And what do you think the chances are that they did not create these videos themselves, but rather told some underpaid assistant to make them for them.

I have never heard of Dead Leaf Bits allergy, but it might explain my sinuses' uncharacteristic recent behavior. Usually they just try to destroy my life in September, but this year anything goes. There are the explosive sneezing fits, the constant nose-blowing, etc.

Check EVERYTHING. Some goblins are very clever at disguising themselves.

Please let us know that your nose is okay. It seems exposed. I live in northern New Hampshire in the US, so not familiar with certain Canadian levels of cold, but I know a bit about some kinds of cold.

Do you ever have little axolotl (and other critter) magnets?

Yeah, I loved the Prydain books too. And yes, you're right—you do learn all kinds of important lessons from books like this! You also sometimes learn how much you really, really NEED an oracular pig.

The Golden Compass is SUCH a fantastic novel. Kudos.

But you also want to encourage kids just to read, to learn to LOVE reading. You want to feed their imagination. They'll discover what kinds of books they love.

So I gave the kid "The Book of Three," the first book in Lloyd Alexander's magnificent "Chronicles of Prydain" series. He was a happy kid.

This boy's father once mentioned how he really encouraged his two sons to read "important" books, things that they would learn important things from.

And that's fantastic! Important books are important!

Decades ago I got a book for a relative's son for his birthday (he was around 8 or 10, I think?). He looked rather serious as he was unwrapping it, as if preparing himself to say something very polite and appropriate. But when he got the paper off and saw it, his whole face lit up with joy.

Looks fabulous! Also important—MN state fair winner!! Congratulations!

find someone who builds you up the way grok builds elon up

When Epstein and Maxwell preyed on people working at Mar-a-Lago, Trump complained that they "stole" his employees. The only offense he saw was that HE suffered when his employees were lured away and trafficked.

That little smile on his face. It's perfect.

Did anyone else take one look at Kevin Hassett and think immediately of Colin Robinson from What We Do in the Shadows?

The only good thing is that it is a sign that more and more people are realizing that our healthcare system is completely messed up. They're flailing around trying to find a solution other than the dreaded "socialism," but at least they are beginning to see the problem.

I recommend that no one even STARTS thinking about how utterly stupid and unworkable this is.

A guy I know opined on FB the other day that there should be one company in each state that will "run" all insurance for that state. The rules are that the company can make no more than 5% profit, and they can be in charge for 5 years—then a new company is in charge.