This exactly. Most kids are mean at one time or another to a sibling or classmate. The key to being an adult is realizing that was wrong, taking responsibility for your action, apologizing sincerely and going forward knowing that you need to keep your jerk-tendencies in check. 

I know what you mean about Michael Jackson - my sister and he shared a birthday - it felt like we grew up together. We watched the Jackson 5 cartoon (hey we like animals too!). Later dancing to his more adult music as we grew up. From what I’ve read he was terribly abused as a kid - and being a world-wide celebrity as…

I don’t know if this is political party thing. For me it goes way beyond politics. I grew up loving Bill Cosby and James Brown...both of whom were pretty terrible to women for basically their entire adult lives. How do I separate my appreciation of their talent and work from their behavior?

22 seems pretty young to me. But, as an adult this individual is responsible for their own decisions, i agree. 

I think that’s fine. He was a man of his time and within a certain socio-economic class. History is complicated. None of us are 100% good or 100% bad - just like Washington and Jefferson and the others. It is important to face the fullness and complexity of our history. When one faces a painful truths about oneself,…

I agree, except we’re talking about a teenager. That age sometimes has a difficult time understanding the consequences of actions. No beef against, them; it is part of growing up. I’m sorry it made this kids life a little harder. Although I’m super happy the family is supportive. 

Shout out to Dr Dean Lomax - he really is Dr Ichthyosaur!

This is wonderful...but Ska? 

The post office is a service, not a for-profit business. So yes, I expect it to lose money and we still fund it. The military is a service too - we fund them constantly and they don’t make any profit for us.

I really didn’t think I could hate anyone; but I can easily hate Repubs like this who want to demonize children and make their lives harder than they already are. Way to go Trad-Fam-Vals Zombies. What cheesebags.

Not this fucking whitey. The election can’t come fast enough for me to vote him gone. 

Don’t forget DDT, and an enormous number of chemicals dumped on the food supply - nothing organic unless you grew it yourself.

I haven’t but I’m running to the store right now!

I didn’t know I was supposed to be practicing witchcraft!! whoohooo!

I’m hoping for a very large heart attack in the next 10 years. 

meh, he was old enough to have reproduced, so not so much Darwinism...if he was 17 then yeah.

Who knows what would be worth crossing space for. We do it because we are going to need another planet someday. 

i know how you feel. The lack of empathy shown by some segments of the population is pretty staggering and is disheartening. I hope that this is the death throws of that attitude. We cannot (as humans) live without practicing tolerance and taking the long view. Despite the vitrol these days, I feel more optimistic…

I hope hope hope hope that is how it works out. 

Me too! I was very shy and had never really shown anyone any of my work. Now, I teach my young coworkers how to focus on always improving the work and not sweat criticism as a personal assessment. Other people’s feedback is so useful - I certainly don’t have all the answers. :-)