Shades of Edward II!

What little I know about animal behavior is that staring another creature down is a mark of dominance.

I've learned the New Yorker's ability to go "invisible" on the subway. But recently, there was a man who attempted to cut into line and steal a cab on a day when the subways weren't running. For those of you who aren't dependent on public transit, this is BAD.

I called him on it, and he made a concerted effort to stare me down as if he had a right to do so. He really tried hard. For some reason, it became important for me not to break gaze, so I didn't. It was a risk, but the sidewalk was crowded, so I took it.

I grew up in a mill town. I've learned that if you turn to flee, they'll tackle you from behind.

It's tacky to keep an engagement ring.

Even in the case of a divorce, if the ring is an heirloom of your ex's family, it should go back. If it's not, eeeuwwww anyhow.

I wouldn't expect gifts I gave to be returned, either.

Gifts are -gifts-.

Besides, who'd want the stuff?

I knew of a relationship like this. It turned abusive and extortionate.

Be careful if you come into money.

I know that sounds like a fortune-teller, but this guy's got bad boundaries, and your saying that you'd developed your own life indicates that you've grown up some since you married this man.

People get to be the stars of their own movies and co-stars in their marriages. If this guy's trying to shove you off the stage, take the hint.

And be CAREFUL if you leave, for God's sake.

In the past 14 years (I left around Y2K), there have been numerous restructurings and purgings at Moody's.

I've read this article in advance. I remember wailing to myself on the subway when I read the one about Moody's as the second superpower: I knew we'd be in for it, and we were. I was at Moody's for when the sovereign rating of Japan was downgraded to Aa1 from Aaa. A managing director was on a plane with orders to divert to the PRC if the Diet wouldn't hear him out. The Diet heard him out.

This same managing director was responsible, when Gingrich cut off funds to the government, for putting the Aaa sovereign rating of the Unitd States (not even gilt edged, but platinum) under review for downgrade. What this would have meant was that the U.S. bonds, which are backed by the government's full faith and credit, would have defaulted. ALL of them, including the agencies that issue bonds similarly backed. It would have been very bad. Pensions would have had to sell out their holdings; it would have had disastrous consequences for overseas bond holdings, but it had to be done if there was no money for the government to meet debt service -- and for Moody's to remain independent and honest.

If I remember correctly, one southern treasurer called Moody's candy-assed liberals. Another bitched it out for waiting too long.

Secretary of the Treasury Rubin said "uh oh, they'll do it, too" and found funds. Ultimately, what a rating agency has to "sell" is its judgment, which is backed by extensive due diligence, research, and significant training and institutional memory, and its good name.

If it loses either, the government doesn't have to nationalize it. Market forces will pull away to other rating agencies and it will close.

There are trolls in these hills. Sometimes they come out.

If they do, believe me, what you hear from them is nothing to what you'll hear from your husband if you try to free yourself.

Psyops R Him. For him, it's a survival move, like a glutton moving to protect his lunch. You will need strength, and you will need people you can rely on. Because he -will- tell them how sick you are, and how worried he is, and how he only wants you to be happy.

Hello...reality check.

This is Broadsbar, an area for women's issues.

Men's lower life expectancy is a serious thing and a serious story. It is not, however, the subject of -this- story.

"What about the MEN?" cannot always be the center of attention anyplace, but especially in an area devoted to women's issues.

This is a story about jewelry, very often engagement rings.

Most of the comments here from women have said, if it's not an heirloom of -your- family, give the thing back unless the man won't take it. Some have even said they consider the whole thing superfluous, ethically questionable and an economic mess.

So we get these off-topic "buy your own ring" and, of course, a denunciation of women as whores.

Newsflash: whores would keep the jewelry we've been saying to give back.

Are we reading the same story?

That can't possibly be true. Women cosmonauts would have asked for directions!

Someone put out the APB on the troll- and MRA sites?

If we're human garbage, I wonder you'd care to associate with us.

Clearly, you did not read clearly what we were saying.

You're right about the food. But the same thing is true in the inner cities on both coasts. Plus, the building conditions are deadly, especially in extreme weather.

But I have to say, speaking as an Ohioan born, I've seen snobs and reverse snobs in the Midwest. It's not a disease restricted to the coasts.

I have another point, however, to add to your case: for many people who are very poor, the only thing they have is their self-respect. They don't like it when people come lecturing them as if they were kids. For that matter, I knew old ladies in a nursing home who'd raised families and snarled at the perky social workers who wanted to teach them all about nutrition.