the right people and you connect.