Can someone please explain coconut water to me? It's kind of salty and viscous - why is that refreshing? It's more bodily fluid than beverage in my mind. What am I missing?

I come from a family where we all talk over one another but still know exactly what the others are saying. I know it drives most people crazy but I think it's really efficient.

I think we do, in fact, realize - ask any woman who changed her name when her Second-wave mother kept hers if this is an issue of sexism. According to my mom I'm single-handedly responsible for turning back the clock on women's rights. I'm the only one of my friends who changed her name and I felt profoundly judged.…

My husband and I both took my last name as a second middle name. It's great, but be forewarned: your drivers license will look crazy and the TSA will have a terrible time matching your boarding pass to your ID. Worth it, but still.

We both took my last name as a middle name and use FirstName MyLastName HisLastName for work. Works great - I wanted his last name (he never asked me or expected me to change mine) and he wanted to make a gesture in return. I think it's sweet, even if we do both have ridiculous names now.

I have the Compact! Cleaning is unfun, but I don't think it's probably worse than other centrifugal juicers. It's all dishwasher safe, but you'll want to hand wash and scrub the filter/grater basket. My husband and I both use it and we have to pour off the juice into another container for big servings, but our kitchen…

To be quite honest, mine hurt like hell. It was totally worth it, but I had debilitating cramps for the 24 hours after. A heating pad helped most. I also have bad period cramps, though, so I may just have a finicky uterus. Try to have someone come with you to drive you home (I don't know if that's required, but I was…

I have IBS and I do just juice during the day and a reasonable dinner and it's helped. Poop doesn't just hang out like I think you're picturing (like pipes with buildup on the walls or something), though. I've had improved IBS symptoms I think because juice isn't hard of my gut, it means my diet is actually based…

"Your dentist's name is Crentist?"

Fuck yes. Hot as all hell.

The best advice I ever got: never feel like you need to be more loyal to your company than your company would be to you. Don't stick around if you're not getting what you need.

Hyperbole and a Half (I've actually laughed so hard at some of them that I felt sick, but the more recent ones are more serious) and Dinosaur Comics!

I've been on the receiving end of this nonsense but I've also been the needy crazy one during a period of unemployment. A couple of thoughts:

I own pretty much everything from Loft. It falls apart after you wash it a couple times and I don't think I even like it that much, but it's my go-to for cheap and non-frumpy. Left to my own devices I tend to dress like my not-very stylish mother.

Great YA topic. My senior thesis was about using YA fiction as a method for teaching safer sex practices, sexual agency, etc but was strictly hypothetical (there was little to be found at that time). So excited that someone is writing with that specific goal in mind!

I think it might depend on why you're getting sober, but for me I was really sick of who I was and felt this distance between myself and the people I admired. Getting sober was my chance to be like those people. They read interesting books, cooked actual meals, worked out in the evening, did laundry.... I spent a lot…

At fancyish places my go-to is a virgin mojito - just club soda instead of rum. Otherwise club soda or tonic with lime is always nice.

I can't even bring myself to comment on the content of this fiasco of an editorial. But I think we need to turn our attention to the fact that there is a young man who is about to graduate from college with a degree in English who is not aware that "inherent" in a word and has chosen to substitute "inherit." And that…

Seriously. We have no obligation as "tolerant people" to put up with homophobia or any other type if hateful, ignorant bullshit.

I majored in English (my true love!) and wound up in a field no one dreams about (healthcare IT). I like my job but it definitely isn't glamorous or artsy - I'm a sell-out. But I read great books in my free time, travel a ton, and write for fun. You can still pursue your interests while paying the bills.