The United States funds Irish organisations campaigning for this crap.

You're right, lots of people around the world did this, lots of religions. It doesn't take away our ability to get outraged at this, though.

I still get goosebumps EVERY TIME I listen to The Magdalene Laundries by Joni Mitchell.

All the good stuff=doing God's work

Not really. There has always been a strong Protestant population in Ireland, mostly Methodist and Church of Ireland. Don't erase them.

There were Protestant homes of that kind too (such as Bethany House), and plenty of women who had been there are finding it hard to get reparations as the focus is on the Catholic ones.

I think she's speaking against slacktivism, the idea that sharing something on facebook or tweeting something changes the world or gets you off the hook from doing good. Raising awareness about stuff that's not widely known is admirable. Raising awareness of breast cancer, for example, is bullshit.

Most people in the Republic would say obviously they'd like to see a united Ireland

The Jezabels.

Museums in Vienna! Never been to Duesseldorf so I can't help you there.

You're doing amazingly well, congratulations on this new phase of your life and your positive attitude!

Oh dude, that is the WORST. I'm 3 months out of a ten year relationship where he just said one day out of the blue "I don't feel committed to you and I don't see a future together". I know that world falling apart feeling, the feeling of betrayal. Why didn't she tell you years ago? Is she emotionally incompetent?

When I lived in the UK I was a research assistant on a MBCT-related study that was run by Prof Williams, and I've seen him talk a few times at conferences. I can't believe he's old enough to be thinking of retirement.

Your development is way ahead of mine then :)

I do stuff with mindfulness too (mostly MBCT) and I live on the same side of the Atlantic as you! By internet terms, that makes us practically twins.

Prosopagnosia, you can read about it in Oliver Sacks' book "The man who mistook his wife for a hat". Generally comes about as a result of brain damage to the fusiform gyrus area, though.

You don't need a liberal arts education (or indeed, a college education) to be compassionate to other people and take their needs into consideration.

Aaaaw...I miss hugs. Internet ones are still awesome :)

Yay, it's not just me then! Seriously beats my lonely undergrad way of coping, which was pull up a chair and talk to my reflection in the mirror.

Thank you :) I hope things are getting better for you, grief is so hard.