Oh for sure. I can remember going on something like that and just running on a very high level of anxiety all day. But people also let their kids get too close to gorillas in zoos, and drag dolphins out of the water, and all manner of ridiculous things. So I guess I’m being a little more cynical than I need to be.

Of course! I was just thinking that people aren’t afraid of hippos like they are of other natural predators, but of course you are correct.

I wonder if the reason that they are the most dangerous in Africa is because people don’t think they’re dangerous? Like, you aren’t going to run up and start jerking on a crocodile tail, or play slap the cheetah ass. Smart people will know to avoid contact with these animals, but most people are pretty dumb.

Our local catholic church has recently become infamous (within the church) because the most popular priest in decades left the church to get married and have babies in France (this is Texas). He is still extremely popular with attendees, and there’s been some... conflict since he left because the church has decided to…

Mmm, I’d be hesitant in making that comparison, it’s not like the Han Chinese aren’t a native people (even if there was longstanding conflict). I’d say a better comparison would be if the British incorporated the story of William Wallace where he’s having tea with the Queen.

I know that not everybody likes it, but I like a good burger with an egg on it. Something about that runny yolk with the beef just SINGS to me.

Joe Pesci deliberately avoided Macaulay Culkin on-set, because he wanted Culkin to think he was mean.- IMDB 

Stirling Castle is very accessible, about 40 min by train to the town of Stirling, and the castle is a must-see, it was one of the highlights of my trip.

I DID just go, in July. The tourists are fine if you go up there early. And it is beautiful.

Oh I know it’s totally normal! But my younger brain did not comprehend that.

I’ve also never *not* had one. Even when I was younger/thinner/whatever. It’s just always been there. It shocks me that some people will never have this, but I had to stop worrying about it a long time ago.

Also, was just in Cairngorns, it IS really that beautiful, and you’re surrounded by distilleries and pure highland goodness. She deserves this vacation.

God, I literally cannot think of a worse thing to do holding that position.

Yes, and the books really are very critical of the social stratification that occurs, especially with domestic staff.

The footnotes really are the best. All of the Singapore slang! They have the best curses.

His poor, poor family. I don’t know how she is still married to him.

I mean, that critique is definitely correct, but he spends the whole time talking about how beautiful it is, appreciating the third-fourth-fifth generation food stall owners for perfecting their craft, and there’s certainly some criticism for the property developers who have taken over with the high-rise buildings…

Ohhhh gotcha. In that case, watch your chewing gum!

That event with her brother, as I was reading it, I was thinking that this probably happens WAY more often than we hear about. Plus, I hate reading Cousin Eddie’s chapters, he’s the wooorrssst.

I mean, it’s very over the top. Which is funny, because reading an interview with the author, he said his publisher told him to -tone it down, because no one will believe him- even though he was writing from his own experiences. But that’s what makes it fun! That and the half hidden celebrity references that he…