"If you're Jewish, you find the pope inherently funny. I often forget that there are a great number of people who take him seriously, rather than just thinking of him as some whacky clown."

I'm a long-since lapsed Catholic, but I still found this very offensive. I'm being a little reactionary here, but it does go to show how Catholics are one of the groups that people feel almost sanctioned to bash. The new pope doesn't do very much for me either as a spiritual leader or an old guy dressed up in medieval garb, but John Paul II was a man whose deeds and words usually transcended doctrine.

and there are plenty of Jewish clerics whose fashion sense one might find "whacky"(sic). I'm all for flouting convention, but have a little respect, Mr. Handler. I know one series I will not be having my (future) children read - however, the late Mr. Gorey will be more than welcome in the household.

Mike Hotter

but I agree with Bill Maher, at least with most every point he makes in this particular piece. I've always thought of him as a pompous blowhard, a sycophantic ass-kisser to the "Stars", and a simplistic hack (kind of the left's answer to Sean Hannity), but damn, he does some pretty righteous ram-rodding of the dangerous incompetents running America straight to shit. Good job, Bill, there may be a glimmer of a soul somewhere in there after all!

While I'm not a big fan of most contemporary "dance-rock" (I cannot fathom why everyone raves about LCD Soundsystem), I do think !!!'s Myth Takes is one of the best CDs of the year, and perfect for exercising and other booty-shaking.

My fiance is the workout champ in the relationship, while I'm pretty much the music nut, and she enjoys sifting through our substantial digital music collection to load up her iPod nano when it is gym time. Some recent favs (besides the aforementioned !!! CD):

Caribou's Milk of Human Kindness

R. Kelly's "Bump n Grind"

Ginuwine's "My Pony"

AC Newman / the New Pornographers

ditto on the people who mentioned Can, I'm guessing fellow krautrockers Neu would be good for running to as well.

but tell the truth, you're just scared of pissing off the right wing psychotics that are running amok in this letters section.

People, Pres. Obama just took over - the complexities he has to face are way beyond the ken of most of us web-browsing pundits (meaning the letter-writers here, not you, Joan). The conspiracy theories being floated by some here are reprehensible. Sad to say, these diatribes have led me to cancel my subscription after 3 years.