Hey moms, why have kids? -- They cost a mint to raise, turn your life upside down, and might give you Maternal Depletion Syndrome! Ah, but they're the future: "Today's chubby-cheeked darlings on the playground will become tomorrow's adults who take care of the sick and elderly, run the government, collect the trash, hold the hands of hospice patients, fix our cars, cure our diseases, harvest our food, create our cultural masterpieces, and generally keep the economy trucking along." Also, they are often cute! An interesting balance sheet from Brain, Child magazine.

And for parity: Hey dads, why do you exist at all? The BBC probes the big biological question, "Are males necessary?" Answer: a resounding yes, of course. ;)

And the coup de grace from New York Magazine, consistent provider of quality fluff: "Why My Wife Won't Sleep With Me," the sad, annoying tale of a househusband who's turning into Emma Bovary while his magazine editor wife works fierce hours and is "never in the mood." Before you get volcanically irritated with this guy, click here and let "Pencopal" do it for you in her online diary! I quote: "Take your balls out of their velvet case and reattach them." Yeow!

*tap tap* Is this thing on? -- A few minutes ago, AirAmerica began broadcasting its high-wattage liberal response to the foaming mad dogs of conservative talk radio. With hosts like Al Franken, Janeane Garofalo, Daily Show creator Lizz Winstead and Chuck D, I'm keen to tune in...which, unfortunately, will have to wait until I get to a computer with speakers! But YOU can listen away, and sign up as a charter member here...once the bugs are worked out of the system, that is. In any event, bring on the loudmouths on our side for once, woohoo!

FutureMe.org allows you to send yourself an email...in the future! Sort of a Marty McFly move, only in reverse. I'm assuming my future self doesn't have the ability to send me email back here in the past, or I'd be getting some much-needed advice, like "Don't worry, be happy," or "Stay home sick on October 16, 2024," or "Eat more fiber, for Christ's sake!"

On a semi-related, and crazy, note, check out RaptureLetters.com, which allows you to sign up your friends and family for a free email letter notification when you disappear into heaven at the start of the End Times. Or whatever. Hmmm, I guess they employ one sinner to stay behind and run the server?

Purple Reign -- I'm with Keith Knight, the man behind The K Chronicles: there are two things from the 80's that deserve to be revived, and Prince is one of them!

I know Bostonians are crochety, but this is a new low -- there are some pretty pissed off people this morning venting their splenic displeasure over the unsurprising announcement by the US Secret Service that I-93 will be shut down during the evenings of the Democratic National Convention in July. What really gets me is that so many people are parroting our mealymouthed Governor and calling for a change of venue to the new convention center in South Boston -- you know, the one that's a) no going to be finished in time, b) is booked with MacWorld Expo until 10 days before the DNC, c) isn't the right type of venue for television coverage, d) will be equally difficult to secure (it's on the water, 100 yards from the airport and not far from the infamous LNG port!), and e) will equally paralyze transportation downtown since it's not on the T or close to any hotels, etc. My prediction: people will grouse non-stop about this, the con will come off with a modicum of fuss, and everyone will pretend it was no big deal and that they thought so all along. That's the New England way! >:-Z