Author: Andrew Sullivan

A reader writes:

MJ has too many to count, but "Earth Song" definitely takes the prize as the absolute worst. The music video shoves every source of liberal guilt in your face. Trees are brought down by evil bulldozers. A de-tusked elephant lies dead in a valley. Soldiers and tanks occupy a decrepit town. All this and more, while sad, innocent natives look on helplessly.

Luckily none of it matters since MJ and the natives shove their hands into the dirt and everything conveniently springs back to life. In case you still don't get the message (which is … what exactly?), MJ then sings "What about [fill in the blank]" for two full minutes.

Those lyrics after the jump. But first another reader:

The live performance at the 1996 Brit awards is far more worthy of hathos, with Jackson silhouetted against the Earth, grabbing his crotch while bathed in blinding light, surrounded by throngs of the diverse and/or destitute (as well as an ass fanning invasion by Jarvis Cocker), and embracing young and old while striking his best Jesus Christ pose.

Hey

what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can't even breathe
(What about us)
What about everything
(What about us)
I given you
(What about us)
What about nature's worth
(ooo, ooo)
It's our planet's womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We've turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We're ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can't we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can't you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about baby boy
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Aaaaaaaaah Ooooooooh

A reader writes:

There are other realms in which Truvada is being used for HIV prophylaxis.  I'm a dental student who sees patients daily for treatment.  This past summer, I accidentally stuck myself with a needle that had been used with an HIV-positive patient. 

No matter the precautions we take during injections, accidents happen.  Thankfully, my school has a fund set up where I could get immediate, free testing for Hep B, C and HIV. Although my risk was minimal, I was put on a month's course of Truvada. 

I have had followup bloodwork done at the six week and three month marks, and am advised to follow up at the six and twelve month marks, as well.  These check to see if my immune system is making any antibodies to HIV, which would suggest I have been infected.  As you mentioned in your post, the Truvada significantly reduces the chance of that infection.

All I can say is that for $100 in copay (I thankfully have insurance, as is required by my state and therefore included in my tuition estimate unless I opt out), I have peace of mind that Truvada significantly reduced the chance of my own infection, as well as my fiance's and our future children's.  Pretty fantastic breakthrough for many, many populations of people who are at risk of an HIV infection.

Another writes:

Thanks for the piece about the exciting Truvada study on PrEP.  But I also have to point out that an equally exciting discovery was published a few weeks ago and has not received as much news: "Researchers Unravel a Secret of HIV Controllers".

I have been positive for almost 11 years and have never taken any medications. My viral load is low (not undetectable) and my Tcells stay in normal range (600-1200) on their own. I've participated in as many research studies as I can in San Francisco, Sydney and now at the NIH.  I've also contributed to the study above on HIV controllers. 

From my perspective, giving fourteen vials of blood every couple of months to research is a small price to pay for being fortunate enough to not have to take HIV meds.  I'm grateful every day to be less than 1% of the population of HIV positive folks who controls the virus on their own. I've also chosen to work in peer support for newly diagnosed gay men and harm reduction programs at the cost of my own career. It feels like I am meant to give back.

In a sign of seriousness, the administration is now trying to get the pro-Israel lobby to campaign for passage. When all else fails …

Catch the eye-roll. I like this guy more and more.

Amanda Hess's eyes widen while reading the "solution" to DADT proposed by this writer at the Daily Caller:

After briefly removing the story, the Daily Caller has, without explanation, republished Rehyansky's piece without his final thought. The original read: "my solution would get the distaff part of our homosexual population off our collective 'Broke Back,' thus giving straight male GIs a fair shot at converting lesbians and bringing them into the mainstream." He actually said this.

And they briefly published it.

"Going out there and winning this would feel like a big middle finger to all those who hate my mom and hate me," – Bristol Palin, on Dancing With The Stars last night.

Her mother said her daughter has a good character and she agreed with what she said on Ingraham's show this morning.

Sigh:

PALIN: But obviously, we’ve got to stand with our North Korean allies. We’re bound to by treaty –

CO-HOST: South Korean.

PALIN: Eh, Yeah. And we’re also bound by prudence to stand with our South Korean allies, yes.

Wow. In response to Barbara Bush's disparaging comments, Barracuda bites back:

I think the majority of Americans don't want to put up with the blue bloods. And I say it with all due respect because I love the Bushes. The blue bloods who want to pick and choose their winners instead of allowing competition to pick and choose the winners.

Audio here.

James Fallows marks the biggest travel day of the year:

In reality, we do accept a greater-than-zero risk of death from terrorist attack. Otherwise, we'd never fly — or would strip everyone nude before boarding, do cavity searches, and carry no cargo. We accept the bargain for efficiency reasons (I'm not going to get to the airport six hours early to be searched). We accept it on "price of liberty" grounds (I'm not going to strip naked). But politicians can't come out and say that any risk is acceptable. Nor can they take the risk themselves of saying that security-theater rituals should be dropped, because of the risk of being blamed when the next attack occurs. Thus security-theater is a ratchet. You can add it, but you can't take it away.

When we can't talk about what we're really doing, and when we penalize politicians for speaking the truth, we're asking for trouble. Of the sort many people will encounter at the airport tomorrow — and in months ahead.

I just do whatever I can never to fly if I can possibly help it. Bikes and trains and cabs. But I guess they'll be turning those into police state projects soon as well.

Corvallis, Oregon, 7.40 am