I find it interesting that this is almost entirely a US phenomenon. Spelling bees do happen elsewhere in the Anglo world, but they're rare and rarely get any attention.

Weird how where I am in Canada, the recycling depots won't even take your bottles if they have caps on them. I have to throw the caps away. FML.

In your original endeavour, try Quote Investigator. It doesn't always have an answer, but when it does, the answer is thorough. It will provide sources and provide discussion/debate if relevant.

This is a wonderful recipe to make yourself vulnerable to narcissists and other con artists. I'm sorry, but it's overly optimistic and naïve advice, IMO.

Classic foolish whataboutism.

You'd think so, but some stubborn people don't learn lessons even the hard way. My dad still trivializes salmonella, listeria, etc. by deriding food safety habits (handwashing, wiping surfaces, bleaching cutting boards) even though he's been hospitalized for contracting a foodborne illness. Mind you, he was out after one night, but that doesn't justify trivializing the incident.

Lexikleptomanic!

It's a red flag. I know I'm done with this kind of repeated behaviour. Sure, if someone does this once or twice, maybe they were just excited. But if this person persists in such behaviour, I just stop interacting with them or telling them any news.

I had a rather similar scenario, minus the kids part. I happily divorced her.

Yeeaahh, that's exactly how narcs think. They don't see other people. They see toys, puppets, and sources of admiration for their egos. Relationships are transactional and shallow even tho at the start the narcs will pretend that they're not.

I'm glad that this person is your ex. Narcs are pretty much evil.

Narcissists can present this way. They privately take advantage of and abuse people who (they think) won't leave, but buddy up to other people to win them over, always looking for more ego supply to groom.

Look up how communal narcissists operate.

Does it really taste better to "most" people? Could be. I've never seen a scientific poll on this (tho I'm gonna go look). But not to me and my family. I've been eating whole wheat foods my whole life (I've eaten mostly home-cooked meals) and strongly prefer the nutty flavour of whole wheat over the blandness of white flour. I usually add just a smidge % more oil/butter to my baking to counteract the slight uptick in perceived dryness, but for tortillas, roti, and naan, I can't tell any difference in dryness, just a nuttier flavour.

Anyway, I think people get used to what they get used to, like how Yanks can't tell that their supermarket white breads are usually basically confectionery.

Higher BMI does not necessarily mean more fat. I was a very athletic and naturally large kid even before puberty, with a high BMI and little fat. See also bodybuilders, US football linebackers, rowers, etc.

BMI is just bad science, and the medical field would do well to scrap its use.

Everytime I do, I feel some shame.

Which election day? Are some people really so insular that they think the only elections that happen are their own?

Yep. My bestie has ADHD and always forgets, but I know he cares, so I just drop a hint. lol

I don't care that much about my birthday, but I also learned that people who actually care about me will probably say or do something. Reminding them could help, tho, because although some people care, they might forget.

In their own minds, narcissists almost never do anything wrong. Their fragile egos can't allow it.

The Canadian World Juniors have been accused en masse of sexual assaults. Then we found out that the Hockey Canada organization covered it up. Then we found out that it was using taxpayer funds to build up a shush fund (to silence victims of assault). But even after all those now-known problems, the organizers who set up the fund and who swept the assaults under the rug were playing the deny, deny, deny game. Then more public backlash ensued. Then Hockey Canada's sponsors (most of which are huge Canadian brand names) started to jump ship, including Nike, Tim Hortons, Canadian Tire, and more.

Hockey is, umm, kinda huge here, so this has made all sorts of national headlines.

Obviously, if I got any details a bit wrong, someone correct me. But you get the gist.

It only took 75% of its sponsors jumping ship for them to be forced to do the right thing. Finally.

Meanwhile in Canada, I'm sure we're not split. 🏒

A lot of the time, it's not can but rather may.