Over the past few years, my two closest friends (my partner and brother) and I have discussed this very subject. We've all been burned (as other LWs mentioned) by people we considered and treated as friends. Perhaps times have changed but--until recently--our standards haven't.

I, too, used to make friends through work and school. But generally I pretty much keep to myself. I am selective about sharing my life--that is sharing feelings. Sharing facts is not the same as sharing feelings, though few acquaintenances seem to get that. For example, I recently shared with some colleagues about having to put my beloved 17-year-old cat to sleep. However, with only a couple of colleagues, whom I consider friends, did I share how I felt about doing so and how I miss him, why he was so important in my life and to me. I've even not shared about the fact of his passing with other colleagues, even though it is significant in my life, because I simply don't care to. They don't "rate" a sharing, per se.

My partner has seen a close friendship with a couple (she is a godparent to their twins) fade into near-extinction. In part because she's in school as well as working. In part because their lives seem focused around the kids (they now have a third) and their lives. Perhaps we're all cocooning more these days. Our time seems more limited and rushed. Communication takes different forms these days too: My brother and I live about 2 hours apart and e-mail nearly every day, speak several times a week by phone. But we see each other in person maybe 4-8 times a year.

I don't consider myself lonely--and I'm certainly not bored--but I suppose I am a loner. Or maybe socially isolated by choice is a better term. I'm not much for small talk, dislike bars, etc. And after a long day, I'd rather go to the gym, ride, play with the cats (including the one who was "mentored" by the old guy and is missing him, too), read, etc. Perhaps too, because communication can be more intense when it does occur--bursts of e-mail, cell phone calls, etc.--I crave more quiet, down time.

I've heard of some schools that also educate students about the cost of raising a child. This might prove a real eye-opener for teens. An allowance and a part-time job may help pay for your clothes but won't stretch that far with an infant or toddler.

Perpetuating the myth that the only thing that counts as "oral sex" is when the person pleasured is a man. Why not note that the classes specifically are geared toward oral sex performed on men? Instead, you show your heterosexist viewpoint.

As a lesbian, I can tell you I have a broader (no pun intended) definition of "oral sex". And I'll bet I'm not the only one who does.

...does Katherine Harris have an radio transmitter? (Not that I'm volunteering to find out, mind you...) Frankly, I've known a few pythons and they're better company and generally do less harm than Harris and her ilk.

On a serious note, good story on a serious problem.

the mainstream media will do anything not to have to cover the real news. Pick apart a confessed murderer's story? Wow, where's that dang Pulitizer nomination form?

Hey, it beats ticked off Tony Snow, Darth Cheney, et.al. to do real news. It beats having to wear out Prada heels (and whatever male hotshots wear) hotfooting it all over the capitol to ask "Why the f*ck aren't you thinking about impeaching this lame, corrupt bast*ard?! Why aren't you doing more for working Americans? About the gas crisis? Katrina victims? To really fight terror? To find Bin Laden?"

Rove doesn't need to be there in Boulder, stirring up the ghosts of ineptitude past. He's got the asleep-at-the-wheel media to do the job for him. Boy, I can't wait til summer's over and Katie Couric can chime in from her new vanity desk...

One reason for the change of heart by "security moms": for some, their kids now may be closer to draft age or sign-up age--perhaps the reality that their children may go to this mess of a civil war in Iraq for no good reason has changed their minds. That and the price of gas for their Hummers, Tahoes and Excursions is now through the roof (wasn't the invasion of Iraq supposed to bring prices down?).

Consider this: There are probably people at Liberty U who bought that ad space and who are now flipping out as much as you liberals,horrified that their school's ad is the same page as a review of a gay Christian's book.

Perhaps Salon knew exactly what it was doing in placing the copy and ad juxtaposed as they are. If Liberty U wants to advertise on Salon, so be it. It allows Salon to pay for the review of Kevin Jennings' book.

By the way, thank you, Salon, for the review. I agree, Jennings doesn't directly answer the question. However, he suggests in his comments that he believes the Jesus he learned about in church is the one he follows, not Jesus' racist, redneck followers who said "amen" on Sundays but then acted completely the opposite in their sad everyday lives.

Did someone bury this column somewhere for 3 months, suddenly realize they had it and dust it off? The whole Anderson Cooper issue is months old, as is his book, as is the JUNE cover story in Vanity Fair.

And, frankly, nothing in this column tells us anything new. Is this the Salon equivalent of a Larry King interview?

...you could have let Broadsheet readers miss out on this "gem", Rebecca. What, is Sarah Goldstein on vacation so you've got to fill in the celebri-trash item of the day?