This is going to be a very long childhood for that poor kid.

Raising kids costs money. This is not the last time people will be less than perfect in their interactions with her special snowflake. Will she bill them when they only drink half of the can of soda they opened? Have to leave a movie early because they become sick? Don't cover exactly half of the supplies needed for a joint science project?

What values exactly is she trying to teach her kid?

Those are so much better it's actually startling.

Made me think of the Galapagos marine iguana, which snorts out the salt from sea water. When you're in an extreme environment, you gotta do what you gotta do!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_iguana

That wasn't a "hose outlet" inside the house, it was the faucet of a laundry sink next to the washing machine, which is pretty common all over the U.S. They just used it because they would have already drained the water lines leading to the outside water taps (where the garden hose would be attached during the summer) in preparation for winter, so they needed an inside tap that had outside threads to couple with the hose. Ergo, the laundry sink.

One of the biggest regrets in my life was that by being so good at academic subjects, I wasn't allowed to take ANY vocational-type classes in middle or high school. I might be book-smart, but I prefer hands-on work. So I would argue that tracking is an underlying problem that wouldn't be helped by having more vocational high schools (although I do agree there should be more vocational courses available at the high school level).

And 30 years from now, when the then-current fashion for women is to have a round face, her yearbook photo will look "ugly" because the touch-up made her conform to today's standards instead.

Good for her to recognize the prejudice involved in this.

Unfortunately, "Robin Banks" was too kind to that kid and it may blow up in his face. We -- and more importantly, the police -- now have a physical description. I sincerely hope he gets to work his craft for the rest of his life without interference, but this could make it a lot harder for him to stay anonymous.

I know a woman who didn't realize she was pregnant with her FOURTH child until 5.5 months into the pregnancy. Not fat, but one of those absentminded professor types who is brilliant in one area and clueless in most others.

Anyone who thinks these photos are a trick could see for themselves by volunteering to live in North Korea for 6 months.

Is it April Fools' Day?

You mean I wouldn't have to do all the cooking if I were part of that family? I could handle a couple of Marneys in the room for that advantage.

Imagine how much better these recipes would be if made from scratch.

Disappeared, or was disappeared? How late in the 1920's? This might be stolen goods and thus not eligible to be auctioned off.