... that Bush's idea of diplomacy is to massage the shoulders of the female German Chancellor, it is nice to see an American traveling overseas and showing some sensitivity to local cultural mores.

When Bush was running for office, this is what he said (2000 Presidential debate vs. Al Gore).

It really depends upon how our nation conducts itself in foreign policy. If we're an arrogant nation, they'll resent us. If we're a humble nation, but strong, they'll welcome us. And it's -- our nation stands alone right now in the world in terms of power, and that's why we have to be humble.

Looks like Bush should have appointed Pelosi with her headscarf to be ambassador to the UN instead of John Bolton with his ridiculous-looking wig that made such a laughing stock of the US.

As a 55 year old man who has had many, many heterosexual relationships, and has been in one with a beatiful women for the last three years and counting, much more of my sex life lies in the past than in the future, I am sure.

Drawing on my own experience and that of friends and aquaintances, I would say that porn is rarely a force for good.

If viewing porn makes him more horny for you (best scenario), there is a danger that eventually he won't be able to become aroused without the porn.

If viewing porn becomes an alternative form of sexual release for him, then you (his female partner) will feel like crap.

If he gets off on both porn and you, which seems to be where you are now, maybe that is OK, but don't count on it staying that way.

The trouble is that the sexual arousal from porn is different from the sexual arousal of being with a woman. Let me explain.

Last week I saw a woman in the supermarket. First I saw a gorgeous butt, then I saw shiny hair, then I saw the curve of her waist, then smooth skin and bright eyes. Even though she was two checkouts away, I could actually feel myself approaching her, putting my hand on the curve of her waist, feeling the softness of her skin, the scent of her hair against my face, and I started to get aroused (just a bit). Then I said to myself, "get a grip, American, do you want to get arrested?"

But it isn't like that with porn, because porn is not one-on-one, it is not participatory. Porn is voyeurism, and while theoretically a man might equally enjoy regular one-on-one sex and voyeurism, chances are that over time he will favor one over the other. And that ain't good.

Most people, in my opinion, would improve their sex lives a lot by making love with the lights out and focusing on communication by touch, because once you learn to associate arousal with being touched in a certain way, rather than with visualizing certain images, you are more likely to become addicted to that form of arousal and to the partner who knows how to turn you on.

Beeb Web site is now reporting that advertisers are lining up to pull out of the Imus show.

BBC News Co UK 2 hi Americas with dots and slashes.

Will manufacturers of hair straightening products and condoms now pick up the slack?

Can't these women sue Imus? Surely playing basketball publicly does not necessarily mean they are public figures who cannot be slandered?

I am not a lawyer, but my understanding of US libel law is that you can say what you like about people in public life, but that you cannot defame private individuals or corporations without running the risk of being sued. In some states you can't even defame agricultural products.

That said, it would appear that calling an identifiable group of female students prostitutes on a radio show might be actionable.

I would expect a broadcasting company like CBS to have some policies and procedures governing what may be said over the air, and it would be reasonable to assume that Imus contravened such policies and was fired for it. He may have been counseled or warned before. We just don't know.

To say that he has been silenced is stretching it a bit. I suspect that if he was to call a press conference and announce that he has been thinking this thing over, and now realizes the rap performers whose doggerel influenced his perception of what constituted fair comment are nothing but a bunch of "girlie men" who are terrified of female sexuality, he would probably be widely reported.

Of course, if I called the same press conference to announce the same thing...

For Rush to go from Florida where prostitution is illegal to the Dominican Republic, where prostitution is quite legal, and then get busted for improperly labeled Viagra is the height of stupidity, because at the time of his arrest Viagra was legally available over the counter without a prescription in any pharmacy in the Dominican Republic.

However it does not matter how stupid or ignorant or venal Rush is, because his radio show will only interest those who are equally stupid.