King's making a fine point and he's right. It ridiculous to say that Armstrong has been "completely exonerated" if you didn't test the samples. Now, it makes sense why they didn't test the samples (i.e. major chain of custody issues), but to say that because there are those issues, so therefore, we can't test the samples, so therefore, Armstrong is "completely exonerated" doesn't make sense at all. It would have made much more sense to say, for example, they found the WADA's particular claims lacking.

The deification of Armstrong this side of the Atlantic aside and despite his commendable test results and efforts, he's going to remain somewhat under suspicion for others because elite cycling, especially during his peak, was/is? a very cozy world that was/is? awash with doping.

Extremely on point. Well said.

Not to worry. Guys like Maddox don't have the nerve to insult you to your face. Their tough brashness is usually limited to their keyboards or microphones. Anyway, it's just a tired brand of satire combined with a stale brand of "political incorrectness". Yawn.

While Ebonius's letter was full of absurd cliches and suggestions which bashed the folks people here tiresomely love to hate (e.g. frat boys, jocks, sorority girls and so on), he/she is right about one thing, regardless of the race of the "stripper", those guys wouldn't be caught dead walking down the street holding hands which a "girl like her".

The answer to your question is no because some are still making the points they made earlier and which were addressed in the article (particularly about the aid stuff). Anyway, Africa is making some strides. Sure, it's more of the "one step forward two steps back" variety of progress in a lot of places but it's certainly not all doom and gloom.

For example, I think it's wonderful that Liberia elected a female president. Here's a poor civil war torn country that managed to hold an election and do what was probably unthinkable a few years ago - elect a female president. It appears some of the main items among her first priorities are improved ties with the West and bringing the infamous warlord Charles Taylor to justice. Not a bad start.

But hey, at least we movers and shakers here in the US can congratulate ourselves for discussing the idea of electing a female president and debating how well a fictional one is doing on TV. Oh also, those $3 bottle of Fiji water do taste great.

Hmmnn, too bad the Native Americans didn't follow your philosophy. Think how much better they would've been if they let those excess Puritans who couldn't feed themselves starve. It wasn't their job to fed every stray who washed up on their shores. And look what happened! They fed them and what did they get for their troubles (besides eventually killed)? More Puritans and other foreigners looking for a handout and trying to take over. Damn, too bad they didn't have a "cold hard facts" economist around to explain it to them.

"Because anyway you slice it, the children that result ARE their offspring."

Not legally. Only in the odd world of the Salon letters section could sperm donation "fatherhood" be equated to one night stand fatherhood. "Bio-parenthood" trumps all, eh? lol.

I love how earlier here the woman ova doners got a break from someone else because they are "poor young college students who have to deal with possible "medical issues" while the guy is just some dude looking for some easy cash for a nice dinner.

"I had a dog years ago, a purebred. I never mated her, because I couldn't bear to bring puppies into the world when I had no control over their welfare. Because I and many other people can make this ethical decision for our pets, I can't see why a twenty something college student (male or female) can't make the same ethical decision for their own offspring."

Huh? So, because you couldn't bear not to exercise direct control over welfare of the puppies that would have resulted from the mating of your dog, you chose not to mate her? Although it's probably a good bet that the puppies would've been adopted by others (either through you or someone else), that's your decision. I'm not sure you should be congratulating youself for your wonderful ethics though and it seems especially specious to try and pass of your "ethics" onto others.

Btw, if a parent gives a kid up for adoption, thereby relinquishing control over his/her welfare, is he/she guilty of an "ethical" violation?

Peace Corps officially established:

March 1, 1961

Total number of Volunteers and trainees to date:

182,000

Total number of countries served:

138

Current number of Volunteers and Trainees:

7,810

Gender:

58% female, 42% male

MARITAL STATUS:

91% SINGLE, 9% married

People of Color:

16% of Peace Corps Volunteers

Age:

28 years old (average), 25 years old (median)

Volunteers over age 50:

6% (oldest Volunteer is 79)

Education:

96% have at least an undergraduate degree, 13% have graduate studies or degrees

That was refreshing. Unlike the NY Times almost hysterical piece, it was well done and nicely stated. It'll probably keep the picthforkers at bay for awhile.