You're talking as if there's something wrong with women having a different style. Considering the ridiculous ego circus that cuisine has become, with silly dishes that are 99% about the chef's ego and not at all about the experience of eating, I'd say it's a good thing that the new women chefs lean more towards how the diner experiences the dish and not how she'll look to other chefs.

It's amazing the stuff people will get their knickers in a twist over. What, Obama hasn't noticed the dozens of similar satirical illustrations on the cover of New Yorker over the years?

What the hell ever happened to a sense of humor in the U.S.? When did we get so bloody literal-minded?

There used to be this old saying: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Whatever happened to that?

If people take offense, it's because they WANT to. Notice I said take offense. That's the correct term. You have a choice about it. You can say, "OMG you meanie!!!" or you can shrug your shoulders and say, "I guess some people find that funny." The fact that almost nobody does the latter anymore (in the media, at least) says a lot about who we've turned into, and where we are as a country.

Harrumph!

That's the sound of this comic flying straight over your pointy little heads.

I know this is only a 40-item list, but I was really shocked not to find the wonderful adaptation of Jean Shepherd's books on it. When I first saw this one in 1985, I knew it was an instant classic. The cast is brilliant, the story is genius, the writing is pitch-perfect, and Shepherd's narration conveys just the right mix of enthusiasm and glee.

Who could ever forget the Red Ryder BB gun, Little Orphan Annie's Secret Decoder Ring, or Ralphie's poor little brother so muffled under winter coats and scarves that he "looked like a tick about to pop"? Peter Billingsley did such a magnificent job in the role of Ralphie, the daydreaming, put-upon young would-be hero, it's amazing that he never did another film. I don't think I'll ever get the sight of him reluctantly showing himself in that pink bunny suit ("He looks like a deranged Easter Bunny!" "He does not!" "Yes, he does. He looks like a pink nightmare!") out of my head.

That's nice, dear. Why don't you go back under your bridge now? I think some goats will be coming along in a minute that you can hassle.

Well, considering that ever since September 11, 2001, the government's strategy has been to do exactly what the terrorists want every time, it seems likely to me that DHS will indeed adopt this technology. Then, as you say, the bad guys will just have to figure out how the thing works, and they'll be able to hold a plane for ransom pretty damn easily.

Personally, I hope they do adopt it. Since it would likely be the straw that breaks the camel's back for the majority of flyers, I figure it would be the end of the whole fucked-up pile of sewage that the commercial airline industry has become. Then perhaps we can build something sane and usable out of the wreckage.

Me, I've sworn off flying. There is no trip that is worth putting myself in the hands of these petty, tin-plated dictators. I'd rather take a vacation train to San Francisco than fly anywhere. Fuck 'em. Until sanity has been restored, I'm staying on the ground, and good riddance.