Until we actually have a health care plan. Whether or not abortion will be covered is seriously among the very least of my health care concerns.

But it's a pipe dream to think that the problem can be easily solved by taking the state out of marriage all together (as some posters suggest). People against gay marriage are really against gay relationships being held to the same standards as their own hetero, god-sanctioned relationships. They don't want gay relationships compared or held equal to their very special relationships. They are assholes. They will not go for this.

Of course, the good news is they are LOSING.

Neither would anyone in my high school. A so-so girl desperate enough to *hire somebody* to make her prettier? Would have been so made fun of. So much worse than just being comfortable with her own look, even if it's not reality-TV material (vomit). Good luck, overanxious parents, trying to make high school safe for all children.

Unless the various industry players are freaking with displeasure. When they're upset, I know I'll have reason to hope that things will actually be different.

I have been turning off the radio every time I hear some GOP motherfracker repeat Sotomayor's very reasonable and honest statement about life experiences. I'm not surprised that there are assholes troubled by it, but I am depressed as hell that their weak concerns are being taken seriously.

They're not going to college.

Wouldn't it be great if this DID turn out to be Obama's version of the 1974 ABBA hit? I'm not holding my breath. As long as a single insurance company is happy, I'm not.

I hate cable news so, so much. Stop talking to them, Obama!

Cary's concern about the LW's employment history is valid, I guess, but look at what's going on right now. I graduated from college during the dot-com decline and have never had stable employment. One boss cried when they "had" to let me go, but I was laid off just the same. I made the best choices available to me at the time, but I'm basically fucked and I really think it's just bad luck.

If the LW has a good job offer, she should take it. Her son sounds like a great kid and he will adjust. Unless she's moving to a small town, he will undoubtedly find plenty of people who believe in evolution, thank you very much.

I love it. If I didn't, I wouldn't do it as much. I would probably be less healthy, and I would consider it a fair trade-off for not having to cook. To say nothing of how I'd feel if I didn't like it AND I didn't have as much time (my life is in ruins).

Maybe Rachel Ray is more valuable than Michael Pollan for the everyday American who's just not that into cooking. For health and economy, it's hard to beat a home-cooked meal.

People's stories are their own to tell. Your sister was showing her trust in you. Note also she wasn't saying, "okay, now that I've told you this big secret you never get to talk about it, ever." She wanted to tell the rest of your family. She was GOING to tell the rest of your family. And she didn't GET to tell the rest of your family, because you couldn't handle being somewhat uncomfortable.

Here's what you could have done. You could have said, "Actually, I'm not comfortable pretending I don't know about this if it comes up. I know that you were hoping to tell X and Y in person, but you might have to do it over the phone. Sorry, I didn't know the gravity of this news before you started." Then at least she would have had a choice.

I'd be pissed at you, too. I suspect a lot of people would say you did the right thing, but I think you could have respected your sister at least as much as she respected you.

I know it's common slang, but it's not cool.

But what makes you think it won't work?

I don't think there IS a bad guy. You did not create this situation. Your only duties to your stepchildren are to treat them decently and not get in the way of their relationship with their father. It is not your duty, job, or mandate to love them.

They probably don't love YOU, and they don't need to. You said there's nothing particularly wrong with them? Great, one big problem you don't have to solve. I bet your husband's kids would be utterly delighted if you ignored them a little more, didn't try so hard to be like a parent.

THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THESE CHILDREN'S LIVES ARE THE TWO PEOPLE WHO MADE THE DECISION TO BRING THEM INTO THE WORLD.

I'm not offended on behalf of anyone!

Of all the kinds of doctors I wouldn't want working on me drunk, I'd say surgeon would be near the top of the list.

I would recommend airlifting them all out of there, but that would probably be considered culturally insensitive.

The cultural insensitivity I was talking about refers to the fact that many Afghan women wouldn't WANT to be airlifted out of their own abuse. And I am "culturally insensitive" because rather than respecting this pov, I think they are wrong. About themselves. Anyway. Welcome to your new name.

And I'm sure she'd be touched to think that you care enough to worry for her. But seriously, let her choose her level of involvement in your beer-adjacent activities.

On that note, if you're into brewing beer, you might be into baking bread. It involves some of the same skills and appreciation for yeasty, DIY projects. And that's something she could do with you. Something to think about.

Access to birth control, I'll still fight for.