It's not just Sallie Mae. I'm a consultant, and I've worked with companies a tenth the size of Sallie Mae who still can't communicate internally. Half the time, the departments not communicating are right down the hall from each other. I'm surprised so many people on here assume this was a villainous plot on the part…

That's true, but it wasn't malicious. Any time you deal with an organization bigger than a Mom and Pop operation, you have to accept that miscommunication and inefficiency are inevitable.

There isn't one. It was nice of Citi and Discover to forgive the loans, but they didn't really have an obligation to.

Um... What do you think it should have been nominated for? Best Picture? It's a good movie, but it's not really on the same level as any of the nominees. Plus the Academy almost never nominates comedies.

What women would you have liked to see nominated for Best Director? The only woman I can think of who would have even an outside shot this year is Nicole Holofcener for the criminally under-appreciated Enough Said, but that movie didn't get anywhere near enough buzz to be really considered a contender.

It's a fairly prestigious school. It's part of a group of schools referred to as the Black Ivy League. It's not as prestigious as the actual Ivy League Schools (like Harvard, Yale, etc), but it still has a good reputation and looks good on a resume.

They shouldn't be. I feel horrible for the family, but their lawsuits are frivolous. The only person responsible is the driver. It doesn't matter whether the U-Haul is full of kegs or food to be given to the homeless, if the driver hits and kills pedestrians, he's responsible, not anyone else. I'm far from a proponent…

I'm not worried about them; I'm just saying I disagree with the logic "The company should take a loss, rather than the couple, because the company can more easily afford it."

But what makes Alinea different isn't just food. It's a molecular gastronomy experience. The reason children aren't banned from Olive Garden is because there's no expectation that they be banned. Since you seem hung up on issues of money, take the example of Kuma's Corner, another Chicago restaurant (which I HIGHLY…

No it isn't, because you didn't pay extra for a quiet atmosphere at Chili's. Let's look at another example that isn't related to finance, because I understand that it's a touchy subject. If you go to yoga class or a group meditation, you go with a basic expectation of peace. If someone brought a crying baby, other…

Every other restaurant doesn't order the specific food daily based on how many tickets they've sold for that night. They have to have a certain amount of food to accommodate the fact that different people will order different things. Most restaurants with prix fixe menus have at least some penalty for canceling…

Wait, why are they assholes? And why did you say ALINEA EXPERIENCE in all caps like it was an inherently ridiculous concept? Eating at Alinea IS an experience. The food, the ambiance, the china, everything is meticulously prepared to provide the best possible experience, and the waitstaff is the best of the best. A…

I agree with you that it isn't rude to call out a kid for kicking your seat, but I am generally sympathetic to kids on airplanes. There are some times where flying is pretty much necessary, like weddings or funerals, and I won't even begrudge a family their annual vacation. A fancy restaurant is completely different…

You're not paying for just a meal though, you're paying for an experience. Like if you go to a $5 community theater show and there are microphone problems/actors forgetting lines/prop disasters/etc, you're not going to be that upset, but if you pay $300 for floor seats to the Met, you're going to be pissed if you see…

Woah, I was thinking of moving to Park Slope. I read some really nice things. Are there really kids everywhere?

True, but from what I understand, the couple purchased the tasting menu. That basically means the restaurant prepares food for you, which means the restaurant orders the exact amount of food that they need each day (corresponding to the reservation or ticket sales for that night). The tickets cost $200, and even…

That was my thought. Stay at home or homemaking dads aren't SUPER common, but they're not rare enough to warrant surprise...

I guess I understand what you're saying, but I just hate the argument "Xyz should be illegal because it's harmful to the person involved." If something is harmful to others, like owning assault rifles or driving recklessly, then by all means, make it illegal, but I think things like drug use or polygamy should be…

But all of those questions are personal questions that need to be decided individually. You're treating the women in the relationships like people who have no say, but I'm obviously not saying I think it's ok to have non-consensual polygamy. I don't see how you saying the relationship might have a negative effect on…

Who cares though? If young women are ok with being married to an old man to be provided for, and if said old man's first wife is ok with her husband having a younger wife, then I don't see why it should be illegal.