I find the kids holding hateful signs at anti-abortion rallys more disturbing than the occasional political t-shirt. Either way, I'm not sure it makes any difference to long term political views. I remember being terribly affronted when my Mom turned off Mr. Rogers and made me watch the Watergate hearings, when I was about 3. It almost turned me Republican (but I recovered later on).

I use my rebate to pay my credit card bill. But that leaves me with extra money in my bank account that would have gone to the bill otherwise. Presumably I'll use that extra money for something. Does it matter how I spent those specific dollars that come with the rebate? The credit card bill will have to be paid eventually (presumably). If I use the rebate to pay it, I'll have extra money I would have used to pay that bill otherwise.

Putting it in savings is one thing, but using it to pay a bill that you would have paid anyway doesn't really change anything except timing.

For me, the big advantage of these clinics is that the prices are clearly stated. For many years, I had a high deductible insurance plan (the only option my employer offered). It wasn't that I minded paying for my medical care, it's that I had no idea what the price would be. I went in for a simple gynocological exam (total time with the doctor: 4 1/2 minutes) and was charged $380. I had no idea if that was a good price, a bad price, an outrageous price, because no one would tell me in advance what the price might be - and I called a lot of doctor's offices. The result was that I was afraid to go to the doctor again, and I just lived with the problem. My fear - the exam might last longer next time, and what might 15 minutes with the doctor cost - $1000? $2000? Insurance companies have set rates for "usual and customary" charges, but consumers don't get to see those.

I couldn't go to a medical clinic for a gynocological exam, but maybe the doctors will learn that patients really appreciate knowing what a doctor's visit costs, instead of just being stuck and having to pay no matter what.

I like the 5 Things idea - hopefully it will highlight some things that I might not otherwise see. (And - guess what - if you aren't interested in some of them, don't click!) I don't have time to read that many news web sites, so I appreciate a quick link.

However, it definitely did something weird to my browser. When I clicked on a link, my entire window went grey and stopped working, although I was able to click to another window and escape. Admittedly, I have a very old browser (which goes with my very old Mac) but the rest of Salon works OK. Something about the implementation of your advertising isn't quite working.

I think the pressures of the workplace have more to do with outsourcing, downsizing and layoffs than they do with feminism.

However, I think women made a mistake in defining workplace benefits as "benefits for mothers". Among some women (not all!) there is still the attitude of "we deserve this because we're mommies and mommies are more important than everyone else" rather than "this is something that everyone can benefit from". People who might otherwise support these benefits end up thinking that they're "special perks".

I'm amazed at all the letters saying "28 is still young, don't worry about it". Are these the same folks who write letters criticizing the women a few years older, who spend tens of thousands on fertility treatments?

I'm not saying you have to run out and have a baby NOW NOW NOW. This is something you should think about and plan for. Spending time with kids, getting your finances in order, planning for the future - all good ideas. But you also need to think about the biological reality. Fertility starts declining significantly when you reach your mid-30's. You don't have an indefinite time line. I have too many friends who said "I don't want to rush things, I'll just wait for that magic moment, it will happen when the time is right." And when that magic moment finally arrived, they found themselves in their late 30's or early 40's, unable to have the children they wanted.

This is from the perspective of someone who didn't want children and who made the choice not to have them. I don't think babies are the most important thing in life. But I also have many friends who love being mothers and find it incredibly fulfilling. If you truly want to have babies, it's easiest to have them, biologically speaking, when you're under 35. Plan accordingly.

I read The Good Earth years ago, and while it's an interesting book, it's pretty dated, especially when it comes to the male and female characters. The heroine is the stereotypical wife and mother, and although she's a strong, positively written character, she always struck me as a cliche - a woman's only fulfillment is being a mother/madonna/martyr. It's not surprising that Pearl Buck would share those attitudes.