When President Bush visited Memphis, people lined up to see him pass. Those with signs in support of Bush were allowed to hold them proudly where he could see them. Those with signs critical of him were rounded up by Secret Service and taken over a mile away to a "Free Speech Zone" out of the sight of the presidential cavalcade where they were forcibly held for several hours; one woman was arrested for trying to leave to pee. (She was not charged.)

Bush's people have tried very hard to protect Bush from even knowing what people think of him. I am not sorry that he will shortly be rejoining reality. I hope he spends the rest of his life ducking shoes. I hope he cries at night. He has made many, many people all over the world cry at night, and it would only be fair. I doubt, however, that a sociopath like Bush is capable of regretting his actions. He has no feeling for any living being and the only thing that would make him cry is if someone stepped hard on his foot.

Feel sorry for him? Like hell. It disgusts me that we still have to look at him. If he spent the entire rest of his life trying to do good works he would not live long enough to make up for the pain he has caused others. Unless he suddenly leaps 50 IQ points, goes back to school, actually studies instead of drinking this time, and then comes up with a cure for cancer, the impact of his life on the world will be so far into the negative that it's a little frightening to imagine. Seriously, think of it, and be humbled: this is a man who, if he had died at birth, literally millions of people, maybe even billions, would have been happier and better off. And that's just in this generation. The damage he has yet to inflict is incalculable.

I have just enough mercy to say that I hope he doesn't get his just desserts - I wouldn't wish his just desserts on anyone. But sorry for him because he might feel a little ashamed? Girl, please.

Cary's advice completely failed to address the issue - you are a naturally polite person who is trying to deal politely with rude people taking advantage of your politeness. Your plans for dealing with aging are neither here nor there; these people are being rude to you, and they should stop.

Trying to pass insults off as jokes is a bad habit. It happens to be one of my husband's weaknesses. Some of his friends actually held an intervention for him a few years ago. It helped. He had no idea that when he wasn't around, his friends were shaking their heads and saying things like, "He's my friend, but you know... he's a mean one." He still does it but now he does it much less, and he readily apologizes when it's pointed out to him.

I guarantee your "witty" friend has let others feel the barbed side of her tongue. You're almost certainly right that your other friends are embarrassed and annoyed for you. The best course of action is to set up one of your other friends to say something like, "I wish you wouldn't belittle Dorothy. It's disrespectful and unpleasant to be around. Your jokes are not really jokes and they are not funny." This requires at least one cast iron friend who is willing to do the dirty work. If you don't have such a friend, you're going to have to do it yourself. Say that her insults are not jokes, and you're no longer going to pretend that they are acceptable.

As for your sister, well, she's in the grip of cognitive dissonance. What she really wants is to be assured that her own decision was the right one. Let her know that you think it was - for her. And that you aren't the same person, and that you are at least old enough to be allowed to make your own decisions. This will probably not put an end to it. You need to fall back on the old broken record routine. "I told you I don't intend to discuss this with you." Repeat as necessary, without variation. If she doesn't get it, leave or hang up.

I'm sorry that these people are taking advantage of your politeness. It isn't any fun to have to be the one who shouts, "I SAID STOP IT!" They are trying to make you the bad guy, and you are not the bad guy. It isn't rude to insist that others treat you with respect.

Geez, you eat 1300 cal a day, work out three times a week plus 20 min a day, and you still barely maintain your weight? Your metabolism is in the toilet. Your sample day's diet is like a caricature of the comedic "all rabbit food all the time" diet, and you spend literally every moment obsessing about food and doing math.

Plus, you have no kids or husband to prepare food for, you never go out to eat with friends, and you work from home which gives you the option of grazing constantly, grocery shopping every day, and going to the gym whenever you want. Your dieting experiences are irrelevant to 90% of the population. And it appears your only human contact is when you check out at a store. This is a portrait of a bleak, tragic life, and it honestly makes me want to sing the "Peanut Butter Jelly" song (with complementary baseball bat) more than it makes me want to buy the book.

I can't help but notice that in the last few years your work has dropped off so badly that when an old comic is posted due to a hiatus, everyone says, "YAY! Old Carol is back! Oh wait - this is an old one." I wonder now if the drop-off in just plain talent coincides with the onset of this insane diet.