That first link is a great article, so thought-provoking. This part really got me, about how teenagers perceive fighting with their parents, and how it affects honesty/lying:

The average Pennsylvania teen was 244 percent more likely to lie than to protest a rule. In the families where there was less deception, however, there was a much higher ratio of arguing and complaining. The argument enabled the child to speak honestly. Certain types of fighting, despite the... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 10:50 AM on February 12, 2008

Everyone thinks having a baby is sooo special.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:21 AM on January 21, 2008

There's such a broad range of experience. I feel some of these comments sound like "oh if you're in the right mental state it won't hurt!" or something. I understand the discussion of different cultures' approaches making it easier for women, I think that's true, and I also believe many births are safe and more pleasant if at home rather than hospital; and I agree there are more medical interventions that aren't necessary in the US as compared to European countries mentioned; I get all... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 9:02 AM on January 21, 2008

Miko, I didn't see that in your comments; I consistently find your comments fair, balanced, and nuanced. We're good. And I'm very interested in the questions and analysis you're bringing to the table.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 5:08 PM on January 21, 2008

When I was 4, I wanted to be a Solid Gold dancer when I grew up. My family still teases me about it. This post is made of WIN.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:33 AM on January 12, 2008

Blaming minifridges for global warming? Looks like the Fox News-style stupid has overtaken our nouveau riche neighbors up north.

Not minifridges: this is when you upgrade to a new fridge in the kitchen, then you take your old fridge and put it in the basement as a beer fridge. A fridge that's 20 years old can account for more than 1/3 of your household's total electricity use.

Howard Hampton (NDP) proposed low-interest loans... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 9:12 PM on December 1, 2007

Key lime pie is pure bliss. And so easy to make, too.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 8:55 AM on November 30, 2007

What a great find - I really enjoyed it!
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 2:14 PM on November 27, 2007

Fascinating. Thanks for posting it.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:58 PM on November 20, 2007

I am of course shocked by the progression from a relatively minor incident to his death - what an awful thing to contemplate, that it could happen to you or anyone - but overwhelmingly all I could think of was while reading how the situation got worse and then to the worst: his poor wife, how must she feel? My heart goes out to her.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 10:14 AM on October 30, 2007

Vegetarian with a partner that still eats meat (though not at home) raising vegetarian kids. The kids can decide if they want to eat meat when they're old enough to really understand where meat comes from. My partner is fully in agreement with this plan. In fact he advocates the meatless eating to other people way more than I do. I do not feel I am depriving my children. Part of being a parent is raising your children according to your values; I don't want to cook meat or have meat in my house;... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 1:40 PM on May 21, 2007

How is it a certainty that "Johnny" is and ever shall be only a male name? I've heard of girls nicknamed Johnny. If you're used to a name, why change it? Plus, personally I'd prefer "Johnny" over "Jonnie" with a heart over the I, or whatever it'd take to adequately "feminize" the name.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 2:00 PM on May 16, 2007

It was good for a chuckle until it got to the part advocating female circumcision should a young lady irritate her areas because she enjoys getting herself off too much. Holy screaming WTF - I wasn't laughing anymore after that. This is what our mothers and grandmothers were given to read - that horrifies me.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 3:02 PM on April 7, 2007

I read this book last year and it completely clicked with me. It helped put some major life/childhood issues into perspective and has substantially improved my self-esteem and inner critic. I'm not usually into the self-help types of books, but this one brought some "duh, obvious" insight to me that I couldn't perceive before simply by being too close up on the situation. I have recommended it here since.

I always was my own worst detractor, constantly picking... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 5:29 PM on April 4, 2007

I've been in a family restroom before and I think they usually have stalls, urinals, and a baby changing station. I know that there are also usually baby changing stations in women's restrooms. Are there any baby changing stations in men's restrooms?

Funny you should say that - as I summarized this thread/reaction to my husband just now, he said "there should be more unisex single-toilet bathrooms because then I could change my kids in peace".... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 1:06 AM on March 17, 2007

I thought I wouldn't be able to read it, but I did, and I'm glad I did; it was so sad, but handled sensitively, and I so very much feel for the families interviewed.

I'm of course a raw nerve myself (two small boys and a baby in progress) like other people upthread have mentioned, in a way I never knew I'd be; but ever since I was pregnant with my first it's so hard to read about children in danger or watch anything violent/heartbreaking/scary like that. Becoming a... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:41 PM on March 13, 2007

I like Mercer's take on it.

Dion will be fine - he's put in his time, and he's got spine. He needs a charisma injection for sure, but he comes off stronger than he looks. He's hardly a Liberal insider: the Liberals themselves were surprised this guy ran, and they weren't expecting him to win. Quebec doesn't love him but honestly he's otherwise inoffensive all around, which is what got him the race - he's not disliked. I myself like the surprise element, I mean, Dion... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:06 PM on December 2, 2006

Great find (as always!), madamjujujive - I especially enjoyed theHelsinki choir.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:48 AM on November 24, 2006

Too bad the article was posted April 1st.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 8:20 PM on November 6, 2006

Via, ironically, This is Broken.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 4:13 PM on September 11, 2006

IRC comment from a MoFi member:

"I don't know whether or not porn affects the incidence of rape, but that paper does nothing to prove that it does. Not only does the author not define rape (and how to define it is an argument all by itself), but he says nothing about his data source for rape statistics other than citing it. Where does it come from (police reports only?), how comprehensive is it? Are some regions better about reporting than others? Not to mention... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:31 AM on August 25, 2006

AFAIK Lynn Johnston doesn't draw the FBOFW strips anymore. She has people doing it for her. (Eyesight issues.)

