Maybe it's because cameras today are so ubiquitous and hassle free - just point 'n shoot 'n download (or upload, or whatever). Picture taking has now become, more than ever, the way to validate one's own reality - if you didn't snap a picture of it, then the reality just doesn't exist and never did.

It does amaze me. And I know this is partly due to a generation gap; I'm an oldie now. I just find it endlessly amusing to see the "kids", not so much leading lives, but starring in their own movies. They're connected to their ipods: the sound track. they've got the vid-phones their lights-camera-action. And they've got their uTube; MySpace; Facebook. It's all a movie and "reality" show. I know the term is overused - but definately a complete paradigm shift.

Marlene Dietrich is poported to have said: "you must live your life as though it were your last movie". The "kids" now seem to understand this instinctively. AMAZING!

Question: Can big philanthropy combat climate change? Short answer: No! A "flat" economy might though.

No doubt Branson is just a wonderful, sweeter than candy kind of guy, but all I really see here is another bull shit filled publicity stunt - a sort of Paris Hilton with a conscience. The average person is going to think: isn't this guy great! I guess it's okay to be filthy rich and live a life of over the top conspicuous consumption.

Well, it's NOT! Branson, and the other super rich, is an integral part of the problem. to have and to live the way he does while most of the world lives in abject poverty is not only grotesque, it's completely immoral.

The only way we are ever going to get a handle on our many daunting global problems is by carving up the economic pie more equitably, and giving everyone something more than subsistance to live for.

Branson is just another vain megalomaniacal publicity seeking rich person. At least Mick Jagger is more talented and honest about it, and shakes is little ass more interestingly. But the rich and famous are beginning to stink more and more with each passing heat wave. And it's time to get rid of them!

"Did you spank your's this weekend?"

After the way the Republicans behaved during the whole Lewinsky episode, there is truly poetic justice in this Mark Foley affair. I'm not sorry; I'm feeling lots of schadenfreude right now.

Good bye neocons!

But, I for one do not expect any great changes or miracles – the Democrats have way too much baggage concerning their capitulation to the neocon agenda during the last six years. The Democrats stink only slightly less than the Republicans.

The wonderful thing about these midterm elections though was: the neocon philosophy (if that’s what you want to call it) has been crushed and castrated and the fundies are in serious retreat, and I think, will not be heard from again for awhile.

And that is just pretty darned good.

Paris who? Britney what?

Salon, why are you spilling ink for this?

Well, to quote the Wicked Witch Of The West:

"Poppies. Poppies will put them to sleep."

(Poppies = SUVs, low interest rate mortgages, Ipods, etc....)

If it wasn't for the left (liberal, progressive or whatever) people like Mr. D'Souza and Condoleezza Rice would never be walking the halls of power. I like to call it the Roy Cohn effect.

Now that we are beginning to see the light on global warming, one can only consider this somewhat good news - hey, it's better than nothing. Of course then there is another little pesky problem: the population explosion. I read somewhere that by 2050 there will be a billion people on the North American continent.

Make it on the merry-go-round, loose it on the swings.

(eh, hem)- It's actually "coalition of the willies". Even Salon.com can make mistakes. Your forgiven.

Mean little monkey eyes, perpetual pursed lips hiding reptile tongue, and that squished nose with those flaring nostrils; and I won't go into what's inside THAT brain (for lack of a better term)... And almost half of America thought this would be a viable leader.

No doubt about it - WE ARE DOOMED!!

Dear Salon,

You know what this means, don't you? This means Michel Foucault is back, too!

Poor man. Camille has been dragging his corpse around for public floggings for eons; a sort of postmodern 'Punch And Judy' show.

Oh, well... Camille Paglia can be a hoot. Maybe they have the dear on lithium now.

Welcome back Camille! Welcome back Michel!

I once heard an interview on Terry Gross' 'Fresh Air', in which Terry asks Maher about his friendship with Ann Coulter, in light of her very strange politics - Maher's response was "I like Ann!" Maher also likes sleaze bags like Gene Simmons, too.

Sorry, Salon, but Bill Maher - no doubt a real smart guy - is a pundit opportunist who, when you scratch the surface, will find not a whole lot is really there; a sort of clever counter punching polemicist media creation who sounds good but otherwise stands for nothing.

This may be unfair, but I do judge people by the company they keep, and some of his friends make me go BLUAAAH!