The_MoUsY_spell_checker's Advice Column

my parents make me go to church, even though they know i don't believe in organized religon. we go to a unitarian universalist church but even though it's a very open type of place i still don't like it. i think i could be doing much better things with my time, like clipping my toenails or doing my homework. they claim that it's "family time." how sitting in an uncomfortable pew listening to a reverend is family time, i dont know. How can i get them to understand that this whole "going to church" thing does NOTHING for me??
thanks,
~heart.

If your parents insist that it is "family time" that they want and nothing else, then offer to spend some time with them doing something else at least as frequently as you would normally go to church.

Find something that you all enjoy to do together. It can be anything. For example, playing sports, visiting museums, watching movies, even just sitting around and chatting.

The trick is to find something that you all like. If you can't find something that everyone likes, then you should see their point in that family time for the sake of family time involves compromises.

Chances are that you'll also find out that they do want you to learn something from going to church. Remember that even if it doesn't do anything for you, church obviously means something to your parents. Pay attention. Discuss the messages with your parents afterwards. Get to know it well. You'll become better equipped to convince your parents why you don't want to go to church, and you'll also gain a better understanding to why it's so important to your parents.
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Why is it that this is turning into a site for just teenagers? All they know about is boys, and sex, and makeup, and periods, and discharge, and tampons,etc. Why aren't there more sensible people here?

This site is about giving advice to people who need it.

The questions reflect the needs of the people who ask them. If teenagers need advice on boys and makeup, they can ask for it here. Relevant answers will be given by people who have answers. This doesn't mean that those things are all teenagers know about. It just means that they need advice on those things.

Likewise, if anyone else needs advice on anything else, they can also ask for it here. Someone will answer the question.
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okay soooo i'm going out with this guy and hes nice and funny and pretty hot, but i think the only reason i might be going out with him is so i can get over my ex!! The reason y me and my ex broke up was because he was going out of town for the whole summer and we wouldnt see eachother at all. I think i still have feelings for my ex and not my new bf wat do i do??
plus my new bf is in Hawaii right now in a surf competition and im afraid if i break up with him he'll do bad!!

WAT DO I DO???

Going out with someone to get over an ex is not a good idea. It's not fair for the person you go out with, nor is it good for yourself.

Ask yourself, do you have feelings for the new boyfriend? If you don't, you need to be honest to him, which would mean breaking up.

It is best to leave this until he gets back from the competition, both because you don't want to affect his performance, and also because you should do it in person.

As for the ex, whose idea was it to break up? Going out of town is very much a normal part of life, and being in a relationship doesn't mean you have to see each other every day. If either of you can't accept this, you probably aren't ready for a committed relationship anyway.
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I just got the HP mini Notebook today and I can't figure out how to use the webcam.
Help?

Follow this guide by HP:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c01646079&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3832534

If that works, you should be able to use the webcam with programs that support video chat (such as Skype, MSN Messenger, AIM, etc).
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hey about the myspace question i did that and it doesnt come up..it just says on the top below the header its in lite mode to switch back go to the box on the header and there is no box..im getting frustrated lol.

Go to your own profile, add &lite=0 to the end of the URL, and press enter. This should take you back to full mode.
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hey on myspace on the top header theres a thing to switch from lite view to normal view..i switched to lite and now that button is gone and i cant get back normal view..what do i do?

First of all, you have to be logged in, and you have to be on a user's profile. (Regular users only, not musicians.)
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I just got a Facebook, and found some people I haven't seen since third grade on the site (I am 17). Would it be odd if I posted something on their Wall saying "hello" out of nowhere? I found them through others' friend lists.

Were these people your friends when you were in third grade? If yes, go for it! If you weren't friends back then, why bother?

(Seriously. One thing that many people dislike about Facebook is getting friend requests from former classmates who never really talked to them when they went to school together. Facebook is for keeping in touch with people, but keeping in touch is for people who matter.)

