I loooooove my roomba but would not appreciate it as a romantic valentine's day gift.

In fact on second grumpy thoughts, that applies to all you Americans. $30k US (that's what, like, $35k Australian these days?) for a 400hp V8 muscle car? We pay that for a fuckin' Camry.

Americans would have to pay $30K for a Camry too. Of course, we could then afford insurance and gas for the Camry. I can't IMAGINE the insurance on a hot camero for a 17 year old boy.

I lost my sense of smell too. As for taste, I can only really detect sweet/spicey/salty. If I eat a fruit flavored candy ... I only know it's sweet until someone around me says "I smell oranges."

I eat things I used to love and pretend they still taste good. I do eat a lot more spicy or sweet things than I probably would if I could really "taste" them. Even a well prepared steak doesn't have much taste. But a BBQ rib sure does.

Since this loss happened later in my life I "remember" what things smelled like and I have friends that describe smells to me. If you set your mind to it you can imagine quite a bit.

From the article: The traded-in vehicles must have a fuel economy of no more than 18 miles per gallon, be in drivable condition, and have been registered for at least the past 120 days.

Less than 18 MPG to get the cash!?! My husband's 2001 Dodge Durango gets 20 mpg at its worst. So his SUV wouldn't be eligable. Perhaps they should have made the mpg requirement a bit higher for more vehicles to qualify.

Your idea has some merit. But it also punishes those that are already high achievers. If I'm teaching a bunch of honor students, any improvement can only be marginal, since they are already at the top. Compare that to failing students ... they have much more room for improvement.

This is a personal pet peeve of mine. I see many programs aimed at encouraging the below average and/or teaching to the middle. Meanwhile my straight A kids don't even get a pat on the back from school officials.

I've met them! I used to own a rental property. The welfare department forced me to accept a welfare family ... once. These people had 4 kids. Neither parent worked. They stayed home and watched tv all day long. The kids got free breakfast and lunch at school. Heat was included in my rental. They left the windows open and wore shorts all winter! They trashed my house and moved out without the contractually agreed notice ... guess who paid the tab ... welfare. Or should I say the taxpayers.

These people were 'lifers' as the welfare worker referred to them. And they were raising future lifers.

In what other area can you abandon your current job (Obama, McCain and Clinton are "currently" senators) for 2 years trying to get a new 1 and NOT GET FIRED?

So when they start campaigning even earlier next time, perhaps we can have an interim election to fill their vacated seat and not pay them.