How did that work out in terms of college admissions? I have been advised that a repeated grade in high school throws up red flags and makes a student less competitive for very selective schools. I wonder if that is just opinion or if there is something to it. I know an awful lot of kids right now who could benefit from an extra year in high school rather than the traditional gap year after, but I’d hate to see it impact admission to elite universities.

When I’m feeling uninspired, not sure what approach I want to take, or just looking to flesh things out a little, I take a look at syllabi or even just courses online to see what other people are doing. Here’s the first result for science fiction, which gives some titles and some ideas that I might use as jumping off points if I were going to do this: https://canvas.disabroad.org/courses/3898/assignments/syllabus Here’s a precollege Brown program that came up. No syllabus, but some interesting ideas https://apps.precollege.brown.edu/catalog/course.php?course_code=CEPS0986 Here’s something from Swarthmore about Russian and East European sci-fi. Ooh, information and reading questions too! My life just got easier! https://www.swarthmore.edu/russian-and-east-european-science-fiction And so on…

No, there is not. I don’t think anyone ever thought there would be going in. Unless the Ukrainian government had immediately ceded, it was always going to be total devastation and humanitarian disaster, because that’s how Putin operates.

I think the “planned obsolescence” and “energy efficient appliances are destroying the earth” tropes are largely that, tropes. I’m sure lemons do exist, and I’m sure that appliances can cost a lot one way or the other. If one can’t afford to invest in an expensive but repairable appliance one might have buy several lower cost appliances, which end up costing more. It’s a sad reality. But it isn’t “green” requirements that are to blame.

Same as regentrude. I think my biggest suggestion would be to stop and think. Americans are raised to be selfish consumers. Want something? Buy it now! Something not sparkly and new? Toss it in the trash and buy a new one! Get in your car and drive to the store for whatever trinket you want! Forget something? No problem, get back in the car and drive again! Think the way people in much of the rest of the world do, or as your great grandmother might have. Think about what are needs and what are simply wants. Make do with what you have. Just because something is cheap to you doesn’t mean it was produced without cost to someone or something (namely the earth) along the line. If you have to drive, plan your trip so you can accomplish multiple errands instead of having to zoom out several times.

Those tea towels are manufactured in China, so perhaps not the best “typical American” gift. (Actually, that probably would be pretty typically American…🧐). ETA here are some that are milled and printed in the US, in case that idea strikes your fancy. Cotton though, not linen. https://www.girlscantell.com/collections/cities-states

Congratulations, Sneezy!

I’m going to speak to this one point only. The oligarchs had no reason to care before because they were getting what they wanted. Easy to look the other way and ignore erosions of rights and mistreatment of others when you are the one benefiting. We can see exactly the same thing happening in the US right now: restriction of voting rights, cries against the free press, craven politicians refusing to condemn erosion of liberties, lies about the security of the voting system, ignoring even insurrection(!) because they themselves benefit. I don’t think it’s at all surprising that the morally corrupt people benefiting from a corrupt system didn’t care as long as they were getting what they wanted. I’m sure they will care now that they are not (what’s the fun of having yachts and villas in far off places if you can’t use them?), but the fear of accidentally falling out a window or having an up close and personal encounter with Novichok is rather dampening their enthusiasm to protest. I hope this wakes people up to the real dangers of ignoring abuses as long as they are benefiting. Because the leopard *will* turn around and eat their faces.

Unfortunately, will never ever happen.

Does the little guy in the US know exactly how absolutely little a certain political cult figure and his party give about him? I don’t think so. Misinformation and cult-think is hard to break through.

Yup. But many Americans seem to think that bombast is strength and masterful negotiation is weak. 😔 Big fan of Heather Cox Richardson. Which reminds me, I wanted to read about her conversation with Fiona Hill…

So keep your picture of a dog. 🤷🏻 I get what you’re saying about the bandwagon thing, performative activism, etc. but sometimes a little thing like changing a FB filter or putting up a sign will actually make people stop and think and learn. Some people do it because it makes them feel less helpless. Ideally they do other things too. After 9/11 people all over the world held vigils and lit candles in an act of solidarity and collective grief. I think that shows of support for Ukraine are similar.

Agreed. And I’d hazard a guess that vodka enterprises are not held by small artisans but by oligarch owned conglomerates, so I doubt this will harm the little guys. Pouring out Russian vodka seems actually more important and effective than blue and yellow lights and flags (and I am all for that and have them!) because money talks. Also, even in the extremely unlikely event that it did hurt the little guy… well, Putin obviously doesn’t give a rat’s ass about his people. Making the little guy aware of this is helpful.

This is true that the US can not do it alone. But pressure can be exerted.

Sanctions are slower, but military action would result in the loss of millions of lives.

Please contact your Reps and Senators and the White House and urge them to ratchet up sanctions now — specifically including sanctions on all Russian oil and gas companies and disconnecting Russia from the SWIFT system. We will not and should not send troops, but we can and should make sanctions much more crippling, whether Europe joins in or not.

Happy to do the heavy lifting here. 😉 May you have the opportunity to offer thankful prayers soon.

I’m praying someone puts a bullet in Putin’s head. Or poisons his panties. He will never stop otherwise.

I don’t think so, but if you looked at cod, for example, it would give you suggestions for ingredients that work well with it. The book is a little navel-gazey and was probably intended for people who are quite serious about food. I think it is helpful for learning how to think about flavors and how to adapt or create recipes for what one has on hand. Being able to create dishes and menus without being tied to recipes is a skill that most people have to work hard (and/or for a long time) to acquire. This book and the way it encourages thinking about flavors gives people a head start.

There’s an old (1996 maybe?)but good book called Culinary Artistry by Dornenberg and Page that I recommend. You can probably pick up a used copy for not much money. It’s basically a cheat sheet of successful flavor combinations for non-professional cooks.

FYI: particularly on a thread about the current plight of Ukraine, please avoid referring to this sovereign nation as "the Ukraine." This is what it was referred to when it was part of the USSR. It’s deeply offensive to Ukrainians, as it implies that Ukraine is not sovereign.

nm

I know someone in the snowy Chicago area who has a heated permeable paver driveway. It has held up well, and the heating element eliminates the need for snow removal and excessive salt use.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I had one small ritual, lighting a candle every night, that helped me. The world rushed by the rest of the time, but lighting the candle was a moment for me to think of my loved one and grieve. There is no timetable, no common moment when the grieving ends. It is different for everyone. Be kind to yourself. You’re allowed to break.

I always get called back and it’s always fine. Did you ask to be put on their cancellation list? That can often get you in sooner.