I find football about as exciting as watching paint dry, so I can't claim to be even remotely engaged in this fight. However, killing old trees with a regulated poison that can seep into groundwater? Really? This will affect the *super important* football outcomes how, exactly? Man up, Al from Dadeville. Do it right. Even figure skaters know that if you want results you club the star layer in the knee with a riot stick.

I am with you on this. The only reason to like bananas is because someone invented this, ahem, product to go with them. I enjoy giving it as a gift. http://bananabunker.com/

Thank you for writing this. It really is a mixed bag, and not as horrifically unsafe as the media would suggest. My father has been doing business in Mexico for 30 years or so, my husband for the last five. Subsequently they/we travel there a good deal and have many, many longstanding relationships all over the country.

While there is a lot of sad, senseless violence in Mexico these days (and it breaks my heart), too few stories about the Mexico focus on the incredible warmth of the people (most of whom are terrified and saddened by recent events), love of family, and beauty of all of the country, especially those areas Americans don't know too well. I agree, too, that what we have come to see as narco killings aren't always narco killings, and that with proper precautions most Americans are pretty safe in most areas of Mexico.

I just hope, for the sake of all of our south of the border friends, that the drug wars can come to a peaceful end sometime soon. . . and I hope that the OP finds a way out, to somewhere he feels safer.

From a long time ago, in a previous life, I have a pair of Louboutins with this heel (but mine are orangey salmon color-- so cool) and they are very comfortable and still *fancy,* even though they have a sensible heel. There don't seem to be many of them in this style right now, but it's a kitten heel, like this. http://www.bergdorfgoodman.com/store/catalog/prod...

I don't really do ballet flats. I have back problems, too, and perfectly flat shoes are really uncomfortable for me. (I would rather wear a 4.5" platform heel than a flat.) I am a big fan of a low wedge for comfort. I just wish more of them were pretty. I covet these: http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/96835

And Caleen Cordero is comfy, if you like the boho thing. (Which I do, in sandals.)

I have kids. They call me Mom. Whee!

O'Dell's 90 Shilling Ale. Well, I was drinking it. But then I finished it. Sad.

A great deal of my issue with religion is the idea that there is a god who is active in the daily affairs of each and every one of us. That (s)he provides specific blessings and plans and helps and/or punishes us.

If I did believe in a god, which I do not, I couldn't believe in an anthropomorphized god or a god who dabbles in day-to-day human activities. If god is god-- omniscient, omnipotent, etc. -- then I would have to surmise that god is as unknowable to humans as we are to an ant. So why on earth would a god like that be showering humans with blessings? Or throwing challenges in our path? Or helping us win the Superbowl? That god would likely be going about god business. (And also not expressing human emotions like jealousy, as (s)he does in the Bible.)

I did a little religious experimenting in my youth, and the closest I ever came to embracing religions were the times when I found religious leaders/scriptures describing divinity that was within, rather than without. I guess I just always had a hard time believing that we have evolved to this place as humans and yet we were supposed to be waiting for gifts to be showered on us in the afterlife (and focusing on religiously driven activities during this life) rather than getting to work making this life better with all of the marvelous skills we have.

I need those Dior booties. For, you know, vacuuming and grocery shopping. And commenting! They would make my commenting so bad ass.

I remember when Gawker didn't look like old Twitter. Which, admittedly, wasn't all that long ago... but it still gives me a sad.