about the letter regarding the admittedly non-existent vegetarian "pho":

1) maggots can't survive the acid in your stomach

and

2) maggots ONLY feed on dead flesh. They are actually used in medicine as a treatment for severe burns and conditions such as necrotizing fasciitis precisely BECAUSE they only eat dead flesh, in a comparatively non-traumatic fashion.

learn to science.

Regarding the issue of female pubic hair and its decreasing appearance, I've never quite understood the appeal of making a woman appear to be prepubescent down there. To me, it takes away the individuality of the woman - i.e. I see much more disctinction between women when they are unshaved or natural than when it is all bare skin there. I prefer the variety of quantity, color and pattern that comes with the display of bush. Another aspect to consider is whether the trend towards the shaved look over the years is in any way connected with the rise in child pornography (or a substitute for it?), as the absence of pubic hair could be interpreted as the infantilization of a grown woman. I find this disturbing.

More disturbing is that you know about a rise in child pornography,icepop.

You're right, Mandingo. I guess I shouldn't read the newspaper; there's a lot of disturbing stuff in there. Ignorance is bliss, apparently.

I have a friend starting med school at OHSU this year. They begin with anatomy, and he showed me his textbook, incredulous that the female anatomical illustration HAS A LANDING STRIP. The defoliation of our lady business is now being institutionalized!