My younger sister and I each lived with our common-law partners and shared daily contact for years.
      She ended her relationship due to her partner’s substance abuse and suspected infidelity. Within a year she moved in with another man. I was concerned he might be gay or bisexual and I didn’t want to see her heart broken again. She was soon pregnant, announcing this when our brother was mourning his dog’s death.
      She was convinced he’d called her child a “little bastard,” saying she’d end contact with him. When she hosted a birthday party for her new partner, my parents were staying with us. I was ill, but my partner attended, had too much to drink, tried to end the sister-brother rift by remarking that he, too, is a “bastard.”
      He was asked to leave. He refused. The new guy then tried to physically eject him, they fought, the police were called. My parents didn’t return to our home that evening. I was furious – with my partner and my entire family for calling the police instead of me. When my parents came back the next day, I asked them to leave.
      My sister has refused to take my calls. I didn’t go to her home because her new guy works from home and I wanted to have a private conversation with her.
      She emailed that she never wanted to see me again because she doesn’t approve of the way I treat people. My parents have since forgiven me. But no one informed me when my sister had the baby. I sent a big bouquet of flowers. No response.
   I want my sister back in my life. I can’t believe she’s treated me this way. Help me see what I’m missing here and how to take the higher road.
      - Heartbroken

The “higher road” has been right there, waiting for you to make the necessary steps: 1) Express your love for your sister and your regret that this has happened; 2) Your partner must apologize to both of them; 3) Stop referring to your sister's partner as “the new guy” - it displays a lack of acceptance that’s evident in your attitude. 4) Get on the baby bandwagon.
      To new parents, the miracle of procreation is all encompassing, their child is the center of their universe. Send gifts and beg to be part of your nephew’s life. You’ll be the one to benefit, if his parents let you.

My ex is revealing our past to our mutual friends. It has led to one friend (now ex-friend) to call me names in the cyber world, which I consider to be defamation. The things revealed would only be known by my ex.
      We still have a lot of unresolved issues, and through 18 months I’ve confronted him repeatedly. Now I have no communication with him except through his parents who were also instrumental in our break-up. I no longer trust anyone from his world to face them.
      What should I do?
      - Mortified

Do nothing and the cyber world will move on to other stories, other titillations. Your “confrontations” only fuel the fire of your ex’s annoyance and desire to get back at you. Since you’ve been apart for 18 months, you now know he’s scum for revealing intimate details between you. Also, those unresolved issues are in the past, no longer relevant. Its over, and you’re clearly better off that way.
      Avoid his friends. If any of them are decent, they’ll ignore what he says and re-connect with you in the present, without him.

My husband of five years is wonderful, yet irritates me because he only calls me by name if he wants something i.e. “Priscilla, please close the garage.”
      When he’s looking for me in the house he calls "woo hoo" and when I don't answer, he gives up. I’ve politely said it’s important to me that he use my name. I’ve asked some friends their opinion but their husbands do the same.              
      So did my father. Why do men do this?
      - Curious and Annoyed

Clearly, you haven’t read the book, “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” because when you have a “wonderful” spouse, this complaint seems pretty insignificant. If he respects you in important ways, treats you nicely, loves you, “woo hoo,” is just an expression of casual familiarity.
      I’m guessing that your irritation reflects your mother’s old reaction to your father’s habit, rather than any real flaw in your relationship. Enjoy what’s “wonderful” instead.