...and BTW, just to be clear, Rudy isn't a true right wing nut job. Nope, Rudy is a pragmatic, morally flexible fascist who digs power for power sake. If Uncle Dick scares you, imagine Rudy with secret police and W's legacy to bounce off and start goose-stepping. Rudy will wipe away civil liberties with the same fervor he used to clean up Times Square.

I looked at the photos and generally liked them. Well-shot and something pleasing about them. Yet in context of a multi-billion dollar industry and one of THE big, bad and hairy institutions...well it seems a bit contrived and just another add-on to the package.

Sure I see the mild rebellion and the boredom/creativity of the first photographers...yet somehow I think about mohawks on punks.

The first few mohawks were clever, cool, funny, a statement...blah, blah, blah...but over time it became just another kid with a little attitude, lack of wits, time and hair products.

In that same way, the trashing photos will become mohawks or tattoos at the top of a woman's butt crack -- a seemingly cool and fun idea that will be trended out...but only faster because you (and everyone else) can buy it.

Primaries are not only a huge waste of time and money but undemocratic in some ways (esp. given modern media). Dump who's first, the long roll-out and jockeying for a new primary date.

Instead the U.S. should save BILLIONS of dollars and go with a convention, force big and small states to build alliances and real platforms and have a vote two months later. It would kill the 18 month money grub/build-up and be a big step towards campaign finance reform.

On one hand if self-help books help people, brings them closer to happiness, why not. It's ironic however, in a post-post-modern way, that a basically happy person, with a near perfect life writes a book about self-help (yes I know that's the schtick...ironically).

Maybe I'm an old coot but it sounds like some old fashion perspective brought on by a life-changing experience (like a dying pet) would give most people a sense of pause, the good stuff in life, luck, appreciation, sadness, etc., instead of a journey of self-help extravaganza and tweak a basically very good existence.

Yeah, I know...that's the point and why I'm suppose to read/buy the book. I'm sure Jennifer Niesslein is totally charming and funny yet I won't be playing the role of the paying enabler/doofus...although if there was a self-help book on how not to be a paying enabler/doofus, I'd read that.

Mr. Scherer is usually a very good read and obviously intelligent. More often then not I agree with him. In this case however he dropped the ball, not so much for the Venus/Mars thing but by not consider race as a factor.

Any man of color with any sense and experience knows all too well that any sign of aggressiveness scares and freaks out white people...and can literally kill you. Logically and instinctively Mr. Obama knows this. He also knows any overt demonstration of power, strength and masculinity will lose votes.

Mr. Obama is smart and wants to win which is why he's playing it his way. He understands (via his demeanor) that power and strength aren't symbols and show but wisdom and insight...and that's why I will vote for him.

If he's elected, he'll show his cajones...but he'll smile. This is what the country and world needs at this point in time -- not flaccid, male cheerleader in faux cowboy/aviator gear hiding under Daddy's dress who wage senseless war.

Salon - again you need to hire writers and editors of color with perspective that can give you insight into matters of race.

Any healthy 17 y.o. is 95% raging hormones and the LW is probably responding to that by instinct. If the kid however had a girlfriend I'm sure 80% of the tension between step-mom and step-son would disappear quickly and you'd save thousands of dollars in mental health expenses in the process.

I taught high school in my late 20s and when I had a GF, no problem. Without a girlfriend and natural, normal thoughts about mature minors just popped into my brain and ran amok.

Also a little, safe, fantasy whacking off helped...you know, you get rid of the tension and afterwards you feel so dirty, creepy and weird the thoughts sort of disappear or fade.

...that's what a GF once told and it basically worked...

Cary got it right...call the guy in an indirect way but perhaps the method (as someone mentioned)of rating (1-10, etc.) might be off and lead to other wierdness. Any way, essentially the point is there.

I was once with my GF at the time and a very attractive woman in next to nothing walked by and well, I looked...because that's what men do. My GF looked at me nicely but with a hint of sarcasm and asked, "You like that?"

My response, "No, not really but I couldn't not look." The response was honest...but I'm also not dumb. The GF then said, "Look all you want, as long as you're going home with me I don't care." Her comment laid down the law and set the tone. She really didn't care if I looked but "wandering" would not be tolerated.

This was sort of a revelation. Perhaps her being European was a factor where looking and leering is accepted to some degree. Or perhaps it was a more pragmatic understanding of man's nature (we look) and that a complete ban would be pointless. Either way I appreciated being told in a way that didn't bust my balls. I think most all men would appreciate this approach and the smart ones would appreciate an understanding of the "rules".

So LW, let the guy know...perhaps figure out a method that suits you best won't bust his balls right away.