When I was growing up, they were practically smearing the school cafeteria with peanut butter and no one batted an eye.

And milk was required!

Bonny -- your friend is working for one person to work seven days a week, up to 11 hours a day? That seems bananas.

My brother (allergic to peanuts in the "if he eats a peanut he will go into anaphylactic shock and die" sense) grew up during the first wave of peanut allergy awareness. I remember the transition from my mother having to fight with airlines for a peanut-free flight, to all airlines switching to pretzels, and then airlines flailing helplessly because the low-carb craze meant people wouldn't eat the pretzels either.

One of these political wives is going to shoot a husband someday, mark my words.

I can only imagine that the Stepford wife replacers are the only reason this hasn't happened already.

In re: autism and food. Way, WAY back in 1979, a university pal of mine was nanny to a boy with severe autism features. Based on the advice of, what was considered at the time, a wacky practitioner, they did a food allergy elimination diet. In the process, they discovered that the culprit was potatoes, and all potato derivatives found in processed foods. (read: pretty much anything in a package)

Within a couple of months, the symptoms had completely cleared up and the family set out to help their 6 year old, who had functioned on a pre-verbal toddler level, catch up and integrate into a 'normal' school.

It truly was a miracle. I note on facebook that the uni friend has been working in early child development ever since. Had to have had a huge impact on her vocational calling!

Jesse, I can see how it looks that way. I'm pretty sure he is looking for the 'lead' and will have others fill in as appropriate. I'm not sure how busy the market is during the week days. Someone who has been could say much better than I.

My brother (allergic to peanuts in the "if he eats a peanut he will go into anaphylactic shock and die" sense) grew up during the first wave of peanut allergy awareness. I remember the transition from my mother having to fight with airlines for a peanut-free flight, to all airlines switching to pretzels, and then airlines flailing helplessly because the low-carb craze meant people wouldn't eat the pretzels either.

I was on a flight recently where I got honey roasted peanuts. I nearly died from happiness. But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I respect severe allergies but my mother in law used to give me a list as long as your arm for things my sister in law was "allergic" to. The child had never even seen an allergist. I did some eyerolling.

Awww Ted.

That was exactly my response. Bless his heart. Regardless of what I have thought over the years about choices he made, it can said that his dedication to the betterment of the country was a constant.

Not long ago, I had a surprisingly tearful, deeply meaningful talk with a good friend and fellow DC resident about the Marion Barry documentary. I haven't seen it and am unlikely to, but it did spark a really interesting exploration of what happens to people who really want to make a difference and, somehow achieve a position of power, from which to do so.

Paradox is the only word that seems to apply.

Perkins, so you didn't actually watch the two part season finale of CM?

Nope. I did however make people tell me what happened, after editing for pigs

Have they rerun the finale yet? Maybe I can watch the last 15 minutes or so.

But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I had no idea how dangerous the peanut allergy was until I had lunch at the State Department cafeteria with a friend. He could not walk into the quarter of the very large room where the Asian food section was located. Just touching a package could send him to the hospital.

I thank all that is holy that I'm only 'allergic' to Kodak commercials. Strawberries and bee stings used to make me sick, but I've outgrown both.

But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I think most nut-allergic people will still notify the airline and request a nut-free flight, so you were probably okay. My brother notifies the airline and then takes a Benedryl anyway just in case. (If it's just peanut dust in the recycled air, he'll get a bad case of hives, but he won't stop breathing. And he always has his epipen with him.)

We're having some autism related drama in my extended family right now, though from a slightly unusual perspective. My sister-in-law's* mother came over to the US last fall as a nanny for a Russian family living in Philadelphia. Only to find that both kids are severely, as in barely functional, autistic.

It's a really nightmarish situation, and nobody sees much of a way out - if she walks away she has no way to get back home, and her visa status gets hinky, which could potentially jeopardize future visas. And she doesn't have anywhere to live or another job lined up back in Moscow. Hell, she can't legally live in Moscow, though that's not a new thing. And finding a position on the fly there or in their small town when she's just walked away from a post? Ugh. It's really fucked up.

*My sister-in-law's* [They're not actually married, but might as well be. Except I guess for INS purposes.[