Also, I'd like to point out that you can't post on people's walls unless you add them as friends. If you add someone as a friend, you might as well talk to them. You can, however, send messages to people without adding them as friends first.
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ok so i went off depo a few months ago and since then ive gone up a cup size. Im seventeen now and i started depo when i was 15. I got my period when i was 13 if that makes a difference. And i was just wondering if going off of the depo could have made me go up a cup size or if it was something else. And if it did, should i wait longer to continue taking birth control to see if maybe my breasts will grow more? Id be very happy if they went up another cup size

The other columnists have pointed out that birth control usually leads to increased breast size. This is caused by oestrogen, which some types of birth control contain. However, Depo does not contain oestrogen, which is why it doesn't make your breasts bigger.

It is possible that Depo might have an effect on your oestrogen levels and thus limit your breast development, but also keep in mind that breasts don't necessarily develop at a constant rate, so it is also possible that you just happen to be going through a growth phase while you were off Depo. Remember, correlation does not equal causation.

Depending on the reason why you use the particular kind of birth control, using a different type might be better. You should ask your doctor about this. Also consider this: there must be a reason why you need to be on birth control in the first place, so stopping might not be such a good idea.
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I wanna know everyones' opinions on age differences in relationships. Mind you, this is out of total curiosity, as a friend of mine and I were discussing this the other day. So I just want to know what you think, like, how big of a difference is too much, and what not.

In practice, for teenagers, one year or two at most would be sensible. People do tend to develop a lot in their teenage years, and the nature of relationships can be different. Say, even the differences between a 16-year-old who is still in high school and a 17-year-old who has started university can be significant. Another example is, if one partner has a job and the other isn't old enough to get a job, it tends to create power imbalances. The expectations for sexual activity can also be an issue.

For adults, especially if you're working and responsible for supporting yourself, age matters less. People who are close in age are still more likely to have things in common and be at the same stages of life, but adults do tend to have more life experience and be more able to deal with things. Being responsible for oneself is a significant factor because one tends to be more aware of consequences of actions.

(This is not to say that adults don't have power imbalances in their relationship. People can have relationship issues regardless of age.)

Who hasn't heard of couples who are far apart in age but are happy together? It can work. It's just inappropriate if the relationship started when the younger partner is still a kid.
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19/f
I am moving house and I need ideas for decorating my new bedroom!

I am open to suggestions. I have nooo idea about what colours etc to do, the only thing I know is that I'm having a double bed, big wardrobe, timber floors and I am getting a big photo frame to hang on my wall with black and white photos of my family, friends and boyfriend.

Does anyone have any amazing ideas?

I think beige would make a good background for the black and white photos. Adding one brightly coloured item or two to contrast with all the black and white would be nice too.

However, if you don't like that, pick colour(s) that you like.

Keep in mind that since it's your bedroom, pale and neutral colours would be the most appropriate for a restful atmosphere. Also, from a practical perspective, walls should not be too dark, especially if you intend to read in the room.

As for things in your room, I would recommend keeping it simple, as it will be easier to maintain.

It is best to have the bed and other large furniture on the sides of the room, as that will be the most efficient use of floor space.

Make sure you have enough wardrobe space for all your clothes and sufficient storage for anything else that you might have.
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how do you get someone off if you don't want them to be on your friends list anymore?

Friends list on what? Facebook? MySpace?

On either of these sites, click "Friends" on the top of the page, find the relevant person's name, and there should be a link that allows you to remove them as a friend.

If you need more help, be more specific.
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do friends suggest to each other that they should fall asleep on the phone together?

My guy friend and I were on the phone last night and he suggested that we fall asleep on the phone together. We are both single and same age.(18)..We been friends for about 16 months>

Why not? I've done that with friends before. Talking on the phone before bed, and keep talking until we fall asleep. Fun times.

I know that some of said friends have done that with their significant others too. So, don't just try to read meaning into it. If you like your guy friend, tell him. If not, just have fun talking.

