this article at least generated some interesting and intelligent responses (most of them anyway). Thanks to those who took the time to write.

A nice article. I've always been a fan of Johnny Cash, although I was just a child in the 60s. I never knew much about him except from the movie a few years back.

I suspect that many gun enthusiasts see themselves as the only good guy with a gun. And, that it would be quite clear to him or her, who the bad guy was.

But...did someone say 1500 pages!!!!??? Where is the money to pay for the poor souls who have to translate this into language the doctors, nurses, patients, lawyers, judges, and anyone else who is involved in health care can understand? Is this meant to generate more jobs for people who can read highly technical documents?

I tried reading a bill once, it was so full of arcane jargon that I was immediately confused. The health care bill should probably be voted down for that reason alone. Maybe this is what angers people about Democrats. Having the best interests in mind but being completely incapable of a solution.

You posted a lot about the Afghanistan women and I share your outrage. But i do not believe that the US can enforce its principles there with guns. We do not have the money and American women at home are also suffering. How does one choose who to help? Have you read about what is happening in the Congo? We are not doing much for the women there either. It is gut wrenching painful to helplessly read about all these atrocities.

But the paradigm of war as a means of change has to be removed from our mindset. There must be another way.

"No one says you have to lose for someone else to win", John Denver.

I've seen lots of these films but missed many. I was a child during the late 60s and early 70s. Scary: Snowman in Rudolf, witch in Oz. Yes! That scene with the sand in Invasion from Mars and the device on the back of their necks! The feeling stays with me to this day! I think I was very young when I saw that on TV.

My son , a Dahl fan, did not like Witches (10 when he saw it). Somehow they changed the story in a way that bothered him. The scene when Wallace goes down in the basement (To the Moon) was scary for a 4 year old. We did not know Wallace yet.

Seen as an adult, "Spirited Away" was creepy and had no clue what was going on. Howl's castle, also odd. I do not want to see them again.

Animated films I like seeing again and again? Iron Giant, Chicken Run, Shrek 1, most Pixar films (Wall-e was missing something).

My husband almost never wants to see a film more than once. I think I try to relive the experience when I watch them again and again. A bit like a drug, I guess. That would explain being drawn to the films with happy endings.

Wow, a letters section that was actually fun to read!

I appreciate the LW for bringing this up and thanks to all the letter writers (including CT) for different advice. It's food for thought.

Geez, before I watched the video I had the impression that she had burst into tears. That was a very emotional speech she made and it looks like she hung on just fine. In fact, it frightens me a bit that she felt the need to give it.

I do not know if this will help, but I am sending an email to the White House website and my congresspeople in support of the fact that abortion is private and between a woman and her doctor, and thus should be covered under every tax-supported plan. If I understand correctly, these pro-life groups can start their own insurance company if they feel so strongly about it.

Taxes pay for things that someone will find morally repugnant, whether it be bombs, highways or abortion services.

p.s It really bothers me that the spokespeople are men.

I contributed only once to a Harry Potter wiki. I made a note about the name of Snape's father. I did this only because of the coincidence of two events: I was researching the origins of the name and I found the HP wiki.

I surf all over the place and am registered on dozens of sites. There is not enough time to devote to all of them and one must have strong feelings to visit the same site consistently.

I appreciate the lw who described what "salon" means. That's pretty much the way I see it and that's why I return here every day. Maybe once a week I will post a letter.

In 1994, Newt Gingrich won Congress for the Republicans. Two years after Bill Clinton's election. Clinton had to struggle against that for the rest of his two terms. He is warning the progressives that if they don't counter the Republican town hall screams NOW, it could very well happen that the Republicans can take back the Congress in 2010. And then history will repeat itself. Obama will have no power and he will have to compromise the same way Clinton did.