MindyM's Comments (67)

“The sexual mores of the early 60's would preclude people from sleeping together to see if they were sexually compatible. That's probably why there were a lot of unhappy marriages. People dated, then got married and THEN had sex. I know it seems hard to believe these days, but that's the way it was. Also, keep in mind that this was before the pill, before Roe v. Wade in 1973. Women did not have reproductive freedom.

Some people did have sex before marriage and if it ended up with a pregnancy, welcome to a shotgun wedding. That's just the way it was. There were illegal abortions, but that wasn't an option unless you had money and were willing to take that risk. It's hard to fathom just how difficult life was for women at that time.

I don't see Betty being anything like a Betty Friedan at all. I am not sure that she will ever escape her rather limited identity. Betty Friedan's The Feminine Mystique was written for the Bettys of the world. It came out of her own frustration being a housewife stifled by her cloistered existence. It was a clarion call for all women who had been living lives of quiet desperation. But change comes slowly. Feminism evolved over decades. It was a long, hard battle.

I just don't think Betty has the capacity to evolve into anything other than what she was brought up to be - a trophy wife.”

“I have mixed emotions regarding Betty. I am not going to idealize her or condemn her outright. No matter how emotionally repressed she may seem, this woman has just been through a major emotional shock in learning of her husband's true identity. Her whole world has collapsed around her. She has been living with someone she didn't even know. Now she has to find a way to get out of this intolerable situation with precious little avenues open to her. I remember the early 60's all too well. I was still a young girl, just on the verge on entering my teen years. Thank God! I wasn't a grown woman who had to survive the pre-feminist era.

I know how limited Betty's options truly are. Divorce was considered a scandal in and of itself. Those divorce laws were no joke. I know why Betty is grabbing onto this guy Henry. She wants him to be her savior, her knight in shining armor. But as much as she didn't really know Don, she really doesn't know much more about Henry, either. Will he be a good husband? Will they be happy together? I don't condemn Betty's actions. I understand that she is extremely limited and in an untenable position. I hope somehow things work out, but I don't have a good feeling about it. The truth is that life was pretty grim for women at that time. Yes, things will change but not overnight, not by any means.”

“lilibelle,

Oh, now the tears are falling. This was so beautiful. Thank you for that. I didn't even know if I would be able to write anything about watching this episode. It's amazing that, even after all these years, my heart just broke all over again watching John Kennedy taken from us far too soon. So much unrealized potential, so many dreams that died, so many hearts broken, the end of the age of innocence. John Kennedy made me feel as thought I could do anything with my life. This was before women's lib, when our lives were planned out for us in advance.

I remember when I woke up the next morning after that terrible day. In those first few moments, before I was full awake, I thought that it had all been a terrible dream. I thought that John Kennedy was still alive. It was all a mistake. Then I was fully awake and I realized to my horror and grief, that the nightmare was all too real.

I have always wondered - what might have been. Helen Thomas, the grande dame of White House reporters, said it best. She said that the presidents she knew over the years all had their feet on the ground, but John Kennedy had his eyes on the stars.”

“Thank you for a great review. I campaigned for Bobby Kennedy in the Democratic presidential primary in 1968. I was fortunate enough to meet Bobby in 1964 when he ran for the senate in New York. I remember how blue his eyes were, but there was no questioning the sadness behind them. I never forgot it. When he was assassinated, I think a huge piece of me died with him. I have never really recovered from his death.

I decided to watch this episode, even though I knew it would be incredibly painful. I was thirteen years old, yet I remember every detail of that day. All I could think about amidst my endless tears, was that I would never see his smiling face and hear that wonderful Boston accent ever again.

I think the writers did a great job with this shattering event. It wasn't maudlin, but very real and honest. I totally understand what is happening with Betty. At a moment like that, when the whole world comes apart, you start to wonder what happened to your own life. You want to make it better, make it count, while you can. My favorite part was the very end, when Don gets that drink alone in the office and then you hear one of my favorite songs, The End of the World. I have always loved that song and it was the perfect way to end this episode.

Yes, it truly felt like the end of the world.”

