Hello nice people! I have a general inquiry for any who have knowledge of or who have participated in a live-at-a-place-in-exchange-for-work type situation. Additionally, I'm interested in specific places near or inside the Portland borders. I'm at a position where I have no debt and would like to spend some time working and growing and eating and learning, though the ability to have a part-time job away from the place would be fairly important. Also not interested in severing familial ties, though wearing robes and participating in ceremonies is not out of the question.

I just heard about WWOOF and am checking into it now. I've perused ic.org a few times.

I cannot find the answer to this via google or the irs site and my employer does not know the answer, so I'm hoping that dp will once again come to the rescue.


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1. Buttering You Up: To get their way, manipulators will often make you feel good so that they can then ask you to do something that they want. The person may first compliment you or tell you what a wonderful job you did on something. Making you feel good will, in their mind, make it difficult for you to say no…after all, you wouldn’t want to disappoint them or give them reason to think you didn’t deserve the compliment in the first place. What you can do: Return the compliments and the niceties before saying no.

2. Guilt: This doesn’t only pertain to Catholics and Jewish Mothers; guilt trips have been a successful manipulation tactic for centuries. The saddest part of this strategy is that the victims of this tactic succumb to the manipulators’ demands because they feel they HAVE to, not because they WANT to. In personal relationships, this sets up a co-dependency that is extremely unhealthy. What you can do: Ask the individual if they want you to do something because you have to or because you want to. If they say they want you to want to do it, tell them that you don’t and that they are trying to force you into something you don’t feel comfortable with.

3. Broken Record: Probably the most obvious of formats is the broken record tactic. If a person asks you enough or pushes their agenda enough…constantly repeating the question or request over and over again…in slightly different ways, the victim will inevitably give in and give them what they want. Oye! What you can do: Ask the individual what they don’t understand about the word “no.” Tell them that asking you over and over again isn’t going to change anything and that they are inappropriately over-stepping boundaries.

4. Selective Memory: This one gets me the most. You swear you have a conversation about a plan and everyone is on the same page, and then one day, the manipulator pretends to remember the conversation completely differently, if at all. What you can do: Record your conversations…seriously! Okay, maybe not. At least have a witness that you can count on to back you up if the person pulls this shenanigan. Call them out on the fact that they conveniently change the game to fit their needs.

5. Bullying: If a person doesn’t get their way, they make you out to look or feel like the bad guy…like you are the wrong one. What you can do: Be firm and tell them that their bullying tactics are inappropriate and unacceptable.

I know some of us are having a very staycation Christmas 09' so if anyone would like to do a friendly meetup next tuesday, I am going to call McMenamin's Tavern & Pool to set one up! Is anyone interested? Am I the only one going to still be in Portland next week?

Is anyone here an intermediate to professional juggler?

A good friend is buying some clubs for her husband, and I was hoping to narrow things down a bit before we start our search. Specifically: brand suggestions? weight? single body vs wood core?

I realize that weight will vary by juggler, but i'm looking for something middle of the road. The man in question is physically fit, with good arm and hand strength.

We are only looking for clubs, as he has other equipment to juggle already (and we can't simply check it out for a brand name since he made it himself.)

Thanks in advance, damnjugglers.

I've got a question for you folks working food service, retail, etc bringing in minimum wage - how much of that do you take home per hour, after taxes/SS/so forth?

Who here took the SAT?
And what score did you get?
(Along with any other information, like whether you studied, took it multiple times, liked it, used it to get into college)

This may seem like a really stupid question.. I mean really, how hard is it to drive from Portland to Spokane? I've done it hundreds of times myself. But, I'm more curious about WINTER driving.

With the recent random closures of spots of I-84, we're researching alternative routes. I have a Subaru Tribeca (AWD yay!) and chains so I'm not afraid to drive in it, I just don't want to get stuck on the way there or way back. We'll be going next week!

Has anyone done a route other than I-84 to 395 through the Tri-Cities to I-90 before? That's the only way I've ever gone.

I know we could go up I-5 to Seattle and then take I-90 all the way over the pass, but I imagine the pass might be more difficult than I-84!

I also found this route - I-84 to Hwy 97 up into Washington through Yakima and meet up with I-90.. (see picture behind cut)

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I'm probably being WAY over paranoid about this, but I really don't want to get stuck at some random truck stop while waiting for the roads to open, ya know? :)

Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

my mom is a chocolate fanatic. i'm looking to get her some really good dark, dark chocolate (88% cacao or higher), locally made if possible. it can be plain or with fruit or spices added (spicy is a plus!). can any of you lovelies point me in the right direction? i'll buy online if necessary, and while southeast is preferred, i'll drive anywhere for some kick-ass chocolate.


thanks, y'all.

We're moving, cannot transport. Message me for address or any more details.
http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/fuo/1511228759.html

a few months back while driving down stark, outside the unity church of portland between 44th and 45th, there were people in costumes. but not just any costumes, venture bros. costumes. i saw someone dressed as dr. girlfriend, my girlfriend swore she saw someone dressed baron underbheit. does anybody know what was going on? there may have also been cameras.

My friends' boyfriend just broke up with her so since she has been couch surfing she is selling all her DVDs and Video games to make moving a bit more easier.
If you are interested ( Click over here )

Just message me if you are interested.
If you are interested and want them shipped to you add $2 to each one.