"Unfortunately, it would appear at this point that I have been involuntarily retired. I have neither an agent nor a publisher. Currently, the quality of writing has very little to do with what gets published."

In Ms. Allen's case, I'm afraid that the quality of her writing and analyses has everything to do with why she has no agent or publisher.

I'm a neurobiologist, so I must come clean and admit that one of my pet peeves is fake scientific analyses that present themselves as fact. I'm also a woman and not dumb and not swooning–and I support Senator Obama. Women scientists who came of age in the early 1980's have realized that it isn't enough for a woman just to become a scientist–it is necessary to be a good, successful scientist. So we don't feel obligated to vote for a candidate just because she is a woman. I will vote for Senator Clinton if she is the Democratic nominee. But I have chosen to back Senator Obama because I think he is the braver of the two–I feel he is less likely to spend his first term as president making decisions that will ensure him a second term. I also feel that it is time for the baby boomers to step aside and allow a new, less self-absorbed generation to take the reigns.

For the record, absolutely no swooning took place while I made my decision.

"Unfortunately, it would appear at this point that I have been involuntarily retired. I have neither an agent nor a publisher. Currently, the quality of writing has very little to do with what gets published."

In Ms. Allen’s case, I’m afraid that the quality of her writing and analyses has everything to do with why she has no agent or publisher.

I’m a neurobiologist, so I must come clean and admit that one of my pet peeves is fake scientific analyses that present themselves as fact. I’m also a woman and not dumb and not swooning–and I support Senator Obama. Women scientists who came of age in the early 1980’s have realized that it isn’t enough for a woman just to become a scientist–it is necessary to be a good, successful scientist. So we don’t feel obligated to vote for a candidate just because she is a woman. I will vote for Senator Clinton if she is the Democratic nominee. But I have chosen to back Senator Obama because I think he is the braver of the two–I feel he is less likely to spend his first term as president making decisions that will ensure him a second term. I also feel that it is time for the baby boomers to step aside and allow a new, less self-absorbed generation to take the reigns.

For the record, absolutely no swooning took place while I made my decision.