u r cutiehead.

What msbelle said.

Ugh. When I got to the parking garage, it was just barely sprinkling, and my good umbrella is in the office, so I decided to forego my crappy car umbrella. About 45 seconds later it started pouring, so now I am dripping on everything.

Did the third world disappear overnight? It's not unique, it's not American. It's just unfortunate.

Do third world countries have enough jobs for people to have three? My imagination of the person working 100 hours a week in other countries is a) the Ukrainian working 50 hours at a technological job and driving back to the village to raise cabbages b) the Chinese person locked in a single factory not being paid for overtime, or c) African water sellers and truck drivers who work one job dawn to dusk, with a lot of waiting around. With all the unemployment, I just imagine getting a factory job plus a short-order cook job plus a maid job to be like winning the lottery three times instead of pretty easy like it is here.

I don't have sick leave, and I don't see 12 days of menstrual leave being enormously helpful, but I guess if it's better than nothing.

Fred, we have a cap of 960 on accrued sick hours. Almost the same accrual rate as you, though (8 hrs/month). It is scary how much doesn't get used.

21 days vacation/year (after 10 years) and a yearly personal day. Max 320. Those I burn through.

I just imagine getting a factory job plus a short-order cook job plus a maid job to be like winning the lottery three times

If wearing yourself into the ground can be called lottery-winning, sure.

Trust me. Having to do (and being able to try) a little bit of this, some of that, and whatever else comes along to feed your kids is not a first world problem/privilege. I'm stunned by the viewpoint that it could be. So she sells fruit in the market, cleans floors, and takes in laundry. This is your lottery winner? He's a gardener, a manual labourer for hire, and he paints houses when he gets a chance. He also tries to sell pirated crap from the US. There is no welfare or medicaid or pension or other form of government money to help the family keep their heads above water.

Yay, lottery.

More on the star of Bride and Prejudice.

Gosh, you all have to work so hard.

Admittedly Germany is one of the most generous countries, but we get 30 days paid vacation a year, plus national holidays (about 12). There are no such things as sick or personal days. If the doctor says that you are ill and fills in the appropriate form, you get that time off work, paid, period.

Cue debate about who pays for the social security system in European countries....

Cue debate about who pays for the social security system in European countries....

Plenty of social security debate here.

If the doctor says that you are ill and fills in the appropriate form, you get that time off work, paid, period.

If it's something that doesn't get you to a doctor, do you take a vacation day?