Let's just say it outright: The superiority of virginity myth, it is a massive, underreported disaster.

It is a ridiculous and exhausting misconception that must be eradicated like a cancer. Perhaps French philosopher Voltaire said it best, nearly 300 years ago:

"It is one of the great superstitions of the human mind to have imagined that virginity could be a virtue." So true.

Which is another way of asking, Don't we have it exactly backward? Shouldn't one's overall happiness -- physical, marital or otherwise -- be directly equated with exceptional amounts of sexual training and education and awareness?

Is such positively libidinous education not a recipe for health and well-being and long-term marital satisfaction? You already know the answer.   more »

A return to fiscal responsibility would make America far stronger, both domestically and internationally, than would a continuation of current policies that falsely project strength through idle protectionist threats and failed military aggression.

Current tensions between the United States and the rest of the world will continue as long as America's military bark is louder than its economic bite.

A solution to the U.S. debt problem requires radical measures, including: the elimination of corporate tax loopholes, a reversal of tax breaks for the ultra-rich.

A bipartisan campaign to eliminate budget "pork," imposition of stringent limits on corporate debt and speculative lending, a vast reduction in military expenditure.

Finally, an additional 50 cent per gallon gasoline tax that would slash the federal deficit, curtail energy waste and spur technological breakthroughs.   more »

Many analysts are appalled by his Bush's analysis.

"Desperate men reach for desperate measures," said Patrick Basham, director of the conservative Democracy Institute think-tank.

Others were outraged and accused Bush of distortion.

"What is Bush saying?" asked historian Robert Dallek. "That we didn't fight hard enough, stay long enough? That's nonsense," he told the Los Angeles Times.

"We've been in Iraq longer than we fought in World War II. It's a disaster. . . . But the disaster is the consequences of going in, not getting out."   more »

Gather together a group of professional or business folk and they'll soon confess the depth of their addiction. Or you'll see it for yourself, as they pull out the gadget at intervals to check it and check it again.

Most of my contemporaries have packed a BlackBerry in their holiday bag, even if they insist they'll only sneak the occasional peek.

But we're mild junkies compared to the Crackberry heads of the US. A survey in July found that six in every 10 Americans with a portable email device check messages in bed, while 37% confessed to sending emails while driving (typing with their thumbs, steering with their knees).

Most alarming, four in 10 keep their BlackBerrys close by while they sleep, so they can sense the vibration or see the little red light announcing the arrival of a new message.   more »

Bush sought to buy more time for his Iraq "surge" strategy today by making a risky comparison with the bloodshed and chaos that followed the US pullout from Vietnam.

Making it clear he will resist Congressional pressure next month for an early withdrawal, he signalled US troops will be in Iraq as long as he is president and said the consequences of leaving "without getting the job done would be devastating".

Mr Bush's speech came on the day that the US suffered one of its highest daily death tolls since the 2003 invasion, with 14 troops killed when a Black Hawk helicopter crashed.

In a speech to army veterans in Kansas City, Mr Bush invoked one of America's biggest military disasters in suppport of keeping troops in Iraq.   more »