“I have to say that this is one of the most intelligent, well reasoned articles I have read on the Roman Polanski case. The final paragraph really illuminates the inevitable basic truth here - a crime was committed in violation of existing US law. There is no escaping it. I will never understand why Polankski didn't just serve out the remainder of his sentence. No matter how or why the judge acted as he did, this was an extremely lenient sentence for a very serious crime.

Polanksi should stop fighting extradition and come back to the US to face the consequences of his actions. It is true that he could face the additional charge of unlawful flight. This is so unfortunate. I am a great admirer of Polanski the director. His genius and talent cannot be denied. But this has been hanging over his head for decades. It's time to face the music. We all have to answer for our actions. There are no "get out of jail free cards", even for the rich and famous. Let him get this over with once and for all, so that he will then be free to live his life and resume his career as one of the preeminent directors of our time.”

“I have been trying hard to get into this show. All of the critical acclaim has gotten my attention. But for the life of me, I just couldn't stay with it. For one thing, I have no desire to revisit the early 60's. To look back and relive how awful things were for women in that era, is beyond depressing. Feminism was nowhere in sight. I hated the fashions so much.

However, this episode was the one that finally got me truly involved. The whole dissembling of Don Draper was stunning with impeccable acting. I do think that Betty's woodenness is a function of her character. She really is the epitome of the pseudo-perfect housewife of that era. But watching these two go mano a mano was simply mindblowing. I was mesmerized. I also kept waiting nervously for Suzanne to pop in to see what happened to Don.

I do not want to see the Kennedy assassination revisited in any detail. If it happens, I won't watch. I can't do it. I was thirteen years old when it happened and I don't know that I have ever really completely gotten over it. Just when I think I can look back at President Kennedy or see a documentary about what happened, I fall to pieces. I understand that it is a key reference point for this period series, but I am not up for it.

I think that I am now hooked on this show!”

“Una,

I love reading your blogs, but I don't know if I can stick with this show. Where oh where is my old friend, the real Project Runway? I don't recognize this pale imitation. I am trying to be patient, but with all of the changes and Michael and Nina being m.i.a. for most of this season, it's been difficult.

I find it unbelievable that the likes of Chris, Logan and Nicolas stayed on longer than Epperson or even Ra'mon and especially, Shirin. Chris may have started strong, but he has lost his way. He is struggling against designers who have much better training and experience. They risk making a mockery of the show when someone is allowed to be in the bottom two for FOUR weeks in a row.

I don't even have a favorite this season. It's obvious that the women have the talent this time around. I actually did not like Irina's 80's style get-up for Aspen. Cowl neck sweaters were fun, but that was some time ago. This was a challenge that gave the designers a lot of creative freedom, yet the results were mediocre. I would have chosen Carol Hannah's Palm Beach print with the braided detail on the bodice. Who cares if Uli did prints a few seasons ago?

If Irina wins, that will be a disappointment. She has talent but it beyond obnoxious. I just hope the show can rebound and be its old self. I miss you, Project Runway!”

“What an insightful review! I found myself thinking exactly the same thing as I watched it last night. With the two talented actors in the lead roles, I kept wondering why I couldn't get more caught up in their story. I certainly wanted to become involved. This is a rare glimpse at the private world of an extraordinarily talented and gifted woman. It should have been riveting, but instead it left me feeling kind of cheated.

Thank you for helping me realize why I found it a rather unsatisfactory experience. I would have loved more emotion and raw feeling between these two people. They had a tumultuous relationship, but I never felt it.”

“Una,

Your writing is entertaining, funny and witty. I am loving your recaps of the show. But you really do have to agree, love her or hate her, that Shirin totally deserved to win. Her outfit was absolute perfection from head to toe. Impeccable. I try not to let the personalities of the designers get in the way of picking my favorite. It's hard sometimes, but I just focus on the design and challenge and see who did best, in my opinion.

I had the same reaction as you did when Mitchell was safe. Good God, what on earth is keeping him here? It was embarrassing. But I guess in true Project Runway tradition, it's all about drama. He deserved to be the one sent home, though. He could easily have gone last week, but the cuckoo and her hooded monstrosity got the boot. The guy just doesn't have it. If he sends another godawful mess down the runway next week, he better get the boot.

Someone here said that they should take advantage of the LA location. I totally agree! There is more to LA than the Hollywood sign.”

