I don't consider myself part of anyone's "left-wing base." My views on some issues are at odds with the Democratic Party. I have voted for Reagan, Perot, Dole and Kerry (among others). Ron Paul's honesty and consistent anti-war, pro-privacy stances got my vote in this year's primary, although I would have chosen Edwards if he'd still been running. I plan to vote for Sen. Obama in November, in part because he has said U.S. combat troops will be out of Iraq in a reasonable period of time.

The war in Iraq has turned out to be a bigger mistake than the Vietnam war, with more far-reaching consequences. There is no way to "win." Lake a bad marriage, business partnership or investment, we have to take the loss, patch things up as best we can and get out. There's no point in pouring good money after bad. Tragically, this mistake has cost thousands of lives.

As a child, I didn't "get" why President Nixon kept troops in Vietnam, which I understood to be Johnson's war. Now I see that there is a stubborn political establishment that transcends party, and really doesn't care about the good - or the wishes - of the American people.

The 2008 election is likely to be decided by Americans concerned about the economy - but only because they've already made up their minds against the war. If there are still 40,000 (to pick a random number) U.S. troops in Iraq in November 2010, Pres. Obama and the Democratic Congress will have more than a disgusted left-wing base to worry about; they'll have a fresh crop of Republican opponents calling them liars.

I married the love of my life, when both of us were in our 30s. We used to laugh about how set in our ways we were, and how we would not change. After 12 years of marriage, a mortgage and two kids, my wife changed - and didn't love me anymore. I hadn't changed, and that was the problem.

We went to church. We paid our bills. I didn't hit her. Neither of us had affairs, no drug use, no alcoholism. Our sex lives were good until she decided to leave me. She just changed her mind.

It can happen at any age, and to long-term, stable partners.

I am sorry, LW, but your girl friend wants out. You two are no longer in the same relationship. Break up with her before she breaks up with you, which she will - and if you convince her to stay for a while, it will be worse after you have a life together.

Maybe you will find the right woman for you next month or in 15 years. The search will be more fun than being strung along by someone who is ambivalent about you.

Don't drag it out. Someday, you will remember your first great romance fondly and not dwell on the break-up.

Good luck.

I am a tall and slender man in his 40s. Women have often commented on how I can eat so much and "stay so skinny." How do you do it?, they ask.

"Mostly heredity," I say, noting than my parents and siblings are all thin. If pressed, I mention that I walk a lot and do push-ups and other light exercise. (all true)

When a woman tells me she wishes she had some of my genes, I say thanks and I wish I could sell them because I would make a lot of money.

Some people won't stop. I've had a couple of women ask if I am healthy, and can recall one inquiry about drug use!

This whole topic just isn't that interesting, and most everyone over six knows it is rude to comment on an overweight person's looks (or a man's bald head or someone's bad teeth) - but some cannot resist remarking on a stranger's thin frame.

I sometimes wonder how a person got so obese, but I would no sooner ask them than I would inquire if they were adopted. (I note that friends are coworkers will offer info without asking.)

When did it become acceptable to say exactly what we are thinking?

We are looking for films that parents and kids can enjoy together, right?

Turner Classic Movies is showing vintage family fare on Sunday evenings this summer, including a few of the films that have been discussed here. The "Essentials Jr." show has sharp, kid-friendly introductions to put the movies and changing times into perspective. On July 20, it's Buster Keaton's "Sherlock Jr." and Laurel & Hardy's short "The Music Box." My daughters (10 and 8) have no prejudices against silent or b&w movies if they are fun, and these are!

"The Incredible Mr. Limpet" was also a winner with my daughters.

My kids also liked "Song of the South," an unjustly maligned Disney film. It needs to be re-released with, say, a Whoopi Goldberg intro to explain that it was made 60 years ago, and is set 75 years before that, in post-Civil War days. Children are not stupid; they understand that many things have changed since then, and you can discuss history, race and friendship.

As the articles state, you have to tailor your viewing for different ages and tastes. My oldest loves "Harry Potter" and fantasy, and can handle grimmer fare. The 8-year-old likes spies, cats and princesses. She opted out of "Jason and the Argonauts" when a princess was killed in the first 15 minutes.

Since the kids have recently gone through a divorce, I won't show them "Time Bandits" for a while. Don't the parents get killed?

I second the kudos for "Sounder," and add a good word for "Old Yeller" and "My Dog Skip" (2000). If there's a dog-lover in your family, try these out. Warning: "Old Yeller" will bring tears to the eyes of any man over 40 - and most boys and girls. But it's a good cry. (6 and up?)