was (among other points), that a lot of alcoholics would laugh their a$$ off at him. In the vein of "You call yourself a real drunk and you don't even know how to handle a drunk-driving arrest? Let a veteran tell ya how it's done, boy-o." In other words, they'd laugh at his public persona of Mr. Macho, juxtaposed with his "I'm not going in your car!" comically wacky behavior.

I've attended some open AA meetings--one thing that struck me (as a non-alcoholic)was the laughter involved in such meetings, along with the tears, anger, fear, etc. It's part of the healing (and humbling) process.

While I don't think it's Cary's best work--some of his responses to LWs have been amazing--I can appreciate it in that context.

...the nutjobs would be using it as yet another example of why gays and lesbians shouldn't be allowed to parent. But, since Salon is the only place I saw mention of this mess, I guess the mainstream media is asleep at the wheel and not being poked by its right-wing handlers.

Apparently, it's OK if bats*it straight people do idiotic things but not OK for lesbians to appear with their emotionally healthy and well-loved family on a PBS cartoon show about Vermont.

Thanks, Lynn. Nicely done, by the way.

of the women (and I use that term loosely here) who would want to post to such a site.

Let's face it, neither gender has a monopoly on individuals who are sleazy jerks. Men can be a$$holes, so can women. Why are we always so surprised when women do foul, sleazoid things and not surprised when men do?

Secondly, I'm not sure if there are ramifications in saying someone's a slob...but there very well could be if you publicly accuse someone of having a sexuality transmitted disease, being a deadbeat parent (again, not necessarily gender-exclusive behavior), etc.

With employers googling and researching the Web for info on prospective or current employees and even firing employees over MySpace.com entries, such comments could have serious reprecussions for the accused (true or not, that's almost irrelevant).

The site owner should be held accountable for comments along those lines--when in doubt, take it out (before it gets publicly posted).

Great job holding Lieberman to his own words. He'll never get it. Never has, never will. He can run as an independent if he wants to waste his money. Maybe when he's out of a job in November, the boys at the Hoover Institute will offer him a job...then again, maybe not.

I respect and appreciate your candor and matter-of-factness. Though there've been other pieces, including Discovery Channel shows, about gastric-bypass surgery patients, none has articulated the "what I think I'll miss" issues as articulately and honestly as you have.

My hunch is that you'll find a new-girl righteousness and attitude that will carry you into your new life. Think about what you like and find ways to keep it (through clothing styles, body art, whatever). I hope you love the new girl as much as you appreciated the best of the old.

(Up-front disclosure: I've never been a mom, never wanted to be.) The greater society does seem to have a "fetish" or obsession with pregnancy (in all its trimesters) these days. On the one hand, it is refreshing that some moms and dads are more open about expressing their love for their children. For example, I like seeing one of my brothers-in-law hugging his early-teenage son and telling him he loves him. On the other, one can't help but feel we're treating pregnancy as either a handicap or something that requires the involved individual be put on a pedestal.

I've seen "pregnant moms only"-designed parking spots at supermarkets and even at a gym near me (suburbia)...right next to the handicapped spots. I'm all for the handicapped spots--I've even called the police on able-bodied jacka$$es who take those spots out of ignorance and laziness. (Boy, do most of those folks get pissy! One tried to run me over. Perhaps they do have a disability after all...)

If a woman's pregnancy constitutes a handicap, and I understand some do, then let them get temporary handicapped tags. But to coddle women just because they're pregnant seems ridiculous, whether here or in Tokyo, particularly when there are people every day who are often more deserving of consideration.

P.S. If I'm a little cranky today, it's because I'm facing the very immediate possibility of putting to sleep a very dear 17-year-old boy with cancer, who happens to be a cat (at least in this life).

...when it began with the story about the investment banker who brought the nanny on the business trip (and made her sit in coach). Why not pick an anecdote about a middle-class woman and her challenges? Maybe something others could more relate to?

This is yet another example of the Times (along with the Today show and others of that ilk) reporting on what the tips they get from their friends on the Upper East Side. Like the Today show piece about second-hand Prada.

Hello? Middle America is worrying about how to pay for health care, mortgages, college and these clowns feel it's necessary to tell us about how six-figure-salaried MBAs have it tough? Wake up and smell the Dunkin' Donuts coffee that the rest of us working stiffs drink.

Can save this bonehead from himself...Yet another clueless bast*rd being foisted upon us as a viable candidate for public office.

...1. that the Dipsh*it in Chief has finally finished "My Pet Goat"?

and 2. that there is now a comic-stripe version of "The Stranger"?

I meant "comic-strip"...guess I'd better start again with "My Pet Goat"...