I’m in a very similar position. I come across as awkward and suffer from depression and avoidant personality disorder. However, even when I am having a really good day/week and find it easy to approach people with a compliment or just to strike up a conversation, it’s met with something that feels like suspicion. The…

I used to believe that - I am also a person who freely gives compliments to people, whether I know them or not. However, I never find I’m on the receiving end of anything like that. I often just feel invisible, which, in turns, makes me less apt to be friendly in the future.

This makes no sense to me at all. As the article points out, this is single-use. What good is that? How many people only fire one shot at someone? So... the first bullet won’t kill them, but the next two will. Way better to just have a handgun that’s loaded with non-lethal rounds to begin with. Use separate guns for…

It amazes me how many things we still do that we don’t need to. Stuff like cooking pork all to hell to kill parasites. Or sterilizing something like this when good old hot, soapy water will do. You would think the new information would have disseminated by now.

Gees, I’d have to have the sleep cycle of a 6 year old just to get 8 hours of sleep between my cats, getting up to use the bathroom, and just generally crappy sleep. Then again, I’d never be able to get up at 6 or 7am... it’s hard enough to get up at noon.

The story about the silver pen is exactly why I have a difficult time throwing things out even if I haven’t used them in awhile. Because without fail, I’ll end up needing it a week after I toss it. So now, I just focus more on putting more thought into what I buy. Will I actually use that cute owl cakelet pan or am I…

Yes, thank you for saying this. People often just say “s/he needs a thicker skin” but that completely invalidates the fact that people can’t just change how they’re wired. Some people are more sensitive than others and nothing will change that. It’s a lot easier to change your tactics than it is for someone to…

I just got a sous vide and while it won’t make a fried egg, I can’t wait to use it to make soft-boiled eggs to eat with toast. /drool

I grew up cooking my eggs like that. I flip them now only because my pans don’t have lids, but steaming them used to be my go-to. Though I do enjoy a slightly crispy edge now, too.

Excellent article. The environmental concerns have always been my top issue with agriculture in general. The biggest issue I have with buying locally is the price. Around here (Tacoma, WA), the cost of locally grown food from a CSA (which is a huge lump sum we can’t afford) is almost double what it is at a regular…

This is why I hate meeting new people. I try so hard to be polite and conscious of everything that’s going on around me, but I inevitably get into a conversation with someone who either asks me something terribly uncomfortable or is easily offended by something I unintentionally said. /sigh

Totallt agree. Acronyms should be guided by their original words. Graphics has a hard G, so why would it be jif?

Alan, you seem like such a friendly guy. Always nice to see someone so helpful and positive online as opposed to all the jerks out there. :)

My husband's PAX tee shirts have started many conversations with strangers, so they definitely do serve a purpose. He wears them all the time. It's nice to be able to connect with people who have similar interests and conversations are sparked when they recognize that you're wearing a shirt from a Con they went to.

Couldn't agree more. While this might be "practical" for some, I think it applies to a very small number of people who are single. I might not use my kitchen gadgets every day or every week, but there are some things you just can't do without a stand mixer or a food processor. Do I need my bread machine? Probably…

I can completely relate to (almost) everything you've said. Though I am married, my husband just isn't interested in most of the things I am and is often in his own little world (he has ADD) when I try to discuss intellectual things. I've tried to connect with people up here (I'm in the Seattle area) and it just…