Opus is wonderful. Berkeley Breathed is the most talented (in my opinion, which is unassailable)the best, the most talented & the most relevant of anyone who is doing or ever has done what he is doing. Understanding BB's cartoons is a mental status exam in itself. So if you don't get it, don't complain...just keep on reading Family Circus or whatever!

No one better than B. Breathed. No character better than Opus! (Kept me sane -at least a bit- all these years!) Thanks, Berkley!

I agree with every word of Heather's article. Kids have to be at least 14 or no small dogs for that family? What's that about? It's Balderdash, is what it is!

There is no age limit on cruelty to animals, as the Vick scandel should suggest. Give those kids back their dog, along with an apology.

Yeah, it sure seems that way sometimes. I suggest you all check out Dennis Kucinich; see if HE'S weak-kneed...Vote for Dennis!

Opus Rules! (As does BB) But hey, I miss Bill the Cat! May I look forward to seeing him soon? As for you folks with no visible sense of humor, get over yourselves!

Hey BB, love you!

Look people, most of whom I think I should probably like were I to meet you in person. Just try to get a glimpse of what this guy was doing. This was a humor piece, get it? Are most of you too young to remember Erma Bombeck? This was precisely her style. (I myself did not care much for EB but I think she would have found this posting right down her alley.)

OK, you have a right to your opinion, but hey, so do I. This article was not written in anger or frustration but written in a humorous vent. Lighten up on this guy, he is only expressing what every honest parent has felt upon occasion. I think him to be a good writer & I quite enjoyed his article...

Kids can make you crazy, I know. But what I do NOT know is why people jump on the bandwagon to vent venom against someone who is just attempting to lighten up a bit. You think this guy doesn't worry about the fact that the world is about to blow up in his children's face? I bet you he does, for sure~

OK, yeah? So you just LOVED waking up at 2am to empty a diaper & feed a kid whom you didn't even really KNOW yet?

Come on, folks, let's try to get a grip. Life is difficult at times, but we don't have to make it even more difficult by jumping up & down on a person who writes a humorous article...

This is (& obviously was intended to be) a very funny article. I know we are in the midst of losing our entire planet, but does that mean that a sense of humor is now a criminal offense? I, for one, appreciate a chance to laugh for a bit, instead of tremble with fear & dread.

Thanks again, Salon!

Opus rules, nay-sayers. Family Circus, gimme a break. Keep Opus, by all means, Salon! That strip is a mental-status exam in itself! And hey, if I can skip Paglia you who dislike Opus can skip it (your loss, though)!

Your decision to publish Opus more than makes up for your decision to publish Paglia. After all, I can always just not pull her up. My suggestion to those who do not appreciate Breathed's exquisite sense of humor is just that: skip it!

Long Live Opus!

OK, Salon, You've got me now! Opus, is it? My favorite! Keep it up & you'll keep me forever.

Tsk tsk to the person who dislikes the addition of Opus to Salon! I say Great! Grand! Thanks a bunch! I love it!

Dear Cary, I think your advice to this writer perfect. Right ON! It won't be easy but it is possible. I have only read a few of your columns but I think you are very very good at getting to the heart of an issue & addressing it appropriately.

I did not read any of the postings associated with you letter, because I did not want to be "influenced" by them...

I had a close to identical problem; my mother was a prolific painter. She called herself an "artist" but in fact, with one exception, she simply copied paintings of others. She was quite good at doing that but I wanted to see more of "her" in her work.

I finally talked her into actually doing something of her own. She took out her oils & her easel & did something that was original, and would have done Grandma Moses proud. It hangs above a fireplace in my home & I quite treasure it. I only have one other that she did; it's a pastel and astonishing to see. People say to me, "You mean your Mother actually did that?" To me it seems more of a photograph, as it is an exact duplicate of the original...I like the other one she did much better.

Fortunately my mother favored my younger brother and I think was not as annoyed as she might have been when I suggested she give him the remaining works. He likes that sort of thing.

So I just wanted to say I should not feel "guilty" if I were you. It's clear from your letter that you loved your mother very much, but the walls in your home belong to you. And please do try not to feel like a "terrible daughter" as I think you said in your letter was worrisome to you.