There's a major struggle in Iran between democracy and dictatorship going on in real time, and this is the best Salon's got to put up? kinda weak.

as other letter writers have already done: these laws would make almost every female trying to get pregnant vulnerable to a charge of negligent homicide, since between 15-30% of conceptions fail for any number of reasons. Insanity.

I've always thought that IVF clinics operated on the borderline of what is medically ethical; religious/moral issues aside. IVF clinics are very profitable, yet are working with a client base who are often desperate. So when do they say "no" to people? Well, when it pays up to $20k/pop, it seems they don't say no very often. Their techniques (such as ICSI) often result in imprinting disorders, yet they continue to practice those methods. In this case, they implanted a whole litter in this woman, even though there was no medical reason to do so. I'd say some licenses need to be revoked.

there, I said it.

and all this time, I thought it was the hummels.

The anti-science streak goes much, much deeper than climate change. The dismantling of EPA, the opposition to the HPV vaccine (our ONLY vaccine against a cancer), the de-listing of endangered species and the opposition to new listings against the wishes of government scientists, the attempts to identify anonymous reviewers of NIH grants who supported sexual behavior research, the active silencing of NOAA scientists.... the list goes on.

As for climate change, I suggest some of you go back to an intro biology textbook and read about the global carbon cycle, and then look up some articles in current journals about how much more carbon dioxide the planet's oceans can absorb. Or don't. You obviously don't like to hear anything that might cramp your lifestyle.

On the other hand, having the title of a song about desperation and fear of abandonment isn't exactly a great message have across your ass either.

This series has been a real joy to watch, especially since the refs have been letting them skate. Last week's 5 1/2 minute stretch without a whistle was awesome to behold. Since I don't watch hockey unless the Pens are on, I'm not sure if they're playing cleaner hockey or the refs are just not making calls, but end product is outstanding. The Red Wings often look like they're holding a skating workshop for the Pens, but its great to watch my old team hang in there.

Gender-based preferences, whites preferring clinton, blacks preferring obama, hispanics preferring clinton: they're all prejudices to me. Focusing on white racism is just one tiny aspect of what's going, and maybe completely irrelevant. When it comes right down to it, McCain has alot to answer for, and it doesn't really matter which one gets up there. Run the right campaign, and you'll win. Its the democrat's race to lose.

-white guy for Obama

As they say on Marketplace, let's do the numbers:

Reagan:

1) pushed us dangerously close to nuclear war during his first term

2) ran up an unprecedented deficit

3) sponsored an illegal war in Nicaragua, backed dictators throughout central- and south america, and indirectly filled shallow graves throughout the continent

4) ignored the plight of the major urban areas

5) Ran roughshod over the environment via james watt

and last but not least:

6) stuck his head in the sand during the first four years of the AIDS crisis (which nobody has brought up yet).

As an equal opportunity offender, Clinton should never be forgiven for sitting on his hands when Bosnia and Rawanda get out of hand (they knew damn well what was going on). But having met political refugees from Reagan-backed regimes , saw friends die from HIV-infected blood, and saw cities rot from the inside-out, I apparently lived in a very different decade from those who continue to worship a guy who didn't understand the time he lived in.

The "free to be you and me" part of me would like to think that if we end the hypocrisy and legalize it, all this bullshit would go away. But if you look at places where its tolerated if not outright legal (ie, europe), you don't see a solution. The trafficking of women from eastern europe that is going on is horrific; if anything the problem is worse. I have no ideas how to solve this, but i'm unconvinced that legalization fixes anything.

Undermining the justice system is near the top of Bush administration's most egregious crimes, but Wecht is no martyr. As a scientist and former pittsburgher, I found Wecht's behavior as medical examiner appalling, and thought that any 4th grader with a Junior Detective's Kit could have discovered a cesspool of malfeasance, if only one bothered to look.

There's a very good chance that he's being targeted because he's an asshole and a celebrity, but I doubt very much that his politics have much to do with it. And if it did, he'd be the last guy the democrats should stand up for.

Although not huge techno fan, I loved Play and 18, and never quite got all the hate about "selling out". In fact, it can be argued that since Moby, the music on commercials has gotten alot better. I loved hearing Nick Drake and Wilco on the Volkswagen adds, as well as Megan Wyler's cover of "I walk the line" on the Levi's add. What is the big deal?!!! If the ads get people to turn on to Drake, Wilco, or Wyler, then good for them.