Rage Against The Minivan

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Questions of eternal significance: do you use a washcloth?

October 4, 2013

Last week my friend Catherine linked to a Gawker article on washcloths, and the conversation that ensued was hilarious. WHO KNEW that people hold such varied and passionate opinions on washcloths?? Apparently, according to Gawker, there is even a racial component: black people are more likely to use washcloths than white people. [source] Well, folks, I’m not the least bit embarrassed to say that I am decidedly pro-washcloth in the shower. In fact, I don’t even feel really clean if I haven’t . . .

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Decorating with starburst mirrors

October 3, 2013

Last week I talked about my obsessive search for the perfect wall map for our home, but nothing triggered my shopping OCD quite like searching for the perfect (and affordable) starburst mirror. I knew I wanted to use a starburst mirror (sunburst mirror? WHICH ONE IS IT I DON’T KNOW) in our new living room. We have a weird horizontal window above the sofa and I wanted to anchor it with two big pieces. I love that sunburst/starburst mirrors have a retro vibe, and so I set off to find two of . . .

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What I want you to know about being the bullied kid

October 2, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Alexandra. Okay, first things first. If any kid was "asking" to be bullied, it was me. At age twelve, I was big-nosed, small-breasted, and daydreamy, with no knowledge of contemporary fashion . . .

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An open letter to my professor about China’s one-child policy (GUEST POST)

October 1, 2013

This post was written by Jenni "Fang" Lee, an adoptee from China, who generously allowed me to republish here. You can watch Jenni's TEDx talk about her story here. She is also one of the subjects in the incredible documentary Somewhere Between. This letter was written in response to a professor's insensitivity about girls in China. Dear Professor: First of all, please do not talk to us like we are children. Second of all, please do not tell an entire class while laughing and cracking jokes . . .

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Questions of eternal significance: Is the new gold iphone lame or awesome?

September 30, 2013

I have never had a new-model smart phone. Confession: I used a Palm Pilot phone for so long after they went out of production that I had to buy them used on ebay. For years. I finally converted from the Treo to the iphone a few years ago but I’ve always been a model behind, preferring to take advantage of everyone else’s impulse for new, shiny things by buying someone else’s still-working iphone when they upgraded. I’ve been totally satisfied with getting a cheap, new-to-me phone at a lower . . .

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What I want you to know: All moms struggle with parenting

September 28, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Laura. At first glance you might think my title is a little odd. You may say to yourself, “Of course all moms struggle with parenting their children. What kind of topic is this?” But here’s . . .

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That’s what SHE said: Miley Cyrus’s licking habit, therapy vs. drowning, the choice of being stupid, and more . . .

September 28, 2013

Are Blacks Names ‘Weird,’ Or Are You Just Racist? | The Daily Beast It should be said that this has material consequences in the real world. Research has consistently found that job applicants with “black-sounding” names are more likely to be rejected, regardless of qualifications. If races are our castes, then this makes sense, since—in a caste system—your status is mostly a function of your position. “Latoya” could be well-qualified for the law firm she applies to, but there’s a fair . . .

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Should adoptive parents change their children’s ethnic given names to avoid prejudice later in life?

September 27, 2013

Several recent news stories have shed light on an unfortunate xenophobia in regards to names and employment. Earlier this year, the Freakonomics podcast report that there is evidence that a name can influence how a child performs in school and even her career opportunities. More recently, a NY Times blogger shared her discovery that typing in traditionally Black-sounding names yielded a google image search of mugshots, which did not repeat when she searched for images related to more . . .

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What I want you to know about having OCD

September 26, 2013

What I Want You to Know is a series of reader submissions. It is an attempt to allow people to tell their personal stories, in the hopes of bringing greater compassion to the unique issues each of us face. If you would like to submit a story to this series, click here. Today’s guest posts is by Julia. My name is Julia, I'm twenty-three, and I have a pretty great life that I'm very thankful for. But for ten years, when I was between the ages of 11 and 21, I had OCD, and it quickly . . .

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Decorating with maps

September 26, 2013

I made heavy use of Pinterest as I dreamed about how to decorate our new house. One thing that kept standing out to me was the creative use of maps as a focus wall. Since we’re a family that loves to travel, I loved the idea of having a prominent map that could help us visualize where we’ve been and dream about where we want to go. Here are some of my favorites Pinterest finds that feature wall maps: Sources: behind leather chair, in nursery, behind purple table, behind white dining set, . . .

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Hi, I’m Kristen. I’m a mom of four kids via birth and adoption and a writer living in Southern California. Read More.

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Rage Against the Minivan sometimes earns revenue through sponsored posts, which are clearly labeled, and occasional affiliate links to recommended products. I only feature products that I truly like, and my opinions are always my own.

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