Was this really a debate? It was more like an hour-long attack ad for the Republicans. I don't care about Hillary Clinton's excellent Bosnia adventure. I don't care about Barack Obama's pastor. I really, really, really don't care what kind of lapel pin Obama (or, for that matter, Clinton) wears.

What I do care about are Clinton and Obama's plans for dealing with the problems that America faces. We are stuck in Iraq and Afghanistan without a good exit strategy. We are mired in foreign debt up to our eyeballs. Our economy is cratering. Vast swaths of America have been essentially abandoned to sink into poverty and despair. Energy costs are skyrocketing, we are too dependent on foreign oil, and we lack a coherent energy policy. The cost of health care is hitting the stratosphere, but our health isn't improving. We are trashing the environment and eliminating 50 years of environmental protection. As far as consumers go, it's caveat emptor for contaminated food and poisoned toys. The Bush administration sat on its hands as one of our great cities drowned. It trampled our beloved Constitution, spied on innocent American citizens, tortured prisoners and denied them their basic human rights, and in general acted like a rogue state -- leaving an enormous mess for the next president to deal with.

Did we hear much about these issues during the debate? No. Did we find out what the candidates plan to do to get our wonderful country back on the right track and restore America's good name? No. However, we did hear a lot about some dude Obama knows who was once a member of the Weather Underground.

Shame on Charlie Gibson and George Stephanopoulos! This debate was a joke. I guess I shouldn't be surprised, though. God forbid that they press the candidates on the dull, boring issues issues that actually make a difference in our lives. It's much easier to stick to "gotcha" questions, non-issues and sound bites.

Is this what passes for art now? It makes me long for the days when painting a naked lady at a picnic (Manet) was considered to be edgy and controversial.

Seriously, though, this girl sounds like she's batshit crazy. It's probably only a matter of time before she kills herself in another "artistic" stunt like this one.

LW, you're totally overthinking this decision. There's no way you can ask the little sprog ahead of time if he or she wants to exist, anyhow, so don't even worry about it.

And lulu1967, a friend who's manic depressive had a kid a few years ago. Her father told her she was crazy to bring a child into the world with a chance of having her disease. But her little boy is the light of her life and so far seems to be OK. It's not too late for you. Besides, everyone carries genetic time bombs of one sort or another; if it isn't mental illness, it's heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or some other vulnerability.

Airlines, treat passengers as human beings, not as paying cattle.

Yeah, I'm a dreamer.

Of course work is not always going to be fulfilling and fun. But it also shouldn't be soul-sucking, shady, and stressful.

If you feel this way, you're not flighty or crazy. It just means that you're in the wrong job. You're not trapped there! You don't have dependents, a mortgage, or similar obligations that would force you to stay put, suck it up, and take one for the team. 24 is a great age to bounce between different kinds of work and make big changes in your life.

Update your resume right now and start looking for a better job. It does not have to be your dream job -- in fact, it almost certainly won't be. Look for something that's less stressful than your current job, pays your bills, has some kind of benefits, and gives you time to think. Consider it to be a waystation along your journey, a place where you can catch your breath and figure out what you're doing. Be open to whatever turns up.

Don't be scared into passivity by the recession. People change jobs all the time, even in a down economy. (Remember, we don't know where you live; some parts of the country are faring better than others and you may be fortunate enough to live in one of them.) It's not a bad idea to stay in your current job until you have something else lined up, though. Knowing that you're planning your escape may make your time at work more bearable.

Meanwhile, talk to a career counselor. Attend self-help groups for job seekers to socialize, network and get tips on job-searching. Read. De-stress. Get some exercise. Eat right. Hang out with your boyfriend. Gather yourself together. You'll be fine.

The handbag guy on the corner will have knockoffs of this puppy within a few weeks.