One of my earliest childhood memories involves watching tv with my family. A commercial featuring a ventriloquist's dummy came on the screen. I watched most of it, but at the end, my mom clapped her hand over my eyes and said in a shocked voice something about how they shouldn't allow that sort of thing when children might be watching. Naturally, I've always wondered what exactly happened at the end of the commercial. :) I've googled fruitlessly a few times. I always thought the dummy was Charlie McCarthy (you know, the one with the monocle.) So, today I was reading Slate, and I came across this: "Years before the overrated Silence of the Lambs made Anthony Hopkins a household name in horror, he gave the best performance of his career as ventriloquist Corky Withers in this 1978 shocker...Even Magic’s TV spot was horrifying—it was taken off the air at the request of parents whose children were given nightmares by the sight of the film’s ventriloquist dummy, 'Fats.'" [The tv spot, while not graphic, is creepy and disturbing. You are forewarned. :) ] Eureka! Mystery solved, after 35+ years! (And apparently my mom wasn't alone in her displeasure with the commercial, although I did expect something more gruesome.) Do you have any unsolved childhood mysteries, major or minor?

Can you place his crate (securely!) up on a table, so he can see you while he is in it?

Love this: Kind Stranger Helps Reunite Homeless Man with His Dog

Update, 10/29: "Thanks for praying for [..]. She has successfully made the switch from the hospital to the in-patient rehabilitation center. She is working hard, and the therapy is very intense. Thank you for continuing to pray for her healing process."

Just remind yourself that they have seen it all before, probably thousands of times. I dress modestly for religious reasons, and I still prefer a male ob/gyn. They have always seemed gentler to me. YMMV. Of course, if you prefer a midwife, it doesn't hurt to ask again!

Condoms plus spermicide are 99.7% effective with perfect (correct and consistent) use. I wouldn't bother with a diaphragm if I was using both.

Our school's shop teacher was named Mr. Board.

I don't get it either, Sparkly.

Answered prayer! Update from today, Oct. 26: Good news for today: [she] passed her "Swallow Test" yesterday, so she was able to eat her first meal last night. 😀 They took out her peg feeding tube this morning! She is really happy to be eating real food again; it is a great, big step for her. Thanks for praying for [her], as she has a long, hard road of recovery therapy ahead.

Good job, TM! Not an easy thing.

I am so sorry. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

Before Valium, they had things like: and (Here's an interesting article about the Nervine tablets above.)

I am so very sorry, purplejackmama. :grouphug: and prayers.

I read it, and I would say no, absolutely not.

Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers, everyone! Here is a great update from today: [she] has been stable and mostly calm for the last few days. They changed her tracheostomy to a smaller size, and she has been doing really well with that. She has started doing some things with the hospital's therapists; it is great to see each little step of progress. Please pray that she will learn to swallow, as this has not happened successfully yet. She is keeping her polite and sweet spirit; she keeps trying to thank the nurses and doctors and is always smiling. Please keep our sweet girl in your prayers!

Escape from Jurassic Coop. :)

Keep in mind that the momma mouse may relocate the nest herself, since it's been disturbed. If they are all suddenly gone without a trace, they may still be okay.

Yes, of course. I wouldn't want it any other way. I don't know what a koala stamp is, but I want one. :)

I :001_wub: foolish pacifists. You are not dumb. If I had a way to move ALL the babies AND the momma to a better place, I would, but if that wasn't an option I'd leave them be and figure a chance at life is better than freezing to death. Thanks for the update on your hen! Glad she is doing okay.

YES. I always think that people who can't tolerate opposing views either must not be very secure in their own views and/or don't know how to deal with the cognitive dissonance that may arise when their ideas are challenged. I have no problem with people forming groups with others of like mind. It's natural to want a support system. However, if a whole campus were to be declared a "safe space" from certain types of speech or from particular content, that would seem chilling to me. The need to silence opposing views strikes me as a mark of immaturity. I think by college age people should be able to handle having their ideas challenged in public spaces (assuming, of course, that everyone is always physically safe).

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: to all. Anxiety is awful.

I am so sorry you feel that way. This post was the reason I brought up the question at my Bible study tonight. I know you are an atheist, but the way I understand things boils down to this: Jesus is both loving and holy. He expects His followers to likewise be both loving and holy. With issues like these, sometimes we have to work through how to best to accomplish that, according to our understanding of Scripture. I am sorry for causing offense.

I didn't say all Christians do expect to suffer the consequences of their actions. I said they should. If people are cruel, if they are unkind, if they are vicious, if they torment or bully or murder, that is all contrary to New Testament teaching. I don't just believe but know that Christ is an actual living Person, and I can't mold Him or make Him into what I want Him to be. Like everyone else, I was born with tendencies towards particular sins. That doesn't mean I am not responsible, as a Christian, to live by the standards set out in Scripture. That said, those standards are not, generally speaking, something I would just bring up in conversation with people outside of the church, unless they ask what I believe about Biblical requirements for Christians or ask me to participate in something I consider to be immoral. I mentioned 1 Corinthians 5 earlier: "For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church? But those who are outside, God judges." If someone wants to join our local body of believers, then it would be an issue that would need to be addressed. I understand that this is offensive to you, and I am sorry for that.

Thanks, Katie. I appreciate that. I have been wrong enough times that I am always willing to reexamine, while keeping Scripture in mind. So. I posed the cake question to my Bible study group tonight. I think everyone who offered their opinion said they would make the cake and told me why. There were a variety of reasons, most having to do with showing love. My father said that he would let the customer know that although he did not condone their choices, he would make them the best cake he possibly could. My husband said much the same. My original concern was keeping a clear conscience in not giving tacit approval to the marriage. If I gently said something like, "My conscience compels me to tell you that as a Christian, I do not agree with homosexual marriage. However, I would be happy to make you a cake," I would avoid that problem. There would be no tacit approval and no doubt where I personally stood, but I could still serve them and show them love by doing a good job on their cake. I wouldn't argue with them or bring it up again unless they were interested in the conversation. No doubt many people would rather I just be quiet, but this is the best solution I am comfortable with right now. If other conservative Christians think I am wrong in this, I am open to correction from Scripture.

I really appreciate that, Greta. Yes, my comment was thoughtless and unkind, and I had no idea it was something that had been in the news. These are hard conversations for me because I know I am offending people I consider friends. At the same time I feel a responsibility to not misrepresent Christ or His Word. And, yes, I fumble. Often. :o