>But I do think there is a double standard by which someone like Lindsay Lohan gets regularly chastised for her hard partying ways when someone like Colin Farrell does not.<

Agreed. Russell Crowe also didn't get nearly the opprobrium that LL has--and his sins (openly falling for a married star; drunk/disorderly; anger-managment issues) were arguably worse and more career-damaging. Both those guys (And Harrelson. And McConaughey,to a degree) benefitted from the "real men get drunk and act crazy" card.

40 DAYS AND 40 NIGHTS, SOMEONE LIKE YOU, or HEAD OVER HEELS? Whoo, talk about some in-the-worst-running...

...because there are a lot of folks out there who think Nora Ephron is state-of-the-art, so they have no real basis of comparison. As well, you could spotlight some lesser-known/older movies that are overlooked (like BEFORE SUNSET/TWO DAYS IN PARIS and HOLIDAY.)

>I did not imply *anywhere* that childless people don't care about others.<

Then what exactly were you implying when you wrote this:

>"For my part, being a mom (yes, among other things) has made me even more concerned about the state of the world and other people. It has taught me a lot about love and about life.

It's striking how easily one can distinguish between letter-writers who have children, and those who do not."<

If that's not what you meant, why put these two thoughts together?

>This is untrue of most of the mothers I know, in fact.<

If so many mothers care so much about other people, why are there enough inconsiderate, self-centered kids out there that people consistently complain? The latter must be coming from somewhere.

>Get that chip off your shoulder, pls. It must wear you down. I have absolutely nothing against childless people, and in fact thought I'd be one of them for most of my life. I do not think I'm better than anyone or special because I have kids or that anyone's worth lies in their job, ability to reproduce, etc.<

Then please tell us all how "one can distinguish between letter-writers who have children, and those who do not," if you would.

>The problem is in your head.<

Yeah, because I'm the _only_ poster on here who has commented on mothers who let that role swamp their identities and values. I guess if you can't address the points I raised, insult is the next best thing, eh?

>Where do you live?<

Innsmouth. A very nice little town--though the townspeople are kinda...fishy... :)

>Where do you see anyone telling you or anyone else to have children?<

Huh? Did I say anyone was telling me to have kids?

>Why are you so hostile and bitter?<

Why are you falling back on that particular tired-as-hell breeder bingo canard? And why does my pointing out that women shouldn't let motherhood be their sole identity scare you so much that you are so hostile?

>The meds are not working. Get some new ones and share them with your new BFF here on Salon!<

Yeesh. Want some butter with that ad hominem?

>Love, Not a mother but I know plenty of them and you are blowing smoke here.<

Yeah, because I'm the only poster on here who has commented on how some mothers think mothering is all they should be about.

>What else would explain the proliferation of Bossy Expert reality shows from "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style" to "Flipping Out" to "How to Look Good Naked" to "Make Me a Supermodel." TV teaches us that, with the right team of despotic consultants, we might shed our sorrowfully incompetent skins and join the über-human race.<

Heather, have you even seen HTLGN? It's about women learning how to stop obsessing about "flaws" the media have drummed into their heads they have--and seeing how good they actually look. It's about how everyone can look great without having to have Gisele proportions and Catherine Zeta-Jones looks. It's one of the few reality shows that isn't about telling women they have to radically change who they are to be accepted.

...that a team who _really_ wants a title. The Patriots may have had the horsepower and strategies, but the Giants had the strategies _and_ the hunger. (Cue chorus of "Ya Gotta Have Heart..." :))

1) Well, now KOF is just cliched and incoherent instead of cliched, smug, stupid, and incoherent. That's an improvement, right?

2) Are we _ever_ going to find out what the devil is going on here? (And will we care when we finally do?)

3) Wow, this bad boy is up to twelve installments. So much for the "SALON is only gonna inflict this on us for six to eight weeks or so" theory. Dammit.

Do _you_ have anything positive to say about KOF? We are all ears...:)

1) Geez, that's sad, homes. :)

2) You might want to try looking other places besides bars and clubs for love...er, _dates._ :) Seriously, go where single-women-with-substance are, like classes or outdoor events or museums or...

3) It's interesting that as a single-father-trying-to-date, the author is as overworked as his female counterpart would be, but he's not feeling the kind of guilt about dating/"bringing some man around who might abuse my kids"/freaking out my kids that a lot of single mothers do or are made to feel (and have written in to Cary Tennis about.) As well, he's a successful African-American guy who won't have Problem One finding anyone in the long run. So why are the usualy gang-of-misogynistic-idiots on here complaining? The guy pretty much has it made...

Ellis has been writing for a while...

http://www.treyellis.com/

His book PLATITUDES put him on the map--as well, he wrote the script for THE INKWELL and HBO's TUSKEGEE AIRMEN movie.

You're welcome. I know of Ellis because the number of AAmerican scriptwriters in the biz is still fairly small. And he was one of the few who benefitted/stood out just after Spike Lee proved black movies could make money.