My gut is?... that's for cowards, anyhoo...

unless you're talking about advances in military superiority.

There's an interesting argument to be made for man's warrior nature being the impetus for much of his science and engineering development.

Back in the old days when children played outside voluntarily, it was referred to as a prank call or a bomb threat, depending on how much money your Dad had... so some things are the same.

For my money, 18 year-old-man is likely a misrepresentation of the facts.

The thing is, with child-rearing, everyone has an opinion since almost everyone qualifies for the job. No one parent always makes the right call, and even though the very definition of right call varies from mom to mom, some make better decisions overall than others.

I submit, that within boundaries, people are free to fuck up their kids as they see fit... that way we get some additional diversity.

I know the cost of living becomes unbearable for the folks willing to relocate in the oil boom-towns I am familiar with. If you were already here (or there), and had housing paid for, there's a good living to be had for a minute.

But if you have to pay rent/mortgage: Folks paying $5-700 to live in their own RV in a field, $1100-a-month for a 1 BR apt in not the best location, and 60-100% above County property valuation for a home.

Many welcome the break that is the bust cycle.

100 yards is the metric field... following the easy to multiply tens standard.

I think you know 120 yards is only used popularly in the USian scale

In the absence of obvious abuse, the simple test should be: is the child fed, clothed, sheltered, and schooled?

The sadder state of affairs is that a child justifiably separated from his/her parents by the State is unlikely to do much better in the foster parent system.

I feel the same way about names.

Damn, if only there was some retort that could be twisted from your nom de plume.

Allowing others to alter your mood with words or harmless acts gives them power over you.

This makes the person you're closest to unnecessarily unhappy.