Read "The Bull in Martha Stewart's China Shop" by Katharine Mieszkowski.

Dear Mr. Byron, Do you have a nice ass? Could you send me a picture of it so that I can judge? Don't be a prude, now. Even if your ass is just so-so I'm not going to judge your abilities on that criterion alone. I believe that we need to respect men for their minds and their abilities as well as for their bodies. I agree with you that it's time we liberated ourselves from all these niceties that are just hangovers from more inhibited times.

-- Marianna Scheffer

Yes, Martha Stewart does have a nice ass. (I've seen it -- clothed. She also has remarkable bone structure and a commanding stature. And at the time I saw her, a rather tired-looking pedicure.)

And, yes, it is acceptable for a writer to let the world know that Martha Stewart has some fine physical attributes. It is generally assumed that powerful women trade in their "femininity" and sexuality for success, so it's a good reminder that female powerhouses can have curves and sex appeal.

Martha Stewart and Hillary Clinton possess in person a similar physical and sexual charisma that is not readily apparent on TV -- the kind of sexiness that women who are utterly self-assured, intelligent and focused (and I might add, have their grooming/wardrobe needs taken care of by someone else on an ongoing basis) can have.

So go ahead, tell the world that Martha Stewart, bitch in the boardroom, has a great ass.

-- Clare McLean

I've got two things to say to Byron: 1. Why is he so obsessed with the fact that Martha Stewart's marriage failed? Plenty of marriages fail -- most male moguls go through several wives in a lifetime. Just because Stewart doesn't want to screw around like them doesn't mean she's a cold-hearted ice queen. Frankly that characterization is a little tired. His scorn shows nothing more than a misguided belief in the old adage that if a woman can't keep the relationship together she's the failure. It's so lame. I'm sure Stewart could have some young hot lover if she wanted -- maybe she does. Certainly plenty of far less attractive ice queens do. 2. Has Byron been in a Kmart lately? I have and it sucks except for the Martha Stewart stuff. That chain is on its way down and it wouldn't have survived this long if not for Stewart's products. I don't know if Stewart's a nice person or not and I don't care, but I do hate to see the same old sexist story going round again. Byron, get over it -- you're a prick.

-- Liz Johnson

I admire Martha Stewart ... at least I admire the public image that confronts me everywhere. I admire her intelligence, initiative, persistence, and moneymaking savvy, qualities which Americans have always admired in theory but tend to despise when confronted with the real thing. In the face of an unending barrage of anti-Stewart yawping disguised as social commentary, I keep reminding myself that no one has ever been forced to watch Stewart, heed her advice, or buy her products. Her enormous fortune has been built on the voluntary spending of millions of people whose reasons for doing so are nobody's damn business but their own.

-- Larry Victor

Martha Stewart has done an exceptional job of bringing creative "design" ideas to people who enjoy crafts, decorating and hosting dinners.

For pennies through her publications or on TV, I can acquire the ideas generated by her very talented staff under her excellent direction.

Her peers are in the world of "Better Homes and Gardens" and "Sunset Magazine," to name a few.

She is a teacher for those who like to create things by providing patterns and "how to" tips. Further, she looks like a person who enjoys her work, which contributes to her success, short fingernails and all.

That she built a business empire without a penny of debt should be the inspiration of the business world. Without such values, we have the Enrons of the world.

If I buy her publications or products, I do so because of the worth of those things, not because of who she is, or her personal life. Of course, her professional background gives her the talent to produce her own high quality products, which makes her association with them a plus. We learn from those who've learned before us.

Her personal life might be dish for gossip. Her business life, with all the push, is inspirational -- especially in light of all those business leaders who've given the public so much less for all of their efforts.

-- Karen Little

Although I'm a diehard Martha Stewart fan, I loved Katharine Mieszkowski's article on her -- warts and all. Excellent writing!

In her article, Ms. Mieszkowski touched ever-so-lightly on the Divine Ms. M's relationship with her dad. When can we expect more scoop on Martha's family relationships?

-- S. Byers

I can't help but notice how many times Martha Stewart uses the word "perfect." It really implies a serious fetish if not obsession. On a recent show, Martha introduced a recipe for macaroni and cheese as one that had been passed down from her mother and her grandmother. In actuality, Martha added her own changes to the point that they took away from the essence of this dish. She made it spicy, which is not part of it at all. Her mother was on the show with her at the time, took a bite and said, "OH, now I can taste the spices! I would leave it out." Martha replies, "To each his own." I thought this was cocky of Martha and disrespectful to her mother in front of millions. How terrible! If she's that way to her own mother on national TV, what must she be in private???!!

-- Cheryl Maternowski

Byron is an ace. I loved the interview and will buy his book.

America's diversity is constantly preyed upon by corporations and in return it offers us a comfortable middle ground. Homogeneous cultures (most nations protect their cultures instead of promoting diversity) have their own traditions, for better or worse, and don't need to conform to the White Zombie Lady.

Whether she provided culture in America (and beyond) where culture was lacking, or she may have tainted the honorable job of culture leadership for profit, we asked for it.

-- Toby Knudsen

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