“Arianna,

Thank you for telling it like it is! I have been more and more disappointed as I watch Obama cede ground to the enemies of healthcare reform. It is worth reminding people that FDR had just as formidable a task in getting social security legislation. But FDR was a true leader in the best sense of the word. He refused to be intimidated by Congress. He refused to back down. Obama should lay down the law NOW - no public option in the bill, no signature! Period!

We have waited too long and suffered too much to let this opportunity get away. I am fed up with Obama's talk about bipartisanship. Can you imagine what would have happened if FDR had tried to get a bipartisan consensus? We never would have had social security. He was a brilliant politican, maybe the best ever, and he was up to the challenge. He didn't let the people down. This is Obama's moment. It's time for him to get serious and step up to the task at hand.”

“Larry,

I agree with you! I was so outraged when Sibelia won that I swore never to watch this show again. However, I found the lure of watching unknown designers whip up delicious and creative clothes every week, just too good to ignore. So here I am, watching the show on its new channel. I don't know that I will always agree with the winners, but watching it all play out and picking my own personal favorite, is just so much fun.”

“Alec,

I must take issue with you regarding Michael Vick. I do not think that we are making him the poster boy for all animal cruelty in our society. We are just holding him accountable for his actions. He did this for fun, for profit and stood by and watched these unspeakable acts. He was a star athlete, highly paid, admired, respected, wealthy, the whole American dream. And he risked it all just for the pleasure of brutally torturing helpless animals, dogs, man's best friend. Yes, this has shed light on the savagery of dog fights, yes there are many examples of cruelty to animals in our society. But that does not in any way diminish Vick's crime.

What bothers me is the total lack or remorse on Vick's part. If you listened to his interview on 60 Minutes, it was obvious that he was speaking words prepared by his lawyers. There was no emotion, no real compassion, no sense of the senseless brutality of what he did. He does feel bad for himself, that message was clear. He cried when he was in prison. Well, what about those dogs that cried when they were being shot, hanged, beaten? This guy just wants to play football again and he'll say anything and do anything to get fame and fortune.

Vick should have served a much longer sentence for what he did. We can do much better than Michael Vick as the spokesperson for animal rights.”

“Is Nora Ephron kidding with this? Maybe she needs to be reminded that Ryan O'Neal didn't meet his daughter at a mall, it was at the funeral for his longtime companion, the great love of his life. There is absolutely no comparison between these two events.

But let me say that I would know my sister no matter how long it had been since I saw her. I returned to my home town of New York in 2002, having not seen my sister since 1991. She changed her hair color to a light red, rather than her natural brunette and I recognized her the minute I saw her. Enough said!”

“I think Jesus would be horrified by what the Manson family did to those poor innocent people. Let's not confuse the issue here. These people were murdered in cold blood, in ritualistic sadistic fashion, a form of overkill. I don't think I will ever forget the trial and the truly horrendous details of the crimes that were revealed.

I remember Susan Atkins calmly telling how Sharon Tate begged for her life and that of her unborn child. I remember hearing that Rosemary La Bianca said "I'm already dead", as Leslie Van Houton continued to stab her. I remember the absolute absence of remorse among the Manson girls. Every day we were treated to a new spectacle from the Manson girls - whether it was the swastika carved into their foreheads, their bizarre singing and holding hands, the laughing and smiling.

The worst thing is that all of them were not executed as originally sentenced. The death penalty was abolished and they escaped their true punishment. If ever there was a death penalty crime, this was it.

If I could sign a petition to make sure that Leslie Van Houton never breathes the fresh air of freedom, I would. She is only sorry that she got caught and had to spend all these years in prison. The one good thing about the 40th anniversary of these crimes, is that we can remember the horror again and vow never to let these monsters back into society again.”

“This is the third time that I am trying to post my comments on this issue. What is going on here? I see the same names over and over, having their say. I would like to weigh in on something that has touched a nerve in me.

I remember the Manson family murders all too well. I was nineteen at the time. These crimes seemed to shock the conscience of the country. Last night on my local late evening news out here in L.A., they remembered the 40th anniversary of these horrific crimes. I had forgotten some of the details, like the fact that the Manson group made sure to cut the phone lines before they went into the house on the first night of the killings. That shows the planning and premeditation that went into these crimes. It was an evil, cruel, callous planned massacre.