In 2001, Johnston announced plans to end the strip in 2007, when her current contract ends. In explaining her decision to retire, she cited her neurological illness (dystonia) and medication, difficulties with her eyesight, growing difficulty in understanding today's young families, and desire to have more free time for other interests. She also noted... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:22 AM on August 23, 2006

Similar to the Grow games (also Flash, have been previously posted on MeFi).
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:10 AM on March 10, 2006

Can God make a cat that is so lazy even He cannot lift it?
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 3:13 PM on January 13, 2006

Oooh, thanks, brownpau.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 8:03 PM on December 8, 2005

I'm enjoying this a lot. Good link!
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 12:12 PM on December 7, 2005

Thank you - great post, something I've always wanted a closer look at.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:14 PM on October 9, 2005

Hilarious. Great post.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:06 PM on October 9, 2005

I agree with cali. FWIW.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 3:58 PM on October 2, 2005

Brutal. Just brutal. The more I read and see, it seems like they've been actively trying to PREVENT anyone from helping the people in New Orleans.

Thanks for posting this.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 10:14 AM on September 4, 2005

madamjujujive, here's another "boats turned away by FEMA" story, from Florida:
Florida Airboaters Assistance turned down by FEMA
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 10:35 AM on September 4, 2005

To follow up on Rothko's comment with a link to the Disaster Relief Request by Gov. Blanco, here is a comment on MoFi by Fes.

Note in the .pdf Blanco is asking for the 75% federal assistance to be 100%, and in Fes's comment he explains the 75% federal/25% state assistance deal. So it looks like because Louisiana wouldn't/didn't want to (or to my mind it's more likely they couldn't) foot 25% of the disaster assistance costs, the feds didn't go in.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:12 AM on September 4, 2005

Witness the double post. ;)
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:07 PM on August 16, 2005

You have 24 hours to search the board for as many words as you can (like Boggle) and for the highest-scoring words you can find (like Scrabble).

You can watch the chatlog below the board for hints or ignore it completely if you want.

There's a new board every day.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 12:06 AM on August 1, 2005

I like WEBoggle a lot and it's great if you want to play a fast, pressure-cooker game. But I've played Babble every day for the past week precisely because I don't have to sit and focus all my attention on it. I can play for five minutes or an hour at a time. I can go away and do something else and come back to it. It stays fresh because every time I come back to it I spot a new word, or there's another hint from the chatlog to work on.

There are plenty of quick, timed... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 9:06 AM on August 1, 2005

Oooh, it's spiffy and nifty. I want one now. And a couple extra for gifts.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 1:58 PM on July 22, 2005

Quote from the Wikipedia article on Karla Homolka, linked in the post:

[MYTH #10] The home videos were discovered after the plea-bargain had been fixed. Had they come to light earlier, she would have been sentenced to life in prison.

* This is vastly oversimplified. Prosecutors had an opportunity to both "break the deal" and charge Homolka with additional crimes for a period of 8 months between when the tapes were found... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:20 PM on May 27, 2005

Another Friday the 13th wedding here. Held on the 13th floor of City Hall, too.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:27 PM on May 24, 2005

Never heard of them before - enjoyed the video/song. Thanks for the link.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 8:25 PM on April 16, 2005

He was always one of my favorite parts of Sesame Street. Every so often the theme song earworms into my head and I go around the whole day humming it. Looks like you just sparked this season's occurance since I'm already singing it to my son now.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:22 AM on April 6, 2005

What a fun video! Great link.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:04 PM on April 3, 2005

112 popes after the time it was written, circa AD 1139.
The Future and the Popes provides an interpretion, along with some prophecies.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 4:49 PM on April 1, 2005

I enjoyed this story very much. Thank you for the link.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:58 AM on March 30, 2005

Huh, I read this yesterday from the link in the other active thread, and the last entry had a bunch of comments (like over 200) from people commenting "I'm glad you're dead, you asshole" or "it's people like you that make kids like this snap" and so on - and now they've all been wiped. Even the comments on the other entries. Wonder why they decided to do that. There's some LJs out there of people that have died/committed suicide and they leave the "memorial"... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 9:10 AM on March 23, 2005

Thanks. Good story.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 7:49 AM on March 14, 2005

Great post! I've been wanting an ulu to use in the kitchen for a while now.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 6:41 PM on March 4, 2005

OMFG. Disgusting. Hilarious. Good link.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 2:20 PM on February 24, 2005

You scored -5.5 on the Moral Order axis and 4.5 on the Moral Rules axis.
1. System: Socialism
2. Variation: Extreme Socialism
3. Ideologies: Activism
4. US Parties: No match.
5. Presidents: Jimmy Carter (79.04%)
6. 2004 Election Candidates: Ralph Nader (84.38%), John Kerry (69.22%), George W. Bush (37.42%)

Of the 41587 people who took the test:
1. 0.3%... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 11:53 PM on February 21, 2005

That last link makes me angry and sad. How horrible.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 3:30 PM on January 27, 2005

So cool! That bamboo one is beautiful - I can't imagine the amount of work it took.
posted to MetaFilter by Melinika at 9:11 AM on January 17, 2005