Make the call and talk to her.

Regardless of whether you are now distanced, the mature and adult thing to do is to make contact. That's part of being an adult and having integrity- following through on obligations, no matter how small, even in the face of your own personal discomfort. It's a mark of maturity.

Going to the funeral as well would be a mark of maturity. It would show self confidence to be able to return to a place you intentionally left and participate in the funeral (in whatever way you see fit). It shows a mark of equilibrium when you can approach a person and situation that might be awkward and approach it openly.

If anything, it can improve you personally. I recently went to a friend's wedding, and ran into a few people I hadn't seen in years. I thought it would be awkward- but it was wonderful. I left there feeling genuinely happy for them and where their lives were going. It was an enriching experience.

Don't they really mean $5 Million a year from the American taxpayers?

Yeah, I thought that's what they meant.

So let me get this straight...

We have to pay (through our tax dollars) for the telecom companies to keep our telephone records so the government can spy on us at will?

This reminds me of the movie Brazil- where the government billed citizens for the cost of their own interrogation.

Apparently there is only one skill you must demonstrate to be elected to Congress-

Stick your thumb as far up your ass as possible and sit down on it.

You'll be an incumbent in no time.

If there is a correlation between the use of this chemical and the explosion of childhood obesity that we see in contemporary society.

Congress has recently- and shamefully- passed new legislation, legalizing broad sections of the Bush administration's heretofore illegal surveillance program. They now have the ability to eavesdrop on international phone calls and spy on international emails originating from within the United States.

Presumably, these measures are taken as a way to track down and capture Al Qaeda operatives. However, Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai has recently admitted that we are as near to catching Osama bin Laden as we were five or six years ago.

In short, the only achievement of the Bush spying program has been to shred the rights and civil liberties of the American people. Osama bin Laden remains a free man, and we are no closer to catching him than we were on the day he attacked us.

So let me get this straight-

Only if I or someone I know has lost a friend or loved one in the attacks on 9/11 does that give me the right to voice dissent on how this country has become a nightmare police state in the intervening years?

It's not a contest, okay?

Mr. Rove, don't you have better things to do with your day?

I've read your letter twice and can definitely relate to a great deal of the feelings you express regarding artistic creativity. I'm an artist, as well as a writer and often wrestle with the demons of working on something I care about vs. not having a gallery/not being published.

One thing that I am grateful for, and something that has sustained me is my loved ones. Sounds trite, maybe, but it's true. For me, the ability to step away from "work" - whether it be my job, or my artistic pirsuits- is very enriching and replenishing. The support of my partner, my friends and my family adds a richness to my life that translates into my creative work.

It seems like you're very motivated and succeeding in your art and your job. But it also seems that there is very little (perhaps none) of your time that is not focused on either. Is there anyone you can just go out with once and a while and have a beer, and not talk about art? Or do something that is not creative, but be very present while doing it? Sometimes we get insight by acting away from our routine.

These things can act as an emotional and spiritual buffer against rejection. Having these things and people in my life allows me to better weather the storms of the creative life without going under- which isn't to say that I don't have my moments of fugue.

I do it out of love, and live in the space of loving those around me and giving care and focus to my creative activities. Reward for those creative activities in such an environment comes less as a expectation and something to agonize over, and more an unexpected joy.

I joke to myself that someday I'll be able to buy a boat with the money I earn from my poetry. It will be thirteen inches long, and remote controlled, but it'll be all mine.

-just throw more gas on the fire!

Something about this reminds me of Iran Contra. Maybe they can even coax Ollie North out of retirement to help out!

Acceptance of reality is the only way to deal with the regional situation in the Middle East and that involves inviting everyone to the table- as unpalatable as that may be. The only way out of this cycle of violence is to speak to all players. It will require everyone to swallow a bit of ego and pride to do it- but, unless all involved wish for a continuation or escallation of death and destruction, it will have to happen.

For the Tom Dispatch article. Chilling and infuriating.

As we speak, I'm now forwarding it to everyone in my address book. And then on to my senators with a sharply worded letter.

I hope everyone else will do the same.