I will be the first to admit to having no pretensions to literacy. While I don't read Tom Clancy or Steven King, I'm not a connoisseur of arts and letters, either.

But I do know that reading both Sedaris and Burroughs touches the same nerves -- they're your fun, witty, sparkly, and occasionally deeply moving friends whose Sunday brunch conversations or late-nite confessional phone calls are among the high points of the week. And thank you, cossey_m, for beating me to the obvious and relevant point that they're both, duh, gay men. (Why the dance around that, which would doubtless annoy both writers, as well as at least two fans?)

Does it matter -- to anyone but the Turcottes, to whom it obvously matters a great deal -- whether it's all-fact, all-fiction, or, as one would reasonably expect anyway, somewhere in between? Wouldn't change a thing in my reactions to it...

But I do feel the need to say this in Burroughs' defense:

In the Newhouse New Service article linked to in the review, we find this passage, including two quotes from Burroughs' mother:

"Margaret Robison, who is not a party to the suit, declined to be interviewed, saying that she is unwilling to discuss the matter 'in a worldly way.' She lives in Shelburne Falls, where she said she is recovering from health problems as she continues to write.

Robison did submit a statement, saying, 'My poetry, prose and life are about my relationship with God, and I see the entire situation as a rich opportunity for growth, forgiveness and love for every single one of the beautiful people involved.' "

These quotes are spot-on consistent with the character of the mother as portrayed and quoted in "Scissors;" he's got her voice down perfectly. Should I therefore be eager to disbelieve anything else he's said?

It's curious that another best-selling story of recovery -- James Frey's "A Million Little Pieces" -- has also garnered accusations of being creative fiction rather than autobigraphy. In neither case does it matter a whit. As an addict in recovery, I can attest that both writers, even if they are writing novels in memoirs' clothing, have hit on Truth. Do the specific details really matter?

The previous posters are almost certainly right; I would bet any amount of money that the same pharmacists whose "principles" forbid the prescription of Plan B (which according to some reports I've read is not even an abortifacient, and if that's true, I really don't get the objection) would have no problem whatsoever filling scrips for Viagra. Be an interesting experiment to try, if anyone were so inclined.

But why let your response be limited to outrage? We could take a leaf from the nice righties who have shown us the power of voting with your $, and of making your voice heard. It is not a coincidence that the "mainstream media" can now be relied upon to support the Bush administration and the corporatocracy in general, nor that so many corporations support right-wing causes. Only our actions and voices as consumers can counter this trend.

Here is the link you could use if you wanted to send an e-mail to Target telling them that they will get no more of your hard-earned money until they resolve this situation to your satisfaction (they do not make this easy to find on their website):

http://www.target.com/exec/obidos/handle-generic-form/${0}/601-0045009-3516145?action=next%2dpage&target=help%2fself%2dservice%2demail%2dform%2ehtml&display=tsq&browse=1041342&method=GET%c2

Remember, polite and professional is better than a screaming screed. Unfortunately, I am not a Target cardholder; I would expect that people who are would have even more voice at Target. A cut and returned card would probably get more attention than random e-mail. Just sayin'

Note: obviously this is my own personal opinion and does not reflect the opinion of salon.com nor that of any employee or representative of salon.com. Salon.com is not responsible for the opinions or statements of subsrcibers or posters to its site.

Please don't take that the wrong way, anyone. That's not snark, or any kind of sarcasm. It's a literal, even respectful question. I'm not looking down on anyone or anything.

It's just that I just don't get this whole celebrity-gossip thing -- but judging by the numbers that People, Us, and whatever that other one is generate, not to mention all the reality and gossip shows and websites, I'm clearly in the minority here.

I mean, I've been enough of a fan of some actors, writers, directors, musicians, etc, to go see the latest movie or buy the latest CD w/o knowing any of the details -- but it would never occur to me to even wonder whom they're sleeping with, seeing, cheating on, giving birth to, etcetcetc. None of my biz, couldn't possibly care less.

Curtis and her Prof Gamson -- and several of the posters here, too -- actually give a coupla good hints; thank you all very much.

But there's gotta be more -- much more.

Among other things, it seems that celebrity-fixation is both gender-linked and orientation-linked; unless I'm way off the mark, way more straight women and gay men care about this stuff than gay women and straight men. Am I wrong on that, and if not, what does that mean, if anything?

Any explanations -- or suggestions for further reading -- much appreciated.

...Since your concern is so clear and I'm sure without qualification.

How many single-mother families are you providing with financial support so that they can keep their babies, once born, alive and in good health?

And how many young women who might be disowned, or injured, by their oh-so-"traditional-values"-oriented parents have you helped thru their crises?

Hmm?

Please be sure to append documentation - not that I wouldn't take anything and everything you'd have to say as gospel, of course.