I think this is an interesting question because it highlights something that is often hidden in our culture. In our current time and place, we have this myth that we can break romantic bonds at will and move on. Sometimes this is the case, but often it's not. In fact, in my observations, the majority of the time, if a person once cared enough about someone enough to marry him/her and reproduce with him/her, he/she will care about that person for life. This isn't "obsessive" or "lame" or "weird" or whatever other derogatory adjective people want to ascribe to it. It's human. It's normal human behavior to be curious about the intimate and mundane details of those you once mated with.

Withdrawal is the only method my wife and I have practiced since we were 16, except once we had sex with a condom. I didn't like it, but she *really* didn't like it. It's been 16 years, and we only have one child. Our daughter wasn't planned, but I know when she was conceived because it was one of the only times we had sex without withdrawal. Withdrawal works. Besides, it's fun, if done right.

When I read stuff like this, I can't help but think back to the early 2000s, when the Democratic Party was supposed to be obsolete and out of touch and the GOP was on the way to establishing a 1,000 year reich. Jesus, I'm only 32, but I already see my fate. As the rare species of American who has a memory and historical perspective, I am going to be sentenced to a life of listening to and reading inane, short-sighted political commentary. Look, the Republicans are probably going to regain one, if not both, of the houses of Congress in 2010 -- and if they don't regain the White House in 2012 (they probably won't ... crossing my fingers) they will by 2016.

Gibson made "Braveheart" ... that covers a multitude of sins in my book.

I'm kind of still with Marx when it comes to poetry, but I can see the printing presses didn't exactly *kill* poetry (or the poetic impulse) so much as revolutionize it. You'd never catch me penning a sonnet (or wearing a cavalier, a hat style that flourished during the 1600s), but I've come to share many of the same ideas you seem to have about poetry and language. Thanks for what you do. Your kind doesn't get enough love in these times.

An aeroplane that goes to the moon??? LOL!

The sad thing about the poster's comment above is that his imagination is so limited he can't even envision something that has been done in nearly a dozen other countries around the world. Remember when America used to lead the world? Not just chase its tail?

The LW comes off as an intelligent, principled person looking to live an authentic life. I'm sure she'd make a great cop. I'm an early 30s left-leaning person with a degree in the humanities too. I almost became an academic, but I decided against it after observing the life my professors lived. I found a very happy home in the military.

My values have evolved over the past decade, but they haven't changed much. I enjoy being engaged in the real world, facing real problems with real solutions. Getting outside of my head and putting myself into situations where I'd have to make decisions that impact other people and the nation was one of the best things I ever did.

Good luck, LW. I'm sure you'll find success no matter which way you decide to go.

"Wounded", you sound dramatic and sensitive. People like you are not usually anyone's favorite because these traits can be grating for a variety of reasons. It's no big deal, really. You seem like you are tolerated well enough. You should just get over it, and if you did, you'd probably rise a couple of notches on the social heirarchy because people who don't take themselves so seriously are generally more fun to be around. However, you're probably incapable of this. I suggest you brood and sulk yourself into being someone whom others want to share a taxi with. That should work like a charm.

As a journalism professor, you have a unique and very important job to do. You need to find a way to revitalize a vital profession. Think of it like this: the year is 1905, and your job is to repair broken carriage wheels. Yes, your days of keeping the masses rolling via horse-powered transportation are numbered -- however, people will still need to move in the new century. They are going to be rolling in horseless carriages soon enough. Your know-how about wheel repair is still important. You just need to translate it to a new medium and adapt it to new circumstances (not the best metaphor, but work with me).

Teach your students about the importance of objectivity and how to find *relevant* (not necessarily immediately commercial) news. Obviously, in the coming decades, most of them will publish their work in some electronic medium, but the underlying principals will stay the same. These are the times that try men's souls, professor. Bloggers are gathering at the gates, threatening to raze the temples to Truth and Justice we have spent centuries constructing. They want to light fires of passionate, nonsensical drivel into the hearts and minds of the citizens, and by doing so, they threaten the Republic more than Iran ever could. Stop them. That's your mission if you choose to accept it. For my sake, and the sake of my 7-year-old, I hope you do. I'm not too worried if you don't though. Someone else will. But if you're worried about becoming useless, my advice to you is to get back in the game. You're needed there.