The main thing you want to prevent is such a miserable time that they never want to go again. On that note, three important words pertaining to a tent: full rain fly. See this funny yet meaningful set of photos on how rain flys can make or break your trip:

One thing I am confused on is camphor products. Something like camphor crystal (as an insecticide) is banned but other camphor products such as Campho-Phenique is not. Also, those cheapie toilet deodorizers are just a big chuck of camphor or naphthalene, right?

Sound like you were in Taiwan in 1989 and back in China way after that. Did you feel that the people in China had less knowledge or ascribed less significance to the student protetsts of 1989 than the people of Taiwan? Also, I've seen American TV interviews where Chinese college students claim not to recognize any footage/photos from 1989 (like the famous one of the guy staring at a tank behind him) but for some reason I just don't believe it. Is it better just not to talk about it over there? Thank you!

Did you have a dog before GF moved in? If so, how has the pet adjusted to having another female boss around? (Also, if so, is the dog male or female?) If GF became severely injured or disabled and she needed long term care (like in Ethan Frome), would you consider being her main ltc provider? Is the word concubine used very much by polyamorists to describe multiple female households? (eta: I realize there is no reason to limit this to female) Thank you!

"Would you like to try our new ______ [insert bacon/cheddar/chipotle/Tuscan thingie] ______with that?"

We like Hidden Valley Ranch Organic.

Not sure how the OP has suggested that anyone should swallow an earful without talking back. I did think, however, she was saying that you should not cry as though some ignorant wild animal has just viciously attacked your ear and should be dispatched immediately as a result. I think everyone should speak up as much as they like. When you instruct someone to clam up about their opinions forevermore, you admit that neither you nor the entire force of humanity has sufficient skills of persuasion or rhetoric to possibly change this person's mind and see things your way. You have given up and you further want to obscure what you feel as a threat. (failed to attempt to reform someone who identified themselves as candidates for reform) Example: as a minority, I would prefer being around someone who simply says, "I am a racist. I think you are inferior. That's the way I was brought up" than someone who is actually racist but never says anything about it. About the whining aspect, I'm not sure this is what the OP getting at. Hers was not chiefly a complaint about whiners. Had more to do with resilience and survival than about whining and "being right". If you act like you've just been attacked by a wild animal when it was really a just a soft human who uttered something you didn't like, how are you going to survive or even identify a real crisis when you insist that everyone keep acting in a certain acceptable, comfortable, tolerance-rich manner no matter what they really think?

What's the difference between orthodox Jews and ultra orthodox Jews (Haredi)? Is there a difference? Thanks!

Steel cut oats. I don't even like McCann's. McC's has more moisture in it than any other brand and the oatmeal is always goopier.

I mostly belong to the "Eat it because you want it, not because it's there" school of thought. Also, I read barfblog sometimes.

You got 8 hours? Lucky one! I only got from 9:00 - 2:30p free on TYCTWD. More power to the declutterers. Having already gone on my dc binge this year, I can say I didn't know behind and under the washer and dryer could get so dirty!

I disagree that meds never go bad and only lose efficacy. If the medicine were liquid or some kind of liquid-filled capsule, no I wouldn't take it. If solid, maybe. Liquids other than antiseptics or disinfectants are a breeding ground for microbes. Microbes are always present, even in the pharma manufacturing facility. The expiry date for liquids should be taken more seriously, especially liquids dispensed from a big bottle that is already opened. (I know the OP's is unopened)

Is anyone, besides me, crafting their own fantasy menu for the day from this thread? Now I am also obsessing about Brussel sprouts fried in duck fat. I'm gonna be bold and try several of the things mentioned here sans recipe. I like all the honest and lush descriptors of memories of the best food invoking emotions somewhere between yearning, melancholy and delirium. Sometimes I can feel your pain. (Thanks, all). This is what cookbooks should be all about. Keep 'em coming.

Yes, I was typing something just like Laurie4b suggested. This guy is really not right. You know he isn't. He wanted to intimidate you and he did and somehow you are bearing the weight of all his over the top temper tantrum. I don't know what your pool's rules of conduct are, but I'm guessing screaming and distracting the instructor, students, and lifeguard are not allowed. So if anyone does this [again], he must be asked to leave. Then I can say for certain I would call 911 or ask anyone around to call 911 if he did not leave right away (no matter what the reason he came in for or how many nice little sweet girls in swimsuits he had in tow). You'd know that the cavalry is coming which may help you further defuse the situation in the moment. No matter what the facility's emergent situation policy is, if several of you non-scrawny super athletic Baywatch type employees feel threatened by the same screaming man, I would make it my own policy to call 911. Everytime. I'm very sorry that you had to deal with this guy.

