Tree-Geek

I rescued two babies from a friend (who impulse bought them -.-). They didn't realise how much work goes into rat care.

Anyway, the babies were so wild, she couldn't tell what sex they were (well, the boy she could). She thought they were both boys, and I took them on- as I only have boys at the moment.

Well, the moment I could pick her up, I saw that the second was a girl. I separated them straight away. The boy is now with two older rats and getting along fine. The little girl is alone.

In one month she will be spayed and reunited with her brother (No one in the rescue group was able to take her on, and I can't adopt another rat right now with 4 already).

She's not that tame yet, so I'm not much comfort to her- I'm just wondering if there's any advise people have for keeping a lone rat stimulated. It will only be until she is big enough to spay (and she'll be spayed by a rodent specialist) after which she'll join her brothers in the giant cage.

Any help or advise appreciated.

I see a question on Wicca, there's always one or two answers that are short and condescending. Usually by people who actually know their stuff when it comes to Wicca.

Yes, I know that most of the questioners are teens who don't really know what they're doing, and I know that Wicca is hardly in need of evangelism, so the whole flies with honey thing serves no purpose.

But do we really need to be so patronising of people who make mistakes or haven't learned better?

Every time I read one of these answers, I have "comic book guy's" voice in my head and it just makes me feel like we're sending the exact impression that people get of us- slobby nerdy people playing dressups.

Asking here because it's more highly frequented.

My brother is autistic, which isn't a problem in and of itself.

It's just...he is trying to apply for all these colleges and things- private places and not public. He is no where near cognitively capable of studying these courses, but insists on spending thousands of dollars in tuition.

He mistakenly thinks all you have to do is do the course and all the film jobs will be his.

I WANT him to feel succesful and have self-determination, but he refuses to listen to us. We can't flat out say "you don't have the mental ability to do this course".

He also refuses to have anything to do with disability programs. But he is constantly feeling defeated because he can't self-advocate. He goes to interviews- can't do them well or fumbles, and they won't hire him. If he went through a service, they'd advocate on his behalf. He refuses to let us do it too.

He has no concept of the value of money, so he thinks spending 10 thousand dollars on a 1 year course that won't get him work is nothing.

But he refuses to listen to our advice- seek out a course at a public institution. Go through Disability Services.

He hates to be labelled as "disabled" and fair enough- but then he also hates the disabled! He doesn't want to be associated with them which in my mind is bigoted.

I'm at my wit's end!? Attending classes as an audit isn't enough for him anymore, he is determined to earn a degree, but he is no where near mentally capable (this isn't a case of borderline- because many autistic people get degrees. His cognitive age is about 14. He struggled through a basic certificate and JUST made it through. A degree would be a waste of his money.)

What do I do? And please- a lot of people will say "Let him make his own decision"

Well, we're trying to take care of him in the FUTURE. He can only think of NOW. Spending $10 000 on a useless course is not taking care of his needs. Such as having something to survive on in the event none of us can.

Help :(

My brother is autistic, which isn't a problem in and of itself.

It's just...he is trying to apply for all these colleges and things- private places and not public. He is no where near cognitively capable of studying these courses, but insists on spending thousands of dollars in tuition.

He mistakenly thinks all you have to do is do the course and all the film jobs will be his.

I WANT him to feel succesful and have self-determination, but he refuses to listen to us. We can't flat out say "you don't have the mental ability to do this course".

He also refuses to have anything to do with disability programs. But he is constantly feeling defeated because he can't self-advocate. He goes to interviews- can't do them well or fumbles, and they won't hire him. If he went through a service, they'd advocate on his behalf. He refuses to let us do it too.

He has no concept of the value of money, so he thinks spending 10 thousand dollars on a 1 year course that won't get him work is nothing.

But he refuses to listen to our advice- seek out a course at a public institution. Go through Disability Services.

He hates to be labelled as "disabled" and fair enough- but then he also hates the disabled! He doesn't want to be associated with them which in my mind is bigoted.

I'm at my wit's end!? Attending classes as an audit isn't enough for him anymore, he is determined to earn a degree, but he is no where near mentally capable (this isn't a case of borderline- because many autistic people get degrees. His cognitive age is about 14. He struggled through a basic certificate and JUST made it through. A degree would be a waste of his money.)

What do I do? And please- a lot of people will say "Let him make his own decision"

Well, we're trying to take care of him in the FUTURE. He can only think of NOW. Spending $10 000 on a useless course is not taking care of his needs. Such as having something to survive on in the event none of us can.

