I learned last year (my fifth year teaching high school) to avoid the awkwardness of first day role call by greeting each student at the door, introducing myself, asking his/her name, finding on the role and discreetly putting what they like to be called/pronunciation next to it. Sure, there were kids in the hallway in a line after the bell rang, but by the end of the day, I knew all of my students' names and had shaken each of their hands. And no one was embarrassed or had to sit for the first twenty minutes with a pit in his/her stomach wondering what would come out of my mouth when I got to his/her name.

What really bothers me about the pamphlet (and yes, I read the whole thing--I am a glutton for punishment) is the section on fertility. Basically, the section suggests that if you want a family, you better be prepared to get your MRS degree and give up being a "career woman". Then Dr. Grossman has the balls to say, at the end pamphlet, "Now go follow your dreams!" I guess you're just supposed to follow them if they include saving yourself for a husband and popping babies out.

And they way they put that in there is effing sneaky, too.

Totally agree! And might I add, the show is still character-driven. It's one of the best character-driven shows on TV.

The chick has charisma. Not good charisma, but charisma nonetheless. Something kept bothering me though. Every time she spoke, I heard this song in my head...

Cruella De Vil

Cruella De Vil

If she doesn't scare you

No evil thing will

To see her is to

Take a sudden chill

Cruella, Cruella De Vil

The curl of her lips

The ice in her stare

All innocent children

Had better beware

She's like a spider waiting

For the kill

Look out for Cruella De Vil

At first you think

Cruella is the devil

But after time has worn

Away the shock

You come to realize

You've seen her kind of eyes

Watching you from underneath

A rock!

This vampire bat

This inhuman beast

She ought to be locked up

And never released

The world was such

A wholesome place until

Cruella, Cruella De Vil

She's f***ing Dolores Umbridge (from Harry Potter Book 5)!!!! Cruelty with a grin. Sarcasm with a smile. Power hungry, with her head up the bad guy's a$$es.

From one blue-person-in-a-red-state to another, thank you. I hope you're right! I live in Tennessee, a state in which McShame currently has the biggest lead. Yet, I've only seen four McCain stickers/signs and I see tons for Obama everyday. I hope hopehopehopehope that people see the abomination of the past eight years and know that our country cannot afford to go red.

Lastly, does anyone else think that Cindy McCain is secretly a parseltongue?

LOLOLOL....love it!!!!

DQuintanaNY for Democratic Spokesperson!!!

But if Palin isn't the very definition of "bitch," then a human heart beats inside the zombie ribcage of Dick Cheney.

Also, I refer to women as "chicks" and "dudes," and men as "dudes" pretty much all the time. I intend no disrespect, so I doubt the LW does either. Perhaps a generational thing.

Oh, and you know what is sexist? Palin's anti-woman policies. THE END.

My friends and family jokingly say I have this, because I've been known to quit my job and retake it months later. (As a former teacher, for five years the pattern was thus: give notice in March, move out of the school in May (at year's end), take the job back in July, start the year with enthusiasm in August, ponder quitting again in December). Well, this year I really did it. And you know what? I ache to be back in the classroom.

Part of it is the high of starting. The new things. School supplies, students, coworkers, schedules. Feeling like you're helping people out. Feeling wanted and appreciated. I might add that I've been diagnosed with adult ADD (ADD is notoriously underdiagnosed in females; especially in your generation). It seemed like an easy answer. I don't take medicine for it, but I've had to totally adapt my lifestyle.

But enough about me. The Prophet Matt Groening in his book "Love is Hell" outlines the nine types of girlfriends. I didn't expect to find myself there, in the middle box. The Vaguely Dissatisfied. A woman lying on a bed pondering if she should change her hair color, her job, her life. Yup. Consider me called out.

Cary had an article last week that was brilliant, describing an obsession with a former lover as an "addiction". I see this pattern here. There is something euphoric and rewarding about quitting and starting over. All of the new things give you a rush. Maybe you should reread that article and apply in someway to your situation.

This type of ad may win votes in the Southwest, but all it needs is to get more play here in the South, where anti-immigration sentiment is high. It could actually be used against him. I can hear it now... "McCain--speaking in Spainish!?! You come to 'Murica, you spake Anglish!"

In Nashville this summer, there was a push to put an English-First initiative on the ballot (it was thankfully rejected) that would have required all Metro business be conducted in English. Redundant, ignorant, and ugly, yes. It was to send a clear message that "them outsiders aren't wanted." Just let it get out that McCain supports immigrants and his lead might shrink down here.

McCain went too far with the ad, and his campaign's about to hit a downhill slide. I guess you could say he "jumped the pig."

It's already on the righties' blogs: http://gretawire.foxnews.com/2008/10/01/conflict-of-interest-should-someone-pull-out-of-the-ticket/

This is just what they were looking for so that Sarah Palin doesn't have to debate.

I knew it!!!!!