Editor’s Note: The following comments have been edited for length.

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Comment to The Question of the Day on February 23
By joan larsen on 02/23/2009 1:22 am

For years, the beginning of my morning is sitting with the New York Times, turning the pages, reading the sections one by one, and not only learning but truly enjoying the sheer quality of the writing.  I think all who have grown up with newspapers arriving at their homes feel the same way.

But that is us .   .   . and ahead of us we already see the future — already so different than the world that we have known before the advent of instant news, transmitted as it happens on our TVs.  There is a rush to our lives that we have not seen before.  The more leisurely times seem gone and we can catch the news on the streets on our latest gadgets that become more sophisticated by the day.

It seems like sacrilege to question, BUT we are seeing newspapers and magazines thinning in the last months, and many failing.  Doesn’t it seem that the handwriting is on the wall?  I have a feeling that the upcoming generations are not going to pay for a newspaper online.  They aren’t as discriminating - for the most part - as we have been.  The bare bones will do - and they will do their own investigation if they want details. 

Do I like the thought.  I hate it.  But technology has changed our world — and continues to as I write.  I see so many things that I hold dear disappearing.  For newspapers - and before too long - the die is cast.

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Comment to a Photo Essay on February 23
By Lauriate Roly on 02/23/2009 12:44 pm

The gowns were beautiful. Every one a winner.  Designs and colors gorgeous in their simplicity.  If challenged financial times caused this remarkable improvement from the expected norm for such star studded events, then we should rejoice in the result.  Perhaps the existing international financial shortfall may cause a domino effect towards improvement in other areas where unbridled and blind spending and over-lavish expenditures have usually proceeded unchecked. 

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Comment to a Post on February 23
By Lily Rose on 02/23/2009 10:57 am

My friends, both Secretary Clinton and international diplomacy are far too complex to be reduced to the dichotomy of either "breath of fresh air" or "lightning rod."

As always, the answer is in the shades of grey in between.

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Comment to a Friend Stopped By on February 24
By Maurine H on 02/24/2009 4:21 pm

loved this article, not only because it points out that women have a different world view from men, but also because Myers doesn’t seek to make men look like a bunch of doofuses. When international communities, and especially their political leadership, acknowledge the equal talents of women and men, we’ll see more laws and programs that benefit families, increased development and management of our natural resources, and fewer wars. It’s a quantum leap from the present world status, but women as respected and influential decision-makers can be the catalysts to make the changes and progress so key to our survival as civilized beings.

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Comment to a Post on February 24
By Sam Mirando on 02/24/2009 1:27 pm

When my daughter was in her first year as an undergrad at Harvard, she told us that she had some official role on her staircase.  I forget the exact name but it was something like, "Freshman Rep." I asked her about her responsibilities and she said, "Basically, I’m the ‘Condom Lady.’  It’s my responsibility to make sure that there are always condoms in a basket outside my door.  Recently, I had to make an extra ‘condom run’ to the University Health Services because a guy on the football team was expecting his girlfriend for a long weekend."
Way to go, Harvard!  Free tampons AND free condoms.

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Comment to The Question of the Day on February 26
By Ms. Dee on 02/26/2009 6:54 am

What’s on my mind?  Regarding the nation?

Where can I go?  What can I do?  How do I correct my own course at this point, shore up my own integrity, reflect my own sense of ethics?  How can I be a better neighbor?  How do I re-engage.  Many people have reminded us that Obama is only one man, but look at all he’s taken on.  Well, I’m one woman, and while I may regret that I have but one life to give for my country,  Where can I do the most good?

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Comment to a Post on February 20
By nanchan u on 02/22/2009 10:05 am

It is my understanding that Trump did not declare personal bankruptcy.  It was his Entertainment division in Atlantic City that did, and while he had been on the Board of Directors, he had actually quit the week before that entity declared bankruptcy due to " management differences" (not a direct quote but a paraphrase).

Kind of takes the wind out of most of this article, but the distinction needs to be made.  Trump and many other business people have seen this recession/depression coming for years.  They will ride this out and probably come out better than ever.
It reminds me of a quote from "Gone with the Wind" (the book, not the movie): Rhett, talking to Scarlett says something along the lines of " There are two times to make money, in the buildup of an empire and in the decline.  And it is faster and easier to make it in the decline"  I know I had to paraphrase that again, but you catch my drift.  People like Trump will take this sitution and work it to their advantage.

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Comment to a Post on February 26
By joan larsen on 02/26/2009 10:28 am

Somewhere - be it in the late 50s, 60s, and beyond - for most of us a lightbulb flashes in our brain with the words of wisdom we were too "busy" to understand - even ponder - in our younger years.  For those of us who have been successful - and then more successful - many of us have existed and have been puffed up with the plaudits, the awards - the honors, the bonuses, the look of others when they realize who is in the room.  It is a heady experience and, for most, takes over their world.  They may want a woman/man on their arm that signifies that "they have it ALL". 

BUT suddenly - when the light goes on - when the awards are shoved in the attic and closet and our star begins to fade - we realize that if we did not have love - LOVE in big letters in our lives - we have had a life half-lived.

In life, we should have had our priorities right.  We should have realized that our inner life has been shallow to non-existant and we have not that many years of good health left.  I find that the eyes tell a lot, but it is the vitality in the look, the step, the excitement in life that often tells the tale of love or no love.

Frankly, I don’t think it is ever too late for love to enter your life.  But if you have given up, have not had that door wide open for love to enter, it is just plain "your own fault".  You don’t have to be beautiful … but for gosh sake, you have to have a true belief in yourself - a confidence that comes from within.  A smile will attract a bee as to honey.  Caring, reaching out to others, not hanging out at home and feeling sorry for yourself which so many do (you all know that "poor me" syndrome, don’t you?) 

For many who married young or didn’t have the success the first time around, I often think that love is so much more many-faceted after 50.  You find you are appreciated, loved for that real you that has been there all the time.  And the love affair between two people is more treasured.  How will you tell.  Look at the eyes of the other as they ARE windows to the soul.  See how you are treated — and your WANTING to treat the other as a prince.  If you see that and are willing to GET OUT YOUR OWN DOOR AS MUCH AS YOU CAN, I believe that chances are that you will encounter magic — and what a life you may have in front of you.

I see it happen more than you would believe.  The soulmate often happens at a later time — but I promise he is worth the wait.  When LOVE happens, you seem to stay at the top of the world no matter your circumstances.

How do I know all this?  I speak from my own life and from observing and talking to those around me and asking them questions.  The word LOVE is reallly not definable — but when you have it in your heart, you know it.  You will learn and grow by getting out your door, and that alone should make you stand out as you will have that inner glow.  Then watch what happens — for who will be able to resist the newly confident woman they see?

Today is the day to start going for it.  Procrastination is a disease that kills in each own way — for we are talking about your heart.

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Comment to a Post on February 27
By - Nikki - on 02/27/2009 1:01 am

To both ladies: "Don’t make someone a priority when they only view you as an option."