Criticism of a movie for not bringing up abortion is no criticism at all. Writers create the characters they want to create, and not every woman who is unexpectedly pregnant considers abortion. This is part of the suspension of disbelief: We accept fictional characters as they are, not as representatives of social averages. The average American doesn't shoot anyone either, but if heroes who shoot people were banned from the screen for this reason there would be no action pictures.

More to the point, most of the movies mentioned would not be movies at all if the characters had abortions. "Knocked Up" is about pregnancy. If the main character had an abortion, there would be not movie. What would have happened in "Star Wars" if Hans Solo refused to fly Luke and Ben off the planet?

I don't go for this analysis of "trends" in movies. Most fiction is intended to entertain, and if you pretend otherwise you are judging films on the basis of their social context instead of as stand alone products.

Overall, this commentary sounds like it is saying that Hollywood should promote abortion more. As if anyone has a responsibility to do that. No one smokes in movies anymore, even though many people smoke in the real world. There has to be an allowance that movies can sacrifice social accuracy when being accurate can be seen as promoting something that even pro-choice people should admit should be avoided whenever possible.

I live in a small town and like the rural life, but still, concentrating populations in cities is not necessarily a bad thing. I have worried for some time now that the countryside is being ruined by suburban sprawl. Putting more people into less space is environmentally friendly in many ways.

The key is that governments have to get ahead of this curve and anticipate city growth with appropriate planning. This world needs more Londons and Parises and fewer Atlantas and Los Angeleses.

For at least not shoveling dirt on her grave. I watched a bit of MSNBC yesterday and was appalled that the pundits are already pronouncing the Clinton campaign dead. This after less than one fifth of one percent of Americans have even cast a vote. It was awful.

Clinton most certainly is not dead. Obama looks really exciting at the moment, but somebody (preferably, Ms. Clinton herself) needs to point out that when you have a leaking pipe, you want a good plumber, not an exciting plumber. Just because Obama gives a good stump speech doesn't mean he is a talented executive.

"I'm dull, but I can do the job" is not a bad campaign strategy. It worked for Nixon. Twice.

I hope so. There is nothing brilliant about the "New and Improved" strategy. It is the oldest trick in the advertiser's book.

Apple has a great product line (I am a Mac user myself) but one of the charms of Apple has always been its unconventional marketing strategy. Macs cost more but come fully loaded and ready for use, as opposed to PCs, which require additional software and doctoring to get up to snuff. As soon as Apple resorts to the same lame "Buy a computer and get a keyboard FREE" approach that the PC manufacturers have used forever, Apple becomes just another PC manufacturer.

Apple has had a good run. They need to be very careful about going stale.

I have noticed a trend in the media towards abusing doctors for being arrogant and tools of the medical-industrial complex. This represents an anxiety on the part of patients, who trust so much to physicians and fear the physician considers them just another billing sheet.

Well, I am a doctor and sometimes I am arrogant. Arrogance is not a character trait with me, it is a defense mechanism. Sometimes patients come in expecting a cure for every problem in the world, and the temptation is very strong to say, "Shut up, here are your pills." I am not saying this is right. Only that doctors feel pressure like anyone else. Arrogance is a way to keep the patient at arm's length, and to move on to the next one. Tell me you've never done such a thing in your own life.

It is impossible for a doctor to know every development about every disease and any patient may potentially show up in my office asking about anything on the internet. This puts me at a disadvantage. Any patient who cruises the internet before seeing me has to know that.

I like to work with patients but I don't like to be tested. I will demonstrate my skill through the advice I give. No docor wants to pass a test to get a patient. Have you quizzed your child's teacher about American history? If you have, I can guarantee you that teacher has ambivalent feelings towards you child.

My advice to the public is that if you think all doctors are arrogant brainwashed stooges of the medical establishment, don't go to one. I don't treat my patients like children. I offer them the best advice I have based on what I know, and if they choose not to take it, well, then, it's their lives. Just don't blame the doctor if you don't like what he says. When you see me, I give you my best opinion. If you don't want to follow it, you don't have to, but it is wrong to expect me to amend my opinion simply because you don't like the first verdict.