Yup, clicked on the article just to see if it was a Moomin. I only recently discovered them when I came upon a Moomin story in a collection of children's literature. I've decided that I must name my next pet Too-Ticky.

One of the best accounts I've read about CFS is by Laura Hillenbrand, author of Seabiscuit. You can read her essay "A Sudden Illness" at http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2003/0…. (I just checked, and even though I'm not a subscriber, I was able to access the full article.) I'd highly recommend it, in particular for…

I'd say you have the makings of an op-ed—if you could muster the energy to write one—in particular because you, in your words, "used to be an advocate for merit pay thinking people against it just didn't want to work hard." I'd bet that is a major reason most people are opposed to increased salaries for teachers. Or…

I just wanted to say thanks for sharing your experience. I know being a public school teacher is hard, but I didn't realize just how hard! And I think people should know what it's like to be a teacher these days. The politicians don't seem to know, many journalists (or newspaper publishers) don't seem to care enough…

I would definitely agree. When I work "from home," I usually end up at the local coffee shop or library. I need to sit somewhere without the clutter of other distractions.

I'd been wondering how easy it would be to tame the blue jays that come to my bird feeder. I have yet to have one land on my head! (Or allow me to come anywhere near it. I guess I don't spend enough time near the feeder making myself familiar to the birds.)

Reminds me of a Patton Oswalt bit where he says the following:

I read when I'm waiting, but I prefer sitting (with systems where you just grab a number and wait for it to come up on a monitor) to standing in line. I usually have a bag with me, and I dislike having to shuffle forward in line while reading and making sure I don't bump into anyone with my bag.