Letters to the Editor
Juliebird
Published Letters: 2039 Editor's Choice: 107
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I dunno ...
[Read the article: Sexing up grade school]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I looked up the Barbie loves MAC stuff, which was (really horrifing Barbie Pink!) makeup for grown women.
I can't find any description of Mattel's plans with a Bonne Belle line, but ... it doesn't sound like "play makeup" that is essentially flavored chapstick and colored baby powder. It sounds like the real deal that is meant to be worn out of the play room.
All I can say is: not for my girls.
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Dirk Diggler too?
[Read the article: X-rated executions in Iran]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Somehow I suspect the men won't be executed ...
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I see
[Read the article: Quote of the Day]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]he's been taking that Rumsfeldian poetry class. "There are known knowns ..."
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I still maintain
[Read the article: She may not have gravitas ...]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]that Rather was referring to the *news* as "tarted up," not the anchorwoman delivering the news. (And I agree with his sentiments, despite my respect for Katie Couric as a non-tarty newscastor).
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smells like Conservative spirit
[Read the article: Chris Matthews on Fred Thompson's sexiness and smells]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I love how Matthews puts that Seinfeldian qualifier "... I'm trying to find out what works for women ..." as he all but drools over the Republican Teen Beat centerfold poster. It makes me wonder what he fantasized about but didn't say, in the name of investigation "what works for women."
Yeah, right.
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Alternate History
[Read the article: More warnings about a U.S.-Iran war]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Giving pundits the benefit of the doubt, let's assume that we have a valid case for a military attack on Iran. (A big assumption, but let's accet it for the sake of argument). Let'seven assume that our "Global War on Terror" did not have anything to do with Iran's behavior that justifies our taking military action against them.
We can't win in Iran (whatever "winning" would mean). Iraq has our full attention, strength and resources.
But, just imagine if we had left Iraq alone, militarily. If we had focused our attention more squarely on Afghanistan, maybe that country would be stable, perhaps even an example of responsible nation-building efforts. Our military would be healthier, happier, less exhausted and better equipped. We'd have more money on hand to hire, train and equip more troops. And we'd have the good will of most of the world. We'd certainly have a less skeptical citizenry.
Ah, the bitter irony. It's like some old Russian folk tale, no?
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Don't blame me ...
[Read the article: Joe Lieberman outspins the Pentagon]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]not everyone in CT voted for the guy. If you remember, his own party chose Ned Lamont in the primary.
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I'd love
[Read the article: Nixon knows best]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]to see what a writer like William Shakespeare would do with RM Nixon. Nixon certainly had the complexity of Shakespare's greatly flawed hero/villians. (And "You won't have Richard Nixon to kick around" almost scans!) Nixon's political career also seemas to fit a five act tragedy.
As a person who was in diapers during Watergate, I know very little about the Nixon administration as a whole (post WW II history was given real short shrift in school. I remember basically "JFK good, Vietnam bad, USSR bad, Reagan good"). Hearing about these books piques my curiosity about my birth era.
And it is a real eye-opener to see how far right this country has tilted in 30+ years. That Nixon is to the left of that pinko-commie Clinton?! and that America still sees us as being too left-wing is scary.
I'm lsolooking forward to 2040, when the first revisionist books on Bush II will hit the stands. Will he ever be viewed as "complex"? As having done anything rogressive for the country?
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huh?
[Read the article: ABC's of gender]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Did Tracy Clark-Flory say hat parents make their kids gay, straight, androgynous or hermaphroditic? "Cause I think I missed that part.
Here'swhat took away from her resposnse to an article on a study about toddler recognizing typical and atypical gender behavior:
1. kids watch and process waaaaay more than most people give them credit for. So parents and caegivers should be aware they are stars of their own reality shows for a very young demographic.
2. it is probably good for young kids to see dad cook a meal or vacuum, or mom fix a leaky toilet or a flat tire. (Also good to see mom cooking and dad fixing).
3. If you want your children to grow up thinking they can do anything the opposite gender can (with regards to household labor and professional occupations), model this behavior for them.
4. If you want your children to grow up to be ignorant rubes who think men can't find the laundry hamper or women can't balance the checkbook, model this behavior and attitude often.
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a sadder side to multiple births
[Read the article: And babies make 16]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I saw the sad post that one of the Morrison sextuplets had died. I got to wondering how earlier celebrated multiple-birth families were doing, after the camera crews had gone home
Here's a link I found by google (if the link doesn't copy, you can find it by googling "frustaci septuplts")
http://www.cnn.com/US/9711/20/septuplets.frustaci/index.html
To sum up: this family was in a similar situation. They had one healthy child, but wanted more kids and usedfertility drugs. With 7 fetuses, they refused selective reduction. They were bon 12 weeks early. Four died at or soon after birth. The surviving 3 suffered from cerebral palsy and mental retardation. Mom and dad successfully sued their fertility doc (huh?), then went on to have *more children* using *the same drug* (WTF?) As of 1997, these 3 of 7 were 12 years old, living with dad, their older brother and younger twin sibs, but mom had split. (Dad, reasonably enough, wanted to keep his kids out of the public eye, so hasn't been keeping a steady date with a tv news magazine or maintaining a blog. By my reckoning, they are 21 or 22 now).
It's this messy, sad, complicated story that infertile couples should hear about: not for the schadenfreude thrills, but as a cautionary tale. Leaving things "in God's hands" does not guarantee miracles. Not every family is strong enough to handle this kind of scenario. And diapers and scholarships (not to mention minivans!) may not fall like manna from heaven.