Godspeed Cary. Be well.

are the ninth circle of Dante's Inferno. LW is shit out of luck. If you're not in the partnership, you're chattel. And they will do whatever they want because lawyers ARE the law and violate it as a matter of course with impunity.

...is systemic. The judiciary at the circuit court, i.e. Jackson County, is beyond belief. And the municipal court judges? Girlfriend, please. And the local newspaper that is supposed to report on these things? In the pocket of the politicians. KC is a small town with big-city corruption.

... I'm just sayin'. And I'll bet his breath stank, too.

I was in a similar situation but in the role of the dad. I moved in with my girlfriend and within one week, I knew it was a mistake. Girlfriend could not accept my daughter and our relationship. Girlfriend was envious of our relationship and went about trying to subvert it, in a passive aggressive way. I was shocked because girlfriend had two children of her own and appeared to be a very caring, understanding mother. Except, she couldn't do the same for kids that she didn't birth. My daughter quickly sensed the undercurrent of hostility she was receiving from girlfriend. She began to suffer academically and socially, and was distressed because she "didn't want to hurt my feelings" by telling me of her unhappiness.

We moved out after living there for two months. It was the biggest mistake of my life as a parent. I could have subjected my child to potentially irreversible damage. We are fine now; my daughter and I have talked about it for hours and hours, what went wrong, what went okay and what we have learned. Our relationship is as strong, if not stronger, than ever. I have no idea how girlfriend is doing as we haven't spoken in two years. Girlfriend made me choose between her and my daughter. It was a no-brainer.

Kudos to bassare! I loved your letter.

You are one prolific letter writer. Nineteen or so letters today and still going strong.

Geez, that Edmunsun cat is a bore of the first order! I skimmed his column, peppered with references from Kant to Coleridge, and man o man, it was boring! Give me baby's watery poopy diaper FB anecdotes from solipsistic mommies any day!

On second thought, no. Don't give me those solipsistic morons from FB. I am a parent--who posts photos of his child on FB -- and I find those who have no sense of decency vulgarians.

No doubt Ronnie Jr. has read about erections. And you? Did you learn about them in a bathroom stall next to Larry Craig? Or in a broom closet while a page for Mark Foley? In Costa Rica quaffing Viagra with Rushbo? In a three-way with David Vittner? At the dog pound with Rick Santorum? Covering a story with Jeff Gannon? In the choir with Ted Haggard?

Brazil, population 188 million.

India, population 1.1 billion

China, population 1.4 billion

India did have one Slumdog Millionaire, however. Did he go to B-school at LSU?

....Is like Humphrey Bogart going to Casablanca for the waters:

Captain Renault: What in heaven's name brought you to Casablanca?

Rick: My health. I came to Casablanca for the waters.

Captain Renault: The waters? What waters? We're in the desert.

Rick: I was misinformed.

A somewhat publicized photo of a supporter at a McCain-Palin rally.

http://politicalhumor.about.com/library/images/blpic-moran.htm

We Amerikans are not morans! Don't you know that if you come down with a serious disease here in Amerika, you can just raise money by having car washes, bake sales and benefit basketball games?

Geez. What a bunch of morans.

Here's my totally unique and anecdotal story. I wanted a girl from the moment my wife(now ex) was pregnant 13 years ago.

Why? I thought that a girl born then--i.e. today, more or less--would have it much better than a girl born a generation ago. That is, she could do anything she wanted when she was older and her gender would perhaps help her at best or not hinder her at worst. The cultural pendulum, in my mind at least, was swinging in the direction of girls. And for the totally irrational reason, the likelihood of her growing up and being a serial killer was statistically insignificant.

How is she today? She is simultaneously a "girly girl" and a stand-out athlete in every sport she touches but especially in the ones she concentrates, a gifted student, adorable, witty, wise, a leader and friends with all. In short, she has an abundance of admirable traits and has the world in her hand.

This wasn't planned, I simply wanted a girl. She discovered her talents through serendipity and sticks with and works at the things she enjoys. I know I am lucky with a one in a million child but I have to think that some of this comes from her gender, not just her environment and genetics.

He championed Clarence Thomas for the Supreme Court. He revealed his spots years ago.

Well, the repugnant Cokie Roberts is brother to Tommy Boggs, the chairman of the uber powerful GOP lobbying firm (disguised as a law firm) Patton Boggs.

Cokie is very good at getting the GOP message out.

The Nation is reporting that the GOP stripped pandemic funding out of the stimulus bill:

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/thebeat/430261

LET THE MARKET HANDLE THE FLU PANDEMIC. Besides, it's all Bill Clinton's fault.

And Maine Senator Senator Susan Collins' web site, the "moderate" Republican, is a link to a Feb 5, '09, Wall Street Jnl article, that states, in part, when highlighting Collins anti pork measures:

After meeting with Mr. Obama, Sen. Collins expressed concern about a number of spending provisions, including $780 million for pandemic-flu preparedness. "I have no doubt that the president is willing to negotiate in good faith, that he wants to have a bipartisan bill," Sen. Collins said.