It is not the job of either the VP nominee nor any of the other speakers to address policy proposals at a nominating convention. That job is left solely to the Presidential nominee. If this was done differently at this years DNC, then I have no explanation for you, as there is no precedent. asta

My mother paid for all of my speech therapy in cash. She also paid for the behavioral therapist for my sister. I was allowed to visit the same BT when "overwhelmed" (no one had Aspergers in those days). Both therapists had an office at the school, but the district didn't pay for them, the parents did. We didn't have health insurance. I'm with you, Holly: it isn't the government's job to take care of me and my family, it is the job of me and my spouse to do that (by hook or by crook). asta

Nope. Didn't go to PS. Thought the cheerleaders looked like they were in a manic phase of bipolar. Was appalled that the football quarterback was so stupid that the leader of the drama club had to come up and read the "football team spiel" instead. Summarized the entire experience with something along the lines of "it was just how you described it / is portrayed in the movies". (What, you thought I was lying to you?) Kid is, shall we say, a wee bit quirky to begin with. He has a sardonic sense of humor. He'll argue politics and current events with you. He gets excited about severe weather systems (he understands the science). Chit chat has never been his thing. He'll do well in college. Glencoe? Urg. I'm trying to remember where I read a review of it. Possibly at the Textbook League Kid doesn't do well with books that are flashy and chopped into chunks, regardless. He's kind of stuck in the 1950s in that way. /hijack P.S. I second the recommendation about asking what textbook they are using. The curriculum invariably comes down from the district. asta

I took my kid to "Freshman Orientation" so he would have a last ditch chance at changing his mind about going to the local HS for 9th grade (and I could check out the extra-curriculars if he didn't go). HA HA HA I purposely sat away from him. Kid was NOT impressed. A couple days later, I saw the math book of one of the kids from the middle school that is attached: Glencoe. Gack. That is a HORRIBLE text book. Oh, and the music room at the HS took out the soundproof practice rooms because "they needed more storage". I guess we'll continue using the basement of the house... asta

The town I just moved from had +/- 13 year olds pushing strollers carrying their own children. (and no, they're not part of a happy family unit) Ergo, I don't have a problem with those types of public service announcements / posters (1+1=3, condoms, etc.). I find them to be much easier to explain than the "pro-life" advertisements with aborted fetuses on them. asta

There are some good threads about this over on the special needs board. asta

I was with you (more or less) right up until I got to this last bit: anyone who joins the armed forces is saying that they are willing to lay down their life for their country - whether the nation is at war has nothing to do with it. Beyond being killed in battle, soldiers die and are injured in the line of duty every single day; it is an inherently dangerous line of work, even during "peacetime". There is no way to simultaneously prepare for war and peace. A nation's military must train for war to maintain the peace. Unfortunately, as Mrs. Mungo has stated, that involves men (and women) who are willing to do dangerous things so that others may sleep soundly at night. And sometimes those men and women get injured and/or die -so that the rest of you don't. On Sheep, Wolves, and Sheepdogs asta (former Sheepdog, now injured)

One of the first things I do whenever I come across items such as these is to read the author's "take" on either the Middle East or Terrorism, as both are important to world events right now. This study guide, while interesting, strangely spends the entire lesson regarding Terrorism focusing on the United States as terrorists. I don't wish to debate whether or not the US has engaged in what may be legally construed as terrorist activity; what struck me as strange was that there were no examples of other nations or non-state entities engaging in the same behavior. I'm really a "present the entire picture" type of person, and that is how I teach - so I guess I won't even go into the fact that it wasn't Columbus who "discovered" America... asta

Endocrinologists also have "Endocrinology NPs", who are MUCH better versed than your average NP in thyroid issues. Even then, I saw a full-on, top-notch endocrinologist, and his rate was under $200 a visit. I'm sure his NP was considerably less than that. asta

:iagree:

I should get that made into a t-shirt for my kid. (he's a piper) asta

My speech therapist placed peanut butter on my palate (top, towards the back) to check if I was curling my tongue correctly with each "r". If the "r" is curled properly, a tiny bit of peanut butter will come back on the tip of the tongue; if not, none will. Ah, the joys of tongue thrust-led speech impediments.... (I had both "r" and "s") asta

One of my most referenced pages: A Timeline of Church History Very helpful in putting the "who did what, when" in context, visually. asta

