I hate to bother everyone to ask for suggestions, but I am at a loss. I don't even know if anyone will have any suggestions, but I hope so!

I work at a learning clinic where I tutor kids, and in the early session I have a group of kids in the 3rd-5th grade range (I think that's 9-12ish range age wise?). What I'm looking for are some computer games that are age appropriate for that group. It would be a huge plus if it was fun to play for myself, too. :P (I get addicted to stuff like Snood and Sally's Spa xD) It doesn't have to be educational, though that is a plus. We don't have a wireless connection at the clinic (I'd be bringing my other laptop for them to play on), so I can't play on any websites or anything that requires I be online.

Any suggestions are welcome! Thanks~

I'm not 100 percent sure if I should post this here, but I think I just want to see if anyone agrees that the only reason why this is the way it is (I apologize in advance) is because the former group can't reproduce while (and this is where the horror part comes in) the latter group can. The former group being homosexuals. In my state it's a hot button issue because it's been made legal for a week now and already people are trying to make it illegal again. The only thing I can think of when it comes to gay marriages is that people are opposed to it because procreation isn't possible, but they sometimes like to hide behind legal language or religion siting that it's only between a man and a woman (though historically that wasn't until around Circa 330 when Roman Emperor Constantine changed the marriage laws banning homosexuality. Prior to that for hundreds -- possibly thousands -- of years it was perfectly legal). However, given the latter group shown in this diagram (you can yahoo/google it and see for yourselves that it's true. I thought it had to be a joke until I did a search and found page after page confirming it) it becomes apparent that any group can marry in more states than the number that allow gay marriage so long as you can reproduce. Making babies the trump card for legal rights over basic human ones. And the screwed up part is I thought this was illegal everywhere, but it's still legal in some states, and no one ever makes half as much a fuss over it as they do with gay rights being legalized anywhere. It has to be the baby card that makes this even remotely possible.

( Read more... )

Going through my play through as a female City Elf and I have a question...again. ( Spoiler )

Hi all. i'm 28 (29 next week), recently married to a great guy, and happily childfree.

That said...my Mom has the Baby Rabies. She desperately wants grandchildren and is about as subtle as Ayn Rand in her demands for me to breed. Despite my repeated assertions that i cannot have healthy children and wouldn't want them if i could. She gives me the usual litany of, "Oh, it's different when they're yours," and "You're not a real woman til you've had a baby," etc.

She has even gone so far as to offer to adopt and raise any spawn i may produce. (But, for some reason, when i suggest she foster/adopt an existing child who badly needs it, she tells me i'm being "ridiculous" and "selfish.") It's not that i hate kids-i have two nephews and a pile of baby cousins, whom i love dearly and spoil as much as possible-it's just that i don't see the need to reproduce, at great personal risk, just to satisfy some ludicrous notion of femininity.

That being said--my Mom, for Christmas this year, gave me maternity clothes. Because of course i was just waiting for the right apparel to change my mind.

This is not the most insane thing she's done in her quest for grandchildren, oh no. Last year we were chatting on the phone & she came out with, "Oh, i can't believe i didn't think to save some of your (dead) brother's sperm!! You could have HIS baby!"

So, you know. i'm glad this community exists.

Found this in the only political comm I'm in. I haven't seen it in here, but let me know if I've failed and missed it.

http://www.feministing.com/archives/019538.html

"The blogger at Everysaturdaymorning, a pro-choice clinic escort in Louisville, KY, has posted pictures and video of the latest disgusting tactic from the antis outside their clinic: wearing fake escort vests.

( Rest of Article )

"To get a sense of what the brave pro-choice clinic escorts are dealing with in Louisville, check out the the video and transcript of an anti verbally harassing a patient after the jump. A warning that it may be triggering, especially to anyone who's not used to hearing this rhetoric."



Video:

( editted to place behind cut )

Link to original blog: http://everysaturdaymorning.wordpress.com/2010/01/02/lies-and-deceit-in-jesus-name/

Transcript of video, cut because of the trigger warning:

( Transcript )

Fools.

I'm working on Steggie, from Knitty, and I can't quite figure out if I'm making mistakes on the sleeve edging or not. The pattern calls for YO increases at the edge between the MC and CC, and I feel like I should somehow not have any holes there in spite of the YOs. Anyone who's made this- ARE there supposed to be holes between the MC and CC, or is there some way of doing a YO that I'm not aware of that doesn't make holes? Pattern is here:
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTsteggie.php

Note- I am properly twisting the yarns when I switch colors, so the holes aren't from that.

