Lars, I thought I was the only person on earth that just cut square biscuits, other people think that's so odd but I find it easy and kind of comforting, they're more like Grandma's biscuits. I do the same thing with scones, or pat them round and make pie shaped wedges, I seldom cut anything round for some reason. Rusty, I don't like shortening in most things, I have a couple of cookie recipes that "need" it because the texture just isn't right without it, but I seldom have any. I've been known to use lard too, if I have some on hand, but mostly the biscuits get made with butter. I keep the butter very cold, cut it into small cubes and then work it into the flour with a very old fashioned hand held pastry cutter. Grandma used to use two knives and did literally "cut" the butter into the flour mixture. When I have "pea sized" bits of butter in my dry ingredients, then I add the wet stuff. As you can see, I get light flakey biscuits with "layers" because the folding and minimal handling lets the cold pieces of butter stay intact and create those flakey layers. David, the BF has a cat. He had it before he and Ashley started dating, thank goodness! Oh, and you are truly a smart a$$, that's why I love you. (grin) Jo, I'm sorry you're having a bad week, you're welcome to breakfast with me any time you need it, even if it is only virtual..... Annie

Les - It's 3 am out here, and whereas you have probably awakened for the day, I've not yet gone to sleep! Which I'm going to do right now. If you like, I'll email you at the addy in your profile, as I'm not sure that this subject is suitable for the forum. There are many places to go on the Net for information. E.g. http://www.hrc.arg/doc/?t=mideast&c=bahrai -- I'm not saying that CC itself, as a company operating in the US, torments women. It fully complies with our laws, and therefore has at least the legally mandated number of WESTERN women in the company, here. However, anyone proclaming adherence to Sharia acquiesces in the prevailing conditions in countries of that religion, and those conditions are intolerable. Arcapita states on CC's website that it fully complies with Sharia in the running of the company, under the FAQ section. Beyond that I don't want to go on this forum, as it's completely off-topic. If this were moved to Conversations, we could. If you don't mind my emailing you, let me know, and I'll do it tomorrow. My brain must now get some sleep. Threegrad - So sorry! This is such an informative thread. I'm afraid that when I saw fair-trade and CC both mentioned here, the irony simply hit me. Nighty-night...

Yeah, Lindakathy's link sounds like it might be more realistic. But both say the Salvation Army's discount is "up to 50%." I'm there a lot, and never heard of anyone getting a senior discount. I'll bet when I ask, the employees will stare blankly at me. LOL I'll ask at Wendy's and Burger King, too. I'm not there often, but every little bit helps. I'll check out Big Lots, although I suspect it's not actually 30%. And of course I'll look for an excuse to stay at the Waldorf so I can get that $5,000 off the Presidential Suite. ;-) Thanks for bringing this to our attention!

On Wednesday I received my first ever senior discount. The cashier was ringing me up and then said that I'm not 55 or over, am I? I was kind of caught off guard but responded that yes, I am 55 but it was the first time I had ever been asked. It struck me as funny and I was laughing telling people that I just received my first ever senior discount. No one laughed with me, or congratulated me. I must have looked like as idiot. But at least I don't look 55! LOL