Many fans on some boards are complaining about the episode. My feeling is that expectations are SO HIGH for this show, you find yourself nitpicking sometimes because it's capable of so much. It makes you hope for more. Even a substandard episode of Veronica Mars is better than the best episodes of other TV shows. For me, I found the finale so arresting, I had dreams about it all night and woke up thinking about it.

It made me so happy to log onto Salon and see it covered on the front page as it deserves. It kills me that so few people are watching this show (Though, I actually think a lot more are watching it on college dorms and other non-measured ways than is usual with other shows and would not be surprised if it has twice the audience that we think).

However, I have to agree with other posters that posting a major spoiler on the home page is a terrible thing for those who taped the episode and haven't watched it yet. I was spoiled for nothing last night and was very glad for it.

Blumenthal's continued incisive reporting into the Iraq debacle (and the continued inability of the administration to take even a tiny positive turn towards staunching the tide of doom) never fails to impress.

What does fail to impress is the impotence of the sighing outrage amongst the educated elite. I wonder if we were going through a recession my compatriots and I would be taking to the streets over the trashing of this country's reputation and power rather continue talking in resigned tones. If maybe we would be talking about how to help solve this, instead of how we can't wait for the new iPhone.

The whole thing is digusting, including the lack of ability of the majority of the American people who recognize the sham of this war and the long term damage it will do to our country (and ourselves, you just wait) to do anything of substance about it.

Voting in a bunch of Democrats is not going to solve anything. It was a step, but I feel a lot of people took a big sigh of relief and then moved on to the next holiday party.

I'm guilty too.

My husband, a writer, has a pre-existing condition that he has not needed treatment for in 15 years. Regardless, he was deemed uninsurable by the powers that be and had to seek refuge via California's "high risk" safety net, where we had the PRIVILEGE to pay over $550 a month (at age 28) for the possibility he might need health care (he never went to the doctor once in the three years he had this health care).

Probably the sole reason he took the annoying job he now has full-time, instead of trying to write his book or otherwise pursue reachable dreams, is to provide us both affordable health care. I work in a very small company doing great work at a very high level, but I only get a small health "stipend" to find my own coverage with (ha).

The health care fiasco is swallowing up our nation's middle class, especially artists and progressive, lowly paid workers like Joe Conason's friend. Anyone who doesn't work for a large company with a good health plan is getting squeezed or worse. (and my friends at large companies are also increasingly having to pay more for crappier coverage)

I blame the greedy insurance companies, as well as the partisan Republicans who refused to let the Clintons try fix this before it became as out of control as it is now, solely because they were hellbent on the Clintons' embarrassment and destruction rather than looking forward at the looming crisis we now face. Meanwhile, the insurance companies have been running away with fists full of money.

But Conason is right to point out that left-leaning nonprofits are not taking care of their own in the meantime. I may be offered a job in the nonprofit sector that would be my dream job, but the lack of health benefits has given me pause. It should not have to be penance or punishment to work in the nonprofit sector, but it often feels like it has to be.

... how quickly your boss will probably get over it. And, if he's really that cool, will understand.

Two times I have left a company where I was a major contributor and REALLY STRESSED about telling them I was going. I gave two months notice in one instance. Doesn't make a difference. The company keeps going under a new set of circumstances and most people will not spend too much time being angry with you, they'll just move on. Especially if the place you are leaving for demonstrably improves your life. Only the most miserable rats will resent you for going.