I often wonder how people can be so easily mislead by right wing nutjobs in this country, then I read the letters column here and see an astonishing lack of humor. Not just a lack of humor, but also the apparent lack of intelligence necessary to appreciate that the article might be intended as humor. You don't have to get it, you don't have to like it, but for the love of Pete, recognize a joke for what it is! Understand that humorous articles have a place in magazines, on-line or otherwise. Then again, when the Righties try to make jokes, they're usually poorly attempted they likely don't realize when they see it being done well.

I don't think you understand what "junk science" means. It has nothing to do with vetoes of tort reform, it has nothing to do with Republican heartlessness. Junk Science is science that is willfully misinterpreted. Heck, not only are the things you mentioned not "junk science", they aren't science at all.

You mention "the electorate doesn't seem to mind to moral dilemma posed by the destruction of human embryos". You mean like discarding them? 'cause that's what happens to them otherwise.

You also state "Most stem cell research will continue to enjoy federal funding." Again, not true. Only existing lines would continue to be funded and scientists have stated that these are inadequate for a vaariety of reasons. Non-embryonic stem cell research is far more limited and has fewer applications, making embryonic research the majority of research and new lines would undoubtable be the mojority of such research.

He might not be proposing "outlawing" stem cell research, he just wants to limit it to cases where it is next to useless.

The position of the Bush Admisnistrtion and Rep. Green is simply that they think they can pander to a base they desperately need to hang on to any kind of power. They don't really have a moral leg to stand on. Don't want embryos destroyed? Then why aren't you seeking to ban their creation in the lab? 'cause destruction is the result for the vast majority of them. Don't want marriage to be "diminished"? Why not outlaw divorce? Why not try explaining how other people getting married affects existing marriages at all? Probably because then you'll have the real Republican base yelling about how Blacks and Whites shouldn't marry either.

I'd like to thank you for bringin up a point that is rarely mentioned in discussions of dieting and weight loss. If you've been overweight a long time and start losing weight, you stop looking like you. Part of your self image is that of a "large" person, you're used to your face that way, you may feel stronger or more of a presence when heavier. Getting past this is likely one of the biggest psychological problems with keeping weight off. I try to balance it with acknowleging how much better I feel, how much more energy I have and it helps. In the end though, I just have to get used to the thinner me being the "real" me.

The person signing as "Self Parody?" is posting here because they always wanted to be an editor, but didn't have the skills. Thus, he or she is pretending to be one in a letters column. The complaints aren't really about the article, but is an attempt to claim that "Self Parody?" would be better at picking articles and guiding their development. Thankfully, he or she isn't actually an editor here on Salon.

The person signing as "jimarnett" must be a surgeon trying to drum up new gastric bypass patients. Most studies actually show that diet and exercise are the best ways to keep teh weight off. While gastric bypass can help start the process, diet and exercise are integral in taking the weight off and keeping it off.

I thoroughly enjoyed My Blue Heaven. Rick Moranis was an excellent sidekick to Steve Martin. I thought it was a funny take on something you usually only see dry, boring dramas about. Not everything needs to be, or should be Citizen Kane. Imagine how boring that'd be. It was a great movie, sure, but who wants just one thing over and over?

Kate,

Walking a mile or two a day is indeed cardio and heavier people probably can't run. Biking is also cardio and is lower impact, better for the knees and hips. In addition, studies have found that you don't need to do all the exercise in one big lump to see the benefits. If you walk 5 miles a day, spread out over the entire day in lots of smaller walks, you get a similar benefit to going on a 5 mile hike. In fact, you might even get better results because you have an elevated heart rate over more of the day.

Likely the most famous example of weight loss brought on from walking and a lower calorie diet is that Jared guy from the Subway commercials. He wasn't running, he was walking and he lost a ton of weight.

What I like about your comment, No Name, is how you don't seem to be paying attention to what you're typing.

1) It takes both effort and a total lack of discipline. I'd love to see that one play out.

2 & 3) You've clearly never been overweight, but I'm certain of this, you have a similar delusion about your intelligence.

4) She never said surgery was a silver bullet. She's combining the surgery with better diet and exercise.

Try actually reading the article next time instead of posting here because women won't give you the time of day. There is nothing arractive or useful about an obnoxious, loud asshole who happens to be an idiot who spends his time posting nasrt, barely coherant statements on web sites.