I have watched Leslie Van Houton age over the years and now she has white hair, wrinkles and lines on her face. But I find myself wondering what Sharon Tate would have looked like if she had lived to grow old. What about the La Biancas?

My thoughts are only of the victims and their families. For anyone who dares to accuse me of being mean, harsh, uncharitable, whatever, I have one thing to say - I give these killers the same consideration they gave their victims as they begged for their lives - NONE!”

“While I think Cafferty's comments were kind of silly and not relevant, I think Alec Baldwin is taking it way too personally. If he wants to run for public office, he is going to hear a lot worse than that. If it was someone whose opinion really counted, someone who had some real clout and power or someone who Alec Baldwin respected, then I might be able to understand him devoting a blog to answering it. But Cafferty on CNN? Really, Alec? You think this is worth your time?

If Alec Baldwin wants to run for political office, then I say go for it. I don't care where he went to college. That's not the only thing that matters. But this is really a tempest in a teapot. There are much more important things going on and Alec Baldwin knows it.”

“First of all, liberals and Democrats are not having a field day with this latest conservative Republican hypocrite, a guy who wouldn't know so-called "family values" if he fell over them. The issue here, no matter how you try to ignore it, is that this guy didn't take a hike in the Appalachian mountains as he told his staff. He got on a plane and flew down to Argentina to be with his mistress, all the while leaving matters of state in South Carolina for everyone else to figure out.

I understand that Sanford plans to reimburse the state for a previous trip he took to Argentina. How thoughtful. This is NOT just about cheating! If this guy has to sneak off halfway around the world to be with his lady love, then I suggest he resign and then he will have plenty of time for more trysts.

I don't care what happens with his marriage. That is between him and his unfortunate wife, who now has to endure the public spectacle of seeing her husband's intimate e-mails to his lover trotted out for the whole world to read. Why should we just let it go? This guy is a liar, was derelict in his duties to the people of South Carolina and used public funds to travel for private purposes? So let him get out of public office and clean up his messy private life behind closed doors already.”

“I disagree with the comments in this article. This woman has waited all her life for this once in a lifetime opportunity to realize her dream. Sure, she's having problems. Who wouldn't? Can the author say that he would be able to handle such sudden worldwide fame with aplomb? If you read Simon Cowell's article about her and the show itself, you will realize that he is well aware of the problems that she has had adjusting to her new celebrity. She was told that there will be no pressure on her to perform all of the tour dates. If she isn't up to it, then she doesn't have to do it. So why the big uproar?

Maybe sexism and ageism is at the heart of it. I didn't want to go there, but I have no choice. Give this
woman a break already! Let her be for heaven's sake. If she can have a little breathing room, well she just might have a chance to realize her dream of being a singer. If anyone is to make the decision to let it go, it should be Susan and her family. So she missed her cats. What on earth is wrong with that? This is a woman who has lived in a tiny village all her life with her family and her cats. She knows nothing of the outside world. With time and care, I think she will be fine. Good luck and hang in there, Susan!”

“To Alec Baldwin -

Thanks so much for your tribute to Kenny Rankin. When I heard about his death, I stayed up until the wee hours of the morning listening to his music. Once more I was transported back to my youth. My ex-husband and I fell in love to Kenny's music and were fortunate enough to see him perform live on Long Island, N.Y. In those days there were a lot of small clubs where you could see great up and coming singer-songwriters like Kenny Rankin and James Taylor.

Kenny was blessed with a truly gorgeous God given instrument. He had an astounding vocal range and his phrasing was impeccable. He was brilliant at rearranging iconic songs and giving them his own original stamp and unique interpretation. He managed to rework some of the Beatles greatest music and that takes great talent.

Kenny will be missed, but what a legacy of beautiful, timeless music he has left us. We were so lucky to have him on this earth to bless up with his incomparable voice.”

“I am disturbed by the sequence of events that led up to Tiller's assassination. It was clear that this guy was a dangerous man intent on causing some kind of trouble. It's obvious that he was stalking the place for a while. I don't know if he ultimately could have been stopped, but it's unsettling to realize that the authorities were notified about him harassing the clinic and nothing was done.

