In addition to the "you can if you really WANT to," the "prove yourself" and all the other self-help that is more useful and more kindly meant, people have bought up the insensate, profane and semi-literate rage that is often expressed by men and women alike when the subject of obese white women is dragged into editorial columns yet again.

From the especially vitriolic women, I think it's a way of women establishing superiority over other women while expressing fear of losing status in their subtext. "I'm not like that. I'm not fat. I'm not disgusting. I'm special -- but, oh God, what happens if I gain weight? No, I've got to hate this so I won't and can maintain my special perfect thinness." Barf. And many of them do.

From the especially vitriolic men, it's "how dare these THINGS not do everything they can to 'prove themselves' in our eyes, but instead OFFEND those eyes. They're not LISTENING TO US." These characters, especially the semi-literates, seem to think it's the right of every man, regardless of how he looks, to have arm candy of his very own and to judge women who don't meet that standard for whatever reasons. Thyroid, anyone? Water retention? How about pregnancy? Want a woman with a big belly to hide out lest your eyes be offended? Repeat after me, and without four-letter words, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU.

Oh, and anyone thinking of an "ad feminam," I'm no longer the size six I was back when size six was appropriate, but I still turn heads. My wardrobe is fantastic. My skin is that of a woman 20 years younger, and I'm very much at home in it. I have nothing to prove and no one to blame.

To the people who don't like that attitude, too damn bad. It's really none of your business.

Please be careful of yourself during this alleged holiday season. It's rough on people without family and with disfunctional families. Hell, even the most virulent Family Fascists can't manage it well, or Newt wouldn't be on his third wife...oh dear, that didn't come out sounding proper, did it?

Canadians are such polite people. Surely, the judge might have expressed this more gently to someone who has already suffered a great deal.

Maybe it wouldn't get through?

Well, lawyers are valued for their communication skills.

H0tr0d, what's your halo size?

Without being a Randroid, I always worry when people smack their lips over "sacrifice," especially other people's. It's clear from what you say that you've made sacrifices. And if you're saying that no one gets it all his or her own way, I think you're absolutely right. The key word is "all."

Being a stay-at-home parent is a 24/7 job. As the dispatches from the Mommy Wars and the Daddy Too auxiliaries come in, I do understand that some of staying at home is joyous, while some is not. Just like your life or anyone else's.

More joy is preferable to less: would you dispute this?

The thing is, when you talk about "some people don't understand sacrifice," to me, it sounds like loading on the guilt. Which is part of what the Mommy Wars and Daddy Toos are about, and it's not pleasant. Or, to my way of thinking, a necessary sacrifice to listen to.

Of course I live with my decisions, but I don't pat myself on the back for it.

And this is not male or female prostitution how?

If I remember right, the Girl of Qatif wanted that picture back because she had recently been married. As far as I know, her husband has not divorced her and has been quoted that he would have, had she been unfaithful.

I've really appreciated your posts on the Dar al-Islam, and I hope you'll keep on writing them. I'm currently working my way through ibn Warraq's attempt to eviscerate Said's ORIENTALISM, so anything I can learn is help.

Am I grateful that the King stepped in? No, but I am relieved for that poor girl.

Now, that's a nightmare scenario. I don't think it'll happen unless the Wahabi clergy can undermine the position of the King. It seems to me that he's running pretty much of a theocracy as is, but you and Canuckistan Bob may know better. Because of the King's own Wahabism, and especially now as we move into the Hajj season, I don't see the House of Saud breaking down. Isn't one of the King's most cherished titles "Protector of the Holy Places"?

If you want a real nightmare, consider what would happen IF the U.S. military were ordered to invade. Assuming the mission would be a go (which depends on how independent the people in the Joint Chiefs are), I'd imagine that this might be about the only thing that would create a temporary pan-Arabism or, heaven forbid, a pan-Muslim movement (which would bring in the Chinese, Indian, Indonesian, and Turkish Muslims, who are not Arab).

To make matters worse, India and Pakistan have nuclear weapons. Worse yet, many of the neo-cons are Jewish, so if this occupation occurred, I would frankly bet that there would be a collateral attack on Israel too (and I'd bet on Israel's being part of the nuclear club as well).

Worst case, it's a doomsday scenario. I don't think anyone in the West truly wants to go there.

I don't own a car. I recycle. I keep my energy-consumption footprint DOWN. And I VOTE.

We've gone from the Girl of Qatif to the energy creature's housing situation.

If we don't feed it, maybe it'll go away.

As it is, it's upped its demands for attention by becoming more and more outrageous in its positions.

Best thing: don't feed it by making all the discussions all about it.

Men are as men do. Energy creatures are something other.