Runny Nose? — or — Post Nasal Drip?

What's the difference between runny nose and post-nasal drip?

A runny nose refers to excess mucus flowing out of the nose, while post-nasal drip is when excess mucus drips down the back of the throat.  Both are often caused by similar factors like colds, allergies, or sinus infections.  Here's a more detailed explanation:

Runny Nose:

Definition:  A runny nose, also known as rhinorrhea, is when mucus flows out of the nose. 

Causes:  Runny noses can be caused by various factors, including colds, allergies, sinus infections, and even environmental irritants. 

Symptoms:  Besides the discharge, other symptoms may include nasal congestion, sneezing, and itching or watery eyes. 

Post-Nasal Drip:

Definition:  Post-nasal drip is when excess mucus from the nose and sinuses drips down the back of the throat. 

Causes:  Similar to runny nose, post-nasal drip can be caused by colds, allergies, sinus infections, and other irritants. 

Symptoms:  Common symptoms include a sore throat, cough, hoarseness, and a feeling of mucus gathering in the throat, which can lead to frequent throat clearing.

A book, a photo, and a coincidence

Cults Like Us: Why Doomsday Thinking Drives America ~ by Jane Borden, 2025, cultural anthropology, 304 pages

This colorful and enlightening pop history explains why the eccentric doomsday beliefs of our Puritan founders are still driving American culture today.  The current rise in far-right extremism as a natural result of our latent indoctrination, so the author proposes that the United States is the largest cult of all.

Since the Mayflower arrived at Plymouth Rock, cult ideology has been ingrained in the DNA of the United States.  Journalist Jane Borden argues that Puritan doomsday belief never went away; it went secular and became American culture.  From our fascination with cowboys and superheroes to our allegiance to influencers and self-help, susceptibility to advertising, and undying devotion to the self-made man, Americans remain particularly vulnerable to a specific brand of cult-like thinking.

With in-depth research, Borden uncovers the American history you didn’t learn in school, including how we are still being brainwashed, making us a nation of easy marks for con artists and strong men.  Along the way, she also revisits some of the most fascinating cults in this country presenting them as integral parts of our national psyche rather than aberrations.

Family photo

A photo I found recently among my stuff shows my dad holding my little brother and me when there were only the two of us children.  Since Billy was two-and-a-half years younger than I was, I think the photo was taken about 1944 or 1945.  I believe our car was a black 1940 Chevy.

I could call this coincidence #1142

I love coincidences.  I went to the Café one morning this week and got back to my apartment a bit before noon.  I looked to see how many steps I had taken by that time.  There would be many more steps before I went to bed, but I smiled when I saw that at 11:42 a.m. I had taken exactly 1,142 steps.

Here's what I posted this week:

1. Monday's focus was on food, HERE.  Fried okra is my favorite food.
2. Wednesday was a "purr-fect" day to "Adopt a Shelter Pet," HERE.
3. Thursday was about May Day protests, HERE.
4. Saturday was a family birthday, HERE.  My twins are now 65 years old.

Sunday Salon is hosted by Deb at Readerbuzz.

Medicare fairy?

My twins were born 65 years ago, and one of them told me that this image is her "thought for the day."  I told her that it is good to have that particular fairy.

May Day Strong at the Arch

There will be protests today

from 12:00 until 3:00 pm

at the Gateway Arch.

This is today's slogan:

Today is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Each year, National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day on April 30th raises awareness for thousands of pets that are waiting for (and needing) adoption from the shelters.

That's how I adopted Clawdia, who almost seems to be posing in this photo that I use at the top of my blog.  I like to tell people she was the purr-fect pet.  She was not the only one I got that way, but she was my most recent pet.

Word of the Day

"Purr-fect" = a play on words that combines "purr," the sound a cat makes, with "perfect."  It's a way to describe something as exceptionally good, cute, or ideal, often with a feline-related context.  The word "purr" suggests a sense of content-ment and softness, while "perfect" implies a high level of excellence. 

A problem (or two)

Do you ever feel like when you've solved one problem, another one appears (or maybe even TWO)?  Yeah, me too.  I mean, "me TWO."  Oh, never mind.  I'm just feeling a bit frustrated.  I think I'll go read a book.  Now, which book shall I read?  This one or that one?  Hmmm.  Hey, this is the kind of problem I prefer!

Musing about food

My friend Jane knows my favorite food is fried okra, so for my birthday on Saturday she took me out for dinner to a place that has it.  What's your favorite food?  Do you read books about food?  Do you like to cook or bake?