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.

I'm not disagreeing with you, Beej. Just that I recall its usage in scenarios (disciplining children) where popping an eardrum would be more than I'd think warranted. I was just reading those wrong.

I'm more in line with the casual Merriam Webster definition:

1 : to hit (as the ears) with the hand

Just a smack. No cupping required.

Huh. Merriam Webster thinks that boxing's the sport too.

the art of attack and defense with the fists practiced as a sport

I'm sure there's all kinds of weight shifting in karate and muay thai etc.

Certainly is in muay thai and krav.

Punching's what boxers do. I'd expect them to be good at it.

I'm not disagreeing with you, Beej

Oh no, ita, I didn't hear disagreement from you. I didn't type clearly...urban dictionary agrees with my memory of the definition. As does phrase finder in the UK, but I'm guessing there are many interpretations, up and down the violence scale.

All this is bringing up a memory of my over-the-top violent father doing it to me. I recall lots of buzzing and lack of hearing, along with a huge headache. All for very little effort on his part. Maybe a good hand-to-hand move after all.