I can't tell, based on the letter writer's vague description, whether divorce is the right answer or not. But one thing caught my attention: "What of the drama of the artistic soul -- and that of a full-time working artist, compromising for money -- more or less blocked from its real art by the need to provide for the family, not just money, but body, soul and spare time?".

Whether you get a divorce or not, your kids will still require at least some of your money and spare time - and hopefully some of your soul as well. Even if you have plenty of money, you'll still need to provide for your family in other ways, which might continue to limit your "drama of the artistic soul". If you're a good parent, you aren't going to go back to a carefree single life. You may not have a spouse any more, but you'll always have your kids.

There may be another reason that consumers don't care enough to champion book reviews. Most popular books (i.e. mysteries, sci-fi, romance) are not reviewed by newspaper book review sections. These kinds of books are considered "beneath" the book reviewers. But the newspaper movie reviewer doesn't review only foreign films and independents - you'll also find reviews of the latest slasher flick or mindless shoot-em-up adventure. You'll find reviews of fluffy musicals in the theatre section and you'll usually find reviews of the latest rockers in the music section. Newspapers even devote an entire section to guys running around and throwing things. But when it comes to books, only a few "elite" reads are considered worthy.

I read a variety of books, mysteries and romance along with more "literary" works. But since I have to go elsewhere to find reviews of genre fiction, I don't bother with the newspaper book review section very often - if it reviewed a wider selection of books I wanted to read, I might be more upset by its demise.

I thought Traveler was cool too... way back in the Fall of 2006 when it received glowing reviews on several TV sites. I'm skeptical of new TV shows, but I put this one on my "check it out" list.

Then it disappeared. "It's coming at mid-season, for sure". Then it disappeared again. There were rumors of rewrites and other problems. And now it's being dumped in the "summer season", with almost no promotion. Doomed, doomed, doomed.

If I'm wrong and Traveler turns into a hit, then I'll have to catch it on DVD.

TV networks, you've dumped me too many times. You tease me and tempt me, and then, just as I've started to build up a little affection, you dump me. I like network TV. I'm just not "edgy" enough for those violent, harsh cable shows. But I'm beginning to wonder, are you worth my time and effort? Or should I dump you once and for all?

I read the original article, and it's frustratingly vague about the cause of abortions among single women in China (other than bad girls having sex before marriage). Is the problem a lack of knowledge about contraceptives, or no access to contraceptives? Or do Chinese women consider abortion as a better alternative to other birth control methods? The article doesn't say.

How much does the "Katie Couric demographic" and the "nightly news watching demographic" overlap? I watched Katie Couric's first broadcast, just to see what the fuss was about. (I've never watched the Today show except when I was home sick from work, but I don't have anything against Katie Couric). But I haven't watched since then.

The nightly news seems like a quaint anacronism to me. If I want news, I'll go online. Or if I want to hear about breaking news, I'll turn to a headline news channel. I occasionally watch one of the local news reports, since I can't get local news as easily online. But tune in at 6:30 pm every night to get national news? Why?

I'm an adoptee, and as I get older, I find it more frustrating to have no medical history. (People usually just think of mothers when it comes to medical history, but paternal history is just as important.) Just about every month, some medical story talks about the importance of knowing your family medical history - this month, it was MRI's in addition to mammograms if you have a "family medical history" of breat cancer. I try not to be paranoid, but every time I hear a story like this, I think about my family medical history form, which says "UNKNOWN" in answer to every question.

I can understand the reluctance of sperm donors to come forward (especially since the law is murky in this area) but I think it's only fair to provide updated medical histories for the children involved.

There are other intangibles too - I've often wondered what my ethnic background was, or whether I got my nose or my premature grey hair from some relative - things people who aren't adopted take for granted - but it's the medical questions that concern me as I approach my 40's and 50's.