Somewhere out there, an orangutan is hanging its head in shame at the behavior of its supposedly "evolved" cousins.

Gorillas and chimps are probably pretty ashamed of us by now, too.
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 3:22 PM on November 15, 2007

.

That poor little girl. And why yes, I DO put the blame squarely on the adults involved. Not MySpace, but the aDOLTS who not only did a crappy job of parenting, but joined in tormenting a child, themselves. What part of "Pick on someone your own size!" didn't they understand?

If the alleged grown-ups had been doing their jobs as parents, role models and mentors, this probably wouldn't have happened, at least on the scale that it did.... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 5:54 AM on November 13, 2007

FelliniBlank: Seabiscuit (the book, not the movie) related the torments that jockeys put themselves through in order to stay small and light. They starved, they purged, they took laxatives. In some cases, that brought on a jockey's wrecked health or premature death.

It seems to me that eating disorders result, most times, from being shamed for being fat or perceived as fat, even when the person is objectively of average weight; or from super rewards... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 11:49 AM on November 1, 2007

>.<

Sounds like Fup lived a long and happy life. I hope wherever she is in the afterlife includes lots of tuna, catnip, and books.

My older kitty is 18, and I hope she makes it to at least 19.
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 5:26 PM on October 30, 2007

In fact, I'm pretty sure that if we started selling some of those charity calendars, you know the type -- '12 Naked Infidels: There's no God dictating their love lives' -- we'd start seeing a dramatic increase in those who lack faith.

I'd buy a Hot Godless Hunk of the Month calendar! Where can I find one?

I perused some of this woman's other blog entries, and wow. Who urinates in her cornflakes every morning?
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 12:03 PM on October 30, 2007

Witchcraft, tarot, crystals, reincarnation, etc.

Interesting that she seems to fulminate as much against alternative medicine and New Age type beliefs in other posts on her blog, as well as screaming at SFGate columnist Mark Morford (who shares some of her former beliefs). She is a born-again atheist skeptic and is Repenting Of Her Sins. Not really that far removed from born-again Christians who feel they have to "repent" of their former... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 5:09 PM on October 30, 2007

Overall, I tend to see the 'de-gaying' of areas like this (and it will always be sort of a mecca) as a good thing, as it means gays are more comfortably integrated

I agree. The fact that gays and lesbians don't feel that they have to move to San Francisco or West Hollywood, but can feel right at home and welcome in Louisville or Kansas City, is nothing but a good thing, IMO.
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 1:44 PM on October 30, 2007

According to Withycombe's Dictionary of English Christian Names, in 1750, three-quarters of all English men were named John, Thomas or William; three-quarters of women were Elizabeth, Mary, or Anne.

Even one hundred years ago, you'd find the same common names like Mary, John, etc. repeated over and over again in a family - a woman, her daughter, and several granddaughters might all be named "Mary," for instance.

As... [more]
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 5:16 PM on October 28, 2007

I'm with Languagehat and Jokeefe. The Liz/Anthony "romance" killed off any enjoyment of FOOB for me, except for snarking at it. Liz's deserting the people who really needed her and running back home to Anthony was not only an incredibly stupid storyline, it smacked of racism. Paul's getting together with Susan and Liz's going back home to Whitey McWhiteboy practically screamed, "One of your own kind, stick to your own kind!" Yecch.
posted to MetaFilter by Rosie M. Banks at 2:56 PM on October 27, 2007