Has anyone here made the Snakebite Hat from the book "Pints & Purls"?? You can see a photo of it here on Ravelry:

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/snakebite

The pattern calls for a circular size 10 and then some size 9 DPNs. I don't know if I'm crazy or what, but I've read and reread the pattern a zillion times and can't find anywhere where she wants knitters to switch to the size 9s. You start off the rib brim with the size 10. I know that sometimes you switch to the smaller size after the ribbed brim, but then again sometimes it's with the hat decrease. She doesn't say anywhere, unless I'm blind as a bat (are they really blind?) and I've written her on Ravelry and at her yarn store and haven't gotten an answer. I want to start this thing! So what's your guess, knitters? Switch to size 9 after the initial ribbing and when the stockinette starts? Or switch once the decrease starts? Or don't bother, and knit the whole damn thing with the size 10? Inquiring minds want to know. ;)

And thanks in advance!

So I have this simple pattern for a hat that calls for bulky yarn. I have lots of worsted in my stash I'd rather use than run out and spend money. What changes do I need to make to use worsted weight instead of the called for bulky? (assuming that I can)

TIA

I don't know if this qualifies as stupid pet owner....

I was browsing the classifieds of a local news group (it is more popular than Craigslist in Utah)and this is what I found.


( Wild Caught Pigeons )

Can I report this to some ONE? Animal cruelty is a felony in Utah....

Thanks to Christmas, I bought a bunch of non-Patons wool from somewhere other than JoAnn's or Michael's. 
In consequence, I knew I would have to wind it into balls and I was able to try out this nifty little design I came across a few months ago.( pic behind cut )

I've been tempted to buy an Xbox 360 for some time now but I'm a little bit worried because many people have told me the Xbox 360 has a lot of problems and although I really want to get my hands on one, I don't think shelling out $449 for one would be worth it if it's just going to break.

How often do problems occur with the Xbox 360? I've heard of discs being scratched, overheating, red ring of death etc. Is there anything I could do to ensure that these problems don't happen? I've heard NOT having Xbox 360 standing vertical will stop discs being scratched - is that true?

Has anyone had problems with their Xbox 360? And do you think it would be worth buying one? (I'd be getting an Elite and the price for one at the moment is $449 although I might wait and see if the price drops).

I already have a PS3 and a Wii. I want the Xbox 360 because there are a few exclusive games I want to play (mainly Fable 2). I was told that I could get a gaming PC instead of an Xbox 360 because most games are on PC as well but that it would cost around $1500 for a decent one... and I don't want to pay that much :(

I saw this on STFU, Parents and while most of the stuff on there just makes me roll my eyes, this actually pissed me off pretty good.






ERGH ENTITLEMENT

I stumbled upon this video http://www.youtube.com/user/sugarglidervet#p/u/12/kjAd_SCnYW4
yesterday, of a "vet" giving out information on sugar gliders. I couldn't even listen to to the entire thing without getting steamed! I am part of a small pet rescue and we have had MANY sugar gliders given up over the years. Many that are injured ,ill, malnourished and unsocialized. He gets right into calling rescues false and continues to bash them!
The cage behind him is way to small for even one sugar glider but that is what he recommends. He also says it is okay for sugar gliders to be alone as long as they get attention from a person. Which is very bad! The company of a fellow sugar glider cannot be replaced by a person. His diet recomendations are bad... it's all BAD!
He is funded and supports the leading Sugar glider Mill of the US, Perfect Pocket Pets. Their tactics and information are just as false and smiliar to what this vet says.
I have to wonder if he really is a vet. If so, what true vet would support a mill breeder? Give out such awful advice? And bash rescues? I also wonder if all the "clients" are imaginary.
All comments submitted are screened and only good ones are put up on the web site.
What are your thoughts on this? Any info? I fear people buying into all the crap he says!

Just got back from a nice long and relaxing break... whether it was relaxing because of, or in spite of the fact that I could not get online, I don't know.

In any case... a little community relevant Fail appeared at Failblog.


http://failblog.org/2010/01/06/field-trip-fail/

-= Me

I'm feeling all warm and fuzzy about this now, so I thought I'd share here.

I've complained about my mom before here. I've never really wanted children ever since I was a teen, but my mom had the tendency to "prime" me by bingo-ing me every chance she got. "Oh, you'll change your mind!" "Well, you'll find the right person..." "Well, when you have children..."

In my later years (when my cf choice solidified), I avoided talking to my mother about my choices because of her previous attitude. I didn't feel like I could open up to her. She's not a bad person, but I never counted on her for support. She was just way too traditional in general. However, she's finally changed.

( Cut for length )

Just saying, people CAN change, and there IS some hope. Don't give up on people completely :).

Couldn't find anything about this anywhere.

My 360 controller won't sync. I've tried replacing the batteries and everything. Then I noticed, the front of my console won't light up. It turns on and runs, but no green led lights. I am kind of freaking out. Does anyone know what I can do? I got this as a Christmas present so its going to suck if I have to send it into microsoft this soon.

Finished and blocked, photos - ( behind the cut )