Dr. Tiller was a true hero. This man risked his life every day to ensure that women could have safe abortions. He went through hell for his dedication. Maybe he was destined to die for his courage, but it's an outrage and an affront to decency that he was murdered in a church in front of his wife. That was the one place that he thought he would be safe from these hypocritical monsters.

I don't know that we will ever see an end to this. I know that one doctor, a friend of his, was asked if he feared for his life and would stop doing abortions. He replied - Never. Thank God for people like that. Women still have doctors who will put their own lives on the line to help them. It shouldn't be that way, but nobody ever said life is fair.”

“Adam did a ballad the way Freddie Mercury would go it. Anyone remember Who Wants to Live Forever? So before you start blathering on about overwrought and "theatrical" (oh no, there's that dreaded word again!), just try to think about what he was actually trying to accomplish with last night's performance. For some he is too much the rock singer, for others he is too much the tender falsetto singer, for others it's too different every week, blah, blah, blah.

This guy is the most exciting singer to ever come on this show. If it wasn't for him, this season could well be pretty forgettable. He has left the others in the dust. Now he is just competing against himself. I loved the fact that he changed up an insipid, forgettable disco song and turned it into a power ballad about lost love and heartbreak. It was unbelievably brilliant. The one thing you can say about Adam is that he is never, ever boring. I can't wait to see what he does next week.”

“I really resent your comment that Michelle is much more that Jackie O. Do you know anything about Jackie Kennedy? Why does this have to be a contest? I resent the fashion style comparison because Jackie was in a league of her own. No one can or will ever touch her when it comes to glamour and style.

Why not give credit to both women for helping their husbands to get where they did? It is well known that JFK relied on Jackie for advice on many issues. He even dedicated his book Profiles in Courage to her. So stop making this a competition and let's celebrate both women?

I hope this comment appears, because lately every single thing I post just disappears. Why not give other people a chance to comment, instead of seeing the same old names over and over again?”

“Color me furious about the omission of Dark Knight for best picture. As has been said quite a bit, this was not just your mediocre, brain dead superhero comic book movie. I have traditionally despised this genre of movie. But Dark Knight was something entirely different. Finally, a comic book movie with a point of view and intelligent in the bargain. I loved the dark themes in this movie - good versus evil, morality, how far law enforcement can go in breaking the rules to stop crime. It made you uncomfortable, unsettled, uneasy and thinking as you left the theater. That' a good thing.

Of course, Heath's Joker took this movie to a very special place all its own. I am glad that he was recognized for his brilliant work. I only wish that he was here to enjoy the rewards.

This just shows how out of touch and snobby the Academy really is when it comes to movies. You are right - this was the time to break the rule and nominate the comic book movie. Why? Because it was great! Simple as that.”

“Alec,

I join in your sentiments. I don't have hate in my heart anymore. I just am relieved that our long nightmare known as the Bush presidency has finally come to a close. Thank God! I also agree about Bush Sr. I don't want anyone connected that closely with the CIA ever becoming president again. Ever.

The Bush years have taken so much out of our country and its people. It's like we are lost in a desert, thirsty for something, anything to take the taste of the last eight years out of our mouths.

I have nothing against Laura Bush and their two girls. I hope they enjoy their new life. I just want to revel in the happiness of knowing that Bush is really, really gone.”

“Scott,

I have enjoyed your blogs on the best movies and movie moments from 2008. You always seem to touch a nerve in me. You referenced one of my favorite lines from Dark Knight. It was - Sometimes people deserve more than the truth - and the end part - sometimes they deserve to have their faith rewarded.

I don't know why, but as I watch this film over and over on dvd, I always cry at this point. It just got to me. I thought it was a beautiful summing up of what this movie was all about. Yes, sometimes even moviegoers like myself, who have despaired of ever seeing a truly intelligent, brilliantly crafted comic book hero movie ever being made - well, sometimes our faith is rewarded as well.

This is my favorite film of the year. By far, no contest. It lived up to all the hype and great reviews and then some. Of course, Heath Ledger as the Joker was the heart and soul of this movie. I don't know when we will see a better portrayal of madness, evil, anarchic menace and spellbinding wicked humor. Not any time soon.”