That's such a long slog! I'm sorry he's still so sick. I'm glad you're there for him.

Wow... they didn't want the carpet scraps? What if they need to match it later? Just wow. Anyway! Hurray for done!! Congratulations!

I'm not very up on all this, and appreciate the thread. How much do you guys limit this stuff in your family diet? I think we eat mostly homemade food (from ingredients) at home, but we eat out a few times a week and a lot more than a few years ago, and drink quite a few sugary, colorful drinks when we're out. I think I need to reign it in.

I think they'll just change it all. It would be very inefficient to make special products for one (big) market, and would be complex to ship separately. Or maybe they'll do some suing first, about the extra burden, though how they'd argue FOR chems linked to cancer in the public eye, I don't know.

We all four got the new covid shots yesterday, including DS11. The walgreens website wouldn't let me make an appointment for him, but when I called the gal said no worries, she'd just put it in when we got there. We got both flu and covid shots at the same time. We've all been taking some Tylenol for achy arms, but have had no other issues. I'm so glad we got them now, because we're going to a wedding soon and I don't want to catch or spread anything there.

I agree that kids say things that pop into their heads. The children's sermon at our church is a huge risk for our young pastor. However, the Little House books are often handed to young readers without any guidance or arbitration. As an adult, I read that and think, ok, the kid is seeing people who seem extremely different to her... and wants to be closer, perhaps? She finds them attractive. (Hmm, in an unequal way.) But also, that child's view of those native people, who were in reality going through extreme suffering, is of the "exotic." She thinks of their child as something to acquire, like a beautiful doll. That's Really Bad. I don't think a 7 or 8yo reader would necessarily grasp that second bit of dehumanizing horror. They don't have the knowledge. Sure, Pa corrects her... up to a point. But do kids know she's witnessing genocide? No.

What a pop-off answer that was. I'm not delighted with that guy. Because a teacher often becomes a role model, I might be looking for a new class for my son. He may have a point. While I personally know someone who went sort of banana-in-a-blender and successfully deterred an attacker, I have seen a national self-defense courses that did not impress me. My old sensei teaches a really good one, if you're anywhere near northern Florida. Maybe he's only seen bad ones. But I still don't like him dismissing you.

How quickly does this wash out? I'm considering something colorful for Halloween, but I've never tried this sort of thing before.

I'm getting heartburn just reading about that sandwich, but I still want to try it!

I'm a three-cup starter myself! Haha!

Oh, he is in for a treat! 😆

Blanket training, the way these folks were teaching it, was never about the blanket. It was about obedience conditioning from early childhood using pain and fear. I wouldn't assume anything at all if I saw a blanket laid out for play! That's a great way to make a space safer and cleaner. I'm not sure why folks are feeling the need to defend the phrase "blanket training" whe they are clearly not doing it. Who wants to use that phrase? Blah.

The term "blanket training" is burnt. Especially now that the Duggar disaster went mainstream, most people who hear you use it will figure you hit your baby. If that's not what you mean, find yourself a new term to use. IMNSHO.

Ok, that one gives me the squicks. Danger!

Wonderful!!

I had a couch and recliner delivered a few months ago, and the two guys were kind enough to bring the boxes around the house and down some stairs. I tipped them both for that. I wouldn't if they'd just delivered to the front door.

The artifacts that were looted and they had to be forced to return are a sticking point for me. I feel that I wouldn't be sure when the displays were truthful, and I just despise thieves. I have had the chance to visit for free and have abstained. Funny, I don't feel as much disgust at the Vatican. Their collection is sketchy, provenance wise. But the Bible museum people are my branch of Christian, and so that chafes more.

I could stand a slightly less patronizing response than "phew". I got it, I got it, don't push me! 🤣🤣

I know, I'm there too. There are so many things that could take up the school time. Travel time doubles that. Tons of appointments are easy to make during the day. I think, oh, they can read in the car... but they actually make the most progress in every area when we're at home, around the table.

I'm finding that a lot of CLEP tests and APs aren't effective at our area 4 year schools. They take them...as elective credits. I've had to get pretty thorough about researching.

Some of the conclusions I'm reaching, as I'm researching everything, are: 1. The rat race for an ivy league school is a net negative for most people. A few people need to go to those schools, but most don't need those schools to be quite successful. Going to a regular non-ivy will not prevent you from getting into professional grad schools (Dr, lawyer, etc). I don't know of any career where Harvard for undergrad is the only way in the door. 2. If you can avoid debt, you can study what you want. You won't make as much money, but live on what you make and you can be ok. 3. If you can't pay cash, don't study art history, or anything else that has a tough financial path right out the gate. 4. If you have debt, you have GOT to finish college. Debt without the degree is the worst idea ever. 5. The aid system is a well-run marketing racket. The schools have more data than God about you, and calibrate the aid they offer to exactly what they think you will pay. You are dealing with a system that is honed in on your psyche, so WATCH OUT.

I just read The Historian (Kostove) and 'Salem's Lot (King). Why? Hard to say. A mood. The first was really well written and interested. The second was Stephen King. 😝 Oh, I'd just read World War Z, thats why; I was on a monster kick.

I found this article interesting, too. I heard the author on an economics podcast (which I can't find now). https://www.thirdway.org/report/is-college-worth-it-going-beyond-averages

This article is so interesting. Does anyone else think that title was pinned on by an editor? It doesn't fit the whole piece. I'm in the middle of trying to learn everything to be my kid's best counselor...reading books, trying to locate AP tests, listening to podcasts... there's so much one could fail to consider, and the tone of the Facebook groups about paying for college is frantic. I read The Price You Pay for College by Liebner recently. We're Dave Ramsey nerds (though we don't endorse everything he says) and have saved for the kids. But have we saved enough? If DD gets into some fancy school, what then? We've saved for a state school scenario, not Harvard, and are opposed to debt for college. That book, Leibner's, has riled me up. The marketing around the college admissions process looks grotesque. The snobbery of the entitled, the fear of climbers, and the rage of those who feel cut out of the race altogether and are eating sour grapes - what a mess.

Yes. The hierarchical insistence is... morally interesting. It smacks of a child's "That's not fair!"