David Letterman
Hey, Dave, after 18 years and 12 hours a day just for our entertainment, please take a much-needed break. It doesn't matter if it's one week, one month or one year—when you come back, I'll be watching.
Ann Koziol, Austin, Texas
I'm sorry, but I do not consider David Letterman to have the "rigorous healthy lifestyle" you claim. You ask, "How much healthier could David Letterman be?" Are you kidding? For starters, stop smoking cigars, reduce cholesterol and stress, and quit snacking on chocolate bars. I do wish David Letterman a speedy recovery, but please stop addressing him as the poster boy for the American Heart Association.
Erika Nelson, Boise, Idaho
David is a true icon. There will never be anyone like him again. We all wish him a healthy recovery and look forward to seeing him again soon.
Lianne M. Harding, San Diego
American Music Awards
I just saw the picture of Britney Spears at the 2000 American Music Awards. Excuse me, but where are this child's parents? I cannot imagine any responsible parents allowing their teenage daughter out the door in a bare-to-the-waist outfit like that. She should take a lesson from Gloria Estefan, who is beautiful, sexy and fully dressed!
Milady Lyons, Kansas City, Mo.
Britney should take at least one thing into consideration when selecting her wardrobe: the age of her audience. My 9-year-old niece is a fan of Britney's and an aspiring singer herself. I am thankful she wasn't able to watch the AMAs.
Jan Wilson, Loganville, Ga.
Another awards show, and once again Mariah Carey is half-naked. Don't get me wrong: She is beautiful and talented. But I think everyone on this planet knows she is proud of her body. Will she finally put some damn clothes on already?
Becky Smith, Milford, Mich.
Holy cow! Can someone please let Mariah Carey in on a little secret: Clothes are made in larger sizes. She might want to consider moving up a few.
Sue Balfe, Rye Brook, N.Y.
Does anyone miss the days when it was fashionable to wear an outfit that was classy instead of slutty? Isn't it hard enough for parents to instill moral values in their children without having to worry that they see their role models walking around with their breasts hanging out? Will the next thing be walking the red carpet basically naked? (Oh, yeah, I forgot—Rose McGowan already did that at the MTV awards show!)
Alisha Terrill, Grand Haven, Mich.
Misha the horse
While Misha looks happy in her house, it is not the best environment for her. And though I understand her owners love her, cream-filled doughnuts and spaghetti do not a horse meal make. Also, bathing a horse every other day is not good for her as it dries out the coat, stripping it of essential oils.
Susan Degenhart, Hazleton, Pa.
As a veterinary student, I have seen many situations where a horse was treated too much like a dog when young. The resulting adult horses were usually aggressive and would not think twice about stomping a person to near death, even if it wasn't intentional. Thankfully this hasn't been the situation with Misha, but let's not portray this scenario as acceptable.
Denise Lemieux, Rochester, N.H.
As an author of equestrian books on how to pamper your horse, I loved this. Horses are more and more becoming pets like cats and dogs; it is only natural that they'd come in to live with their humans. Gosh, if I could get my horse up a flight of stars, she'd live with me in my apartment.
June Evers, Chester, N.Y.
Style Watch
I had to laugh at Jeanne Yang's quote about dresses with keyhole openings. She says they "allow some mystery." The first mystery I'm pondering is, How do you get through an entire evening wearing a keyhole gown without bending forward or twisting? I think the next mystery of this style is, How do you nonchalantly tuck your breast back into your dress?
April Prior, Benton City, Wash.
Marie Osmond
Marie Osmond is doing a service to women by being forthcoming about her postpartum depression. Many women feel either they must never talk about postbirth difficulties or that they are inadequate mothers because they are experiencing what is for many women an excruciatingly painful time. Brava, Marie! Your willingness to speak about your experience may encourage other women to open up and seek help.
Mary Perkins, via e-mail
Hmmm. Let's see. I was in hard labor for 32 hours. That was followed by a C-section I was dead tired for a long time, but did I abandon my family? No. Marie, there's this thing called a leave of absence. Perhaps you should have taken one after the baby was born. It's not like you needed to rush back to work because you couldn't survive without the money. I felt badly when your first marriage failed, but this time I can't dredge up any sympathy.
Beth Gladney, Toronto
Separated? Are you kidding? With the birth or adoption of each of those seven babies, Marie and her husband renewed their commitment to parenting. Yes, that means sacrifice. Those of us who have raised our kids through divorce know that the price paid by them will never end. Marie should quit her day job and get back to what her children really need: a full-time mom and a father who brings home the bacon and sits down with his family to enjoy it.
Moire Grumer, Big Sur, Calif.
Scoop
I wanted to express my support for Whitney Houston. That a person can still be arrested or detained for a half ounce of pot in this day and age is a tremendous misallocation of criminal justice resources. Fact is, anyone who believes pot should be illegal yet drinks or condones the legality of alcohol is a hypocrite. Smoke up, Whitney!
Ben Schafer, New York City
Star Tracks
Ashley Judd's boyfriend, Dario Franchitti, was wrongly identified as being Australian. He is Scottish.
Wes McBride, via e-mail
That he is.—ED.
Mailbag
Why does Ericka Johnson feel that PEOPLE'S report on Mr. Combs has a racial slant? You know, three people could have been killed here. Betcha PEOPLE would have reported this same behavior if Brad Pitt had caused it. "Hobnobbing with white people and staying down with the streets" is not the issue, Mr. Puffy's behavior is. Get over it!
Marilyn Gallo, New York City
Ericka Johnson wrote to complain about the article on Puff Daddy and Jennifer Lopez. I admit Ms. Lopez should have been treated the same as Puff Daddy, but the reason he is presented as a thug is because he is a thug. If a situation doesn't go his way, he resorts to violence. I am a young African-American female, and I find him embarrassing and offensive. Yes, he has achieved fame and success and can mingle within white society, but so have Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman and Laurence Fishburne, and you don't see them acting the way he does.
Dana Murky, Dorchester, Mass.
The Issue
So what's with all the recipes? If I wanted to cook, I would have bought Good Housekeeping.
Kathi Cullinan, Fredericton, N.B.
Your anorexic issues lately are filled with recipes and fitness tips instead of articles about—what's the name of it again? Oh, yes: PEOPLE!
Ann Gagne, Casselberry, Fla.
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