If I can’t outright refuse to do some obviously sexist request, I try some “planned incompetence.” Guys have been doing this for years to get out of scut work. If a blank look or “I don’t know nothin about X” doesn’t work, just royally screw it up the first time.

The version of Citrix that my workplace uses does not allow me to drag windows between multiple monitors, so a wide-screen would be wonderful. Will consider when my current monitor dies, or flickers . . . even just a little.

“For now, it’s fascinating to see where we’re actually at.”

I am officially done with dating. Put some effort into it last year, but a couple of men apparently expected to be serviced by a VR bot. GOODBYE.

True story: I go on a fishing trip with my Dad (PhD theoretical physicist) and the rented cabin has one of those Proctor Silex toaster ovens. Dad tries to warm up a little something on a PAPER plate. I catch him and say "nononono, not a microwave, Dad." So he goes and gets a PLASTIC plate instead. "JUST GET OUT OF THE…

Oh, maaaaan. That is terrible. I hope you are OK now? I keep a Tyvek moonsuit and safety goggles around for such things. Personal Protection Equipment, people!

I just used the self-cleaning cycle in my oven to strip an old cast iron skillet that was beyond cleaning in the normal way. It works great, if you don't mind starting the re-seasoning process all over.

Just one out of many examples: I was once told in a performance review, in a tone that left no question it was not a good thing, that “You don’t suffer fools gladly.” I said “Do you think I really should??”

She did two albums called “Hits” and “Misses” which I think still included lots of hits. One of my favorites was “Urge for Going.” I think we’ve all had that!

Even though I spent my morning drive blaming you for inspiring a lot of bad female folksinging, you did it well with your swooping vocals. Please get well soon.

Not during the wedding, but during the fitting in the bridal shop: I had on electric blue long underwear - it was hellacious cold that winter - glowing through the gauzy gauze. My Mom (in her 80s now) laughed her bee-hind off and still goes on about it to this day.

Have mercy, Pinkham!

I wish the kilt comeback would keep happening. Not appropriate for yoga, though, I suppose.

It's pretty standard at all Universities (public and private) for the development office to solicit internal donations. "You can't ask alumni to give if you don't give." and so on. Many senior faculty and administrators make some pretty good jack.

Seems like if the city requires composting and everyone is doing it, the neighborhood could organize an outdoor communal pile. I keep my "working scraps" in an ice cream bucket in the freezer and then walk it outside when it gets full.

Yep! I'm currently in a contract pharma R&D lab and cringe when I remember how much unnecessary risk we were taking. Amazing I still have eyes.

Agreed on all points, says the Senior Old Research Scientist who did acid digests in grad school wearing shorts, "jap flaps", puka shell necklace, etc. No safety goggles or OSHA standards for us!

After a certain age, clothes like this just make you look poor. Like you are still wearing the stuff you had 40 years ago.

Sounds great - for my dogs.

See? More interesting, right there.