I used to think I was just quirky. Then all of my friends on the Autism spectrum informed me I was an Aspie :001_smile: (but who really cares about a clinical Dx at 40?) asta

The refs had to re-watch it on 1/10,000 second slow replay when the other guy's coach challenged the result. Apparently, what we all saw on the screen was Phelps' hands bouncing back from the wall (he actually HIT it, rather than just touched it like the other guy). So that's why it looks like Phelps was second to the "naked" eye. Very cool race. asta

There's something else that everyone seems to have missed: she had a total hysterectomy in July. And was obviously having problems that led up to it prior to that. So here we have a depressed, underemployed, middle-aged man who, in addition to apprx. 8 months of strange behavior, has suddenly decided that his newly sterile wife should be fired from her current job and sent to tend to his parents. If that sounds harsh, well, yeah. I saw it happen to my own mother (more or less). One word for you, Jodi: Counseling. Go by yourself if he won't come with you. asta

This is something to consider: http://www.epilepsy.org.uk/info/panayio.html asta

I think this post gets to the crux of the matter: what are we, as parents, willing to put up with (in the "adult" realm) in order for our children to have playmates/friends/interaction with children/others with whom they don't have to "explain themselves"? I determined that that answer was A LOT in my case. By the same token, as my child has gotten older, he has become much more selective himself as to who he is willing to spend time with (and what attitudes and types of behaviors he is willing to tolerate). No good answers for you, sorry. asta

Priest? As in Catholic priest? He said that behavior was ok at a youth group function? Call the Bishop. Ben XVI would have a COW and a half. I'm about sick and tired of the Am. Cath. church trying to be all "groovy and with the times" in an effort to attract people. People don't stay with the RCC because they're "with it" - they stay because they're the RCC (and move at the speed of molasses). An interesting homily will draw more people than any of that other crap. asta

THAT is the opsec no-no. (if she even knew it - returns are notoriously delayed...) Best wishes to you Jo. You can do this on autopilot. asta

Could you please explain this statement? (bolded) asta

As part of a job I once did, I had to tour a foam manufacturer's factory. It was fascinating. The thing I found the most interesting is that foam is made in a manner quite similar to bread, right down to the loaf pans (which are HUGE). Every type of foam has a 'starter' (similar to yeast), a liquid (like milk or water), a solid (like flour), and a tempering agent (like salt). It is the differences in quantities of most of these (and molecular structure, in the case of the solid) that give us the different types of foams that we see. However, ultimately, foam is foam. What we all know as "TempurPedic" is simply a brand name for visco-elastic foam. Kind of like "Bayer" aspirin. Ultimately, though, visco-elastic foam is visco-elastic foam. The only differences one may find are in the "strength" - eg: some are rated to hold more weight than others and are therefore 'stiffer'. All that said, I have a natural latex (NOT visco-elastic) foam mattress from IKEA and absolutely adore it. Unlike visco-elastic, which can get a bit hot due to being synthetic, it is incredibly cool. I paid big bucks for it, though. IKEA has other ones that aren't as pricey that are also comfy that have good warranties. asta

Another vote for Milky Spore, which is produced by St. Gabriel's Labs. It isn't a "quick kill" solution; it has to go into the soil when they are in the grub stage. Also, it takes a few season's applications to fully wipe out a population. Once they're gone, though, they're gone (unless they come from your neighbor's house). A good "partnering" option is to plant sunflowers. They attract a type of wasp that eats Japanese Beetles but is not interested in humans. asta

Who is this guy, Freud? Strong parents, certainly, but having alpha-male only after a certain age? What hogwash. My DH has been prepping DS for "manhood" (what a term...) his entire life, he isn't just "appearing" now that DS is at a certain age! And if DH was supposed to "be in charge" we would have a significant problem: DH is never home! I am the primary disciplinarian, teacher, guidance counselor, etc. I'd seek a second opinion. asta

Man! I didn't even think of that. Which is sad, because I was using mole sauce to substitute for enchilada sauce (using up what's in the pantry, remember?). I could have easily dumped the stuff into the mole sauce chopped up some potatoes and been done with it (the corn was already in it). The weird thing is, the tortillas shouldn't have been old. I bought them at my local Mexican market just last week. From the "we make it fresh" fridge. Perhaps they got some bad corn to begin with. We're eating the nachos now - they taste great, surprisingly. asta