I was seriously thinking about naming my cat Hatshepsut

Shep?

I wouldn't leave it blank. Can you say "negotiable within x and y range"

So now that I've completely failed to give useful grammar advice

Untrue! I was wrong.

If you give them a range, won't they just offer you a number at the bottom of your range. They know what you'll settle for....

Well, but that's the bottom with excellent benefits.

Oh, that makes sense.

Maybe he wants custody because she's a whiny and entitled and expects everyone to bend over backwards for her and her five children?

The child services thing, if its exactly as she tells it, is pretty horrible -- but most of the time she seems to think its simple good manners for hosts to prepare entire second menues for six people and takes umbrage at the notion that she should bring something along to eat if they a) can't; b) don't; or c) misunderstand what she can eat.

My mom would smack that woman silly. Damn, if you deliberately choose to live in a way that puts you in the minority, you cannot expect people to accomodate you.

but most of the time she seems to think its simple good manners for hosts to prepare entire second menues for six people and takes umbrage at the notion that she should bring something along to eat if they a) can't; b) don't; or c) misunderstand what she can eat

Meh, I'd say if you're throwing a 100 person party, sure, you can't expect to please everyone. Or if it's family christmas for 30 people and you traditionally have goose, you'd probably talk to them about bringing their own main dish, but make sure the side dishes are more veg, and a few vegan. But if you're inviting one family of seven people over for dinner, six of whom are vegans, then I'd at least try to have most of the food be vegan. Certainly wouldn't be serving rack of lamb as the main dish.

OTOH, i'd probably avoid it by just not inviting them over very often (hell, FIVE KIDS? I'd never invite them over!)

OTOH, i'd probably avoid it by just not inviting them over very often (hell, FIVE KIDS? I'd never invite them over!)

I know enough vegans that I probably could get a decent number of tasty recipes to try if I were throwing a dinner party, but dude, no way in hell could you convince me to kid-proof my apartment so five children could run around in it for hours.

Slate article on Ninjas: [link]

The Israeli affinity for ninjas makes sense when you consider that ninjas are basically supercool Jews. Both practice esoteric traditions that must be kept pure or they'll lose their power, both wear black outfits, and both can destroy much larger and more numerous opponents. The main difference is that while observant Jews spend a lot of time praying, observant ninjas spend a lot of time hiding and killing people.

Bah. I have a cramp or something in my back. Sorta' mid/lower right side area. Are there any stretches or something I can do at work for relief?