Thank you! That was a funny April Fool's to wake up to. What a kick! It's all so obsurd.......the American obsession with vapidity.

ok...my spelling not so good too early....absurd.....

I don't suppose it has anything to do with the decrease in male sperm count as a result of pesticide usage? I was surprised this fact wasn't mentioned in the article, as this may also be a reason that young men are facing these problems. It doesn't take a degree to put 2+2 together, and with the recent articles about this it seems like a big oversight that the Post didn't mention it. In a report published on National Geographic barely two weeks ago, researchers in Missouri found a decrease in sperm count and quality for men in Missouri compared with men in big cities around the country most likely caused by their exposure to pesticides. In another study from researchers in Scandanavia it was found that average sperm count for men in developed countries was half what it was of men 50 years ago. This is a startling and disturbing trend which deserves some attention. Instead of blaming the empowerment of women (which is an incredibly healthy and positive thing) for a decreased sex drive in men, it could be something that's actually toxic and poisoning all of us and causing untold devastation throughout the ecosystem.

I am no fan of this show. There is not one woman on that panel that I find particularly likable or interesting. While I find Star Jones rather distasteful and a prime example of much of the overconsumption that typifies our culture, wasn't she merely speaking the truth? Barbara Walters said that she could say anything about her departure and they would back her up. Well, she said the truth, she got fired. It goes to show how people in positions or power like Barbara Walters are asking others to manipulate the truth to maintain their own image. They were asking her to lie. She chose not to, for that I applaud her. The media is ripe with such efforts to mask truth or bend it in ways that may be advantageous to some but not others. In employer/employee relationships there is a lot of political maneuvering that goes on behind the scenes. It doesn't surprise me at all that The View had such territoriality going on behind the scenes, with that many obnoxious women it was bound to be the case. I am glad their dirty laundry got aired, this kind of thing happens on a macro and micro scale all the time and is rarely discussed.

Many artists, not just Madonna, are charging such high ticket prices that their performances naturally become less relevant, because only the rich can afford to see them. It seems that most of them are just cashing in on their fame and lining their already overflowing bank accounts. Are the shows really worth this kind of money? Is it worthwhile to invest your money in a rich artist's already bloated retirement account? Everyone from the Rolling Stones to David Gilmour are charging so much that many talented and underpaid musicians can't afford their shows. Slick and overproduced they begin to lack real connection with the reality that most other people live in, which does not consist of driving around in limos and staying in fancy hotels. Their art can suffer as a result. Madonna in the beginning made no secret of her desire for wealth and riches (Material Girl) it doesn't surprise me that she continues in this vein. As for her age, I think she should go on as long as she wants to, the Rolling Stones are still doing it afterall. Whether she is relevant is immaterial.

send in the fembots!

it's a shame that Kucinich doesn't have a chance.....with the environmental issues we are facing, we really need someone as dedicated and radical as this. I don't think many people really understand the urgency and complexity of the problems we are faced with but I think he has a good grasp on it. the window of opportunity we have to avert potential disaster is closing and we have to act now.

I really hate to say it, but (some) environmental groups are the worst offenders in the direct mail fiasco. I have written multiple letters to the World Wildlife fund asking them to remove me from their mailing list, after receiving calendars, cards, stickers and multiple other unsolicited items. Never mind the fact that I've never contributed a dime to their cause. After at least two letters it appears that they've finally removed me. I know other environmental organizations I've contributed have shared my information. The WWF aren't the only ones either, I get lots of mail from the Audubon Society (which I do contribute to) and there are many others as well. It's a shame because I often support (in spirit if not financially) the causes these groups are striving for, but it strikes me as really counterproductive to their efforts to do this. It directly causes habitat destruction as well as polluting the environment with chemicals from the printing process and the energy used in production and delivery emits carbon dioxide. I'd really prefer electronic correspondence, because it doesn't require killing trees and all that production. I also signed up with Green Dimes this summer and have been largely pleased, but there is still some that slips through. I have been working really hard to rid myself entirely of junk mail but it is really, really hard. I sincerely hope that environmental organizations start leading by example and change their practices regarding direct mail.