Right down to the leather pants. It sounds like he really doesn't like himself that much, so sure, I hope he figures out how to be in the world. But maybe part of his problem is that he seems to think he's the only one with a problem like that.

That is like... Mayberry meets Willy Wonka. Is your dad and/or granddad also magical in some way?

THIS. No way in hell am I paying $100 for something that someone sewed who's making $1/week or other absurd, insulting wage. Our minimum isn't adequate either, but at least we have a standard.

The issue there is what does it cost you to enforce your contractual right to repayment? Yes, most states do recognize oral contracts, but if it wasn't a big loan, it can cost as much to hire a lawyer and go to court as to cut your losses and walk. Even if you go to court and win, you then have a judgment—not…

"Fuck us, as a society, for getting to the point that anyone even thinks of using this as a defense." This is very much a sticking point with me. When I was in law school, we got into a "How far is it okay to go?" discussion in a class about what it means to be a criminal defense lawyer. One of our scenarios…

This commenting system sorts comments in order of apparent popularity. The more responses to trolls, the higher their comments rank. Please see the other response about reporting them. It sucks, but responding to them literally elevates them by prioritizing their comments over other, worthy ones. Spend your…

I want you to know that I feel strongly that you know what's best for yourself, and that it seems like ending things is the right decision. Unfortunately, most of my post is a total downer because it sounds like it's time to take some steps toward actually getting the Big D. If you have a serious confidante within…

See if you can get something, even if it's temporary, where you could learn to write grants. That's something not a lot of people know how to do, and that would be a big resume stand-out. At least at universities and non-profits, it can be the difference between a "secretary" who IS a secretary, and a "secretary"…

Only make time for someone who makes time for you. This guy would not treat someone connected to his job in the same way. So guess where you would fall on his list of priorities if you were serious/had kids with him/married him? Only see him again if you only want sex and don't care how you rate in his life.

Ditto on eating plenty before, ditto on drinking water. I would add—take a B12 (assuming you don't get niacin flush or other side effect from it) with a big glass of water about an hour or so before you start drinking. And move around. Sitting and drinking results in standing up and realizing you're wasted, very…

I had never seen that Buzzfeed article before, and I completely adore how much they love each other, whatever kind of love it is between any permutation of them. I think all their so-cute-I-could-die, puppy-like physical interactions are the result of their living in very close quarters and going through experiences…

First off, friends from high school often do go on different trajectories and develop on different timelines. Whether or not the friendship can weather it, and whether who you both become are compatible friends is dependent on all sorts of things I wouldn't try to speculate about. I feel like what's at issue is that…

Three that I couldn't live without:

They were bred to run alongside carriages for miles and miles and miles, and enforce the fucking boundaries against anything that approached. They became firehouse dogs after that—again, running and running and running. They need a huge amount of exercise, and they need serious mental stimulation, which most…

I can't even, with all these "gold-digger" accusations. There's a difference between wanting to date someone who is secure and independent, and wanting to date someone who provides your security and independence from your parents. Independent living arrangements, a job that provides for it, and his own way to get…

You're getting a ton of great advice here, but I would also say spend some time learning to cook eggs well, and you will develop a good understanding of your stovetop's temperature settings. Recipes often use less-than-precise terms like "low," "medium," or "medium-high." If you can soft-scramble, fry over-easy,…

THIS. Let's just say you are a "humanist" or "equalist" or whatever. At the point you self-identify as such, should you not then begin to examine the group or groups that society deems less-than in some way? What I don't get is how "humanists" think they have to be a "humanist" or a "feminist" to the exclusion of…

Women's access to and participation in sports and fitness has absolutely increased tremendously since that period of time. People literally believed that women were too frail and delicate to run more than a half mile, so distance races were not open to women at all. Google the first woman to run the Boston Marathon.…

This is what I was coming to post. I think the decrease in cigarettes and dexamils has at least some to do with this enfattening of American women.

I suggest "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou." Several characters in that movie struggle with similar feelings as you're experiencing, and I find it a very satisfying watch. There's also some very cool animation of made-up sea creatures, and a brilliant cross-section set of the interior of sea exploration vessel,…