I've heard non-Americans comment that Americans never say "you're welcome". Which, aside from the exaggeration, gets a big so what from me. To take it as rude pretty much requires deliberately ignoring the intent - which I'd say is far ruder than brushing off thanks.

Carrot Top gets a blow out. He didn't think his curls would come back and so it took four hours to convince him to do it.

Apparently, Carrot Top does not speak to ANY curly-headed women about their hair.

[link]

I've heard non-Americans comment that Americans never say "you're welcome". Which, aside from the exaggeration, gets a big so what from me. To take it as rude pretty much requires deliberately ignoring the intent - which I'd say is far ruder than brushing off thanks.

Yeah, that's like some Southerners finding Northern children rude because they don't say "sir" and "m'am". My sisters and I were quick to switch whenever we went down, but then we got to hear surprise at how nice we were. sighhhh

Heh. My sister Rachel literally had one of her little friends say, "She's from New York, but she's real nice!" upon introducing her to someone.

It wasn't incessant, of course, but frequent enough that the anecdotes live on.

How about, say, if the person talking to you appears to be even attempting to be polite you just assume that's their intent, m'kay? Srsly, people.

Dooce is nuts. But she makes big bank.

Mommy bloggers are the main reason the FTC now requires disclosure on any and all freebies received by bloggers.

My sister Rachel literally had one of her little friends say, "She's from New York, but she's real nice!" upon introducing her to someone.

I think I've told this story before - my grandparents have an annual bookselling/buying trip down the East Coast starting from their store in New Hampshire and going all the way to Florida. Now, my grandmother was born and raised her entire life in New England, and people on the Southern leg of the tour always compliment her on her politeness in spite of this obvious handicap. One time she happened to mention that her mother's family has roots in Tennessee, at which one of the women she was talking to exclaimed "Oh! Well, that explains it!"

So sorry, smonster. May this be what pushes you towards happier things, without negatively impacting you.

Fuck people that think "no problem" is rude. I don't talk Jamaican often and if it was Jamaican rude, they'd not know.

job~ma, smonster!

I'm so sorry, smonster.

Hey, Steph, when you come by, do you know of any good visual resources for ropework? I'm not looking to tie, I'm looking to draw.

ION, Cheery people die sooner, and more longevity secrets

For decades we’ve been told that stress can kill you, that happy people live longer and that hours in the gym will keep you healthy. Now researchers have turned this kind of long-cherished conventional wisdom on its head. The new mantra: Stress can be good for you. Serious people may live longer than those with sunny dispositions. The treadmill may not hold the key to longevity.

...

If you’re an exceedingly sunny person, tone it down a bit. “People tend to think of cheerfulness as good, but we found exactly the opposite,” Martin says. “Cheerful kids lived shorter lives. That was a big shocker.”

Overly optimistic people tend not to be as careful as those who have a more serious take on life. “If you’re one of those people who expects things will always turn out great, you may benefit from listening to the perspectives of others,” Martin says. “Awareness is a key component. And being a little more prepared and a little more risk-averse.”

Huh. Now I wish I could find the woman who told me she hates unhappy people and show her this. (She was one of those aggressively cheerful people....)