There's something downright creepy about that sculpture! And no, it does not look like she's giving birth. It would have looked more real if she were on an operating table with a surgeon standing over her - didn't she choose a cesarean for convenience?

If it was really about overcrowding, they could simply change the ordinance to say "not more than 3 unrelated adults". Also, it would be very easy to not enforce the ordinance. Lots of places have laws on the books and people just look the other way.

When I was in college they passed a similar law in the town I lived because so many of us college students were living in off-campus housing in that one particular town. They didn't even enforce it then - it was only used when a party house got too out of control.

"A vigorous legal defense is everyone's right."<\i>

But does harassing the victim qualify as a vigorous legal defense?

The problem isn't polygamy itself, it's how it is practiced. Underage girls being forced into marriage, adult women being forced into marriage, incest, false imprisonment and abuse of the welfare system (yes, I think it's abuse to purposely have more children and households than you can support yourself and then apply for welfare, foodstamps, etc). Those are the realities of polygamy that Big Love just doesn't cover. Just because that show doesn't make it all seem like a picnic, it's not a very realistic portrayal, either.

Why shouldn't a father be allowed to keep the child if the mother wants to give it up for adoption?

This is why Salon is great. I agree with James, I'm going to get a Jose Gonzalez cd, but not a Sony.

Few tv shows manage to go out when they're at the top, even though those involved often talk about "ending it now, while it's still great". A perfect example of this is Seinfeld, a show which was well past its prime when it went off the air. I'd say, however, that Six Feet Under was an exception. I haven't seen this season's Soprano's yet so I can't say, but the fact that they were saying this would be the last season and now they're waffling suggests the same thing could happen here.

YOu can't define it, but you know it when you see it. I'd say the LW just hasn't met the right guy. However, I think one of the obstacles to meeting the right guy might be in her mind. She's so convinced that anyone with a good job is boring and destined to mini-van life that she can't give a guy a chance. She's right, she hasn't grown up. When she can stop putting people in categories based on superficial signs, she'll be grown up.

women are at war not because they really have a beef with moms who make different choices, but because they are insecure about their own decisions regarding work and family

I think anyone who reads the letters to Salon (or on any other website) in regard to articles about Stay At Home Moms & Working Moms debate could easily come to this same solution. Parenting is a highly emotional issue and women often seem to need to justify their own actions. That said, I don't ever hear this "mommy war" between real life women, only in the media and on-line. Most mothers I know have better things to think about than how much another woman is or is not working.

It's time the media move beyond this "mommy war" idea and start debating the real problems: why our culture doesn't value child-raising as much as corporate profits and why we have such low expectations for men as far as child-rearing goes, just to name a couple.

That was great. I wish Cary wished he responded with that (not that his response was bad).

I don't have a special needs child, but I do have children and I'd like to say that all parents should read that piece. They all present their challenges and this article is wonderful because it shows that special needs children are just like any other child but with a few more challenges.

Kim-it's nice of you to give the benefit of the doubt, but do you really get any sense at all from this LW that she "always helps him out"? My guess is she's never been asked to help out before, which is why he didn't know she was too selfish to be a friend. I mean, if you can't help out (on your DAY OFF) in an emergency situation, when can you?

One of my definitions of a friend: someone who is there for you in a pinch. She failed.

What is she, 16 years old? When her boyfriend is around she drops all other friends?

The NY Times Book Review has a review of this book in the upcoming Sunday issue (3/19). They also thought this guy's perspective was ridiculous. The review mentions anecdotes he uses in the book to support some of his ideas and notes that most of them appear to come from 1950.

If even Us Weekly readers don't want to hear about Paris Hilton anymore, why do Salon readers have to hear about her?

<<But airing this crap struck me as extraordinarily and unnecessarily predatory.>>

Yes, but that's what reality shows do. Every season they need one controversial character (and often that person is happy to be the one who gets all the attention) and you know fans will wait all season to see if she gets her comeuppance or not. Not only is this girl racist, she's proud of it and seems determined to tell the world about it. She is young, but she's old enough to know better.

What I found interesting was the other model who said "she says she's not racist, but she's saying racist things". That moron seemed to think she might not be a racist if she says she's not. I guess this show is perpetuating the models-are-idiots stereotype all around!