I was so happy to see this letter. I have the same feelings as "Mom" in that I never, either privately or publicly, identify myself first as a mom, then as a professional/hobbyist/etc., and I too feel a frisson of revulsion when I hear other women identify themselves that way. I don't know any men who identify themselves first and foremost as a "Dad," so I don't know why women do--do we feel the need to boast of our fertility, or to glorify our role as propagators of the species? I truly don't know, but I know that for me, there will always have to be more in my life than child-rearing, important as it is. My children are a huge part of my life, but so is my career, my marriage, my artistic pursuits, and my other interests. All I can say to "Mom" is, keep identifying yourself the way you want to, and find friends among those other females who have a similar perspective as you do on life.

There are those of us parents out here who are as un-charmed as Mr. Rose by the relative idiocies of child-rearing but who are experiencing it the first time. Somewhere along the line, we as societal parents agreed that the issues of a child, no matter how trivial, pre-empt those of the parent, no matter how serious. I believe that occurred since the time we post-boomers/pre-Xers were kids, and while I think it was well-intentioned, I don't think it was overall a good thing. We are raising a generation of extremely self-centered, solipsistic, sociopathic children, and the behavior that Mr. Rose deplores--paying overblown, mindless attention to each scrape, cherry pit, missed grounder, etc., is at least partly to blame. So parents, claim the time and attention that is yours; read a book, take in a movie with a rating other than G, and don't lose your life to your kids--you're not doing them any favors.

I watched the video of Colbert's press corps address this afternoon, and I've had nothing else on my mind since then. What impressed me so much about it was not the content per se, which I did think was wickedly funny and perfectly delivered. Instead, what I found the most amazing was the strength it must take to swing a sack that large in a crowd that hostile. Every time Colbert gestured toward W and mouthed another phony platitude, I thought, My God, he just keeps digging at him, *and he doesn't care if he pisses him off!* I actually feel more lighthearted than I have in the past 6 horrific years--and delighted that, at last, at long last, someone has some decency. Congratulations to a true Megamerican--I for one am standing a little straighter and prouder today thanks to Colbert's courage.

Utterly, utterly amazing--free speech still exists in the USA (which I know in my gut consists of 50 states!). Bravo Stephen Colbert, brava Helen Thomas--thanks to both of you for helping keep dissent and patriotism together, where they belong.

Obviously made by some truly die-hard "24" fans, this is a hysterically funny and dead-on accurate parody. Especially liked the bathroom death scene. Is another episode forthcoming? I want to see what happens when the Girlfriend (EXCELLENT Elisha Cuthbert reference!) shows up!!