Help :(

My brother is autistic, which isn't a problem in and of itself.

It's just...he is trying to apply for all these colleges and things- private places and not public. He is no where near cognitively capable of studying these courses, but insists on spending thousands of dollars in tuition.

He mistakenly thinks all you have to do is do the course and all the film jobs will be his.

I WANT him to feel succesful and have self-determination, but he refuses to listen to us. We can't flat out say "you don't have the mental ability to do this course".

He also refuses to have anything to do with disability programs. But he is constantly feeling defeated because he can't self-advocate. He goes to interviews- can't do them well or fumbles, and they won't hire him. If he went through a service, they'd advocate on his behalf. He refuses to let us do it too.

He has no concept of the value of money, so he thinks spending 10 thousand dollars on a 1 year course that won't get him work is nothing.

But he refuses to listen to our advice- seek out a course at a public institution. Go through Disability Services.

He hates to be labelled as "disabled" and fair enough- but then he also hates the disabled! He doesn't want to be associated with them which in my mind is bigoted.

I'm at my wit's end!? Attending classes as an audit isn't enough for him anymore, he is determined to earn a degree, but he is no where near mentally capable (this isn't a case of borderline- because many autistic people get degrees. His cognitive age is about 14. He struggled through a basic certificate and JUST made it through. A degree would be a waste of his money.)

What do I do? And please- a lot of people will say "Let him make his own decision"

Well, we're trying to take care of him in the FUTURE. He can only think of NOW. Spending $10 000 on a useless course is not taking care of his needs. Such as having something to survive on in the event none of us can.

Help :(

Not all of you- but just some of us- when answering honest and curious questions- react so snappily.

"There ARE no spells in Wicca, you've been reading too much Harry Potter"

"You don't NEED a book of Shadows. You don't NEED to buy anything!!"

"WE can't tell you that, you have to figure it out for yourself!!!"

I don't understand why we're being so snappy with people who just honestly misguided. I mean, there are some wonderful answers too, very kind. But on the most part, I've seen so many snappy responses with a kind of insinuation of stupidity that it makes me cringe.

Why?

OK, so, if you have saved more than your deposit price, can you still get a loan?

Let me explain:

I am aiming to buy small land, build a small home. Tiny. I plan to have saved $143000 of my own money before I get the loan of $75000 to cover the rest of the costs. That would require a deposit of, say, $15000.

Would I be able to get a $75000 loan with $143000 in savings?

Also- Using the $15000 as a deposit for the loan, that means I still get to use it for the house, don't I? Or would owning $143000 be considered a deposit in itself, and I'd get the $75000 on TOP of that?

They also want to ban gay adoption?

Like, obviously- if you want to ban abortion, there will be MILLIONS more unwanted babies.

Are you gonna pay the mothers to keep them? Where are they gonna go? Burden the foster system?

Who will take the kids? I'm not for regulating what happens to a woman's uterus, but it makes sense that if there's gonna be more kids, then gay parents are just what we need to deal with the influx.

What are your thoughts?

They also want to ban gay adoption?

Like, obviously- if you want to ban abortion, there will be MILLIONS more unwanted babies.

Are you gonna pay the mothers to keep them? Where are they gonna go? Burden the foster system?

Who will take the kids? I'm not for regulating what happens to a woman's uterus, but it makes sense that if there's gonna be more kids, then gay parents are just what we need to deal with the influx.

What are your thoughts?

Some republicans claim they want to move to Australia, now that Obama has won:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jwherrman/37-people-who-sa...

Dear Republicans:

Australia has universal healthcare,

Compulsory Voting

No Guns. No Death Penalty

Pro-choice when it comes to contraception and abortions

Openly gay politicians and judges, equal civil rights for gay people (just not marriage...yet!)

Evolution is taught in all schools as fact

and our PM is an unmarried atheist female.

:)

Would you like to join us for a BBQ where we can talk progressive politics?

I live in NSW, Australia.

So, in the quest for affordable living, I'm looking at my options (when it comes to home-ownership).

I like the idea of tiny homes/small living, but my job, which has me working from home, requires a little extra space. I am single with no current dependents (though I foster children, but not at the moment). I can't afford to own/build even a simple kit-home. But I *could* afford land and 2-3 granny flats.

Is it legal to live out of 2-3 granny flats that are under the size required to lodge a council permit?

Push his way into a soup kitchen with cameras and do nothing!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zqI9Lf1_94&feature...

Why did a group of Christians just email me to tell me to get out of RnS?

I worship nature. I don't hurt anyone. What's the issue here?