DeBeers is evil. Stay away.

Ailleann, I couldn't agree with you more.

As I recall, 'boxing' one's ears means to cup both hands and bring them in for a simultaneous clap on both sides of the head. Wicked painful and a really good way to pop an ear drum.

I think I'd rather get a semi-precious ring that has emotional importance (an amethyst that belonged to grandma or something like that) than have the fella in question put a quarter of his year's earnings (!!!) into a piece of jewelry. I'd rather we put that money into a long, luxurious trip to someplace cool. Or, you know, build up the IRA. I think retirement investment says, "With you to the end" better than a hockable rock anyway.

So very THIS.

The whole engagement ring thing is via DeBeers to a pretty amazing extent, so I'm pretty sure this is right.

DeBeers is evil. Stay away.

Both Very True Things. I've read too much about the diamond industry and its history to buy the whole "Diamonds are precious and rare and therefore damn expensive, so pay us more!" thing that DeBeers has going. I'd much rather have a colored stone (rubies and emeralds, especially) that pop rather than sparkle.

'boxing' one's ears means to cup both hands and bring them in for a simultaneous clap on both sides of the head. Wicked painful and a really good way to pop an ear drum.

Hmm. I associate boxing someone's ears as equivalent in disciplinary stakes with a spanking--what you're describing is way harsher.

That seems like a very insider-compartmentalization

Really? You don't think that the minute the "boxer" starts kicking you're not boxing anymore? I mean, there must be a line for you somewhere that makes it not boxing.

Urban Dictionary agrees:
--box your ears
--To strike someone on one or both thier ears with the flat of your palm,this totally destroys thier balance and usually destroys their eardrums if done right.

eta: I love that 'urban' dictionary features incorrect spelling and advocates violence. t /irony

I think diamonds are pretty. I like them a lot, actually. But, like Kathy, I've read too much about the diamond trade to be comfortable with buying a diamond. But if I inherited a family diamond, I'd wear it, or have it re-set.

The engagement ring thing is such a racket. Buy what you think your wife-to-be would like. Who cares how much it costs?

signed, would probably be a horrible fiancee

I actually like the idea of other types of committment indications. Zoe's laynard-ish thing in Firefly I thought was very appropriate to the type of person she was. People should do what fits them.

The researchers were surprised to find that boxing is the fighting style capable of delivering the most force in a single punch.

Huh. But my friend who studied karate told me this years ago. I don't know how accurate this is, but he said it was because boxers were taught to strike through their target. Also, something to do with martial arts emphasizing quickness of strikes, which is more like a jab in boxing. Whereas a boxing cross involves the whole weight shift through the hips that transfers more energy. (The same weight shift that happens in baseball swings and golf swings.) But I defer to the experts on this. I'm sure there's all kinds of weight shifting in karate and muay thai etc.