Strangely enough I don't associate Elizabeth Smart with her abduction. I do drop her into the category of 'how a wealthy white woman rises above a truly horrible experience'. I am reasonably sure that the Smart family never had to beg for information on how to get services for their daughter after her abduction or…

She was amazing when interviewed on Fresh Air last week. She said something that stayed with me: she knew all along she had a family that would love her no matter what. Rape victims in some families and cultures don't always know that. That has to be a major ingredient for resilience for victims.

I'm really enjoying this level-headed linguistics corner of the room.

I just posted about this elsewhere, but the same rules also don't apply to all dialects. It's completely possible that this song was either written in/by people using AAVE, or that Miley was trying to approximate that dialect.

First, I'd like to discuss how the use of "been" in this way is actually a valid and grammatical form of AAVE. AAVE is actually more sophisticated in this aspect than traditional American English dialects, because "been" is used as a habitual marker - it's used to let you know how long ago an action was completed, or…

I know this is intended as a joke, but Stephen Fry really set me right about Grammar Nazism and I like to pay this thoughtbomb forward as much as possible:

Beyond the obvious reasons to be disturbed by this, was anyone else disturbed by simply the very beginning? "If you are standing by yourself at any point, YOU ARE OUTTA HERE!!! If you are talking to a brother of your pledge brothers when there are girls just standing around, YOU ARE OUTTA HERE!!!"

Okay, shoot me. But, aside from the title, I actually think this is mostly good advice for young men. Talk to girls! Don't know what to say? Here are some questions you can ask them! Be a good host and offer to get them a drink! Escort them to the bar (bonus: they'll know they're not being drugged!) Ask them…

As a sophomore in college and a sorority girl, this guide is pretty much how hooking up at parties goes. Actually, it's a lot better than what usually goes on. A lot of guys won't even ask you to dance, they'll just start grinding up on you and when you try to turn around to see their face they'll try to kiss you. If…

Weak.

Just such a beautiful couple. I could look at those two all day long.

You know what is awesome in the bedroom? Having fun with your partner by telling them what feels good and asking them what feels good. You can pretty much never go wrong with that unless you forget to take the ball-gag out before asking.

I totally get this. I had a so-so one night stand a few years ago that boost my confidence in a disproportionate amount for the mere fact that it happened.

Lobbying for Christina Aguilera as Robot Samantha.

I love Britney Spears past the point of irony into hopeless, hopeless, desperate adoration.

Toxic is the jam.

there are all kinds of bodies that have eating disorders raging on inside and all kinds of eating disorders/body dismorphia/unhealthy behavior/emotional instability. having boobs and butts, does not necessarily a healthy woman make.

omfg!!!!!!!!!!

It's also the bottom half of a woman.

Bitchface and death glares.