I'm not going to tell the letter writer what to do or not do because when I was 16, I had my nose done. I loved it for two years, then spent 10 years deeply embarrassed about the whole thing for all the reasons the letter writer cited, and now--22 years later--am OK with it. Did the slimmer nose change my life? I don't know. I might have developed confidence on my own due to age and maturity, but feeling more attractive certainly helped when I was a deeply insecure teen.

On the other hand, taking a little off the tip of the nose and inserting saline or silicone into your chest are pretty different. I used to be an A-cup. Then I had a baby and went up to a B-cup. Now, post-weaning, my poor boobs are sad little deflated AA cups. It's taking a while to get used to this.

But you know, I've decided to still love them. I can wear thick sweaters and never look like a barrell. I can wear a V down to my navel and never slutty. And despite all the jabs I got in junior high about my future babies starving, I am proud to report that I exclusively nursed my baby for a full year.

I'm not sure that any of this would be case if I had augmented them. I'm not sure that they'd be as sensitive as they are. I'm not that my first mammogram would have been as clear. And I'm not sure that by now I wouldn't have had to a subsequent, corrective surgery.

I don't know you or your boyfriend, but if he seems fine with the A-cups, maybe he really is. And maybe the sexiest thing for BOTH of you would be for you to avoid the media making you feel bad and learn to rock those A-cups!

And finally, whatever you decide, take it easy on yourself. We don't live in an idealized world, and the pressures we women face can be pretty extreme. So while I'd love you to love your small boobs, I hope you'll love yourself regardless of what you decide. Life is too short to get hung up on boobs.

Thanks so much for a column that points out the utter ridiculousness of name bashing. Many people have names that derive from Semitic routes, and some are more obvious than others. Most people know Elijah and Hanna are from the Hebrew, but names like Margaret (from the Hebrew for pearl), Sean (the Irish version of John), or my own Jessica are much more likely to slip under the radar.

One tiny correction to your article. The etymology you cite for Abraham ("Father of Nations/Multitudes") is a common one that is even backed up in text of the Hebrew Bible. But the linguistics of it don't work out. We're not really sure what the name means, but the traditional explanation is one of many "folk etymologies" in the Bible that have been passed down through the ages.

Many thanks again for educating against those who would simply inspire ethnic distrust and hatred.

I know what Obama is doing is smart and makes sense, but for the record, I, my husband, and my (white, high-school educated, over 65) mother are all strong Obama supporters. At least two in this group started out supporting Hillary or supported her between Edwards and Obama, but we all will happily cast our vote for Obama now.

From what I can see, many in my Louisville neighborhood feel the same way. So show us some love, Barack!

It would be easy to roll my eyes at this one, but if you look beneath the surface, I think this says a lot about the lack of family support most families have and the even greater insecurity foisted on parents-to-be by the baby industrial complex. And, of course, for some I'm sure this is part of an escalating arms war of baby gear.

I had my first child a year and a half ago, and I remember well how annoyed I felt when I looked over the recommended registry list available at a big-box baby store. Some of the stuff they considered "necessary" was ridiculous.

Fortunately for me, I had friends to advise me, family in town, sound advice from a few trusted books, and in innate distrust of marketing and advertising. But I can imagine what it would have felt like if any of these conditions had been different--especially if I lived somewhere where my choice of baby gear made a huge social statement or where it was hard(er) to find decent child-care.

The best I can do is to advise women who are tempted to hold off. Because if these services play on your insecurity now, I can imagine a pattern will be set for sleep trainers, potty trainers, baby-proofers, birthday party planners, school tutors and coaches down the line. Just hire what you need when you need it.

Make some friends in your classes. Read some good books. Have your OBGYN/midwife or hosital/birthing center recommend a doula or lactation consultant if you want or need one, know that you need very little for the first three months, and don't feel like your nursery has to look like J. Lo's.

Getting ready for a little should be work, but fun work. Don't let messages sent by people trying to make a buck off of you take that away.

Hello Salon headline writer: Please do your research next time. The easternmost part of this state is in Appalachia; the majority is not.

The state may be largely rural, but "Appalachia" and "rural" are not identical terms.

You published a thoughtful letter by Dee Davis just today about Obama and rural voters; please don't go and undermine it now with sloppy work.