Okay, I do not know what is wrong with this woman, or if a stay in a mental hospital would do any good. I have been involved in child custody matters, and the Number One rule is: you do what the court tells you to do! If there is a hearing or a conference, you go to it, and rearrange your work and other commitments to be there. If you can't make it, you let someone know in advance if possible and either get it rescheduled then or you have someone covering for you. Britney Spears did not do this: now she has lost custody of her children, properly so,and when a court decides a birth mother is unfit, it is far harder to reclaim that lost ground than for a father. Kevin Federline is no prize, but he has never endangered his children, and always has done right by them.

I have no doubt that Ms. Spears loves her children, but she does not know how to commit to them. She is lucky that she is only losing visitation for two weeks. Even then, I think visits should be supervised, whether at her home or in a neutral location. She has been out of control since her 18th birthday.

I would not trust her around my daughter.

Besides this, I think that if there were some way of doing it, Lynne Spears should lose custody of her other daughter, Jamie Lynn. With Britney running wild, mama Spears should have made doubly certain that Jamie Lynn did not follow in big sister's footsteps.

Check yourself into a good sanatorium, Britney Spears, and stay there for at least three months.

I just looked at the date, and was shocked to discover how long it's been since I spent much time here. For a while, my Internet access was nonexistent. Things are still very busy, and a nervous breakdown or two (as a result of which I "only" work 46 hours a week instead of 48 ) did not help.

I have not finished a story in nearly two years. I have not been on stage in oversix years. This is not good. It has been getting harder and harder for me to be truly creative.

2008 should be an improvement.

My roommate died in August. He was an intelligent and thought-provoking man. For the first time in my life I am now literally on my own, not even having to share expenses. I wish I had somewhat more time to enjoy it, but spend a heck of a lot of time recovering from work.

My daughter is now six and in first grade. She still loves school. And Disney princesses.

Can't say much on the TV front except that I really enjoy "Burn Notice." Great show, and little noted by the newspapers. "The War" was also a tremendous effort, if not definitive (it wasn't meant to be). The add-ons were also great: hurrah for Chief Joseph Medicine Crow!

I am even prouder of my daughter than ever.  A few days ago she was sleeping when her mom heard breaking glass and shouting in the apartment next door.  At first it seemed like some sort of fight, and then smoke alarms and the building's fire alarm went off.  My ex woke my daughter (who is still only five) and told her to get her coat and shoes on, which she did without fuss.  When they opened the door my daughter immediately dropped to all fours and held a hand up for mom to take; after locking the door they crawled to the exit my daughter was certain of and they were safe.  The fire department arrived so quickly that damage was limited to the one apartment and the one above it; there wasn't even smoke damage to my ex's place.  Apparently the fire was started when a candle was knocked over; the breaking glass was the French doors to the balcony blowing out.

Fire safety training does pay off.

Meanwhile, the Canucks finally took out the Dallas Stars.  How important Marty Turco was to the Stars' effort was poignantly illustrated by the Canucks' last two goals, which went into an empty net, the Stars having pulled Turco for a last-ditch attempt at tying the score.  Turco had three shutouts for the three Dallas victories (a record) but was finally overwhelmed by repeated power plays and Trevor Linden, who can be counted on to score when the Canucks are playing a Game 7.  In a very emotional scene as the players were shaking hands after the game, Turco and Vancouver goalie Roberto Luongo embraced.  Next up: the Anaheim Ducks, who while no longer "Mighty" are still quite formidable.  Will Vancouver survive to battle the Red Wings?  Maybe.  Meanwhile, the Red Wings, who extinguished the Calgary Flames (pun intended) take on the San Jose Sharks (victors over the Nashville Predators), the Rangers' reward for sweeping the Atlanta Thrashers is a trip to Buffalo and a chance to outperform the Islanders, and the Jersey Devils, who somehow outscored Tampa Bay, will find out how the Ottawa Senators sent Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins home.

The not-so-mighty Mariners are grasping at straws, with a spot starter and rookie Brandon Morrow holding out to beat Texas for a change.  It looks like Seattle has to score at least five runs every game to have a chance at winning!  Felix Hernandez, who has a muscle strain, will be back soon, but he's just one finger in a very leaky dike!  Jeff Weaver in particular needs to get his act together.

Sanjaya Malakar actually got booted off American Idol.  I wonder if he can pitch?