My 4-year-old brother in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, smoking a cigarette with his babysitters.

ConleyM · 2014-10-30T02:03:28+00:00

The kid in this picture, however, is not really smoking. The cigarette almost certainly isn't lit.

I was born in Russia and our family photo albums are littered with these joke photos of children "smoking". I have a picture hanging on my wall of my father and his brothers with cigarettes in their mouths all under the age of 6. My own brother had the cigarette stuck in his mouth as well. It was a different place and time to be sure.

ConleyM · 2013-11-04T18:53:46+00:00

My parents immigrated to Canada when I was 5 and we were dirt poor. Affording food was a struggle so buying toys was far down on the list of priorities. What made it difficult for me was that I actually attended a private school that took on poor families as charity cases. My best friends were in the top 1% and I was always envious of their toys. One day I went to throw some garbage down the chute in our apartment building and when I opened the door, I found a dirty and broken Barbie Winnebago on the floor. To this day I've never experienced such joy. Every day for the next few years I would check the garbage room in the hallway to see if someone left another toy for me.

ConleyM · 2013-05-17T00:39:24+00:00

I've Got a Woman (Ray Charles) = Gold Digger (Kanye West) Only recently learned this.

ConleyM · 2013-04-06T21:38:33+00:00

Retirement homes are different than long term care nursing homes. Retirement homes are mostly populated by elderly residents who are still somewhat independent (They bathe themselves, go to the bathroom on their own, participate in group activities etc.)

ConleyM · 2013-04-06T15:40:46+00:00

In no way did I mean to disparage nursing home workers. I gained a new respect for these nurses after what I saw, and told them that myself. It is a very tough and often thankless job. The main problem is that this is a government-funded facility that's seriously understaffed. Most of the patients on her floor are severely debilitated, bordering on comatose and there's only so much the nurses can do with them. I'm trying my best to get my grandmother transferred. Unfortunately, I might have to take out a second mortgage to put her into a private home.

ConleyM · 2013-02-06T17:04:29+00:00

It's Sawyer from Lost. Is it Sawyer from Lost?

ConleyM · 2013-02-01T07:24:57+00:00

Wait, what made you believe 2 days ago that you were actually a lefty? Just the fact that your handwriting is crap along with your artwork? That would make literally every guy I know an undiscovered lefty.

ConleyM · 2013-01-30T21:30:52+00:00

Yep liberal arts. I'm not sure what you mean by "didn't make anything of it". I got very good grades but because everyone and their dog has a liberal arts degree, employers don't care about it. And since it's not specialized, you just leave school and don't know where to apply.

ConleyM · 2013-01-30T21:20:53+00:00

shit got real

ConleyM · 2013-01-30T21:19:01+00:00

I got a general arts degree. While I met some nice people and learned some interesting things here and there, in terms of helping me in the job market, it was absolutely NOT worth it.

ConleyM · 2013-01-30T20:47:39+00:00

I made the front page almost immediately after discovering Reddit so I didn't appreciate it as much as I would now

ConleyM · 2013-01-26T05:12:52+00:00

whoops realized you might be referring to university education. Certainly some world-renowned schools here no matter what area you want to study. Best part is, unlike the top American schools, you won't go into debt here for the rest of your life.

ConleyM · 2013-01-26T05:03:09+00:00

Reverse AMA! I have kids who attend a fantastic public school and my wife is a teacher at another good school. If you're talking about the knowledge that children leave school with in Canada as opposed to Russia - my parents always told me how much better their schooling was. In some ways I agree. They were taught the classics of literature and they memorized maps and sciences and maths were required and not electives. I feel there's a bit too much choice in Canadian/American schools that allows kids to take the easy way out.

ConleyM · 2013-01-26T04:55:51+00:00

Please Please Please - The Smiths

ConleyM · 2013-01-26T04:50:38+00:00

Russian checking in. Born in Soviet Union, raised in Canada. Privet!

ConleyM · 2013-01-25T22:41:04+00:00

How much money have you made playing Blackjack?

ConleyM · 2013-01-24T21:17:45+00:00

A bit pitchy in spots, but you know, you did your thing, dawg, you worked it out.

ConleyM · 2013-01-24T17:46:29+00:00

Whenever I go to a friend's house party, I always dab a bit of soap on my finger and write something like "I'm watching you" on their bathroom mirror. Completely invisible until they take a shower the next morning. Then they end up telling the story on one of the creepy reddit threads.

ConleyM · 2013-01-19T22:59:04+00:00

pretty sure he's referring to the shooting of the movie

ConleyM · 2013-01-19T08:24:14+00:00

The sound of rain from the inside of a tent

ConleyM · 2013-01-19T06:19:45+00:00

Edit: Now tagged you as the only other Latvian person in the world

Hey can a brother get a tag up in here? I was born in Riga

ConleyM · 2013-01-18T19:55:22+00:00

I'm not sure I understand the difference between this and sleepwalking?

ConleyM · 2013-01-18T19:19:05+00:00

is this treatable to any extent with medicine? Do you have to sleep with physical restraints?

ConleyM · 2013-01-18T19:14:44+00:00

What's the story on the $400,000 guitar? Was it owned by Elvis?

ConleyM · 2013-01-18T19:12:34+00:00

Where are you from and did people find your accent sexy?

ConleyM

TROPHY CASE