I absolutely love Rachel Maddow. I never feel that she’s being mean just to make good tv. She really tries to discuss the truth of a situation. Granted, truth is subjective, but she is sincere in wanting to get to the heart of the matter. And she is always polite to guests on her show. She doesn’t need to shout or yell to make her point. 

I absolutely love her.

I really feel for LW#1. How awful to loose respect for your father. If I were the daughter, I would be very firm and say "If you speak that way about my step sister, you cannot be around me." And then I would physically leave any time he did it, or disconnect the call if it was over the phone. This might sound extreme, but somebody needs to stand up for the poor girl who will have to live with this man for six or more years.

I would also advise the letter writer to try to build a friendship with the girl, so that she knows she has some support within the family.

Okay, I have been able to make my computer play the whole thing, and it was interesting to hear the different points of view. I definitely hope you’ll post the audio version for future conversations, too!

What a complex subject it is. Monogamy, nonmonogamy, honesty, and cheating… I bet humans have been dealing with this kind of thing for as long as we’ve existed. Whatever your views on it, I definitely agree that this is not something that should be played out on the public stage. There are a lot of situations where I wish it would stay private. But then, these guys are into big risk taking behaviour, so they’re not even discreet about it. That’s part of the whole "alpha male" psychology.

I enjoyed your discussion about the difference between the "good wife" and the "good husband". This definitely is a gender based issue. Men are slightly more likely to cheat. But at the same time, I think they are more monogamous than women, because they’re more likely to expect complete monogamy from their wife, and they’re much more likely to leave if their spouse cheats. It really doesn’t seem fair.

By the way, here is the etymology of adultery:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?search=adultery&searchmode=none

I have to say I would so love to read your autobiography, if you were to ever write it. You seem to have led a very intersting life. 

Every body mentions how it may be a health problem, and you are all probably right. However, to put things in perspective, most chips and jello are equally unnatural, and carry similar risks.

I would never make this a regular thing. Nothing will replace the joy of home made ice-cream, made with any flavor that I choose, any sweetener I choose (I pick honey, not sugar), and the fat level I choose (decent ice-cream can be made in the full range from skim milk to full cream). But I wouldn’t mind trying the pudding jello ice cream thing,  once in a long while. It’s all about balance.

In regards to money, I give, if it is within my means, but I don’t lend. With friends, I don’t want to ruin the relationship with potential bad feelings. With family, I don’t ask for it back, because we don’t need to keep score. I know they will be there for me, to the very best of their ability, if and when I need help.

With posessions, I lend freely to my family. I also happily lend to those friends who demonstrate that they respect me, and will respect my property.

However, one thing I absolutely NEVER do is lend books. I do not lend books, even if I’m seeing them the next day, and they promise to bring it back with them. I do not lend books, even if I have read the most life changing tome, and I long to share it with the world. I do not lend books, even if they profess to be as much of a book worm as I am, cherishing each volume like a precious child. It’s just not worth the cost of constantly replacing my library.

I’m in my 20’s, but I’m no supermodel. Still, I like to swim, so I do. For those who don’t like looking at me, well, I assume they are at the pool or beach to swim, and not to take entertainment from looking at me. My purpose for being there is certainly not to entertain them. I like to think the best of people, though, and I like to assume that people are too busy enjoying the water or company of their companions to be evaluating me and judging whether or not I’m attractive enough to deserve to be present.

I do wear a t-shirt with my bathing suit, however. I keep it on, in and out of the water. I also use a private change stall. I’m very comfortable with myself. I just don’t need to share all of myself with everybody around! It’s a privacy issue, though, not a body image issue. I wish I looked better, but I am what I am. I might as well go out there and do the things I love, so that I can be interesting, even if I’m not beautiful.