She wants me to rewrite the letter ASAP because the magnet office told her that I didn't say she met the requirements.

Well if she doesn't meet them, then all you can say is, "I'm sorry; I wrote the best letter I could." What's your other option, lie? Or I mean you could tell her to pull her head out of her hindparts and find a place where she'll excel, not someplace over her head, but I expect that's more diplomacy than a whole row of Kofi Annans could pull off.

Damning with faint praise has a long and powerful tradition in recommendation letters; I suggest you let the letter you wrote stand.

They're so cute, and they match a new outfit I got there perfectly (brown A-line skirt and plum t-shirt), and I ended up wearing it to officiate at my brother's wedding omg.

China was exciting and beautiful and stressful in turns. I can't really recommend traveling to a developing nation--particularly a fairly unWesternized province of a developing nation--with your late-70s parents (one of whom is diabetic and not in the best of health) and without anyone in your immediate party who speaks the language. Travel was difficult and food was also. What Americans think is Chinese food doesn't bear much resemblance to most of what I saw there (although the steamed dumplings on the street vendors' carts were generally good).

The wedding itself was entertaining as hell, complete with "negotiations" at her parents house, delivery of two live fish, and her not-much-bigger brother carrying her downstairs on her back.

I'm glad I went, but I'm not sure my parents should have. My nieces were troopers, though--enthusiastic and fairly brave, despite being unsettled at the way we were stared at wherever we went.

But maces and warhammers? Lighter than expected, but still feel heavier than a sword due to the whole smashy versus the finely-balanced cutting implement thing.

Is there a difference between a mace and a flail? Is one term older than the other?

I always thought a mace was one solid piece and a flail had a handle with a chain connected to something.

Yeah, that's what Wikipedia is saying... but I always thought a mace could have a chain too. I guess not.

Timelies all!

Bleah. I'm tired, have a headache that won't go away and the usual assortment of muscle aches. Feh....

I always thought a mace was one solid piece and a fail had a handle with a chain connected to something

Yup. Flail is pretty much a mace or morningstar with a chain in between the handle and head.

The camp didn't have any flails to play with. The weapon shop did, but they were in case and I didn't want to ask them to open it up for something I wasn't going to buy.

Things I've learned from playing D&D once.

For future reference on writing letters of recommendation:

If you cannot provide a positive recommendation in support of the individual’s candidacy, please decline to write a letter or to serve as a reference. Provide information to the individual as to why you have declined to serve as a reference.

First, when student asks for letter, understand what is being asked of you. What is the letter for? What does the student expect from you? Carefully consider whether you feel that you can write a positive letter. If you feel that you cannot wholeheartedly recommend the student, it’s your ethical responsibility to inform him or her that you’re not the right person for the job.

Well, it seemed like Kat did write a pos rec -- just not as pos as the kid wanted.

Kat, explain that you only revise rec letters if they contain inaccurate info. Otherwise, it's your policy of one letter, one try.

Or you could be totally honest: tell her you like her and she is a fine student, but that this school has extremely high academic expectations, and with her present skill set, you do not believe she would flousih in this environment. If she is in your classes, you can tell her you will reassess her skill level and be willing to write a rec letter at the end of the year if she has attained the skills necessary to thrive.

It's a toughie.