Yep, according to Wikipedia, there are about five countries with murder rates higher than New Orleans. There has to be some city therein that beats the Big Easy, then.

This article proffers a list of the most dangerous cities in the world. [link] I don't think it limits itself to murder, but the list contains few surprises.

Jezebel is full of a lot of people complaining about Ugg hate, because Uggs are the only way they can get their feet warm. I hate cold feet with the best of them, but if my boots aren't waterproof and can't handle the ice, they were never good for me for winter.

And, as things stood, winter was cold. All over. My feet are a particular vulnerable point on my body indoors more than out, because outdoors when I was cold, it would all sort of happen together. It wasn't usually "Guys, I gotta go in, my feet are too cold." Getting warm boots and wearing thermal socks and stuff was par for the course, but all of me would get cold and that's what would make me miserable.

Geographically, I'm not familiar with places that get significantly colder than a warm pair of socks can help, but that don't get wet or snowy or icy. Where in the US is that?

And finishing up the night was not possible in any way that leaves me presentable (or drivable) this morning, so despite wanting to ration out my days at home this week (we're required to wear suit-equivalent tomorrow, and i don't wanna), I'm gonna have to use this one up.

I'm sorry about the bad night, ita.

don't get wet or snowy or icy. Where in the US is that?

Where we lived in Wyoming (just below the Montana border) was technically a desert climate. So we'd regularly get temps in the negative degrees before wind chill in the winter, but very little rain or snow. We were only there the one winter, though.

I can throw on my fake!Uggs in the morning without socks and walk Sara to the bus, and my feet stay warm. But I'm only out for about fifteen minutes, total.

I have fake-Uggs in Western NY, and they usually stay dry enough if I also wear wool socks. I would prefer different boots, but I am cheap and these were $10 new at good will, and also fit my calves. If I did more walking (and I already walk more than most people in Rochester who do not ride the bus) they would bug.

Ahhhh, another Monday, another hour on the phone with IT. Good times.

People of Jezebel: if your feet are cold, put on a hat! Keep up your core temperature to warm up your extremities!

That said, I wear Uggs all the time, but really only at home. The soles are too soft for me to comfortably walk in them even around the grocery store. I just need more support than that. I don't have actual boots, though, just slippers. If I actually needed insulated boots I would probably go with Sorel or Columbia.

I enjoyed the Eli playing sex chicken subplot just because it was so ridiculous. It's hard to believe there was actual "fishing" though. Good call on the kid gloves, sumi.

I just realized why I get so irritated when my IT Help tickets don't get responded to-- in fact more angry than I would if I had personally emailed someone and they forgot.

Once I put in the help system, it goes off my to do list. I feel like I should not have to keep track of all my outstanding help desk tickets and then remind people about them. I often have 20 or 30 going at a time, because we do them for everything from web updates to phone issues to having a picture hung. I feel like the ticket system was put in place so that I, the customer, no longer had to follow up on each and every thing. But I do, because I put in a ticket two weeks ago that my faculty computer needed to be set up at 8:00 am this morning because we were administering a computer based test, and I forgot to follow up, and there it was this morning not set up at all.

I would probably go with Sorel or Columbia

The boots I bought for the Land of Lake Effect Snow were Sorel, and they are so warm. Midcalf, and lined, and waterproof. Fairly comfortable, too.

And yes to hats! Especially with my hair so short, if I don't wear a hat when it's cold, I'm miserable.

And I am in a cranky mood, but I hate answering some email questions from potential students. Can't they look online at all? The answers to many of these questions are right there! Also, our classes are rolling. This email is making me craxy:

Hi , I'm interested in registering as an online student for online nursing prerequisite center for lifetime learning courses

What are the perquisites and what would i need to do to become a student and get registered? I would like to know also about financial aid and how soon classes begin?

Sophia,

for that kind of thing, I believe in using gmail's canned responses. I also use textexpander and have snippets of crap I use over and over.