Posts by rapidbison15

bluesurfer6 said:Milina... Sugar King... so, are we jumping ship from Bank of America or what?

Bank of America is pulling out of the US, and they’re selling off the branch to a group controlled by that one 'Sugar King.'

I’m switching to another bank. I only get my paycheck through JPMorgan Chase.

Milka + popcorn 😁 I was pretty much obsessed with popcorn during that stretch. But since I'm on a calorie deficit right now, I'm trying to keep it under control.

The Savanna area, right near the roundabout
What I’m describing was about 8 to 15 years ago—I finished middle school about eight years back. I have no idea if things have shifted since then, but religious studies were heavily pushed on us. My homeroom teacher—who I hear retired last year—was a devout believer and constantly tried to proselytize, seemingly forgetting that not every student shares her convictions.
I wasn't raised in a religious household. I only attended church because it was required for First Communion and Confirmation. It felt redundant, too, since we had to attend extra religious education classes at the parish office on top of the standard school curriculum.
I hope that in a few years, they introduce ethics as a formal alternative to religious studies in elementary schools. To be honest, I don't think religious studies is a bad subject; it's useful for general cultural literacy. But it shouldn't be framed as something intended solely for believers.

I can see the trend shifting. We aren't stuck in the Stone Age like when I was in school.🙂 Parents are finally realizing they have the right to choose, and I respect that. Most importantly, parents should actually ask their children if they *want* to participate instead of forcing them. In my experience, everyone was mandated to attend, whether they wanted to or not.
The biggest issue is exactly what you mentioned: the fear that kids might face social isolation. Children can imagine all sorts of reasons why someone wouldn't attend these classes. They might even pick up certain biases from their parents when questioning why a peer opted out. As the saying goes, children are reflections of their parents.

Back when I was in elementary school about 15 years ago, anyone who didn't take religion class was treated like an outsider. In my class, three kids didn't participate because they were Muslim. They usually just had to wait out in the hallway while the rest of us finished our lessons. It feels like back then, religion wasn't even a Democratic elective; it was mandatory. Everyone had to sit through it—even those three kids had to attend our religious studies for the first three grades. Eventually, they introduced a single year of Islamic studies, but it didn't last long due to lack of interest.
In high school, I chose ethics because it actually interested me, and I don't regret it. We covered a lot of ground, and getting an A wasn't easy (unlike in religion class).
One more negative thing regarding my elementary school: when we were in 8th grade, the teachers told us that we had to sign up for religion in high school. It felt like they were trying to intimidate us, as if they were going to monitor our choices (!!!). Out of the 12 students from my group who went to the same high school as I did, I was the only one who chose ethics. I can't tell if I made that choice based on that intimidation from middle school or if it was truly my own decision.

In my high school, religion and ethics classes were scheduled at the same time. Looking back at my old class, about 65% took religion and 35% took ethics.

Hi there.
I'm looking to pick up a printer. My budget is capped at $133. It'll mostly be used for printing presentations, study guides, and similar documents.
What’s the best value option within that price range? I also need something where finding third-party ink or toner isn't a headache.
And just for clarity, what is the actual difference between an inkjet and a laser printer?

Also, how can I be sure which specific replacement toner or ink cartridge matches my printer model?

I usually lay out my clothes and pack my bag for college the night before just to save some time. You should try to get as much done as possible before you go to bed so your mornings aren't such a rush.

Red Hot Chili Peppers. That was back in fifth grade 😁 I was obsessed with them
But once high school hit, I drifted toward metal, so I don't really listen to RHCP anymore. Still, I have fond memories of that phase 🙂

My first actual concert was Metallica back in 2010 😍

Government incentives are officially a thing of the past. I went to extend my savings account this year, and they informed me that federal subsidies have been completely phased out—which matches what I’ve been seeing on the news lately.
I've always made it a point to set aside any extra cash, whether it's a gift or money from summer side gigs. I don't see much point in blowing money on trivialities when I already have everything I need; besides, you never know when you might actually need it.

I decided to skip this year's concert. Even though I absolutely love Slayer and have been happy with their shows at Madison Square Garden and The Fillmore, this whole situation with Lombard really rubbed me the wrong way, so I decided to pass this time around.
I was also holding out hope that Jeff would be back in top shape, but apparently, third time isn't the charm this year. 😢

At this point, I’m just hoping to see the full Slayer lineup next year. 🙂