$15 is fine. But standing on line for 5 hours for a $15 dollar bag is not fine. And spending $300 on eBay for that same $15 bag is not ok either.

See why I’d be embarrassed to have one? A person would think I’ve got more time then sense or that I’m a total consumer whore who will pay hundreds of dollars for a bag that probably cost $2 to sew together. It's not the image I want to present.

I’m not sure what figure is current – but I think something like one in every 6 American women have been sexually assaulted (many by husbands and boyfriends). If that’s not news worthy enough for you then it’s time to move along and find something else to read.

I don’t always have a witty comment when it comes to serious topics (often there isn’t much to add) but I am still reading and the only thing I’m truly sick of are insensitive comments from the peanut gallery.

“Here's a funny thing though, you ever been to a law firm? Most of the secretaries wear make up, but the lady lawyers? Um, not so much.”

I’m on board with not wearing a lot of make up because you’re right: ladies who too much are identifying themselves as belonging to a lower class. But if those Staten Island secretaries want to change their image it’s not as easy as just not wearing make-up – it’s a whole different approach to make-up.

Those lady lawyers might not be wearing any foundation or eye make up but they are generally loaded up with fancy soaps, toners, lotions, eye creams, lip balm, fresh $200 highlights and pretty pedicures - not to mention all the waxing and facials. When you’re that put together, and you’re trying to create the image that it’s all natural, all it takes is a touch of powder and maybe a little mascara.

BTW – just about every girl I know who grew up in the 70s had one of those gigantic, disembodied Barbie heads that came with the make-up tray and hair styling kit to practice on. Make-up for kids is nothing new.

There is a Cambodian community in University Heights. As the Bronx is part of NYC I was surprised the area didn’t even get a mention. If I were writing an article on Cambodian food in NYC it would be my first stop. The LES? Not so much.

I think the author’s real premise is there aren’t any ‘trendy,’ expensive Cambodian places to eat in Manhattan. That’s a fine premise (although it’s of zero interest to me). But in the future the author should stay away from using ‘NYC’ if he’s just going to automatically dismiss any restaurant that’s not in a trendy area of Manhattan.

BTW – I really miss that Cambodian place in Ft. Greene. That guy was developing a really loyal following there: he should have stayed put.

Central Park? On a hot night the Summer Stage venue is hellish and the sound is always terrible. I love Sloan but I wasn’t about to mess with that slab of hot concrete they have you standing on (and Siren Festival, much as I always love the line-up, is worse).

One of the best shows I’ve seen in NYC was Rhett Miller playing (the sadly closed) Fez: it was basement club with chairs and table service that sat about 150 – very civilized. I sat on the stage and Rhett was great. One of the worst shows I saw, just a few years later, was Rhett Miller playing Webster Hall (it doubles as a bridge and tunnel rave/club after rock shows). The smoke machine made me sick and Rhett sounded like hell in that big space. As a huge fan of his I’ve seen him (and the Old 97s) play all over so I know he’s still great – but he sounds best in a smaller, more intimate venue and I’d rather bide my time and see that show. I’ve had similar experiences with lots of other bands. You think Wico sounds great in a large venue? You should have heard them back in the day when they were playing to half filled bars. Magic. That sort of feeling has spoiled me for big venues. Plus tickets for big acts are too expensive and too big a production.

Hanging out at Mercury Lounge, Union Hall and Bowery Ballroom here in NYC I do see a lot of very green, iffy bands. But I also occasionally get a ‘Clap Your Hands Say Yeah,’ a ‘Say Hi to Your Mom,’ or a ‘Voxtrot’ that makes it all worth while. And the best thing I’ve heard this year – ‘Ghostland Observatory’ out of Austin was a blast if you want to get up and dance.

If a child is hungry and that child reaches for junk food that’s a problem we need to work on – especially in poor communities where children are unsupervised after school (when most kids are looking for a snack) and junk food is cheap and easy to come by. Rather then hearing about Carol’s daughter, and her granola school, it would be nice to take this debate to a poor areas and talk about school provided breakfasts, lunches, after school programs and affordable child care.

Carol – I think it’s time for some deep breaths or your run the risk of giving your daughter a weight complex before she even hits puberty.