Finally, wealthy straight white women can dictate how poor black lesbians should behave.

What a time to be alive.

This same internal conflict arises whenever Bill Maher is the guest on a variety talkshow, like The View, and he repeats his own mantra against religion.

The vainglorious father analogy is a good one; it is too easy and too obvious to attack religious fundamentalism, or even a person's personal right to believe.

I can't think of a better way these "Preaching Atheists" could concede some of the matter without blankly admitting it is a concession, but they must understand the need that human beings have to insulate themselves against death and evil. I am an agnostic with atheist leanings but I understand that on some level, optimally it would be individual, people must believe. Our world is too bare of beauty for most to live without belief.

These preaching atheists should not call for an end to all 'spirituality' but instead specifically lambast the organizations (and organizational aspects) of religion while maintaining the idea that it can be healthy and helpful to practice spirituality.

I've come to terms (or am coming, rather) with a cold, indifferent universe that ends the day I die. Do I have the right to fault people who can't?

[post scriptum question: If 91% of the USA believes in god why do these atheist books keep getting published and publicized?]

You say: "In the 1970s, no one would or could have imagined that the dominant form of pop music of the last two decades of the 20th century would be rhythmatized boasts and threats delivered over beats."

This gross oversimplification of a varied, potent and often intelligent genre of music comes just a paragraph before a lamentation on the current state of race-relations. It's unfortunate that a device has not yet been invented which would detect hypocrisy.

i was also almost unable to watch this segment, and i don't think it was because of anyone's 'lasciviousness'.

More likely i think it just was because of the sheer humorless of the interview. A fairly far-reaching joke simply fell flat on its face. It's difficult to watch a talented comedian take a nose-dive.

i normally don't skip much of this column but i literally could not read a single word about Grey's Anatomy. i hope Heather doesn't write about this show just because it's popular.

Maybe some day i will watch Veronica Mars. Initially i was so opposed to Friday Night Lights (because of the franchise and terrible movie) but now it is one of my favorite shows.

between writer and disgruntled reader would be the glorious culmination of the information/technology age.

post scriptum : tom i will be watching 'The Prisoner' soon on your recommendation i hope it is good.

Yau Man just got voted off in the most shocking (or not) and despicable (certainly) turn of events in reality show history.

i know that Dreamz will burn in hell.

Tom that garter joke was pretty atrocious.

"the ministry ... does not want to give terrorists information that they achieved their goals."

'Hey Ahmad, did Malkaki's suicide bombing go well?'

'Couldn't tell ya, I've been checking the associated press feed all day but none of the stories have any pictures of the bombing.'

'How disheartening! Without visual evidence of our success I see no reason to continue fighting, or believing in Islam for that matter.'

Now and then i think it's fine to get self-serious, and even to preach a little.

If anyone needs anymore convincing about how seriously threatened some animals are this video shows a dolphin massacre that occurred in Japan.

We all sound like whiny bitches but i probably would have read the discussion. As it is i'm just going to close this window after i hit post.

Good post tom, funny and important. Also: i've now watched the first two episodes of 'The Prisoner' and i'm hooked.

To the fans of 'Lost': Lost is the most inane, poorly written, idiotic show that has ever garnered such fandom on American television. Those of you desiring an intelligent analysis of the finale would do better to stare at your bathroom sink for twenty minutes and reconsider what you decide to spend your time watching.

Don't you remember the rabbit torture scenes? God almighty, what a dumb show.

post scriptum: Heather, i'm so happy and excited that Friday Night Lights has been picked up for a second season. For all it's flaws (overly moralizing, maintaining disgraceful standards of status quo) this show is the only worthwhile, meaningful drama on television right now. i'd wager that you played at least some part in it's continuation. Thank you.

-actually this comic is pretty good.

than tomreedtoon shitting all over Heather week in and week out are all the people who shit on tomreedtoon week in and week out.

It all depends on how the LW feels towards the cat. If they don't have any particular emotional attachment they should definitely put the cat down.

Why are animals that are traditionally used as pets given more rights than a cow or a pig? Why the fuck does a cat have a right to life that a chicken doesn't?

If you eat meat but think this cat shouldn't be killed if the LW wants to than you have a preconceived notion that is causing negative effects (overcrowding shelters; filling the streets with strays).

I was surprised Cary completely removed killing the cat from the options, and didn't even ask how attached they were to it. I completely disagree that killing the cat would amount to any kind of "failure". Who in their right mind would hire a veterinary behaviorist for an animal they didn't like?

All vegans please don't respond to this. You are ideologically sound in my mind.

I never thought I'd even consider the idea of withdrawing from the UN. But when Ron Paul coos to me "Isolationism..." I start to go weak in the knees.