What an incredibly disappointing and disgusting opinion piece. Considering you are part of a group that has experienced discrimination, hate and marginalization I would have thought you would be just a tad more sensitive. But, when it becomes apparent that a group of people you are associated with may be holding back the passing of a bill (and by the way they have contributed many, many dollars) you throw them away. Their money is good enough, but when they become an embarrassment, you want them to leave the room. Of course, you claim this is the politically expedite thing to do because you think a bill will be passed that will make it "much easier for all of us -- gays and lesbians, bisexuals and eventually even the transgendered -- to realize all of our civil rights in our lifetime". How generous of you to consider the transgendered. All you are asking of them is they sacrifice the fight so maybe they will get the same rights as you have obtained, tomorrow. Of course the operative word here is maybe. And in the mean time, you will have secured some of your rights with no guarantees for the group you have discarded. I certainly wouldn't put money on it that you will be stalwart supporters and you will probably disavow "those people who can't decide if they are boys or girls" after you finally become part of the power structure. Face it, it is human nature. I got mine, now go get yours.

It has absolutely nothing to do with an influx of amateurs or the plodding paces these people keep. It has to do with money, pure and simple. Anyone who is a superior athlete makes their way into baseball, football, so on and so forth. Why should someone who has physical talent train for marathons for a relatively poor pay rate? It makes no sense financially.

I do not know why the author is so bitter about the likes of Oprah running marathons, but I suspect he wants to delude himself as being an elite, although he is not. For a plodder to train, run and complete a marathon takes more courage than an elite runner because it is just physically and mentally more difficult. And a word to Mr. McClelland- The gentlemen protest too much, me thinks.

Dear Person,

There is a difference between correlation and causation. Correlation is a relationship between two events. Causation is when one event leads to another. There may be a correlation between GWB being elected because more democrats than republicans had abortions, but it is not causation. An example of causation is when two members of the opposite sex have sex and the female partner becomes pregnant. The first event must exist in order for the other to occur. That is causation.

So, if I am to use your logic concerning the cloud cover on Venus and dinosaurs, here is where I would arrive:

Dinosaurs are big and exhale carbon dioxide.

Carbon dioxide can cause global warming.

Global warming can cause more storms.

Storms are formed by cloud cover, thus

dinosaurs live on Venus.

Your logic is faulty and not thought out. There are really good courses at local community schools that teach logic. It may behoove you to take one.

Concerning your question why do people who want abortion outlawed not get involved with helping the unwanted children all ready on this planet?

1. That would require soul searching and introspection. And work.

2. What most of these people really get off on is "casting the first stone". For many of these people, sex is bad and when a woman has sex, pregnancy is her punishment. It is a scarlet letter.

3. They are bitter, unhappy people. And in general, very, very afraid.

Hope that helps.

Oh yeah, to paraphase George Carlin concerning the abortion clinic protestors:

You wouldn't want to f*ck them anyway.

And it is possible that it all comes down to that.

Overall, I agree with Cary. Don't want to date? So don't. Honestly, dating is not what it is cracked up to be and if you find your life is fulfilled without it, great. You are good the way you are.

But, as far as the brownie thing goes, try the recipe on the back of a Baker's chocolate box. Takes about 5 minutes longer than a box and SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much bettererererer!

Why is it that Americans consistently attack, malign and denigrate those at the lowest rungs of a corporate hierarchy? The people who are complaining about the perks pilots (or insert any beleaguered profession) supposedly have are in exactly the same position as the pilots; they are at the bottom of the food chain. Wouldn’t it make more sense for these road warriors, average middle class people to emphasize with the pilots and realize as a whole, the pilot’s lot is no more comfy or easy then their own? As long as working Americans continue to point at each other, have temper tantrums about what perks “they” get, the class war will continue to be won by the rich. Or as Offspring says:

Ya gotta keep em separated.