Be careful not to rack up a huge phone bill doing that. I could do that with my friends on free landline-to-landline calls, but if you're doing this on your mobile, check your plan first.
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I'am a girl who loves to dream. I mean my dream life is more exciting then my real life sometimes.You see,I love music and performing.Not to brag but I'am really good! I sing my ass off whenever I get the chance.I sometimes believe that i was singer and a performer in my past life..because i love it sooo much.I know that their is alot of people out there that have voices and love to sing but im different.I wake up thinking about singing and go to sleep thinking about singing.It's my art,my passion,and it's in my heart.The thing is..deep in my heart I feel that I'm not were i'm supposed to be.I have graduated from school and everything and now i feel like it's now time to pursue what I really want to do.In my family Im really the black sheep.When my sisters and cousins are all out going to the clubs and everything i dont want to go.I would rather stay at home,do a routine to a song that I love to sing and wave at my imaginary fans.Does it sound crazy?? Im just being honest.When I told my mom that i wanted to go to college and seek a degree in performing arts,she looked at me and told me that it wasnt a real job.I was crushed.I dont know what to do...at times I feel like i'm stuck between my goals and reality.Dont get me wrong,I know that i sometimes gotta get my head out the clouds but it's my dream.And im that person that believe that a person should never give up on their dreams no matter how crazy it sound.But I feel like to get my foot out the door,I really do need the support of the ones i love.So what do you think? Should I follow my dreams and do what I love or should I come down to "earth" and get a regular nine to five and become a everyday american with a husband and kids?? blah...thanks for listening.

Sorry to hear that your mom doesn't support you in your dream to be a singer.

Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for parents to discourage their children from pursuing careers in performing arts (or some other areas that are seen as impractical), so don't think that your mom is mean.

The performing arts is a field where many are called but few are chosen. Sure, you'll make lots of money if you become famous, but it's very much all or nothing, so life can be tough if you don't make it. The song "Freshman" by Jill Sobule comes to mind. ("This was my dream when I was thirteen / Now that it's true I wish I was you") This could be your mom's problem with it.

That aside, what does your mom expect you to do? Go to university? If so, what does she expect you to study? Is she going to support you through your studies?

If your mom expects to support you through your studies in something she approves of, negotiate with her, and be prepared to take it or leave it.

You could study something at uni as a backup while you look out for opportunities in singing. Think about it. How many celebrities actually have degrees in performing arts?

Realistically, if your parents don't support you, do you still have the means to support yourself in pursuing your dreams? What choices do you have? Make sure you know what to do. Also keep in mind that if you intend to pursue a career in singing, you will most likely have to do part-time work to support yourself until you are established in your career.

Regardless of what your mom says, look out for opportunities. Anything you can audition for? Sing in a local choir, join a band, anything you want. Think how you can be discovered by talent scouts.

Best wishes to you. Enjoy singing.
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Alright for a really long time I never believed in any form of paranormal things, no psychic crap, mind reading, talking to the dead, ghosts..nothing..but I really want to know whats going on with me. I have dreams that are really short and random. About a month ago I had a dream that I had just gotten home from the dentist and I was talking to my dad about something non-related while watching a show I had never seen before on tv and then the dream just ends. Today it happened, right down to every non important detail including my bag of stuff from the dentist and the odd tv show that I didn't know existed. This happens A LOT! The other thing is a weird useless talent I guess. Whenever I'm playing my ipod I can sort of predict the next song. Which sounds stupid but the other day I had my ipod hooked up in my car and one song ended and there was a pause before the next song and I started singing a random song in my head and then it started playing..this happened 5 times in a row and my ipod was on shuffle so its not like I just memorized the order. I feel like a crazy person just thinking that I could possibly have some sort of mind power. My aunt is a medium and my family always thought she was a little nuts, including myself. Well what do you think? Is there any possibilities that some people have a little extra brain power than others?

It is not possible to prove a negative, so no one can say for sure that psychic powers do not exist. On the other hand, people who claim to be psychic tend to fail when subjected to rigorous scientific testing.

Keep in mind that interesting things are more likely to be remembered, so for example, you take notice when you have a dream and it happens to the detail, but you might not remember all the times when you have dreams that don't end up happening. I've had dreams happen like that too.

Also, keep in mind that unlikely events can still have a finite probability, so it is possible that after enough time, they will eventually happen.

