Letters to the Editor
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Published Letters: 200 Editor's Choice: 74
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It's Christmas, Time To Torture The Single Folks
[Read the article: I'll be alone for Christmas -- merrily!]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]Solitaire, I feel your pain. I'm in the same situation. I'm single, and I don't have any family to spend the holidays with. That doesn't bother me - I enjoy having the freedom of a day to myself. But no one believes me when I tell them that. They're convinced that I must be desperately unhappy to be alone, and they MUST compel me to spend Christmas with them and their families.
In some ways, it's nice to know that people care about me enough to invite me, but honestly, spending Christmas with other people's relatives is not something I look forward to. No matter how nice they are, it's still like going to the cocktail party from hell, especially if you're an introvert who doesn't really enjoy spending the day with a bunch of strangers.
But most people just can't wrap their minds around this idea. No matter how politely I tell them "thank you, I really appreciate that you asked me, but no", they won't take no for an answer. They don't believe me when I say I'm happy to have a relaxed Christmas by myself. If I don't break down and agree to come, they are hurt. Or offended. Some of them even cry. And I feel bad, because I don't want to hurt their feelings - but why do people get so worked up about this? I really don't get it. I've even lost a friend over this, she was so upset and hurt that I didn't want to go to Christmas at her house. It baffles me completely.
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Not While I'm Around
[Read the article: "Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street"]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I've given up on reading decent reviews of musicals at Salon. None of the reviewers here can get past "ooh, people singing, and isn't the music weird".
However, although Sweeney Todd certainly contains some challenging music, it's hard to call any musical "unmelodic" that contains the beautiful, haunting "Not While I'm Around", one of the most lovely Sondheim songs ever (even if the context is a bit creepy). I was afraid it might have been cut, but since I found clips of it on You Tube, I assume it made it into the movie.
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Mental? Physical?
[Read the article: Viagra for women?]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]I appreciate cdevlin's post - I think women have to be more proactive in finding out what works for them. However, I know from personal experience that hormones can be an issue too. I've had weird fluctuating hormone problems for years (since I was in my mid-20's) and I found that it definitely affected my sex drive (whether I was with a partner or alone). In fact, one of the earliest symptoms I had were difficulties with orgasms, most noteably at particular times of the month - but I assumed this was an emotional problem, not a physical one, so I never went to the doctor about it until my periods went completely wacko. The problem hasn't been completely solved, but just recognizing that my inability to orgasm at certain times might be physical, rather than emotional, was quite reassuring.
After my experience, I wouldn't be surprised if some women with lower level hormone problems could have their libido affected - and if that's the case, what's the problem with getting help with that?
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iPod Restrictions?
[Read the article: Ask the pilot]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]An interesting comment about restrictions on iPods (and other headphones) - it's just so you can hear instructions? Why are flight attendants so snippy about it, then? I've had a flight attendant literally grab me, rip the headphones out of my ears and scream at me for using my iPod before the "official announcement" - even though we'd been in the air for 20 minutes and were flying comfortably - but because the "fasten seat belt sign" hadn't been turned off yet, I was "endangering the plane".
(Agree with you totally on the cell phones, though.)
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Some Would Benefit, Some Wouldn't
[Read the article: Mike Huckabee wants to abolish the IRS]
[Read more letters about this article: Here]The fair tax (at least as it's currently configured) wouldn't screw everyone making $30K - $200K. I took a look at it a while back, and I found that I'd do pretty well under this tax system (and I make far less than $200K). But as a childless, single renter, I'm currently paying more or less the maximum amount of taxes for my income, since I don't qualify for any deductions. I used to do taxes part time, and I know most people with my income pay less in taxes than I do. (I have a coworker who makes the same salary I do, down to the penny, and he pays less than 1/3 of the taxes that I do - and he'd definitely pay more under this plan.)
But in reality, I doubt any tax plan would pass without providing "adjustments" to keep the "average voter" satisfied. Once the politicians got hold of the plan, they'd be adding adjustments for mortgages, and adjustments for certain kinds of purchases, and adjustments for this type of voter and that type of voter. And soon, it would be just as complicated (and "un-fair") as the current tax system - except that it would be hidden behind computer systems and tax registers, instead of on tax forms. There are some advantages to a sales tax system, but I doubt it would really stay "simple" or "fair".