My parents gave me Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex (but were afraid to ask) when I was 9.

I got Almost Twelve when I was 11. In. My. Christmas. Stocking.

That's so much worse than underwear for Christmas, folks. Seriously. It should've been in my parents' Christmas stocking as it was their easy way out.

I'm trying to see the difference that would make the UK the place to go to if the U .S. goes further down hill.

Well, I was being somewhat glib, just to clarify tone. But, since you ask, I mentioned it because:

1) Tom's British
2) attitides toward politics- ppl seem more engaged (this may be because one of Tom's best friends runs the National LibDem campaign)
3) European sensibilities toward vacation and health care
4) BANK HOLIDAYS
5) They are not constantly trying to put religion in my state, like so much peanut butter in my chocolate.

Sure, nationalism and racisim still exist, but they exist everywhere, because people are people, and people are assholes.

I'm not looking for a paradise; but the direction this country's politics is moving in disturbs me, and if I had a good opportunity to get out and observe from a distance for a while, sure, I'd take it.

I'm living the movie Brazil at work.

3) European sensibilities toward vacation and health care

This is one of the boy's main reasons for wanting to live in Ireland. He's all "Three weeks vacation mandatory!?" and "Thirty-seven and a half hour week!?".

Speaking of which, check this out. The firm I'm interviewing with divides employees into income levels in order to determine cost of health care insurance, so that increases hit harder higher up the scale. Like, people at the top levels pay more than double what my likely pay rate would pay. And below 50 or 60 k, it goes into an even more sharply sliding scale. That's kind of amazing, in my experience.

I'm trying to see the difference that would make the UK the place to go to if the U.S. goes further down hill.

One advantage -- being able to speak the language before you go.

The music. Though that may be a personal preference.

If it's just a personal preference, you aren't alone. Even among this board.

Oh, and Doctor Who!

Music for me, TV for Hubs. Well, I might have fewer problems watching Liverpool play.

I'm living the movie Brazil at work.

They're wrapping middled-aged women in Saran Wrap and torturing people while wearing happy masks?

I'm living the movie Brazil at work.

They're wrapping middled-aged women in Saran Wrap and torturing people while wearing happy masks?

I was hoping beyond hope that you meant that Robert De Niro was rappelling in your window, but I expect it's a good bit grimmer than that.

Robert De Niro was rappelling in your window

Oooh, I'd forgotten that. Maybe they're just revamping the airconditioning and there's ductwork all over the place.

I'm living the movie Brazil at work.

Grappling over the shared desk with the person in the next office?