Liz—I had a similar thought, when I heard Palin’s resignation speech, the image of Evita on the balcony singing "Don’t Cry for Me Argentina" floated through my head.  Too funny.  Think you’re right, she may well become a big player in GOP national politics in a year or so.

My fav Whoopi role was in "Jumpin Jack Flash" —still makes me laugh.  Hope she gets the roles she’s looking for.

Its not something I would choose either —big public funeral/memorial. But people make their own choices.  Remember the big public funeral or Reagan, versus the private services for Gerald Ford.  I’m more of a Ford, but can’t begudge the Reagans their method of grieving (or celebrating his life).

Addition is a tough demon to fight—look at all those who can’t stop smoking.  Don’t judge unless you’ve walked a mile in someone’s shoes.

I think you were a bit off in the post, obviously written before the memorial. There was no hysteria, just respectful and patient fans, family and friends filing into the Staples Center and taking in the memorial.  I can’t speak for others, but although I found MJ an odd and at times bizarre person, I never believed he was a child molester.  Still don’t.  To me his passing reminds me that life is short, don’t waste time on unimportant things.  And what will my legacy be?  His will be mixed, but I think the music will outweigh all else in the end.

Well, the media talked a lot of Anna Nicole Smith for the 1st year after her death, and she was a minor twinkle in the sky compared to Michael.  Think we’ll be hearing about this for a long while.

My suggestion to #1 is to go along with him once in a while.  My mom fished with my dad for years, she basically drowned a lot of worms.  But she loved being out on the lake, watching the sunsets, talking with us kids, being together.  Fishing is about more than catching fish.  And she negociated having him join her once in while on things she liked, like going to the theatre, movies etc., that wasn’t his first choice.  Worked for them, and they were very close in the last years of his life.

We may never know her true motivations, but my going on a book tour, and doing these public interviews, she has legitimized our gossipy wondering of her motives and decisions.  You can’t have both your privacy and broadcast your take of the situation on national TV.

I don’t think we have the right to judge Elizabeth on why she stayed with John, but I think we can legitimately question why she agreed to continue the campaign after she knew about the affair, and knew it was likely to come out sometime (she advised John to quit).  She deceived the American public on his qualifications (knowing that he would lose the general if the affair came out).  And I’m really puzzled about the book and the Oprah appearance.  Why discuss it so publically if you want to live your own life. Its like asking for people to weigh in with their opinions.  Personally I think that perhaps subconsiously Elizabeth wanted to attack Rielle and by implication the baby, forcing a resolution to the "is it his or not" question that’s been hanging out there. 

A great series with historical details and foreign setting are the Mamur Zapt series by Michael Pearce.  They are sent in early 20th century Eygpt.  Have read two so far and love them.

Interesting comment about the protein.  I have been having a larger, higher protein lunch lately, and find that I then am less hungry in the evening, and usually eat a small dinner, and snack less.

Interesting bit about Astaire’s widow.  Wonder if deep down (or not so deep down) this is her revenge on him for whatever she feels slighted about.  Seems it may be another sad example of men making unwise choices when it comes to the women they love.

My guess, and its only a guess, is that she wants David to have a sibling with the same ethnic heritage.  I know of many people who adopt more than one child from the same country (like China, Korea) so the kids will have a sibling who looks like them

This isn’t just a Madonna problem, I’d like to see a wider discussion on the roadblocks put in place for prospective adoptive parents.  I have a close friend, with a good job, flexible hours, great all around, who has limited adoption options because many countries won’t consider single parent adoption. I think we need to look more at the needs of the children, not the moral strictures of the society—which is better, a single parent or growing up in an orphanage? Seems a simple answer to me.

And an "Amen" to the cable noisemakers.  Thanks for the reminder that not all that many folks are listening to their loud, often trivializing, analysis of politics.

Fact 1: childhood obesity is considered an epidemic

Fact 2: Sasha and Malia are admired by kids and tweens across the nation.

With these two facts in evidence, I think in general the idea of promoting healthy eating by posting some of the White House menus is a good one. I wouldn’t want them to post say, whether Sasha refused to eat her cauliflower, or how many apples Malia eats per day, but think its not a violation of privacy to say —on Tuesday, we had baked chicken, green beans, and fruit for desert.