...that you equate liking an artform that you don't care for to insanity. I don't understand your vitriol or especially your condescending attitude towards those of us who do enjoy comics. You think Neil Gaiman is a good writer, but you obviously don't respect him because he enjoys comics (have you read any of his comics besides "Sandman?").

And there are many accomplished and respected writers who not only enjoy comics, but "...Kavalier and Clay," as well.

Maybe Rob and RealName could provide us with links to their writings so that we might find some way to respect their negative opinions of people who like things they don't. Well, no, that wouldn't work. I mean, you both could be fantastic writers, but it still wouldn't justify insulting people whose taste differs from your own. Still, it would be interesting to read what you've written.

...but why do you have to be so arrogant, so condescending, so mean?

It's not an adjective (except, according to Merriam-Webster, when describing something "produced as an artistic effort"). That means that no matter how much you hate it, if the person(s) who made it say it's art, it simply is. It can be "bad" art or art you hate, but since a noun is a noun is a noun, art is art.

So the inverse of what you said is actually more accurate.

Just because you say it isn't art, doesn't mean it isn't.

...about something with which you had nothing to do. I was born in America, but that was something that was completely beyond my power to control, so why would I be "proud" to be an American? I can understand not being ashamed to be an American, but that doesn't sound as good, I suppose.

I understand being proud of an accomplishment, being proud of something you've actually done. I can understand an immigrant being proud to be an American because an immigrant made a decision and took action to change his/her nationality.

I'm happy to be an American. I feel lucky to be an American. But to feel pride in something I had no control over seems like a huge roadblock on the path to humility.

I'd imagine you're not the only one who relies on critics to decide whether or not to see a movie (I hope you never relied on Ms. Zacharek, alone), and criticism is wholly subjective. I'd also imagine your friends and family who "heard it was good" heard from a critic or two since, criticism being wholly subjective, critics often disagree with each others' tastes.

That said, according to Rotten Tomatoes, 92% of critics liked "The Bourne Ultimatum." Of course, that doesn't mean that it's any good (though I suspect it is, based on the talent behind it), but it certainly indicates that Ms. Zacharek hasn't been gotten to.

That first sentence isn't about hating Republicans, it's about hating George W. Bush. There are many Republicans who accept that Bush is a fraud and an intellectual child, just as there are (a few) Democrats who know that the Clintons are pandering whores.

Knowing how unqualified and dishonest the Bush administration is has nothing to do with being a Democrat or a Republican. It's an objective observation which transcends political parties.

...after plasma fusion converters are put to use?

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd/3.html

And if plastic bags are in the ocean, is the problem with the bag or the system that's supposed to take it to the landfill?

I'm just wondering, here....

And what is sexist about thinking someone is too hawkish?

I oppose Clinton because she:

1. Voted to give the president authority to invade Iraq when it was popular to do so, making her foreign policies forever suspect.

2. She supports a flag-burning ammendment.

3. She's against gay marriage.

4. She's for the death penalty.

5. She supports the war on drugs.

The fact that she's a woman has nothing to do with why I and most of my Democratic friends don't support her.

Supporting Clinton because she's a woman is no better than opposing her because she's a woman.

You insult people for holding different opinions.

And if you support Clinton, remember that you're supporting a person who supported the invasion of Iraq, who supports the drug war and the death penalty (basically wars on poor people and minorities), who thinks homosexuals shouldn't be allowed to be married, and who thinks that people who grow marijuana for sick folks should be in prison.

You have a lot in common with senior members of the Bush administration.

And she will understand what commercials are for (and how they're not to be trusted) not long after you start to teach her. It's really up to you.