The perils of being a broad-shouldered woman: button-downs of any kind NEVER FIT. In order to accommodate my shoulders and ribs, I'd have to buy 2-3 sizes larger than normal, and then I get a tent of fabric from the boobs down. Consequently, I have to make do with those shoulder seams being pulled towards my neck, if…

I left upstate NY twenty years ago and I still can't get rid of the nasal A. Most people can tell that I'm a yankee, but not specifically what part - except for other upstaters and some midwesterners, who can pick out where I'm from *immediately*.

Think of the preinstalled junk as advertising (those third party programs pay PC manufacturers to have their stuff preinstalled) - you can't get ANYTHING without advertising unless you pay more or do it yourself. It's not the store's responsibility to fix it for you. They usually have the ability to do so, but you'll…

I got one of these as a gift a couple years ago and I use it All The Time. I'm terrible about remembering to take the bag/strainer out of my mug, and this solves the problem for me. Of course, I still have to remember to get up and *pour* the tea before the warmer turns off after an hour...

And the book readers all drum their fingers on their lips and smile. hehe.

Taking a story from book to television is a translation; some things have to change to make it work, but you're expected to keep the spirit of the story intact as well as the general timeline of events. You don't film it so that 50% never actually happened in the book, or change events that had a very specific purpose.

The comparison in the book is that Colum is the brains and Dougal is the brawn of the MacKenzie leadership - and, as it turns out, the cock. as well.

The last third of the episode - the ceremony, the stables, and the hunt - is the first time so far the show has been consistent with the book for more than a few minutes at a stretch. Minor changes, but the general timeline and events kept intact. And surprise, it's the first time I wasn't motivated to take a frying…

Very recently - and I mean of the last couple weeks - I've started seeing a huge increase in the number of cards with chips in them. Downside: we don't have the equipment necessary for the pin portion. In Europe, you have to stick your card chipside into a slot and enter your pin; here it's still a straight swipe.

I'm over 5'8 and all of my male blood relations are around 6'2. I also grew up in a town heavily populated by Italians, mostly short Sicilians - I was 16 before most guys around my age were even at eye level with me. I *love* tall men, preferably around 6'2-6'4. Tall enough to put his chin on my head. Tall enough that…

Anxiety of all stripes is largely based on assuming the worst, and the more you think about it, the more worked up you get about it. One of the things they teach you in therapy is to be aware of the things that trigger your anxiety, and to find ways to stop yourself from dwelling on it and break the cycle. Replacement…

I never viewed it as truly homophobic, because BJR is predominantly a *sadist* who just happens to be gay (or bi), and then starting with the next book, you have the counterpoint of Lord John Grey, who has considerable positive influence over the story.

I am an archetypal introvert and I spend 4-5 days at a rather large music festival every year with about 1000 people, at least half of whom I know to varying degrees. After many years of this, I've learned how to ration my energy output to the point that I don't crash into the Introvert Wall until the last evening,…

Their chai is my favorite - lots of big chunks of spices.

The best birthday present I ever got was a newfangled teamaker from Breville, which you can set to a specific temperature, steep for a specific time, and you can even choose whether to "agitate" the leaves (the strainer moves up and down the magnetic pole) or just let it sit in the water. I am HORRIBLE at remembering…

I used to live on the southwest side of the city, but the crime started moving that way, and I had to leave Baltimore entirely because I couldn't afford to live where it was safer.

In Baltimore in 2008, I paid $650/mo for a 1br 600 sq ft apartment in a 30 yr old building - it had been going up about $20-25 a year over the course of several years.

"The principle held a news conference at the high school"

I've always seen and used it in the first context.

Your shower curtain - or at the very least the plastic liner - should be in the first night box. I usually just buy a $5 cheapo at Target, put it somewhere that's easily accessible along with the rings, and throw out the old one before I leave.