I have been riveted by this series from the start. It has an almost documentary feel to it. The "characters" don't stop to explain the lingo, there aren't any pat scenes of "coming to terms" with the raging violence all around them. And there isn't any editorializing about how Our Brave American Troops were doing some righteous shit for the Iraq. The Marines weren't there to be humanitarians--that wasn't part of the war plan, and one of the reasons Godfather was so gung-ho about pushing aggressively into confrontations with the Iraqi Army, which is what they get paid to do.

Yet the Marines can't win with the Iraqi civilians. I think the best example was when Sgt. Colbert devises a plan to use smoke grenades to warn-off civilians from roadblocks, but then one hits an old man in the head and kills him.

I suppose the realism is one of the reasons it's not as popular with HBO viewers. If it was a series on how evil the Marines were it would probably be more popular.

Which is ironic considering how the most popular series on HBO was about an unsympathetic murdering psychopath.

Why did the Protestant Pilgrims burn innocent women as witches around the same time. And they didn't run away or nothin'. They took their punishment because that was their worldview. Being religious wasn't something you did on the weekends. It was a full time job.

So being accused of heresy was like being accused of killing someone.

Because 24 year-old, childless Tracy Clark-Flory knows all about breast feeding and, simply because of her Womaness, can discuss its ins an outs in an expert fashion?

Why, just the other day I was advising an older gentleman on the best treatments for an enlarged prostate. What, doesn't being a man qualify me as an expert on the prostate?

You know, slate.com has an XX blog where real Women discuss actual women's issues from an experienced-based perspective, not from the gender theory class they took at then all-female Wells College.

Why not bring in some Women with real-world life experience to discuss women's issues as they are experienced in the workplace, during motherhood, marriage, etc.?

"The Obama campaign should expect John McCain's camp to attempt to use the speech against Obama..."

Absolutely, as the would use any speech against him, even if it took place at a baseball field, even if he adopted all of the far right's talking points, changed his name to Barry Smith, and was white and blue-eyed.

"...as it has so successfully turned his popularity against him before."

Who said that Bush-McCain had successfully done anything? It is self-evident that McCain-Bush was criticized for the inanity of his adverts against Obama. I mean Britney Spears, really?

"Why hand the campaign additional ammo on a silver -- well, in this case, marble -- platter?"

You cannot take action based on the fear of retaliation. Your offense has to be aggressive, fast and lethal. Ask John Kerry.

You teach your daughter that bacteria are "tiny, ugly germs"? Bacteria were among the first life-forms to evolve on this planet, and are the oldest ancestor of all mega-fauna now on planet Earth.

If not for bacteria in our digestive system, adults would not be able to digest lactose, present in some of the more delicious desserts such as ice cream. And if it were not for bacteria no organic matter would decompose and dead leaves and animals would litter the landscape.

So next time little Claire goes to touch something on the ground, your tell her: "No Claire! Caca! Icky caca!. Don't touch that! Caca," and please be sure to leave the lowly bacteria out of it.

Thank you, and good day.

And I have seen some red-root pigweed growing in the cracks of the sidewalk and in some parks. Recently there was an infestation in my garden, and I had to pluck each one out of the ground by the dozen, before they started producing seeds.

I imagine that, initially, the original plants came from some soil that I had purchased, a couple of years ago.

There were two plants that sprouted, but failing to learn what they were, until recently, never removed them; and from those two sprouted literally dozens of off-spring, and no doubt more seeds in the ground that have yet to germinate. The old farmer's saying still holds true: "One year of seeding means seven years of weeding."

http://www.gardenmosaics.cornell.edu/pgs/science/english/pdfs/pigweed_science_page.pdf [pdf]

The problem with the people commenting here, and with American progressives generally, is that they want someone to run for national office, as if he'd be running for mayor of Portland OR. Which is why the Green party is doing so well nationally :-) Your problem is that you forget what country you're living in.

This is not Sweden. 50% of Americans DON'T believe in evolution. Most of them live in the suburbs and shop at wal-mart. They've never even stepped foot in a whole foods. And yet you want someone to ask for their vote by saying how bad America is and how Bush is a warmonger and let's impeach Cheney!

That's all well-and-good, but don't be surprised if that person doesn't get even 40% of the vote.

And then you can all go cry in your milk and say how stupid Americans are and yadda-yadda.

The problem with idealism is that you first have to win an election against cynical and unyielding opponents before you put that idealism in to practice. And idealists aren't known for getting bloody noses.

"A personal trainer."

"A womanizer."

"A desperate housewife."

"A retired CIA agent."

Yeah, what other Hollywood archetypes can we count on.

"A Linux geek who hates windows."

"A hipster graphic designer."

"A redneck."

"A college slut."

all star in a heart-warming romantic comedy thriller action movie.

Dreamworks brings you: 'Sup, starring Dane Cook. Rated PG-13!