Three days? I think even the government recommends a couple of weeks. If the grid went down, 3 days isn't much.

I have a molar that can't take another filling. I got a quote from my dentist for a crown that he said I needed. It was so expensive my husband suggested I get a second opinion. The Second Opinion Dentist said "You may need a crown EVENTUALLY, but you certainly don't need to get one now." He said I needed ZERO dental work. My husband was so pleased! I have a new dentist, too! Just a thought. He said, "some dentists today are VERY aggressive in their approach." But he said a crown has a lifespan just like, say, a hip replacement. No sense in getting one before you need it.

It's better than ISIS. Maybe the term Cafeteria Catholic should be ditched for something else. Creative Catholics Free-Thinking Catholics Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Bailey Catholics Whatever floats your ark!

Take a good look at the DEDUCTIBLE before signing up!

I'm a Smorgasbord Catholic. I go back for seconds.

There was another plane incident yesterday over the recline/no recline issue, so indeed, someone MAY go ballistic on you. That plane was diverted to Jacksonville. I've had a similar experience to Heather's -- people recline, no problem. I recline, no complaints. Although I must say I don't fully recline, just a couple inches. Maybe a fully reclined seat would be grounds for a civil union.

Can we spoil them with a heli-hovering degree of attention? There are all kinds of ways to spoil!

Back in the day we were bribed with fresh air and permission to go out and play with neighborhood friends. Ah, the memories!

It's always best to try to have your Faith, and eat it too.

It wouldn't necessarily be out of line for a family with several children to have a game room with a TV and a Playstation in it. I guess this kids is spoiled by virtue of being an only child and having no one to share the game room/TV/gaming system with. So he's *spoiled* in the same sense ALL only children are spoiled -- when they are given things by their parents, they don't have to share with a sibling.

I know a guy who goes late, stands in the vestibule, and leaves early. Failing that, there's always TV. You'd have to find another way to receive the Eucharist, of course.

Horns are an emergency item. I wouldn't consider a reclining chair something to be used only in case of emergency. Maybe they should design them so they only recline to a certain point, not all the way into your lap.

They lived on the boat? How sad for all. RIP.

A lot of work, finding evil in that letter, but what the heck, it's Sunday, let's all get a little exercise!

That would settle everything, if people ONLY reclined when the plane was not in motion.

For teens, it's comparable to an adult's Talking Addiction.

Not to mention the fact that you don't have any way of knowing if this person had an insurance/warranty that would cover replacement, or if it was a work unit that would be replaced by the company. So my kid is sitting at a place with a drink where drinking is *allowed* -- an adult with a laptop (who presumably is aware of the risks of Laptopping in the Vicinity of Drinks) is there doing work, my kid ACCIDENTALLY spills the drink on Hard-Working But Living Dangerously Adult's laptop and... ...I'm supposed to tell my kid to work all summer to pay for a normal kid accident (let's be honest, a normal HUMAN accident), because the adult expects to be compensated? I guess anyone whose kid is clumsier than normal would certainly be bearing a greater risk here! No drinking in public places, there may be ADULTS WANTING TO GET WORK DONE. Or, surf the net. Apologies all around, but no. Just no. Same goes for super expensive phones and tablets.

I'm feeling a lawsuit eventually going all the way to the Supreme Court: Laptops United! I feel they are starting to edge into the realm of personhood, carving out their own space on airlines, and taking affront to drinks being spilled on them! Laptops in the ICU (geek squad) or sadly having a brief memorial before being interred in the Compact Fluorescent Section of the dump. I think if the airline offers "reclining seats," then it is okay to "recline" them. Although it is always nice if people use common sense and good manners, you don't always get that with the public. Surely the airlines don't expect seats to be reclined "only if no one is sitting behind you." I think you can HOPE for good Laptop Using Conditions on a flight, but you can't assume it. Any more than you can assume you will have a peaceful flight with no crying babies, or a smooth flight without turbulence, or a relaxing flight with no one sitting next to you or in front of you. You should assume Sardine-like conditions, and be thankful if it's better than that. I suspect the airline will now need to make a ruling on this, perhaps with the flight attendants making the call on the field, subject to further review with instant replay. Meanwhile dissatisfied fliers can fly "under protest." OR, they can try to kick dirt, drop drinks or have tantrums until they get thrown out of the game and the flight is diverted. I think the devices will be banned.

I can at the same time teach my kids the proper way to behave (apologize, perhaps offer to compensate depending on the situation), while at the same time believing that the primary responsibility for expensive electronics taken into public venues lies with the owner. It doesn't mean my values are any different than yours, just my expectations. Suppose your child accidentally spilled her slurpee onto some parent's laptop after practice. Then your child apologizes, and says, "don't worry, my parents will pay for a new one!" Warm fuzzies all around, I suppose.

First off I want to say sorry about your situation, that's a bad hit to have to take! Had she been apologetic it might have taken some of the sting away. But on a practical note, this sort of thing is the cost of taking your stuff out into the big bad world. It could've happened to an expensive phone, a tablet, etc. If you're in a common area where there could be eating/drinking, it's probably the responsibility of the person with the expensive stuff to not leave it unattended in the vicinity of: a glass of water, a mug of coffee, an exuberant toddler, etc. Heck, someone could've walked off with it! Just a thought for the future. Again, sorry about the aggravation. I doubt small claims court will be worth it.

Just remember the police are the only reason *you* don't need to own a firearm. Police officer was killed at a traffic stop yesterday, they have a dangerous job. Sometimes they only have a split second to decide how dangerous someone is.

See how easy it is to whip off a judgmental post? Welcome!

Magic Bullet? Now my mind is going off in the direction of the Kennedy assassination. I think the metaphors are having a drunken Friday might happy hour.

Hitler, Mother Theresa and God walk into a bar. Hitler and Mother Theresa are dressed in fig leaves...

Since this is the sort of humor this family goes in for, let's see something photoshopped with a time progression where they're dropping her off at a nursing home and doing a little happy jig for joy.