I wonder if the criticism of Michelle’s bare arms has to do with the view of some that going sleeveless is too "sexy" of a look, ie that this is our inner puritan coming out.  I was shocked a couple of years ago to find out from a teacher friend of mine that teachers aren’t supposed to wear sleeveless tops, as they are too sexy for those young men and promote an innappropriate atmosphere for the classroom.  I had never thought of sleeveless tops myself, but being a healthy hetero woman I guess I’m not affected that way. 

I feel for Rhianna, going through this in the public eye.  I hope she soon comes to realize she is whole on her own, she doesn’t need this guy in her life.  Of course abusers have their attractive qualities, otherwise no one would be sucked in in the first place.  I hope for his sake Chris Brown can change, but he should do so on his own.

You imply that it is some sort of right to make a profit on your home, that home values should only go up, not down.  This has never been true, and recent events prove that.  Expecting your home to make money for you is the real fallacy.

She didn’t seem ill at ease when she popped in on daughter Bristol’s interview with Fox News.  Perhaps its only when someone’s trying to pin her down on what she actually plans to do that she gets jumpy.

I think Madonna would do well to emulate Tina Turner—who radiates sex appeal to this day, but at least as far as I know, doesn’t pose for the kind of photo spreads you describe M is doing.

Another advantage to books—don’t need electricity to operate them. We take it for granted, but not everywhere and every time will electricity be available. What about a camping trip, a power outage? Times when you need books most they may be least available if they all go digital. I can see getting to a crucial point in the story, and blip, the battery goes dead or another glitch makes the screen go blank. No thanks.

Also, what about the thrill of having the author sign your copy of the book, or writing an inscription in a book you give as a gift?

I only half listen to the attendant, who usually is going over stuff I have memorized, like how to do the seatbelt, and that you can use your seat cushion as a flotation device. I do, however, study the card in the seatback with the information on the type of plane, where the exits are etc. And I look around, to see where my closest exits are.

Rachel has all the characteristics I want in an interviewer/radio host. She is smart, congenial, and has a wide range of issues that she cares about and discusses. We should have more hosts like her, and fewer like Bill O, who specialize in bullying everyone with their points of view.

I have to admit it does make a difference to me, I feel a little let down. Not that I blame them for the decision, but I felt like I was seeing it happen, and it turns out they were just doing a good imitation of the real thing. Although I also heard that they really did play, but only those nearby could hear, what went over the speakers was the tape. Somehow that is more okay with me, although if one or more of the strings had broken, as stated as one of the reasons for going with the recording, the jig would have been up in real time instead of all of us finding out a day or so later.

You mean “Simple Gifts”

I hope he didn’t stop her from doing this, that its a crazy rumor. Who wouldn’t want their wife to learn to dance better, get in shape (maybe she’d develop a little muscle), and have a good time. If he did, shame on him. And she should do it anyway.

I’m fairly sure you meant to say Heather Mills, as Linda died in 1998, and I don’t think DWTS was on then.

I had heard that its not that more children aren’t “allowed”. But a 2nd child, except in certain instances like those mentioned, means that the family loses some of the subsidies they receive and/or the fees they will pay for the 2nd child’s education and such go up. Its more a penalty, a financial incentive if you will to limit family size. Which is the opposite of the U.S. policy, where if you have more kids, you get more tax breaks, are eligible for more government assistence, etc.

Coulter is a fringe element, apparently one Repubs like to read. But seriously, she thinks we’re going to swallow that there is no Republican Attack Machine? Its alive and well, chugging along even though they failed to bring down Obama. And I have trouble respecting an author who writes a book referring to our president-elect as B. Hussein Obama. Seems like an attempted smear and attack in an off itself, on a non-issue, a person’s name.