It's in the way that you use it

LV — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:01:17 GMT

Good for Roger Ebert. It can be difficult watching people's appearances change through the course of injuries, illnesses, and treatments, but it's a fact of life. Often, we cloud our feelings about appearance changes by speaking of "dignity." Well, sickness isn't a very dignified state of being, but so what? If Ebert's up to going out, then well he should. Battling an illness doesn't mean you have to stop living. And if anyone would make cruel jokes or criticize him for being sick and looking like it, it'll say a lot more about them than about Ebert.

It's in the way that you use it

NGH, California — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 19:03:24 GMT

Will - On the public access television sex advice, I love the added "NOTE TO HIGH SCHOOL CHORAL GROUPS: Skip this one." Thanks for the laugh!

It's in the way that you use it

KW — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:12:48 GMT

The 6 Degrees of Comp. Sci. site reminds me why I liked learning but hated "school". A bunch of academics picking nits over subtle differences that will only matter in an academic setting, but trying to communicate these differences to a broader, impressionable group of young talent. Of course to 95% of said young talent, these points wont matter one iota when they are out in the real world of producing viable sw products. Not that the differences are not important, but it puzzles me as to why 12th graders would even have this on their radar. Sounds either like academics creating a need for themselves (even more likely, a need to hear themselves) or too much pressure is being put on high school kids to worry about yet another decision that will work itself out anyway once they're in college.

It's in the way that you use it

Rick, St. Helens, OR — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:49:19 GMT

Will, on the same day I read your comment about MILF (with which I agree), I see Brian Alexander has a whole column about it over on another part of MSNBC.com, and even mentions GILF (EWW). I guess MSNBC covers the full spectrum of opinions on this issue!

It's in the way that you use it

Thu, 26 Apr 2007 20:55:45 GMT

I am a woman, and I find "MILF" to be simply disgusting.

It's in the way that you use it

Tommy, Fullerton, CA — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:39:29 GMT

Will,

Re: Coyote Rep and their "soundplays": NPR stations broadcast plays produced by Los Angeles Theatre Works on a weekly basis. My local station, Pasadena City College-based KPCC, hosts these plays online for download the week after they air (http://www.scpr.org/programs/latw/)

What's even better, regardless of it being a rebroadcast of a classic, a reenactment of the same, or an original work, a good many of them use big-name television and movie stars.

My personal favorites include a rebroadcast of "My Favorite Husband" - a radio show that spawned "I Love Lucy" - and a retelling of "War of the Worlds" with the cast of the Star Trek series.

It's in the way that you use it

Jerry, Portland, OR — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 22:21:15 GMT

The Facist America article could be the most important article I have read. It is amazing how many liberties we Americans have given up for the sake of national security. The sad thing is, I don't know how we can get off the path that we are on...

It's in the way that you use it

JD — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 00:29:39 GMT

What a terrible shame that the Bush administration will have to give back their dictatorship in a year and a half. It's just so unfortunate that the fruits of a program that was researched so meticulously, so perfectly executed, at such a large cost, will live such a short life. I would have thought that those who went to the effort of crafting such a thoughtful plan might have considered this small wrinkle and come up with a way to extend their stay for more than a few years. And just think, a few more votes the other way and might have all been for naught. C'est la vie, I guess.

It's in the way that you use it

Jim, Greensboro, NC — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:33:13 GMT

If the christians gave up on christmas? It would revert to the winter solstice celebration it was before, complete with the tree, yule log, food, festivities, gifts and comraderie we all love. More universally appealing than the nativity, now that I think about it!

It's in the way that you use it

Sean N.Y. — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 01:34:55 GMT

I hope this doesn't sound overly nasty but I'm a bit annoyed about Ebert's article. To my knowledge he has kept the extent of his illness a secret until this dramatic "coming out", and now rather haughtily lectures about hiding an illness and chastises gossips in advance for the inevitable shocked response his appearance will garner?
Again, maybe I missed it but all I was hearing during his recuperation was uncontrolled bleeding near his jaw led to complications that needed physical therapy... that's a far cry from having part of your jaw removed and getting a tracheotomy.

It's in the way that you use it

Alex, Lawrence, KS — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:39:02 GMT

I thought the "free audiobooks" link was a rip. Only a dozen titles free as a teaser, then everything else blanketed under a monthly fee? That's like offering free mp3's of Enya but then charging for rock'n'roll. My public library (and I'm sure many others) has downloadable audiobooks and I don't pay a dime for them.

It's in the way that you use it

Circusboy, Chesapeake, VA — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 13:03:19 GMT

Will, I think the article about renting vs. buying is a little misleading, the way their argument is set up. Clearly, comparing return on the endprice of a property vs. an aggregate return on investments over the long term will depend upon individual circumstances, and will be pretty close in most cases--but the author misses one point. The tax deduction on my mortgage is based on my interest rate (6.5% on my $325,000 home). If I had $325,000 cash to drop in the market today, I could get the same return over the long haul, but if I'm renting and investing a little at a time (say $500 a month), the principal amount, and thus the return, will be much smaller. The beauty of home ownership is getting the deduction on borrowed money (mortgage), since only a small percentage of the price of a home is out of pocket. Over the long term, you'll make far more money on property for this reason than if you rent and invest, even if you sell for a loss after some long term (if you own a home and rent it to someone else, then the deal is even sweeter because someone else is paying your mortgage, and you are collecting the deduction). Smart Money themselves even seem to agree with this assessment: http://www.smartmoney.com/home/buying/index.cfm?story=rentown BTW, keep up the good work with the blog!

It's in the way that you use it

Tom, Worcester, MA — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 14:36:27 GMT

Many folks, Christians included, mistakenly assume that Christmas has been celebrated by Christians for 2000 years. In fact, it is a relatively recent phenomenon. A hundred years or so ago Christians didn't celebrate it, and most Christian religions didn't recognize it because of its pagan roots. It reminds me of those folks that think "In God We Trust" was put on everything by the founding fathers, rather than by Eisenhower in the 50s.

It's in the way that you use it

RB, Denver, Colorado — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 16:11:36 GMT

Will, the anorexia ad is the most moving thing I think I have ever seen. It should be shown on television here in the states at every commercial break. People do not think of this as a disease in the form that it truly is. Thanks you for linking to this and hopefully everyone will go and watch it.

It's in the way that you use it

Amy, Cincinnati, Ohio — Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:24:36 GMT

Will - I'm 39 weeks pregnant, and my husband keeps telling me that soon I will be a MILF. I always laugh and feel very flattered, but bringing it up in this context you make a very good point. Thinking about the connotations of the F, if I were out in public without my child and someone said they'd like to F me I would be pretty offended. http://boards.babycenter.com/n/pfx/forum.aspx?tsn=1&nav=messages&webtag=bcus1176&tid=17168 If you're interested, an informal poll about the acronym, asked among women due in May.