Wow. Your arguments are incredibly persuasive. I know they're true, which helps, but seriously - you are a very informed young person. I wish there were many, many, many more like you. I can point out no real flaws at this point. I am going to use your points, if I may, in my own discussions. Your wisdom is beyond your years, if I may say so. I'll look for the soft points to help you out, but on first reading, I'm not seeing them. Thanks, dubeskin. You give me hope. :-)

First things, my best girl (doggie) died two years ago. She was an Akita-Golden mix, and a difficult case; dominance on a scale of 1-10 about 11, some aggression issues, just a real handful. We wouldn't have changed a thing, but it was a tough go at times to keep her safe for herself and for others. After she passed, we decided that we wanted a different sort of dog next time, something with a better temperament. I truly loved my girl, but it was really tough all those years. Hubby and I wanted ...

"Who carried the water at the dawn of the Internet and computer boom? An army of non-degreed geeks and hobbyists." I am in total agreement. I know at least six people (including me) at my last employer who fit that description exactly. We were "contract" and were never hired direct because we didn't have the degree. However, all of us had an average of 15 - 20 years in and essentially wired that place for the productivity they now enjoy. Funny(?) story - said company just laid us all off becaus...

First thing: I've been lurking here a long time and decided to jump in. You all have given me some great ideas over the years and I thank you. Anyway, about leftovers - I thought this was an appropriate time, with the cost of food rising and folks trying to make ends meet. I've always been sensitive to waste, and love food, so here are a few of my stand-bys: Fried Rice - make a few scrambled eggs and add the fried rice to them for a really good breakfast (a little unusual but tastes great). S...

The UP is absolutely amazing. It's almost like a different state with the huge stone mountains and powerful Lake Superior. I always see the UP northern coast as an artwork; it's really stunning. There are TONS of waterfalls if you take the time to search them out. :-) on edit: clarity

I'd recommend visiting the Eastern Market - at least once. Even if you're not a food fan, you may want to check it out. Not to be bossy or anything; it's just a real passion of mine. I live in one of the first "suburbs" of Detroit (read: I'm two minutes from the city border) and go there almost every weekend for my produce. One of my best friends is a Chicago transplant (she's been here ten years) and I took her recently. Her verdict? "I wish I had come here when I first moved to Michigan! I los...

I hope you enjoy it here. I've loved it a long time. :-)