For example, the number of songs on an iPod is finite. If you have the music on shuffle and leave it to play, it will play through each song once in a random order (and then go through the list again randomly if the repeat option is enabled, or stop if it is not), so if your iPod has been playing for a while, it further reduces the number of possibilities and thus increases the chance of you being right. How much time do you spend listening to music?

Try predicting songs on someone else's iPod and see if you get them right. Write down your dreams and see how often they happen. If you really have powers, they'll stand up to the test, and regardless of the results, the exercise will be a good lesson in probability and psychic claims.
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My friends have to know my email address to add me on myspace, how do i get rid of it so they can add me?
My friends cannot add me because they need to know my email address for myspace. No one knows it, so can anyone help me get rid of that. I dont know how to just let anyone add me without having to know my email address.
HELP!!
thanks :)

Go to MySpace, click "My Account", then "Spam", then uncheck the "Require last name or email address" box next to "Friend Requests".
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Anybody know a place that can help me make a resume without having to pay for their help or the finished product? I am trying to get a job and I don't know how to create a resume at all! It's really stressful and I feel absolutely stupid since I don't know how to even start a resume. Maybe somebody here knows or something? Please, any help is appreciated!

Here's a guide:
http://getitdone.quickanddirtytips.com/write-your-first-resume.aspx

This site provides templates.
http://www.howtowritearesume.net/

You should really do it yourself using the help from these sites rather than having someone else do it for you.
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I was wondering whether it was worth buying the sims 3 for mac. Does it include everything all the sims 2 programs had. For instance, I was thinking of buying nightlife, university, and vacation for sims 2. Does sims 3 have features where you can go out places and/or go on vacation, etc. b/c I'm not sure whether I should ust stick w/ the expansion packs or buy the sims 3

The Sims 3 has a fixed number of shops in the town and a few public areas such as parks, beaches, a gym, a library, and two swimming pools. Shops are "rabbit holes", meaning that Sims go inside and you get a menu to buy stuff, but you don't get to see what's inside.

So, in terms of the town, The Sims 3 is actually LESS customisable than The Sims 2. Also, vacations and university are not available. (It is of course entirely possible that such an expansion packs may be released in the future, but don't hold your breath.)

The Sims themselves are more customisable in that you can have custom colours for just about everything, but the ability to create custom content is limited.

Other aspects of gameplay also differ between the two games. For example, in The Sims 3, Sims have traits instead of the personality points in the older games, and these allow for more complex personalities. Moods are handled by moodlets instead of the Aspiration Meter. The way careers work also differ.

(Here's a site with more information about The Sims 3: http://sims.wikia.com/wiki/The_Sims_3)

Overall, I'd say The Sims 3 is pretty good, but if you already have The Sims 2, you might be disappointed by some of the changes. If you're into building community lots with shopping, it might not be such a good idea. However, if you're interested in creating Sims with more interesting personalities, it would be worth it.
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I am thinking about becoming vegetarian but I don't know much about fake-meat products. I'm sure there are more faux-meat other than tofu but it's the first that comes to my mind (and probably the first that is offered at restaurants). Does anybody know what tofu tastes like? How would you describe the taste and texture? Does anybody like tofu?

Thank you all for the info!

Tofu tastes like soybeans. The flavour is not very strong, so tofu will also absorb the flavour of sauces, making it a very versatile ingredient. It is soft.

I eat tofu, but not as a meat substitute, so I usually have it cooked along with meat. It can taste good without meat too. It all depends how you cook it.
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i had a fan page and it disappeared on it's own, and i have one that is a movie but the movie is finally out and now i don't want it anymore. what do i do?

Go to your page and click the "Edit Page" link underneath the picture. There should be a "Delete page" link.
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ok so i have the old-ish ipod nano --> this one :

http://www.9to5mac.com/files/image/apple_ipod_nano.jpg

and i have no idea how to put videos on it. like i have videos in mp3 format, but i have no idea how to put them on itunes and then on my ipod. help? :/

It's on page 35 in the instruction manual.

Here's the instruction manual in PDF: http://manuals.info.apple.com/en_US/iPod_nano_3rd_gen_Features_Guide.pdf
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