Consuela, I was looking at that site because of Vonnie and cursing her name earlier because they has so many cool but hellishly expensive shoes. Sad.

And Vortex said what I meant, better. Racial slurs don't slip out if you're not thinking them in the first place.

Any advice on how to deal with a crazy control freak who is assuming responsibility that, in the end, is not hers?

You and I seem to have the same boss, Juliebird. I do my best to stay out of her way and off her radar. When I have to have her input, I do a lot of ego-stroking. The most exhausting part of my job is managing my manager. Le n, you had some good ideas, I'm-a use 'em. On the occasions when I'm not too furious to do the delicate work of psychological manipulation.

What makes it extra sad is that, if this were a relationship, I'd be out the door.

Ooh, I have said that, many times.

Slapping a kid is aggravated assault and should get the appropriate penalty. I might be a little lenient due to circumstances, but not much. I understand the guy was in a lot of pain and very much on edge, but if you're a person who typically lashes out physically, get some Xanax. There's no good excuse for hitting a kid.

I don't think I can justify buying those shoes. Except that I WANT THEM.

I will pay someone to come and do my job for me for a week. Room, board, money, whatever, just give me a week I don't have to deal with this.

omg I bought the shoes. Partly because, well. Just because.

Retail therapy appears to be what I need: at least it's better than drinking.

I think if you slap a tiny kid that's not your own when under stress, I don't give a fuck if it's your last nerve that's been worked, and I don't want to think about the other shit you've pulled when stress has triggered you.

No direct comment on this case, but I'm going to put in a plug for the Australian novel "The Slap": [link] From the cover blurb: "At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own." The novel follows the repurcussions through eight chapters, each devoted to one of the people at the barbecue. It's also been turned into a miniseries: [link]

I could not get through the miniseries. I saw the first episode, and then I had to bail.

Some penalty is justified for the baby-slapper -- he's out of control. Even if it's just a suspended sentence with mandatory anger/grief counseling.

No direct comment on this case, but I'm going to put in a plug for the Australian novel "The Slap": [link]. From the cover blurb: "At a suburban barbecue, a man slaps a child who is not his own."

That happened in one of the early episodes of Mad Men. They were having a party, and one of the guests slapped one of the Draper kids (I think because he was running in the house and crashed into someone, or something) and everyone treats it as if that's perfectly acceptable.