I walk to work every day. I will be the first to admit that I am not a particularly attractive woman. Since I'm walking to work, and I work in banking, I am wearing conservative office attire. Yet every day I get harassed by men. Whistles, cat calls, "hey baby's", groping - one man even cut across two lanes of traffic to unroll his window, stick out his tongue, and "lick" it at me.

I am starting to think that there is something to this burqa thing....

We interviewed a 20-something not too long ago for an open position at work. Everything was going great, until we were ready to make an offer and the candidate told us that she'd have to check with her parents first! There is nothing wrong with running important life decisions by people you trust, but a simple, "I need to think about it and get back to you" would suffice. Also, the way she said it was as if she had to ask their permission! Like, "Hey, can I sleep over at Elizabeth's house?"

....where is the outcry over male genital mutilation, aka circumcision?

....and I am certainly not leading this wild, X-Rated lifestyle the researchers are so concerned about. Can anyone tell me where I might be able to acquire such a lifestyle?

My parents let us have ONE full sugar soda only when we went out to eat (something that happened once a month of less). At any given time, there was ONE box of cookies in the house. My mom only had "healthy" cereals and skim milk in the house, she made our lunch and also made dinner just about every night. My parents exercised every day and took us kids along with them. BTW, they both worked and we were at the very lower end of "middle class".

Today, my brother and I are regular exercisers, non soda drinkers, vegetable eaters, and neither of us is overweight.

If you don't give kids bad habits, they don't have to break them later.

Would give one a neck like a conch shell

I can tell you it has nothing to do with "media" and "society". Never once during my struggle did I compare myself to a celebrity and despair at my image.

Of course, I am only speaking for myself, not anyone else, but for me it was an issue of control. Had nothing to do with what I looked like.

And I do agree, obesity is a much larger (hehe) problem than anorexia, but the previous poster who mentioned the morbidity issues is correct. At 5'5" and 82 pounds, my health was definitely in peril. I am now 115 pounds. Were I to put on 33 pounds, I'd be overweight, uncomfortable, perhaps with higher cholesterol and blood pressure, but certainly not in any physical danger.

Warner concludes: "I think that when it comes to setting priorities for (currently nonexistent) American work-family policy, we ought to go for the greatest good for the greatest number."

The greatest good for the greatest number would be to actively discourage people from breeding.

I'm fed up that I have to pay for and pick up the slack for people whose only contribution was to have an orgasm. YAY! You did something special! You shot cum into someone! Here, here's a tax break and reduced hours at work!

were actually developed so that professional hockey players could train off the ice.

I think.

I think it's great when people embrace important aspects of their culture, no matter how long they've been in the U.S. What I think is sad is when materialism overtakes these celebrations.

What is wrong with having a backyard BBQ quince? Or a modest luncheon following a bar or bat mitzvah (which is supposed to be about the religious aspect, not the party anyway)? Is it the parents trying to show their family and friends that they've "made it", or is it the kids giving into peer pressure and worried that they'll seem cheap and square if they don't host a lavish party?

Seems like it would be a better investment to put that money into a college fund rather than wasting it on a lavish affair.

I've always felt LUCKY to be receiving a job offer! I have left jobs that have not compensated me appropriately, but there is no point in haggling. If the employer thought you were worth the money, they would give it to you. Once you prove yourself, you get a raise or a promotion. End of story. Negotiating (by a man or a woman) is a nasty, nasty headgame, and I won't hire anyone who does it. It only spells trouble down the road.

As someone previously mentioned, a Dark and Stormy - Gosling's Black Seal run with ginger BEER (not ale!). I would add that it should be Goya ginger beer which is extremely spicy!

Also, a flavored vodka with club soda and lemon or lime wedge. Perfect for keeping yourself hydrated on a warm day. My current favorite is Stoli Blue - the blueberry flavor is not too sweet.

World population is at 6.5 BILLION right now, estimated to rise to over 9 billion by mid-century. People who undergo IVF and other fertility treatments, and the doctors who enable them should be prosecuted for environmental crimes.

You say:

Given the choice, financially and logistically, it has to be IVF. I have to give it a go.

I disagree - you already have a child. Why do you need another? See earlier reference to world population.....

....am I condoning the abuse of women by anyone, but.... I believe the universal outrage about the dogfighting stems from the fact that animals are helpless and depend on their humans for all of their needs. Animal abuse strikes a chord with people because animals, to a large extent, can't fight back and can't speak up about the abuse.