The statute is very clear that mandated reporters in Minnesota are obligated to report to law enforcement or a child welfare agency. Reporting to a principal would not meet the obligation for reporting. This case is blurrier because what he did is super messed up but legally does not qualify as sexual abuse, physical…

It’s not about whether the stupid game is fair or not or whether the machine will injure her. A parent that make their kids accessories to crimes, especially when they are babies, tend to rope their kids into all sorts of thefts, scams, and cons right up until they are old enough to leave the house, often letting…

Oof, Tom Arnold looks rough in that shot with Patton Oswald. Is that a result of a) the fight, b) way too much sun exposure, c) meth, d) too much booze, or e) some dermatological condition? Maybe I just haven’t seen a picture of him in a long time, but I don’t remember him looking like that the last time I did see…

Yes, both the old timey CD ones and digital audiobooks. My library also has little preloaded MP3 player things with audiobooks that they check out.

I mean technically “generating profit while performing some given function” is exactly how Republicans have been running the government. Deregulation = money from energy companies flowing into the GOP coffers. Gridlocking congress so no gun control legislation can get through = sweet, sweet NRA dollars. Kneecapping…

Bingo. I used to teach middle school (kids 11-14) in a “rough” neighborhood that politicians love to use as an example for their dogwhistle fearmongering. I’m significantly smaller than the (obviously out of shape) officer in this case. Somehow I managed to maintain a pretty chill classroom without tasing or…

That really sucks. Your experience is obviously highly specific, but it really underscores the reasons many people grin and bear it or just silently move on to hopefully a less toxic workplace. Unless you work for a massive multinational company, there is no such thing as a truly anonymous complaint for a…

She doesn’t want to understand anything. All of the relevant information that makes her post ridiculous racist garbage is out there for her. She’s chosen either to ignore that information or disbelieve it. Nothing would be gained from that MA except giving her the ability to say “I know because I did an MA in African…

This is possibly the best all around put down I’ve ever heard. Height, culture, religion... it ticks all the boxes. Brutal. Pity he couldn’t work his mom in somehow. 

I love that you sing Fantasy. I hope I sit in front of you on a coaster someday as I would totally join in with you.  

Wooden roller coasters seem pretty polarizing even for roller coaster lovers. I love them. My old favorite was the Texas Giant which threw you all over the car and about rattled your teeth out of your…

Same, I adore roller coasters, but post-childbirth something went wonky with my ability to deal with the really extreme spirals on steel coasters if the mph is too high. I have never had any issue at all with coasters or any sort of thrill ride but I rode the Titan at Six Flags Over Texas several years ago (which I…

What you’ve posted already is very helpful, but can I ask you hammock questions? I would love to make this a full time bed for me - best sleep I’ve ever had was in a hammock and sleep is such a challenge for me. How did you suspend it in your house and (sorry if this is too personal) did you completely get rid of your…

The problem in this particular instance that I think goes to Bladerunner’s point is that the audience members didn’t get a choice in this instance. They went to see a show at the Comedy Cellar and paid for those seats. Louis CK got put on the slate of comedians for the night filling a slot that could have been given…

Same. This looks perfect for putting my reluctant 60lb dog in so my daughter and I can carry him upstairs for his bath. He doesn’t fight or squirm, he just goes limp and becomes dead weight. Carrying 60lbs is no problem for me. Lifting 60 awkward pounds of limbs and claws and tail and carrying it upstairs is not so…

Exactly. He’s going around shooting women but I feel pretty positive this guy has whined about how no one hot will have sex with him (and do everything - cooking, cleaning, laundry, shopping without a vehicle - for him other than shoot women). And of course there will be no connecting the dots for him that thinking…

I kind of hope the motions are granted. Let him be resentenced and let every one of those women speak again if they so choose. He’s not going to get anything less than something that results in life in prison at this point. This case is too high profile now and no judge is going to change the sentence in a way that…

Totally. This whole list other than “hip hop” has been used as a substitute for Latino in many of the places I’ve lived (California, Texas, Arizona). But when I lived in the midwest... Damon’s list was spot on (though “underserved” really only was used to refer to migrant workers there).

“Ethnic” is the worst because…

I don’t think any of the shows are about finding “love” for the contestants. They are about getting on tv. Some of them may have pipe dreams of that tv appearance leading to some sort of insta-fame or future gig that makes money, but a lot of people just really want to be on tv (see Springer, Jerry and Judy, Judge, et…

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is excellent, especially for teen skin that tends to be oily or breakout. Also, I can’t say enough good things about the entire Shiseido sun protection line of products. The straight up sunscreen is amazing and stays on in water so much better than many other water resistant sunscreens. And…

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer is excellent, especially for teen skin that tends to be oily or breakout. Also, I can’t say…

While I don’t think that there is a large scale child labor/sex slave auction house “processing” all the girls, I think you raise a good broad point about sexual abuse. I’m hoping that the reason we’re seeing such huge numbers of boys is that girls are less likely to be sent to cross as unaccompanied minors, so there…