Actually, I would say that most humans try to do whatever they think is best for themselves and immediate family, without seeming to impinge too outrageously upon others. Just short of official censure, IOW. Obviously a significant minority are utterly selfish and do not stop even at directly harming others and/or their prospects. I agree that every bit of extractable fossil fuel will be extracted and used, presuming our capacity to do so persists long enough. I don't think it will, for a large number of factors: climate change, environmental degradation, costly conflicts over land and resources to name a few. These will likely reduce human civilizations to subsisting on annual sun-fall before we get to all coal and shale deposits. The richest societies will likely manage a partial shift to renewables via best technology but that savings will be engulfed and then some by the ravening horde. It's gonna be a wild ride.

Wheelies and Heelies are NOTHING like skates. I have skated all my life both roller and ice and the point of balance is entirely off on Heelies. Nothing like Roller, ice or inlines. Roller blades (inlines) and ice --almost the same. Quads - Entirely different from roller blades and ice. Wonder that I ever survived my childhood. Speed Club- no helmets, no padding ,no wrist guards. Bare skin and short skirts for artistic - floor burns were a badge of honor. Water on the knee? Get some ice on it, see doctor in a day or 2 who might drain it, slap on an ace bandage and go back to practice.

I have another nomination for Worst Mother... My SK's mother gave birth to "her babies"(as she calls the 14 and 15 yr. olds) and that is where she ceased being a parent. DH, while still married to her, would come home after a double shift to find BM on the computer(she could not keep a job) and the kids hungry with diapers full. They divorced, got joint custody with stipulation that kids lived with DH and BM was to pay CS. B/C she could not keep a job and therefore could not pay CS, DH let her slide as long as she agreed to see the kids, but not interfere. Soon after, she moved 1000 miles away to be with her family. The kids were 3 and 4 years old. She left on SS's birthday, which bothers him to this day. Over the next 5 years, BM would call once or twice a year to talk to the kids. She never had consistent phone service (to this day). DH took the kids to see her when he was able to afford it when they were 6/7. I came into their lives at 10/11 yrs. old. They had not seen their mother in 4 years, and only spoke to her once in a while. After 2 years, DH and I decided to marry. Suddenly, BM begins calling regularly, sending little trinkets and even BD and Xmas gifts (a first!). Just before the wedding, BM even traveled here for the first time to see her kids, and stirred up s**t with me at the same time. After the wedding, she decided she wanted to take the kids for a few weeks (another first!), but couldn't afford to get them. So DH paid for tickets with the agreement BM would pay it back, and that she would be sure the kids called while they were there. We spent half the time frantic b/c we could not contact them. When she finally did call, she started crap with me again. She told the kids they did not have to listen to me and that I was treating them badly and she would not put up with it. For 6 months the alienation of the kids from their "wicked SM" continued. She never did pay for the tickets. Then BM disappeared again. It has been 5 months with no contact what-so-ever. SK's cannot contact her (phone disconnected again) or her family. She did her damage and left, again. But it is coming time for the SK's birthdays...wonder what that will bring. I feel awful for wanting her to just stay in whatever hole she's in and leave the kids and us alone. She plays such head games with the kids, telling them how much she loves them and how they are her babies, and promises them this and that, then drops out of site leaving them worried about her and wondering why mom doesn't call them. Meanwhile, who is taking care of "her babies"? That's right...DH and the awful SM. Naturally, the SK's hang on every word BM tells them, including how awful I am. But they are getting older now, old enough to really see what is going on; old enough to question things, but still in denial, which has left them angry and bitter at us, at me. So they are denied a relationship with the only mother available to them b/c BM has made them feel guilty about doing so. So this is why I nominate her. Unfortunately, each one of us that are FT SM's know a BM that fits the description of worst. I am sure there are some BM out there who have made mistakes with their kids, and are really trying to make amends to those children. And I applaud them for trying to right the wrongs they have done. I could respect my SK's BM if she would only just step up to the plate and try for the sake of her kids.

I was a competitive roller skater for a couple years as a child. Did a lot of recreational and some speed skating as a teen. Left the sport at around 16. Came back to dance and figure as an adult and went through the test levels but didn't compete. I did do exhibition competition with the club and shows though. When DD left skating as a teen so did I. Decided to go back to roller skating in my mid-forties but the scene had changed and artistic skating was on the way down so I switched to Ice. Ice spoiled me and now I can no longer roller skate well at all. Ice is so much easier. I haven't been skating at all recently due to a foot problem. I plan to get back on ice soon but would also like to learn to roller skate again so I've pulled out my old skates. I want to relearn quad roller skating before I get back on ice and hopefully be able to do both. I also have a pair of street skates in the closet and I have learned to use heelies. So yes I own 3 pairs of indoor skates, one pair of ice,one pair of outdoor and a pair of heelies.