Carla has a special place in your life, LW, but really it just sounds like she was nice to you at just the right time unbeknown to her. We forget how powerful that sort of kindness can be. A poster above me suggested playing it forward and helping someone else out. I think that's a wonderful idea. Why not volunteer your time while you're between jobs? You really could make a difference in someone's life.

I'm not just saying that in an airy fairy way, either. My mom called me very upset this morning. A friend of hers hanged himself yesterday afternoon. His business is failing, and his marriage is on the rocks. I didn't know him, but I feel very sad. There are a lot of people suffering in all kinds of ways right now, LW. Why not play it forward?

In time the word "autistic" will probably be broken down into several other words that describe people more accurately. It's obvious that what we call low functioning autistic people need a strong intervention/cure for their own sake and the sake of caretakers. But it doesn't make sense to lump in higher functioning people. Language needs to catch up. I think the defining differences will come down to the ability to be independent. From basic functions like going to the bathroom or feeding oneself to more complicated social functions like holding down a job and living on one's own.

You know what happened yesterday in my town? A guy got into a fight with his wife then took a high powered rifle and killed her, killed their 8 year old son and then killed their 5 month old baby. The 13 year old boy managed to run away. Then the guy shot himself dead.

If you can get this angry and worked up over an internet guy's letter I gotta wonder what's going on in your life. Future crazy person with a rifle...? I dunno. It's just the internet... it goes away when you turn off the computer.

Ok, I may be a little paranoid here but I don't think it was just the tween vote. When Fox news does a piece specifically about someone's sexuality I think the gay guy is in trouble. It was important to them that Adam not win. The show lost a little more credibility (not that it's got a lot left). But that's ok.

It's ok because Adam's career is now wide open. No limiting, nasty Idol contract for him. He can get a contract, and he will get a contract, with anyone he wants. He's a star, and everyone who has seen him is looking forward to whatever he does next. :)

I didn't know American Idol gets first dibs on Adam even though he lost. Too bad. I'm sure he'll do something good, but I really would have liked to have seen what he came up with on his own after such tremendous exposure.

Two points. First, white people are becoming a minority in the U.S. (that isn't racist hogwash, it's a scientific fact) so white gay people had better learn how to talk to people of color about why gay rights are civil rights. It doesn't hurt to take an interest in whatever issues effect them. After all, why would you expect them to care about you if you aren't willing to care about them?

Second, there are gay people of color. How do you think black lesbians feel?

I've been with my partner for 10 years, so I get the anger.. believe me, I do. We live in Floriduh. But an angry attitude isn't going to help.

As a film critic I'm sure Stephanie has seen the promo's for Tim Burton's new cartoon film 9 (I hope so anyway), but I thought I'd share a link here for those of us who don't really feel interested in Up's bright candy colors. Here is a cartoon with the life affirming message complete grit and struggle. Looks cool, too.

http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/23/9-movie-trailer/

The LW loves Michael Jackson. So? I'm willing to bet good money that anyone reading this has liked a MJ song at one point or another (yes, his Jackson 5 work counts).

Lw, I agree with Cary. Where there's money, there's a pop star. I think MJ will come back to the states eventually.

I thought "Never Let Me Down Again" was about drugs. I'll have to listen to it again.

I was with you right until the end. Blasted out of your mom's vagina? D:

If normal behavior is the standard by which true genius is judged then we're not trying hard enough. Name a single true genius who ever "behaved normally." These people are rare, brilliant, and deeply complicated.

Oh, and for those of you whining about a couple of days of press in tribute to Michael Jackson... seriously, you're either too old or too young to fully understand the impact of his work not just on music but also on our culture. We've been doing things differently over the last 10 years or so thanks to the internet (which is why we no longer have younger equivalents of mega stars like Michael Jackson, The Rolling Stones, Madonna, etc.) but treating Micheal Jackson's death like some small thing is to miss something culturally fundamental. It's a big deal, particularly to a certain segment of the population (i.e. those who are old enough to remember Michael Jackson in his prime, but young enough to have really loved him and his work).

Maybe you don't want to volunteer per se. Maybe you just want to meet new people and do fun activities together. Have you been to Meetup.com? I joined a few outdoors groups, and I'm having a great time. Meetup has all kinds of groups... book clubs, spiritual groups, outdoors groups, photography, gardening, etc. Literally thousands of things.

Might be worth a look, anyway. :)

The alternative to democracy is a philosopher king? I'm sure that will work out just fine in the real world.