What I find most interesting abiout the article is that the rate of abortion is in decline, and that the rate of abortion is pretty constant in countries with legal access to abortion and countries where abortions are outlawed. Abortion can not be prevented by legislation.

"Whatever you think of Lessing's books, she's smart enough and insightful enough to be considered for and win the Nobel Prize for Literature. To reject her views out of hand is unspeakable arrogance."

Wait, wait. Because "she's smart and insightful" and writes noteworthy books, I need to agree with her on everything?

Wagner wrote some of the most beautiful music in the world, but he thought Jews were evil.

Henry Ford was so "smart and insightful" he changed the manufacturing inustry and created a working class that could afford a middle-class lifestyle. But he was also a paranoid bigot. Shakespeare is the English-speaking world's greatest poet; "smart and insightful" doesn't eve begin to cover that man's depth of understanding or intellect. But even he thought it was ok to pick on Jews or Moors.

Yes, Doris Lessing is a well-educated, sharp mind, and a literary star. But that doesn't mean all of her opinions are correct. Nor is anyone an idiot or a hypocrite for disagreeing with her on one point or another.

BTW, I'd love to be a fly on the wall for a meeting between Ms Lessing and brightstar. I have a feeling she'd find him less of a soulmate than he seems to think she is.

From the same link:

"It's true the prostitute negotiated sex with the defendant - but not unprotected gang sex at gunpoint."

And:

"The defendant was charged in an identical incident involving a 23-year-old woman four days later, DeSipio said.

Neither woman knew the other and both told identical stories. The other men involved in the attack couldn't be identified."

So, yes, I'd say there was conspirisy and premeditation going on. And it's not clear to me in the Philly Enquirer report that the victim had sex with the defendent at gunpoint, or earlier. Instead, I am inclined to believe by the way eventsare described in thearticle, that no sex happened until the gun was pointed at her.

She, and the second victim, got a real good look at John #1 because he made the arrangements and met with them first. He was (they assumed) a "legitimate client." Johns 2-5 (who may be the same 4 guys or up to 8 different guys) arrived with a gun, which tends to focus one's attention away from faces and more at gun barrels. So, perhaps the victims couldn't remember what Johns 2-4 looked like. Or maybe the women were blindfolded, or the guys were hooded or masked.

In any case, the women were forced to have sex under conditions they hadn't agreed to. Which is rape in any sane person's understanding of the word.

(I think this was Lamar's idea, so I do't take creit).

Rolling regional primaries. 5 regions: Northeast, midwest, plains, south and west. % rimaries on separate days, 2 to 4 weeks apart.

Candidates campaign in each region, allowing them to make more effecient use of their money (and their fuel), while voters get more concentrated, sustained local coverage.

Each election cycle, the rotation changes. So if the Midwest went first in 2008, they go last in 2012, 4th in 2016, etc.

Please bring me one of what brightstar's having!

"Most literature is tainted with bias against men anyway."

All the literary greats from Homer to Dr Seuss, Shkespeare to Fitzgerald are ROTFLTAO in their graves.

It's time the voters saw the true face of the Republican party. A self-hating prig who thinks the rules don't apply to him. A confused reactionary who will say anything to stay in power, even if he contradicts himself repeatedly. A mean-spirited buly who laughs at his victims' pain, but whimpers the minute the tables are turned.

Show us more, you naughty, naughty boy.

isn't the same as winning the election. And thinking candidate x won the debate doesn't mean one must also think candidate x would make the best president.

"Have you never seen any other AXE ads? AXE uses something called humor. Things called jokes. J-o-k-e-s. Come ON. ALL the ads are over the top."

Who "gets" the joke, though?

Grown-ups and hipters, right? How old do you have to be to "get it"?

And what goes on with those that don't "get it"?

My 4yo is very bright, but if she sees something on tv, she assumes it's reality (Last night, she wanted to go to Dora the Explorer's house for a playdate.) Were she to see the Axe ads, she'd think that good-smelling guys signal a girl to take her top off. How old will she be before she sees it as a "joke?" 8? 12? 16? What if she "knows" it's not real, but ... suspects that's how cool girl behave? (Which, even if I tell her the contrary, who is she likely to believe? Her mom, or the beautiful girls on tv?)

It's not "just" a joke if you aren't sophisticated enought to "get" the humor.