I don't think it's a good idea for entire swing sets to move when you're on them. When I was 4, my neighbor and I swung on her swingset and the arcs of our swing path became synchronized. We tipped the whole swing set over and I think I must've hit my head and passed out because all I remember is people sort of standing over me while I was laying on the ground.

This blog post for a nut-seed encrusted seafood salad filled enchanted avocado thing months ago haunts me. I really can't seem to get it off my mind. It's just, just so exquisite and dreamy. I think about it sometimes when I am driving or when it's quiet, or when I'm starting to get hungry, or when I'm typing, or really anytime. Please add more. I hope the inspired foods discussed in this thread will take over your waking thoughts. Foods that you would consider selling your car for. http://luxirare.com/imitation-of-nature/

I still suspect the washer. Have you checked the filter? Maybe there is a sock that got stuck in it and is now all gunky. Affresh can't take care of it. On newer HE machines, the filters are way more easily accessible than they used to be.

You've never met anyone who's just plain lazy? Sometimes people just are. Mental illness is not always inevitably at the steering wheel.

My workout is absolutely not allowed to last longer than 35 min/day, from start to finish, 4-5x/week. Since I puff along pretty good, I can't do classes (too much downtime) and I can't exercise with anyone (too intense, no desire to chat, no desire to make a 1/2 hour date). Almost all days involve some strength training. Maybe 1 out of 4 day pure cardio. My goal is mostly to lose abdominal fat, not caring too much about overall weight though I recognize that more muscle mass is good. I dropped about 18# in the last 7 months going from 138# to 120#, BMI from 23 to 20. I noticed that my middle is not as thick anymore, which is good as far as visceral fat reduction goes. I think I could maintain 120# overall weight through diet alone but I would feel lousy. Even with added exercise, I sure don't eat like I used to. Very few sweets and all foods are heavy hitters in terms of nutrition and staying power. The idea is to eat fewer calories yet get all the good protein and fiber and nutrients. Refined sugar need not apply. The feeling of being stuffed full is very unpleasant to me. One unexpected result is that I am often cold a few hours after a workout (this winter is not helping either!). I figure this means my metabolism has still not clued in yet to the loss of fat and is still trying to burn along the way it used to. One thing I need to be harsh about is the local YMCA gym where I go: there is too much free food there and their trainers and instructors by and large do not look terribly fit to me! The facility is constantly offering free cutesy snacks, free sugary drinks, free chocolate even! How is this helpful? People go there for exercise, motivation, and not to eat. The trainers just don't look or sound like trainers to me. They are friendly but just not serious. Lastly, there is a link between Vit D and calcium supplementation and visceral fat loss with CR. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23297844

Any chance there is some kind of running joke between him and her that you're not aware of?

The difference between "best" and "good enough" comes up constantly. And FWIW, the carseats made to pass more stringent Swedish crash test regulations really are better. If you get to choose between the special Swedish one and any other, choose the one made to pass Swedish regs if it fits your car and your kid. Even better though, if you can choose not to drive at all, and get whatever thing it was you needed delivered. Our choices, our lives are a constant balance between .... yada, yada, etc, etc. One thing that has bothered me throughout these supervision threads is the tacit assumption that just because "an adult" is there, that we can all relax and leave the rat poison in unmarked bottles now because "an adult" is there. Personally, I know several quite stupid adults. I minimize my time with them and would never leave my children with them. Yes some of these people have children -- some younger than mine. some older than mine. Children who make poor decisions all the time because their role models make wrong decisions all the time. Children, who if they survive childhood, will have more to do with serendipity and quick reflexes than with quality parenting. There is no better illustration of the general non-superiority of adults than when the words "unholstered firearm" enter a narrative. And no, I don't believe most children will actually execute a reaction consistent with the inherent threat level accompanying an unholstered firearm unless their parents have specifically discussed this with them. (Don't touch. Leave. Now.)

Very different. Having a baby changes everything.

Two problems I have with store bought hummus: it's runny, and most have preservatives. It is not that hard for me to mash up the essentials (minus cumin). The amount of water added to make it flow so nicely into the tub is bulking up the weight but not the value. Hummus does not stay around long enough to need preservatives, or even plastic wrap for that matter. I'm still trying to get get my head around the idea of heating up hummus for pizza. Hot hummus. It sounds so naughty.

You had me until pineapples. (Why did it have to be pineapples?)

So, if you had to design a Hummus Pizza, what exactly would it have on it? What would be the crust? What shape? Baked until toasty? Or just fresh Mediterranean stuff piled onto a pita?