Blogs

I'm a news junkie, so I've observed my share of newscasters. The more I watch these days, the more I find myself disturbed by the serious disconnect between newsmen and newsbabes. Yes, newsbabes. I'm not being sexist; the fact is about 90 percent of the women in broadcast (no pun intended) news are gorgeous and model-thin, mostly blond, with long hair which delicately brushes their shapely shoulders but doesn't obscure those toned arms. They are meant to be seen and only secondarily to be ...

"Mom," the voice quavered through the crackle of the international connection, "I've got some bad news." Surely anyone hearing those words from a loved one would react as I did: a sharp intake of breath, a lump in the throat thudding into the pit of the stomach, sweaty palms. Whatever pronouncement was forthcoming from Emily, a reassuring hug would be weeks away. My 20-something daughter was in Cochabamba, Bolivia, for a month, volunteering as a medical assistant at a local clinic. Bolivi ...