Boy I checked back here and its still going...and still creepy

I disagree. Mrs. Robinson and Humbert Humbert had much in common. Both were preditors, she was simply more attractive. And both were corrosive influenses on their obects of interest. He was much more extreme and criminal, but she was hardly a figure to admire (and wasn't intended to be).

One thing I STILL find odd reading many of these letters is the almost desperate attempt to excuse older women going after (inappropriately) young men. Some of these letters are down right frightening. Mentioning the Mary Kay Latourneau in support of this is just plain crazy. Ask that kid's mother about the damage that woman has caused. Have you seen "the kid" on tv lately? Not a pretty picture. The statement "If her job as mother is now officially over" defies description.

Interestingly, I haven't read any letters on here from "tall dark and hamdsome" 17 year old boys enthusing over women old enough to thier mothers...or from 17 year old gorgeous girls waxing over horny old men. I do read alot of sad and desperate middle aged wishfull thinking.

...like an old fool."

And please notice that famous saying is non-gender specific.

Despite his own strange persona and the outregeous films he makes, John Waters has never been anything less than a gentleman whether in an interviews, in his own writings or in person (I've met him a couple of times and I've heard the same from many others who've met him). Ironic when compared to someone like Mel gibson. I hope Waters is making a fortune in royalties off of this.

I haven't seen the new film or the play, but I understand Stephanie's point. I think its sad that John Waters wonderful original will be all but forgotten and this will be the 'real" Hairspray.

And untill that happens there will be 150,000 US troops bogged down in that mess. Oil was what this was disaster was about from the start, and the destruction and chaos aside, that's still the heart of our involvement there. Obama and clinton as the front runners will be bought and paid for by the big oil companies (they don't stand a chance of mounting a winning campaign if they're not), so expect to see a very subtle shift to "stay the course" as the time goes on.

This mess or that other one (Britney Spears), not to mention the likes of Paris Hilton and Nichole Richie , wouldn't be getting a spec of attention if they weren't behaving like sideshow freaks...whin in all honesty is exactly what they are. None of them are talented, accomplished or even that attractive. All they have going for them is thier freak appeal. At least Liza, hammy as she was, had some talent. This crop is nothing more than professional geeks.

Not to mention the "gut feeling" about a terrorist attack, suspected "dress rehersals" for attacks (causing more screening at airports) and all the other murky warnings a threats that seem to be bubbling up every week or so.

My guess is that very few Americans understand or even aware of the seventh century soap opera that started all of this or for that matter the Ottoman years and partitians after WWI that created "Iraq." But I do think most Americans are starting to see through all of the conveniently timed dire warnings.

Bush's remarks (before, naturally, a captive military audience) about al Qaida in Iraq were complete fictions compared to what just about ever expert has been saying. His poll numbers are in the toilet in part because the American public knows a liar when they see one.

...it will be classic moment on that frosty January morning looking at all the conservatives, Republicans, wacked out Christains and ditto-heads in total melt down when she raises her hand and takes the oath of office.

...he doesn't need to spend money on expensive haircuts..

Paris. That will kill his chances. A few weeks ago I over heard two middle-aged guys talking on their way to the Cubs game. One said his wife's relative who lived in Paris died and she wanted to go to the funeral. He told her they weren't going because, "I'm not stepping foot in dat damn country." Paris. That doesn't sound good for Thompson.

It sounds more like Barnabas Collins is running.

It would be funny if there weren't so many of these kooks. I do think the Christian fad has ebbed. If you notice the rhetoric coming from the christian right is becomming more outlandish and unintentionally funny. Its going back to the days of Pat Robertson wrestling Satan on his livingroom floor. The silly creation museum, etc. they're turning into jokes. Unfortunately there are still enough of them more than willing to fork over their money to these charletans that they will still be a force to recon with, but they are increasingly turning into a freak show.

In a few years the majority of people running to their mega church every week will be embarrassed to admit they ever did. They'll be off on the next weird snake oil fad.