That has been my experience. Want a promotion? You have to ask. Want a raise? You have to ask. Otherwise, I think higher ups assume you are okay with the status quo.

I think you’d be interested in epigenetics. Basically, it looks at whether or not traits were “turned on or off” by external factors. There is a lot of controversy over whether traits that are altered by epigenetic factors are heritable or not, which sounds like the what you are talking about in your comment.…

This is likely an unpopular opinion, but I really don’t enjoy her show. I actually will turn NPR off during her show unless I really want to listen to a guest of hers. I’ve learned this is a divisive issue among WAMU listeners; people absolutely adore her or they can’t stand her. Very few people are in between.

When I visit my sibling in Southwest Florida I always go to their local Goodwills. All of those snow birds donate their high-end, well-made clothing and I make out like a bandit!

This Chipotle outbreak reminds of story from a public health nurse I know. She had a case where 50+ people were sick with e. coli and after interviewing a number of them they realized that they all had eaten potato salad bought at a farmers market; after testing, it was confirmed to be the source of e. coli. Even…

My parents did this and it worked well. I’d look at something and if it was pricey my mom would say, “It’s your money but once it’s gone, it’s gone!” I think it really helped us understand need versus want and spending money wisely.

Totally agree with this. My parents usually got us (me and a sibling) about 3-5 gifts total. Our parents would give a small things throughout the year as a reward for achievements. For example, when I struggled in math and got an B+ on a report card, my parents surprised me with a beanie baby I had lusted after. We…

My trick is to get the money immediately moved into a savings account or an investment account. Otherwise, it’s all gone so quickly. Just to clarify, I’m not a trust fund kid. I just saved enough a few years back to open a mutual fund on my own. It’s the most adult I have ever felt.

This is no joke. A cousin of mine in the South couldn’t afford a minor traffic ticket and had to let it sit and it grew to about 300% what it was originally due to fines. The county put a warrant out for her arrest. She turned herself in and sat in jail for 3 days to “pay her debt.” They asked her why she turned…

If you love Timbuk2 bags like me, don’t wash them in the washer! It will void their amazing lifetime warranty.

My boyfriend had a similar experience. For about a year and a half after school he lived at home. He moved out because he could afford to but now looks back and thinks it would have been better to stay there a little longer and save up more money.

If that had been an option for me, I would have totally lived with a relative during school. Unfortunately, all of my family lives out in nowheresville rural Texas.

Texas’s state bird is a goose that just got shot by an armed, uninsured child.

I bought a side-sleeper foam pillow from Ikea about a year ago and I really like it! I wish it had the cooling feature, but it’s not enough of a wish to upgrade.

Usually the flu will knock you on your ass for a 5-10 days. Anything under 5 is usually just a cold virus.

Totally agree. I hosted a Halloween party this weekend and multiple people said, “This is the most food I have ever seen at a party.” I was shocked!

The best way I know is to get involved with local politics (at least enough to get newsletters about local, county, and state elections and candidates). Usually you’ll get invited to meet and greets from those newsletters/emails where you actually meet the candidates that are running and talk to them about issues.

I nearly threw up after reading this.

I just stayed in a vacation home up in the blue ridge mountains. AH! Never. going. back.

Jesus christ. Stories like this make me feel better about compulsively closing blinds and locking my doors and windows.