I've tried several times to respond but I think this says it better.

As I sadi, I'm glad you had great interactions with PP. Doesn't mean that others who have negative experiences aren't just as affected by them. "Don't tell me your experience though is the only experience anyone has ever had there." This is the part of your original post that caused me to respond. At no point did I read Pink's comment as saying that hers was the only experience women had had there. You had great experiences and therefore understandably get defensive if others criticize PP. As you said, you won't even let her comment with her negative experience go without challenging it. She and other women who have had horrible experiences at PP don't need their experiences challenged. It's not a perfect organization. It has problems and women have had bad experiences there. It's great you and your friends havent. Doesn't mean others haven't or that their experiences shouldnt be shared. Your great experiences don't mean it's perfect. Their awful ones don't mean it's horrible.

Likewise your experience doesn't mean that everyone universally had a positive experience. It confirms your experience. I'm happy that you got the help you needed there. Yours left you with a positive view of PP. Hers left her with a negative view. Both are valid and helpful to the discussion.

This is wrong. Just wrong no matter what your views on abortion are. An attorney friend has shared horror stories like these. How do we go about changing this?

My pejorative definition of entitied is not talking about inequality. I've seen a lot of entitiled people from well to do families. I've seen entitled people who are high earners. The entitlement mentality in my view has little to do with income. It has everything to do with what you think others OWE you.

You are a thoughtful friend. I have a friend in a similar situation and did message her but now think I should have called her. Off to remedy that.

"Room for interpretation/enforcement" is huge and leaves plenty of space for misuse and abuse. . And yes things can be challenged but even when evidence shows that civil servants acted inappropriately they aren't sanctioned often. The IRS, EPA, VA, Corps of engineers have all made the news in the past few years. Few if any employees were sanctioned or fired- even when IGs and heads of agencies admit that employees behaved inappropriately. OP asked if we were becoming less free. In 2015 over 81,000 pages of regulations were added. In 2014 ocer 77,000 pages were. The years prior - in administrations of both parties- are similar. There are so many regulations that many of us are unknowingly breaking rules. A recent example is the crackdown on lemonade stands. In some places your kid needs permits or run a lemonade stand. So yeah, I'd argue that our freedom is being limited by regulations. This older article from The Economist gives some other examples and rightly blames both political parties. http://www.economist.com/node/21547789

True. At least with elected officials voters can vote them out of office. Not so with the non-elected regulators. Some do get appointed and will be replaced with the new elected official. But many are not appointed or elected. Its much harder to check that power.

Agree! How many years has Congress gone without passing a budget?

My friend actually had purchased their house before the new rules were put in place. New city leaders, new regulations.

I think the most concerning threat to liberty comes from non-elected officials making regulations. Permits for lemonade stands are one of most glaring. But ofher regulations usually were implemented with good intentions but still do limit liberty. EPA wetland regulations and some of the endangered species rules are two that routinely get press. Different localities also limit liberty. My friend lived in one town that strictly enforced their 'height of grass' rule and would fine you if your lawn was ever a half inch too long. I get the idea behind the rule- keeping front yards looking tidy. But this town takes it way too far. Religious liberty is also an area that I think many would argue is being limited. I don't want to argue it. Just saying that it is another area where people feel their freedom is being curtailed.

I think that is what happens here too. Thats why I was wondering if they just completely shut it down in Detroit.I didn't realize that the admin can just shut it down though. Feeling for the students and families that rely on those meals.

I came across this today about the Detroit sick outs. "In addition, when teachers skip school, parents are faced with the challenge of last-minute childcare decisions. Students also lose the meals they get at school. Many Detroit children eat most of their meals at school." Do students really lose their meals? Does anyone know what is happening? http://www.detroitnews.com/story/opinion/editorials/2016/05/03/editorial-get-back-class-dps-teachers/83889442/

I think all of us begged her not to go and have begged her to come back. She won't leave without her kids. She can't take them without her ex's consent and he won't agree. ;( But I do appreciate hearing everyone's perspecitve and experiences.

Well that is a dumb question. Why ask if she wasn't going to do anything? And I thought your community service idea was kind. If she didn't like your suggestion did she tell you what she planned to do? I do think it would be a good idea to ask her. Hugs! I'm sorry. This is a crummy situation. But you are doing the right thing by standing up for what is right. You are being an excellent example to yoru daughter.

This was my initial thought. My next one was to ask the teacher what she could do to make sure that she did see the next time MG was rude. I guess I see why the teacher feels she can't punish what she didn't see. It is NOT ok for her to fail to take steps to make sure that she does see it next time MG strikes.

That is a very interesting perspective. I never thought about that.

A friend of mine moved to Venezula four years ago. She has been blogging about her experience. She recently posted a very real and raw look at how life has changed since the economy has tanked. It was very eye opening to me. Thought others might find it educational and interesting too. Fair warning: my friend is not afraid to cuss and often uses cuss words in creative ways. If you were thinking about sharing any of this with your kids, you may want to edit. http://www.rawbeautifullife.com/dharma-and-automatic-weapons-for-breakfast-the-reality-of-venezuelan-island-life/

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Interesting article on BLM comparing it in a way to the Tea Party movement. I know it's not exactly about blue lives matter but deals with is BLM racist, etc. http://thefederalist.com/2015/09/08/no-black-lives-matter-isnt-about-hurting-cops/ "What many fail to realize is that social movements are decentralized heterogeneous coalitions—meaning that different types of people can be drawn to the same movement, sometimes for different reasons. One shouldn’t label an entire movement by the comments and actions of just a few activists"

Is there unbiased data that both sides agree on? Data for deaths with no evidence of putting the officer in danger, data of officers being targeted, etc? I've heard anecdotes on each side myself but don't have data. I've searched but am never sure which data is valid and which is massaged. So few actually give full details on how they classified data, etc. CR- not just directing at you. Asking people on both sides who have been mentioning data.

Yet another vote for well fed. She has a great blog site too: clothes make the girl.

Some of my friends absolutely love it. I like the items I have but don't think they are worth the price imo. There are all sorts of groups you can belong to to find the pattern, style and size you want. Their sizing is odd-though at least they tend to be good about giving a chart to let you know you will be a xxs in this top and a M in that one. My biggest irritation is that you can't actually return and get your money back. You can only exchange. And then you have to hope that one consultant has something else you like in your size.

I am returning it. I woke up this morning and my back is absolutely killing me so this has become an easy - if utterly embarassing- decision. Happy to report that my husband only paused ever so briefly and then completely supported me. Yay for understanding husbands! And the car salesperson was very understanding too! Thank you all for your input and for encouraging me. ;)

That is a really good idea. I called my salesperson and am bringing it in tomorrow to see if she can help me adjust it. Otherwise I think I'm going to return it. I feel like an idiot but like you said I don't need a car that hurts my old lady back.