>Despite the efforts of tech companies to convince me that this is a good idea, I simply don't see it. Its worst aspect is that it's simple unnecessary. It's just another toy. Fine if you have money to toss around on trinkets, but like I've pointed out here before, a whole hell of a lot of people can't afford such things.<

You would think that by now, the tech industry would have picked up on the fact that pricing second-gen innovations for the mass market is the smart play. But from the Newton, to the Sony Reader, to this, the tech PTB keep making the same mistake of thinking people's money for gadgets is infinite--and that gadgets are the main priority in their lives. If ever there was a sign that this is becoming a country for rich people, the lack of marketing to the mass is definitely a big one.

>We'll just keep picking up books used on Amazon.

...or over on Barnes and Noble's site...

>(You know, most of the time they're cheaper than your little Kindle books there. Ain't that interesting?)<

As well, you can find any old or hard-to-come-by title you want .

Boy, I just love those "because all the women __I_ know do it, that must mean all women do it" type of stories. And such tales are even funnier when the writer tosses in a dollop of good ol' Southern "tradition" to put themselves on the "perfect wifey" high road.

One hates to burst Neal's bubble but there are a fair amount of women who 1) eat out; 2) split the cooking chores with husband; 3) have family dinners where everyone brings a holiday dish; 4) rotate the cooking with their husbands or other family members. My mother used to be a perfectionist about holiday dinners, but she soon found she was spending the entire day before preparing; the entire day itself cooking; and the day after resting. She had no time to just enjoy the day. Suffice to say, she doesn't do that anymore. ;) And it's a shame Neal seems to think it is a man and son's "right" to relax while she and her daughter slave away. When do they get to enjoy the holiday? Or is that not something "good housewives" and "wifeys in training" do?

>After all, the prevalence of delayed adolescence -- embodied by 45-year-old professionals who ponder if they're "ready" to take care of someone else -- also has its downside.<

Just when I think I'm too hard on the wifey-moo segment of the married-with-kids folks, I read crap like this and change my mind. Better a 45-year-old professional who has her life together and knows she isn't cut out for motherhood than a woman who has babies because of The Script and spends her life regretting it/being a lousy mother. Seriously, Carol, where do you get off making inaccurate (and straight-up nasty) judgements like this?

For one thing, it tends to be dry. For another, it is a mix of straight and kinky hair, and both are very soft. And lastly, it's chemically-treated, which means I have to condition it lavishly every time I wash it. Washing it everyday would dry it out to the point of unmanageability and serious breakage. Once a week works for me, and since I usually save exercising/hard physical work for the day I wash my hair, the latter stays fairly clean.

...because just about every innovation it's ringing on the OZ tale was already covered by the book (and musical) WICKED...and the AMERICAN MCGEE'S ALICE video game of a few years back.

...at least the art is less irritating. And it's nice to have a panel or three which tries to show as well as the dialogue (interminably) tells. But the exposition still sounds as if it's being translated from Japanese via machine code--and the annoying "jam character backstory into one incomprehensible name-dropping sentence" habit continues apace. As well, this strip still hasn't given a good reason it should exist--it's not funny, entertaining, thrilling, or interesting (outside of its aesthetic failings, that is.). Four miserable episodes and counting down, one hopes...:)

...by spending their payment for this mess on some MODESTY BLAISE graphic novels and learning how to do this stuff _right_...

http://www.amazon.com/Modesty-Blaise-Death-Graphic-Novels/dp/1845764188/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196779131&sr=1-1

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/105-8649198-6395662?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Modesty+blaise&x=0&y=0

You're welcome.

>The day these publications start printing well-balanced, interesting articles on the advantage of NEVER HAVING CHILDREN AT ALL, then I'll feel the subject is being handled equitably.<

And the day they start running articles about women whose lives are plenty full with work that fulfills them and interests they love will be the day I feel the subject is being handled equitably.

>As it is, all these articles, whether clumsy or sophisticated, witty or dull, carry the same tone: that women really want babies, and that's the best thing they can want!<

Yup. These articles are also still fear-mongering crap no matter how "thoughtful" they try to seem. The undertone of "if you don't have a baby, you could turn out all desperate and alone, and that would be all your fault, you cold, immature, overambitious, thoughtless career bitch" runs through every last one of them.

>...the more women will realize that having kids is NOT the way to achieve immortality. (Because you know, there's nothing in this world that will achieve that. Have one kid or 17, you're still gonna die. Get used to it, and stop making the world pay for your insecurities.<

And having kids is _not_ going to keep you from dying alone. Unless you can enable your spouse/kids to escort you up to the pearly gates, you are gonna die by yourself. End of story.