I think sometimes you need to look beyond textbook definitions of recession and see the impact the current economy is having on people. And it's a hard one. Many of us (myself included) are already driving small cars, can't afford hybrids or whatever other technology is out there, and, guess what, have no choice but to drive ourselves everywhere! Public transportation is nearly nonexistent. You can't get to work, the store, any socializing you want to do without a car.

And heaven forbid (@Eric Barbour) that we buy plastic things. We don't all have a garden, cotton field, spinning wheel... Then again, I doubt you do either.

My boyfriend is a mathematician and a hottie. :D

Another study found that people are very willing to follow the five second rule for candy, and quite unwilling for vegetables. It's definitely psychological.

That said, it is actually good for your immune system to be challenged occasionally. They way when you DO eat contaminated lettuce, your immune system says "Big whoop, I've seen this before. No problem." The chance of getting a major, knock-you-flat bacteria or virus from a surface you are familiar with (ie: not a public bathroom or cafeteria) is low.

Agree with ted. So many shelter dogs needing a home, and mutts really do make the best dogs. Better health, usually good temperaments, and grateful to have a home.

Bombproofing your horse is something any horse person is familiar with. It means, figuratively, making your horse so easy-going that a bomb could go off and he would barely flinch. Realistically, it means getting your horse to trust that cars, dogs, firetrucks, drums, paper bags, etc aren't all going to eat him and he doesn't need to freak out over every little thing.

I love how ordinary things get attention just because they aren't found in their ordinary place. Like someone you see at work everyday and never wave at, but the moment you see them in the grocery store you have to wave.

Anyone who uses the word "pregnant" to describe anything other than "about to bear offspring" gets no respect in my book. Self-important hippies.

Good for her! I'm glad her determination has got her this far.

Interesting visions of Fahrenheit 451 and other dystopian books.

Um, you need all sorts of environmental impact permits and such before you can make your own fuel. Just in case anyone was planning on dropping 10k on this.

all the pictures show the jar as empty. How does this solve any problem? You still buy it in the annoying packages.

This is indeed tempting. I won't get my hopes up for the fancy items, but I've read dozens of things other people got and some of them really are just crap dollar store stuff. I think the surprise might be worth $5, but the other $5 would have to be the item.

Wisdom may come with age, but fresh idealism (and generally a decrease in corruption) comes with youth.

Someone else collects sugar packets! Wow! I don't feel nearly so unusual anymore. I have sugar from around the world. Anytime a friend goes overseas and asks what present I want, I get them to bring me sugar!

@Thomas: Not all breed have horns as males. Some also have horns as females. And most of the horned breeds are dehorned when the animal is very young. If you click the article, you can see a picture further down that definitely confirms it's a male.

@Hezzawezza: Just because someone doesn't know the same things you do doesn't mean they are ignorant in general.