I guess I should be happy there's a lot in that review of the stuff that's usually missing from the NYTBR. But I probably won't really be happy until Janet Maslin is gone. I've never been wild about her, but her reviews have grown ever more obnoxious. (Did you read the one on James Frey's novel? Yech.) I think…

I heard a story on this this morning, and I had to admit at one point that it sounded like a dog who obsessively chases his tail for hours is probably in need of some mental assistance.

@DJDeeJay: Totally agree. I found her post-State of the Union pretty mediocre, but it had nothing to do with her being a woman. It had to do with her kind of blowing it. For me, that's the major strike against her, I need to see she can hold under pressure. But let's not make a crappy speech a "femininity" issue,…

I have finally found a gyno with a great office, with helpful staff, who regularly call me if anything of note turns up. Like when they found yeast in my pap smear, they called in a prescription for me right away and gave me a nice call. It has made all the difference. Ladies, shop around. It made it much easier…

@PilgrimSoul: Well, actually I meant make choices about your own life, your own job, your own body. I may despise the women who protest abortion clinics, but it's not because they choose not to have abortions. It's because of the way they judge other women. Any time you judge another woman's choices, I think it…

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Feminism should be about letting a woman make whatever choice she wants to make and no one judging her for it. I can't even imagine being surrounded by pro-life family and friends who wouldn't be supportive after that kind of difficult decision. Thanks for putting the…

@westvillagegirl (exhiled in chicago): I was just wondering what the stats were on women with guns who actually know how to use them. I believe I've heard in the past that even though women own guns for protection, many don't actually know how to use them properly. I think anyone who has one should know what they're…

A question for the plotfinder. Last night, laying in bed, I suddenly remembered this book I read—I think it may have been a series of several books. It was historical, set in the American West, probably the 1800's but maybe early 1900's. It was about a group of siblings who were orphaned and were going out west on…

@NotNotLickingToads: I agree. It wasn't a big issues-oriented ruling. More about the idea of punitives in general and what we want them to mean. And I got that $6 billion from the NYT story linked to.

Obama's stance to me sounds like it's actually about state's rights instead of his own personal feelings on the matter. And I don't think he's completely wrong on the issue. Gotta love that big vague constitution of ours.

@J.D.Regent: It appears she's the attorney ad litem for both. It's not uncommon if someone's already represented ad litem to have their representation continue into some connected action, like there is here. Malonis did represent her in the custody case, though she was given special restrictions by the Judge. It's…

I just read this book last week. It's actually not all about a violent feminist compound. It's only like that in bits. I found it quite interesting, even if the character development was slightly lacking. I actually prefer it to Handmaid's Tale, which I've never liked. (I will stick up for Atwood, though. Blind…

Could I suggest something relatively old school? The Girl of the Limberlost by Gene Stratton Porter was one I found late but really loved. I think it's ripe for rediscovering. (Same goes for I Capture the Castle.)

@oeditrix: I think they are, but I'm not sure why. Especially because they are always preaching tolerance. And most Mormons I know, especially the younger set, are pretty tolerant of gays. They have gay friends, they probably wouldn't really care that much.

First of all, the polygamy issue is not really relevant. Let's discuss it at another more relevant time.

@Philthyist again.: Meant the Nerve article, not this one. Sorry, thought I was specific.

Does everything have to be such a symbol? Can't you just wear a diamond because you like it? And it's pretty? And because it's not blue or red or green you don't have to worry about whether it goes with your outfit?

Now don't go blaming Georgia for this. While I understand the temptation everyone in the entire country has to blame crazy things on the South, this happened in DeKalb County. The 2nd biggest county in the state. It happened in Atlanta.

@arodriguez.romero: Uh, yeah. Who cares about the fact that women in heterosexual relationships are still subject to patriarchal stereotypes? Let's talk about law school.

@snarkhunting: You could say the kid stole your purse. Robbery has a legal connotation, stealing doesn't. And if you said the kid robbed you, technically there could be an objection. I completely agree that it's a proper colloquial term. It's just that colloquial terms are meaningless in the courtroom. And yes,…