The Alaska population is about 660,000, of which 260,000 live in Anchorage. This includes my brother and his wife, who are high school teachers. Having visited for my brother's wedding this summer, I can say that in many ways it's an ordinary city that could be plopped down in any number of states.

Of course, the state is a bit strange. I can make jokes about how in spite of Alaska's overabundance of men, my sister-in-law had to import a man from Southern California to marry, or my brother can explain to me the complicated rules of keeping one's neighborhood bear-proofed even if one lives downtown, and although in wintertime he almost never sees the sun during the school week, he can go surfing or fishing or play softball at 11 p.m. during the summer. But a plurality of the people in the state live in someplace that's not super-extraordinary.

If you don't need a professional to cut your hair, more power to you. And, you're very lucky. I am a true minimalist when it comes to "beautification." I dress neatly but not stylishly, I don't wear makeup, I color my own hair, and -- g-d help me -- I wouldn't let one of those Lasik guys near my eyes if *he* paid *me*, so I wear glasses. But the hairdresser who cuts my "difficult" hair -- which is wavy and very fine, but there's lots of it, and I have several odd cowlicks -- is my one must-have beauty indulgence.

As for the LW -- yes, you need to just keep getting your hair cut by the person who does it right. If your friend can't accept this, it is his problem, not yours. And I liked the suggestion about referring other people to him, if you know what sort of hair he cuts well.

You have it right.

I personally have never understood why *any* man, when facing unequivocal "no!" from a woman he's having sex with would keep going...

unless he's a rapist.

Argh.... Misinformation on this *frustrates* me so much! I work in this area -- here's some perspective:

Approximately 1 in 200 people in the US is HIV-infected. This is not the lowest rate in the world, but it's pretty far down there.

In sub-Saharan Africa, anywhere from 1 in 10 to ONE IN THREE people are infected, depending on the country. The country I work with the most, Botswana, is one of those one in three places.

Male circumcision may help prevent HIV transmission not only on its own, but because condoms tend to stay on a circ'd penis better...

Kerry Healey & co. tried to gain points by digging up the (very old) news that Patrick's brother-in-law did time for raping Patrick's sister. She and her husband have reconciled and now live here in MA. Somehow KH tried to use this as further evidence that Patrick lurves rapists.

This tactic went over like a lead balloon (in other words, MA voters tend to be well-informed, free-thinking sorts, and didn't fall for it.)

I think Muffy belongs back on the North Shore with her rich hubby. I'm voting for Deval Patrick, thankyouverymuch.

I went and had a look at the photo of Demi Moore in the NY Post. She does NOT look young. At all. Serious crowsfeet, loose skin under the jaw, etc. She looks... fake. I mean... those cheeks! I am almost sure they are implants. The permanently startled look one gets from too much Botox. I'm about the same age, and I look a lot younger -- no plastic surgery here, just good genes and staying out of the sun and never smoking cigs.

I am not criticizing her at all, except perhaps to wonder why, if she spent however much she did on plastic surgery, she doesn't look better.

Three years ago, there were budget cuts in Ohio, and one of the things cut was *sanitary napkins* for women in prison! The women would get 12 pads per month and have to pay for the rest out of the tiny amount of money (less than $20/month) they could earn doing chores around the prison.

I don't know the outcome, but "Operation Mad Pad" was a grass-roots protest in which women sent (unused) sanitary napkins to the governor of Ohio. I was one of the women who sent him that little present. Does anyone know what ended up happening?