Melanie Waldrop

My Comments (287 so far…)

Yes! (Or, Oh No): <i>Time</i>'s The State of the American Woman

All Americans, whether male or female, should be incensed and afraid of this piece of legislation which is about to go into effect in Oklahoma:http://thinkprogress.org/2009/10/08/oklahoma-abortion-online/

Margo Howard: The Origins of Obama Rage?

The sad truth is that people of color have to go above and beyond to prove themselves in this world. Former President Carter, Margo Howard, et al, are spot on about this. Had Hillary Clinton been elected, the same people taking pot-shots at Obama, would have been aiming just as low. People who have been ‘traditionally’ discriminated against must work twice as hard because they are allowed no errors; a statement or an action that would have gone unnoticed in the past are rabidly attacked if attributed to a leader who is from a minority group.

Liz Smith: CNN Celebrates Ms. Christiane Amanpour

I have long admired Ms. Amanpour. I hope her new show is a great success!

On the anniversary of 9/11, what do you carry in your heart about this day?

I was home sick from work on 9/11/2001. I was watching a report on the first plane that crashed into the twin towers, and saw the second crash live. The horror, fear, and heart-sickness I experienced was profound. I had never felt that way before, and I pray to God that I may never feel that way again…It was just devastating.

Dear Margo: Marrying For Money Is a Tough Way To Earn a Living

Gold digger needs to remember that having a sugar daddy isn’t as easy as it used to be. In days gone by, a woman like "Gd" could marry a much older wealthy man, give birth to her one ‘heir/insurance kid’, and know that in the evenings she could diaper both her baby and her husband and put them both to bed, leaving the rest of the night open for herself and the pool boy, the maid, the personal assistant, or whomever. Those days are but a blissful memory today; viagra (one of the worst things that has ever happened to women, IMO)/ cialis/ etc., has changed the ways of the past. Now the sugar daddy wants to stay up late and be entertained. So, Gd, bein’ a trophy just aint what it used to be!

The wOw Conversation: The Summer of '69 … and Then Some

I vividly remember the week of the Manson murders because my parents started talking about ‘murdering hippies’. I was 6 years old, and I was out with my father, who was buying school supplies for me (clunky pencils, a King Edward Cigar box,etc.) and I remember the car radio news discribing the murders. I questioned my father—and later my mother—about what I’d heard on the news…The gist of their explanations to me were that there were drug-addled hippies out murdering people, and that I should be afraid. This is my first recollection of having fear of the ‘outside world’. You can imagine my suprise several years later when I first heard about the Woodstock festival—a celebration of love and peace organized and attended by….hippies—which also occured during that same hot month in 1969!

Caption This!

Now I’M gonna tell ya how to ‘serve’ lobster!

Do you drink coffee?

I love coffee but, alas, coffee does not love me. Due to severe acid reflux and esophageal spasm I haven’t been able to drink it for about the last decade. I miss it every day, though (especially on cold winter mornings as I get up ay 4 am to make my long trek to work).

Dear Margo: Sick of the Tall Remarks

As a person who is "vertically challenged" I’d like to say that we of diminuitive size were not spared rude comments either. I was the youngest of four children, and the only one who was really short (my oldest brother is about 6’2") and I was called "runt" my whole childhood. Myparents would even comment within earshot of me that they "ran out" on me. I cannot express what this did to my self image growing up. When I had children of my own I endured comments about their small size. So, in sum, I’d just like to say to say to "Tired.." to remember that those who go around deriding others generally do it so they do not have to focus upon themselves. Rudeness says volumes more about the giver than it does the receiver. Margo’s advise is great…raise your daughter to feel good about herself and she will grow into a grounded, confident young woman who can be empathetic to others.

Liz Smith: Classic Dish on Classic Stars

There was an account in Gavin Lambert’s biography of actress Alla Nazimova which convets Marlene Dietrich’s magnetism. Nazimova was backstage after a performance in a play when she recieved a visit from Dietrich. After being invited into Madame’s dressing room, Marlene grabbed a chair, turned it around and sat on it backwards, leaning on the back of the chair. She looked Nazimova straight in the eyes and said "Take off your wig". The older actress was disquieted by the request, but she complied. Nazimova stated that this was something she would NEVER ordinarily do, but she was totally disarmed by Marlene’s blue eyes. Marlene’s reply to Madame sans wig: "That’s better".

I think of this story whenever I read anything about Marlene Dietrich. She was beautifully and, no doubt, extremely charming in person, as well as on the screen. That she used that charm to promote the Allied cause against her native country showed both courage and class. Thanks for sharing your personal memories of her with us, Mr. Riva.

Pennsylvania Gym Shooter George Sodini Had Pent-Up Rage Toward Women (Video)

It is undeniably easier for someone who is hell-bent on multiple homicide (especially when one wants to kill specific individuals) to do so with guns. If nothing else, not everyone is technically capable of making pipe bombs (Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris tried, but their bombs malfunctioned…their guns did their deadly work though!).

Pennsylvania Gym Shooter George Sodini Had Pent-Up Rage Toward Women (Video)

I cannot help but wonder if this guy ever applied to any of the MANY internet dating communities available. I suspect he didn’t. He just seems like sociopath with an agenda to take out all of his rage and pain on innocent people. In his mind women (any and all women) were responsible for his unhappiness in life…Of course, his lack of sexual and/or life partners could not be attributed to anything which was wrong with HIM! George Sodini exemplified the reason that mental illness is such a difficult problem to treat. A person who doesn’t believe he needs any help can never be helped.

Caption This!

Out, out damned spot!

Caption This!

The cat sed dis wuz teh best hidin’ place evah!

Ruth Madoff 'Embarrassed and Ashamed,' 'Betrayed' by Husband's Scam

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me! There is no way that I am buying that Ruth Madoff was unaware of what Bernie was doing! She worked along side him for so long, as did his sons…There is no way that this scheming and scamming was not, on some level, a family affair. I am sorry but I am not losing sleep over the tragedy of Ruth Madoff giving up 80 million in assats or the fact that now she must (*gasp*) ride the subway along with all the common people. Madoff, and his family, may hold themselves in high regard because of the money they have and the power they once weilded, but they are not worthy of touching the feet of most of the common people of this world. It is high time Mr. and Mrs. Madoff got a dose of hard reality!