So, as Zorkna says, a terrorist attack is like an act of God, what are ya gonna do? A bunch of maniacs want to start shooting up random people going about their business, there's not much that can be done.

The upside for those dwelling in major Western metropolitan areas, our local police are basically large, heavily trained and armed paramilitary units - NYC or London would've seen a swarm of body armored, machine gun toting ERU units descending on a similar attack in one of our 4 star hotels.

That's about all we can do, react quickly and effectively once some nutjob/s go beserk. Otherwise just keep living your life as usual.

Seriously people, if you can't speak the plain, unvarnished, at times painful truth to your "friends" - they're not really your friends. They're drinking buddies or acquaintances or colleagues, but not friends.

And the not keeping single friends after marriage - why? Because if your friendship is defined by hanging out together and getting drunk or clubbing or hiking and there's not enough geuine intimacy and understanding that your friends accept that you now have a spouse and or kids - again, they're not friends.

With the rare exception that your spouse and friend absolutely despise each other, marraige and kids is not any sort of dealbreaker.

My single friends appreciate luxuriating in the relative decadence of my now domestic existence - nice furniture, backyard, home cooked holiday meals and my now kick-ass home repair skills and I still get the occasional boy's night out or the use of their dumb single backs to help me move furniture or baby/house sitters when wifey and I are out of town.

I was going to say the same - call a General at a formal hearing "Mister" and let's see how that flies.

What's especially grating about this, I spent about 15mins looking for unedited footage of the hearing to see if the Gen. referred to male Senators as Sir or Senator - and I just can't find it. All I can find was Boxer's snippet and the attendant right-wing cackling and hysterics.

I understand that military types refer to superiors as Sir & Madam, so it could very well be that the General meant no disrespect - but gosh it'd be nice to know if he addressed all the Senators the same way.

Finally, even if the General had addressed the other Senators as Sir/Ma'am - it is still Boxer's prerogative to be addressed by her title. She wasn't rude, just offering justification. Many Drs and Profs. have asked that I address them by their title and I've not taken offense.

Constant suffering and pain from birth, it seems. Not paralyzed and unable to breathe on his own but painfree, but paralyzed, unable to breathe on his own and in constant pain - from birth.

And, again - from birth - so this isn't case of an adult or older healthy child struck down by a cruel accident or disease, who is now in constant pain and helplessness - this is an infant whose first memories and feeling were of pain and immobility (assuming a fully functioning brain).

This isn't about the worth or lack of worth of our sick and helpless, this is about mercy. I couldn't imagine subjecting a loved one to such a state.

Look, I know you both are either being purposefully obtuse or you both have the reading comprehension of a gnat, but following MeganC's letter, do you really expect us to believe that you see absolutely no difference between a 2yo and an adult woman? You really expect us to believe that a 2yo should be treated as if they were a fully cognizant, normal adult woman?

2yos and other young children are by and large so ignorant of cause and effect and the potential dangers in their environment that they are basically imbecilic. In MeganC's example of her 2yo just moments away from potentially scalding herself or setting herself on fire, how would you two have handled the situation?

Would you have gently and patiently explained the laws of thermodynamics and the lengthy and painful proscribed treatment for 2nd and 3rd degree burns to the 2yo, who of course would've magically frozen in place, so entranced by the wisdom and patience in your voices?

Do the adult women you know really not understand that they should be careful around open flames and cooking foods and implements, are they a constant danger to themselves? Do they run into traffic willy-nilly? Do they attempt to drink drain cleaner or unknown medicines because they like the colors and smells? Really?

Finally, there's nothing wrong w/ yelling and expressing anger, when there is legitimate reason to yell and be angry. I'm not talking rage-aholics and freaks who yell and belittle because they're tyrants and bullies, but normal every day people, who surprise, get angry and loud when after previous and constant reminders and warnings and explanations are stillfaced with:

1)loved ones putting themselves in mortal danger through sheer ignorance and carelessness (running into traffic, playing w/ matches...)

2) having cherished or valuable property destroyed through malice or carelessness (cheese in the dvd player, permanent marker on the new couch...)

3)are disrespected or physically attacked (biting, kicking,teasing of the parent or siblings or other kids...)

and a thousand other reasons too numerous to list.

Anger is a valid emotion, like love and laughter and sadness. Its ok to be pissed at times, we're just not supposed to let any of our emotions lead us into dangerous or abusive behaviors.