I think the real problem is global poverty but since the international community is unwilling to deal with that. If everyone lived like a middle class American or European we'd be able to handle this problem.

"It is nearly incomprehensible that deeply religious people can insist that their beliefs are not an integral part of the way they think, feel and act -- especially since religious faiths are full of explicit guidance on how to think, feel and act. Yet that's what they claim."

This is nothing short of religous bigotry. You are implying that one can't be religious without being a conservative, or is it that liberals are not "real Christians"? There are many Christian churches that espose liberal political ideas and there are many individual Christians, even Catholics, who do too and would still consider themselves religious.

You gotta feel sorry for Mrs. Santorum if her husband thinks a trip to New York City and a Broadway show is an unnecessary extravagance. Sheesh! It's not like they flew to Paris to have dinner.

I have heard Israel referred to as an ally, in fact "our greatest ally" (something that should make Canada and the UK bristle). What is the nature of this alliance? Would Israel come to our aid if we were attacked? What is it we get in return for all this aid and political support?

Salon is now doing exactly what the press did to discredit Wright. You took two word he spoke and have branded him as what, a Nazi? I thought I'd get an in-depth look at the news in Salon, but obviously you're into the sound bite thing.

If I wanted to help the Republicans, which I do not, I would tell them that since the Dems are in power, the smartest thing to do is wait for them to get some groups upset. Then be there to take in the "refugees". The thing is, if you are going to rely on people coming to you because the other guy messed up, you have to be as bland as possible and make your tent as big as possible.

In 1968 the Democratic party came out clearly against segregation and for the civil rights of black people. It did the party serious damage, got Nixon elected and up until now, the only way the Dems could win the White House was by running a southerner. But everyone agrees it was the right thing to do.

Now we come again to a critical juncture, another issue which is tearing the country apart and Obama can choose the politically safe thing, or the right thing to do.

This is a strange world we live in where having a love affair outside of marriage is respectable, while having casual sex isn't. Which is more destructive to a marriage?

I think this is a lot of talk, but what he says is not the reality. Maybe he thinks he makes all the decisions in the marriage, but the reality is different. Like my Mom always said, she let my Dad win the argument and then did what she wanted.

Michael Jackson should be remembered for his talents as a performer. But this facination with his personal life is just voyeristic and morbid. Apparently people like to know that there are people who are even more screwed up than they are.

Your problem, Mr Sirota, is not that you are connected to the grid, but that the grid is connected to you. You have so many people who want to call you and e-mail you that your are innudated. It is not the techology that is the problem, it is that you have too many relationships, and I am not talking about close friends and family, which are probably not the problem, but all the business acquaitances and your many fans. I know being a journalist means you can't just blow these people off, so accept it.

I suggest that in techology lies the solution. You can have a private email account that is only for people you want to hear from, ditto for the cellphone, which BTW, has caller ID. In fact you can have a different ring to tell you if it's a call you want or not.

I tell you it is you because I have the same techology and connect to the internet nearly all the time, but I do not have this problem.

As usual, Barack Obama said all the right things, but actions remain to be seen.

The unfortunate dilemma for LGBT folks is that if Obama fails and is discredited, it is not inconcievable that an extreme right wing government could come to power, and there is no doubt LGBT people will singled out for persecution.

This may be subtly racist, but I think he would have done better talking about the special issues black gay men face. He treads in areas he doesn't understand. I can tell you he doesn't have personal experience of being fat and gay or of anonymous sex. I do, but unfortuately I'm not a writer.

If you are trying to look attractive to men, take comfort in the fact that men are pervs. Whatever you look like, there are men out there that are really attracted to what you are, and once you get over the fact that they like things you don't like about your appearance, you will realize you are beautiful in your own way.