On Nagging Attractions and the Strategies of Lesbianism Convention (SLC)
Another unexplored dimension of LW2's issue: Might the homophobia have more to do with SIL's mommy issues? For example, did SIL's mother leave SIL's father for a woman? etc.
None of this should matter, of course. Homophobia is wrong, and to not be able to separate mommy issues from the values you teach your kids is sick. But it's something LW2 should perhaps consider when confronting the fact that in so many other ways, her SIL seems like a kindred spirit.
I do like Queer Chick's advice about saying something quick, then changing the subject. An aloof pro-gay statement (versus a full-out criticism of SIL's parenting choices) will, if nothing else, make LW2 feel less complicit in/accepting of SIL's homophobia.
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On Nagging Attractions and the Strategies of Lesbianism Convention (SLC)
@Bitterblue I have been listening to those same Savage Love podcasts and yes, monogamish is valid. HOWEVER. Just having that conversation can sometimes lead to a break-up in that, if you're the other party and you only want to be monogamist, and the deal when you got together was monogamy, then you have to bear the very real possibility that you either submit to a new agreement that makes you uncomfortable or say goodbye to your partner.
I do think that "monogamish" is a good possibility to explore if you feel that the only two options for you are a) stay in a relationship where you're allowed to sleep with other people or b) break-up, because there is no way for you to be happy in a strictly monogamist relationship. But if you're somewhere in between, I agree with Queer Chick's analysis: do some soul-searching about what could be gained versus what could be lost.
I say this as someone who has listened to a lot of Dan Savage with her partner. It's been liberating, but I come away from it thinking monogamish would be too painful for me.
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On Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
@Jinxie Thanks! We're both cauliflower-averse, so I'm happy for the many suggestions of green beans.
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On Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
@Anji Green beans, definitely. Would that be a good substitute?
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On Curried Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
This all sounds great, but my SO hates broccoli. Someone mentioned kale further up...is that a valid one-to-one substitute? If so, how would I prepare the kale prior to baking the casserole?
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On Ask a Clean Person: Sweat, Dye, Must, and Onions
@phlox Thank you! I always wondered why my boyfriend would tear up while slicing onions, but I could cut dozens -- now I know! It's because of my shitty eye sight!
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On We're All Murderers Inside Our Own Heads, or The Time My Boss Wanted to Kill Me
I'm guessing at the time frame here (using the popularity of Livejournal and Xanga) that this was in the early 'oughts, pre-large scale incidents of students (and occasional faculty) losing their shit on-campus. I'm hoping universities would have WAY more sense of liability now, however, and wouldn't have left the guy's firing up to you.
(Also, if this were, say, pre-2003, "doocing" had yet to catch on in the vernacular... God, I hope people are more discrete now. Although I think it speaks a lot to the guy's mental state that he would have a public murder-fantasy blog that named real names...but the bit about him SITTING AT THE INFORMATION DESK, replacing you, knowing you'd be back in a few minutes...that's straight-up screenplay material.)
How much longer did you work together?
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On Lana Del Ray's "Born to Die" Video
I can't sign on with the romantic hero of this video. Also, her lyrics are cliche. "Don't make me sigh/Don't make me cry"? "Feet don't fail me now"!? You're killing me, you gorgeous siren in search of a better songwriter! Outsource that sh*t!
I do like her voice. She is very Pam-looking as well.
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On The Best Time I Rapped on the Internet and Everyone Hated Me
I really felt for you. Having done social media for companies in the past, I know how misguided some of the approaches can be. I shudder to think of how awful it would've been to have had to put my name, let alone face, to some of the horrible ideas I was asked to execute. What was with the person who WROTE this rap being "too shy"?
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On Yogurt Company Admits It's as Full of Sh*t as You Literally Are, Still
Totally delayed response, but...one thing that's always bothered me about Activa is that yogurt with live, active bacteria is GREAT for digestion. But (I learned in a nutrition class) you have to eat it plain. Or you have to eat plain yogurt with fruit or honey that you add AT THE MOMENT YOU CONSUME IT. When you pack yogurt with any sugars or flavoring, the bacteria eat that and then are useless to you for digestion.
I thought this was Yogurt 101, so it's bothered me that Activa so glaringly ignored this fact and sold flavored yogurt. They could've done some damage control by marketing, I dunno, PLAIN ASS YOGURT.