Open Thread — Good News Edition

26 Comments

1. 

   tampopo on February 5, 2006 at 11:47 am

   Congrats to your son — and you too!

   I found teaching my son to drive a religious experience – lots of prayer! 😉

   • 

     Steven D on February 5, 2006 at 12:04 pm

     Frankly, I think he was a lot more nervous than I was.  Not that I wasn’t nervous, mind you . . .

2. 

   Salunga on February 5, 2006 at 12:01 pm

   Where are these sponsored links coming from? Sorry this probably doesn’t qualify as good news.
   On the other hand my son just made the honor roll for the second straight marking period. He’s in sixth grade!

   • 

     Steven D on February 5, 2006 at 12:05 pm

     Congrats!  Honor roll is always good news.

3. 

   cotterperson on February 5, 2006 at 12:05 pm

   I’m closing on the sale of a 146-acre patch of Ozarks tomorrow. Part of the proceeds will buy land adjoining a 40-acre parcel that’s been in our family 100 years.

   Finally, we will have access to where two creeks ran together and my ancestors had their cabin. My sweet Mama will enjoy that! She’s demented at 86, but still loves nature, the way she taught me.

   ‘Grats to you son, Steve, and to you — for your courage! 😉

   • 

     Steven D on February 5, 2006 at 12:08 pm

     I’d love to see pictures of that land someday.  I hear the Ozarks are truly beautiful.

     • 

       cotterperson on February 5, 2006 at 12:20 pm

       Yup, there is a lot of beauty in the Ozarks. When I get a good shot of the creek, I’ll post it. In the meantime, here’s the view from my window after a storm.

       

       “There’s no place like home.”

       • 

         Steven D on February 5, 2006 at 12:24 pm

         That’s otherwordly.

         Thank you.

         • 

           Steven D on February 5, 2006 at 12:25 pm

           I meant “otherworldly” though otherwordly sort of fits too.  

   • 

     maryb2004 on February 5, 2006 at 12:26 pm

     That’s a great picture.  Where in the Ozarks is that?  

     • 

       Oui on February 6, 2006 at 9:13 am

       .
       When I first met with cotterperson, the beautiful Ozarks, so inviting as a spot for a future BooTrib community meet-up!

       The Ozarks as the backyard of my rearing in Creve Coeur, Missouri.

       “But I will not let myself be reduced to silence.”

       ▼ ▼ ▼ MY DIARY

4. 

   katiebird on February 5, 2006 at 12:07 pm

   Don’t forget to Eat 4 Today — Even on a Super Day!

   Share tips whether you’ve made The Commitment, or Just 4 Today.

5. 

   ask on February 5, 2006 at 12:16 pm

   Maybe this is more in the ‘brave news’ category:
   The cure for your allergy: a hookworm  

   A team of British scientists investigating whether a tiny tropical hookworm could provide a cure for asthma and hay fever have committed the ultimate act of bravery by infecting themselves with the parasite to observe the effects.

   The experts wanted to see if there would be any unpleasant or dangerous side effects from the worm, Ancylostoma duodenale, so they made the bold decision to allow their own bodies to be infected. Each scientist had to stick some of the tiny hookworm larvae on to their skin with a plaster and wait for the larvae to wriggle through the skin into the lungs, through the bloodstream and into the intestine, where they would produce eggs. The eggs are excreted, but once the adult hookworms are in the gut they start to suck blood from the walls of the intestine. The theory is that this infection triggers an immune response which helps to ‘dampen down’ the over-reaction of the rest of the system, which is why patients with allergies such as asthma develop symptoms.
   (snip)
   Pritchard himself stuck 50 of the larvae onto his skin. ‘It was fairly itchy when they first go through the skin,’ he admitted. ‘After that you don’t really notice them.’

   • 

     kansas on February 5, 2006 at 12:26 pm

     I think I’ll just keep sneezing, thank you.

     • 

       ask on February 5, 2006 at 12:30 pm

       Yeah – no kidding.
       Just reading it gives that itchy feeling.

   • 

     Ed J on February 5, 2006 at 12:36 pm

     of stories of astounding courage – people who put their lives on the line (and often lost them) for the benefit of others.

   • 

     maryb2004 on February 5, 2006 at 12:54 pm

     yuck.  I get hay fever, but I think I’d rather just suffer through it.

6. 

   Gabriele Droz on February 5, 2006 at 2:58 pm

   My older son just got a 5 year fellowship to get his doctorate in Chemistry at UCSB.  It covers all of the tuition, materials, plus a generous monthly living allowance. YESSS!!!!

   He graduated from UC Berkeley a couple of years ago and got hired by one of the former professors to do research in his private firm up in Berkeley.  

   Now he’ll be coming back home to Santa Barbara to get his degree.  We are so thrilled.

   • 

     supersoling on February 5, 2006 at 3:10 pm

     That is good news!

7. 

   Militarytracy on February 5, 2006 at 3:51 pm

   How about my daughter went to school last week all of the days that school was in session as far as I know!

   • 

     CabinGirl on February 5, 2006 at 3:56 pm

     Tat’s more than I can say for my kids last week.

   • 

     supersoling on February 5, 2006 at 5:09 pm

     Daughter Allie came to me with her report card and said she’s doing ok, she’s only failing Soc. Studies.
     I adjusted my expectations appropriatly ;o)

   • 

     Damnit Janet on February 5, 2006 at 6:26 pm

     My son got caught CHEATING on a social studies test Friday.

     The autism intake specialist was in to observe him and caught him cheating LOL… I don’t know whether to laugh or scold him. He said he forgot about the test and didn’t want to fail it so figured he put his word list by his feet .. “just this one time”.

     • 

       Militarytracy on February 6, 2006 at 9:31 am
8. 

   Damnit Janet on February 5, 2006 at 6:23 pm

   Hoooary Steven!!!  

   And all the other moms, dads and loved ones!

   My daughter handed in all her assignments for 3 weeks in a row. YAY! Handing in assignments was a HUGE issues at the last school. This school she tried that crap the second week, but we were on it and the school helps out. 🙂

   • 

     Militarytracy on February 6, 2006 at 9:34 am

     should not meet until they are finished with school.  Do you think there is a connection with having a strong vocal mother and not turning in assignments on time or maybe never, because it wasn’t going to affect their grade that much or was a stupid assignment?