Lloyd I don't take the other side of your "cringe" on the DOT issue. You are correct on WHERE good organic compost should be used. But, small towns do not have the budget to do anything but vaccum curbside and haul away. Locally now they take this to the landfill and dump costing the city about $25K per year. I am getting 4 to 10 year old packed leaves that now the EPA had ask the city to move from their old piles, (Within 500 feet of a creek). The DOT issue does give at least a get it out of the landfill perspective. Also I have asked the local Ag Extension Office to publish composting advantages information in the local paper. There is a few acres of 12 plus feet deep material impounded that I'm trying to get that should be as good as what I cleaned up and screened. It needs to be put to some beneficial use. Like you, in a world where people are hungry obviously there is a priority. Second to that what a huge waste is this getting put in a landfill. Education and a change in mentality of any recyclable material is a great need. I do commend you for being that intuitive to educate all that you can and do. I am new at this but I am "bitten" by what good is in what we throw away, and the benefit it can derive when used to its potential.

Also ask the lawyer about the house. Do you have any proof--reciepts and such that show you did put money into the house. Can you go to the builder and get some? Do you have bank records that show how much money you had and when it was taken out? Do you have the papers the lawyer gave you that you signed. If you don't have money to hire a lawyer look into legal aid. Do not feel bad that you are doing this to your daughter. I know it kills a mother, but you have to be strong for the boy. In order to pursue this and not hurt the boy, you have to be as sneaky as she is--let on to her that you don't want to be responsible for the boy. Make sure it is only to her and there are no witnesses. Do notunder any circumstance say anything like that on the phone she could be taping it. If you can ever get the boy alone tell him this has nothing to do with him and you will always love him. Good luck

Certainly many tests are just bogus and BS, but we can't change that. People take tests everywhere in the world, Denmark, Kenya, Lithuania etc. And tests don't end with school. Of course there are many teaching strategies but that's not what you were talking about but only about testing. I never said anything about teaching strategies and don't recall praising American education at all. Doing well on tests takes more than just paying attention, it takes ability to summarize and find the most important information and eliminate and think logically and time oneself, it involves a lot. Some people do better than others. paying attention is important, but it is only one variable. By this logic everyone who is able to pay attention would have 2400 out of 2400 on SAT. Successful test taking involves more than that. As about Denmark or other European countries... high school students take enormous number of tests including comprehensive high school exit exam. American does have the gold standard at all, most European universities do not even accept American high school graduates because unfortunately US level of secondary ed is not up to the standard. So education in Europe is very rigorous and involves extensive testing at every level. I don't think your comparison is that relevant. Also in Europe students who do poorly are usually tracked rather early on and are pretty much on vocation path early on. They are not required or forced to compete with others since they are tracked as not college material. So rather than forcing struggling student to take tests that he/she cannot manage, they are provided with different type of education, more of a vocational type. And how are they tracked? primarily through comprehensive testing. So your examples of European education are not very accurate. saying all that the US provides by far the best services for people with special needs, no where in the world people with special need have that many rights and get that many accommodations. US is the place to be for people with disabilities. This is absolutely great!!! i think US does have gold standard in that field. Other than that not so much... Practice notes with me won't help. I have severe case (although not as bad as my mother's), i don't even recognize people's voices. I accepted that it is something I lack. I would never consider career in music. It would be stupid of me.

hahahaha dotz!!!! I got that word from my mother. My housedresses are old sundresses, (some of them over 15 years old) so they're a little short or holey or inappropriate in some other way. When I get home from work, I'll throw one on to do housework. I ended up missing the exit off the freeway for the butcher so went to Costco anyway. And it wasn't busy. And it wasn't hot. And I forgot DD had an after school activity at school, so I had an extra 45 minutes and just hit the store like a fiend - with a list! Managed to get out of there only spending $150, which is a record for me. And, I must admit, $45 of that was for a bottle of Shalimar. I figured, you send me to Costco.... LOL. I've always wanted a bottle, and it's quickly becoming my favorite scent. I keep smelling my wrists. :) Oh, and DH doesn't even know I went to Costco, so he doesn't know I folded... So, the menu is: Red wine Cheese plate with crackers and meats and grapes Herb crusted lamb chops with pomegranate sauce on a bed of fresh cut corn and parsley Parmesan sprinkled Asparagus Quinoa with tiny bits of carrot and onion Blueberry tarts and vanilla ice cream I cleaned the house yesterday, got the asparagus trimmed and washed and in a glass tupperware. Sliced the cheese, washed the grapes. All I have to do today is prepare the meat, throw the quinoa and carrots and onions in the rice maker, steam the asparagus and toss it and make the blueberry tarts. And I cheated with the tarts. I bought some of those little mini crusts, pre-made. DH was grumbling that three lamb chops apiece were not enough. I laughed, I can only eat one. I know Gpa will probably only eat two. I can't believe I thought DH hated lamb all this time. He insists he loves it. Who knew??? I've cooked it and (in my memory) he always complains. And DD flat out does not like it (which I can understand, it's gamey). So..... I have to think of something to cook her, or something to go with the lamb that will match. I'll probably just do some herb crusted tofu with the pom sauce. I do a tofu side with a lot of meals I do, like teriyaki chicken... And she loves tofu. I just want to avoid the whole separate meal thing...