Although this video was upsetting it's not surprising. These days it is standard practice for police to use tasers even in relatively trivial arrests. Ever since they began distributing them in police forces around the country, police have been using tasers as a punishment tool. Instead of doing their job or talking to people they use brute force. It's born out of laziness and a disrespect for the very citizens that the police are supposed to serve, and the only way this is ever going to change is if citizens demand a higher level of accountability from their local PD.

Do you really think this is all a put-on? While he has stated that his monologues are meant as a performance, I think the truth is somewhere in between. He may start off joking, but the moments wherein he screams and cries, those don't strike me as acting so much as a runaway train gathering momentum. You can act yourself right into a disaster.

When I was five I would throw tantrums to protest naptime. They were orchestrated, intentional and very real. It was only when my mother chose to ignore me that I gave up on the tantrums. But it wasn't that I sincerely felt that angry about naptime. I just allowed myself to build off my feelings of resentmunt and let my body do the rest.

I think that Crocker is cultivating moods for the benefit of an audience. But I'm not sure about his abilities of self-control. He sincerely strikes me as unstable.

Since the letters today have been overwhelmingly pro-bicyclist I won't bother preaching to the choir. But I will add to the chorus by shifting focus. I think part of the problem resides in the car culture itself. Why does Peters not consider bikes to be legitimate transportation? If she's a Bush crony chances are she's a devoted and unquestioning member of the car culture. For most Americans their car is an extension of their own ego. They'd no more get rid of their car than chop off their own leg. And anyhow, unless you live in a large city with decent public transportation, riding bicycles is not necessarily convenient. Many areas of the country are threaded by small roads guarded on either side by ditches. You can ride your bike on them, but after the first redneck yayhoo wings you or harasses you for being dumb enough to ride a bicycle, it's easy to become discouraged.

I think that the most important thing we can do to change the attitudes of people like Peters is address car culture itself. Car maintenance is not affordable, it's a hassle and it takes time and energy that would be better spent elsewhere. We are in need of a massive PR campaign the likes of which haven't been seen since RJ Reynolds convinced Americans that it was cool to smoke, or since Ford made the automobile the national symbol for freedom. Tired of sitting in traffic? Get a bike! Sick of making car and insurance payments? The equivalent of one check to your car loan is the equivalent of a decent bicycle that could transport you all year long.

I first saw Chris Crocker a few months ago on a myspace video. Since then he has begun popping up on Youtube with disturbing frequency. It's going to add a whole new meta level of irony when this kid harms himself or someone else in his quest for online notoriety. The part that confuses me the most is his legion of fans that say how funny he is. Is he really funny, or are they just amused by mental instability? I really don't get it.

This is honestly the very first account of the Iraq war that has made any sense. It details the complexity of the problem without the usual propaganda and lies of the administration. I am so very sorry that these three men died.

Our country needs to be out of this war yesterday. Is there not a single ADULT in the entire U.S. congress and senate who would oppose this war? Not one more soldier should die for the face-saving conveniences of George W. Bush.

I think Carey's advice is decent, however nothing is going to keep you from feeling hurt. I also think you need to listen to your own wording; You can't make them stop being friends. You said it yourself. (It's an implication that you've actually tried it and it didn't work.) You've reached an impasse and, although I am not a christian, I think you should consider the serenity prayer. You know, the wisdom to accept the things you cannot change, change the things you can, blah blah. To this end, prepare a statement to both parties involved, your mother and your BF. Let them know you are hurt. Let them know what you want (understanding that if your request is that they stop being friends the answer is probably going to be no.) It's a form of magic to truthfully and simply ask for what you want. The magic part comes when you accept the second part of the task of a real request, which is an acceptance that fulfilling the request is up to them, not you. If your thoughts are on how to force them to do what you want you will automatically lose. Good luck!

One thing I find frustrating about Carey's column is his refusal to ever, ever get tough with the bad guys. As nice as Carey is, I would not want to live in a world run by him. Because let's face it, there are moments in our lives where we are called on to thwart the bullies and (in this case) self-involved @ssholes, even if it is inconvenient, ugly and complicated. I'd rather live unhappily in an apartment with a traitorous couple and their newborn than give in to their ridiculous demands.

Yes, I have noticed, which is why I employ a little tool called gallows humor.