By L.A. JOHNSON, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Janis Ian has lived a rich and wonderful, painful and uplifting life.

In 1966, at age 15, the gifted and precocious folksinger-songwriter had a nationwide hit with the controversial "Society's Child," a song about society's reaction to an interracial teen-age couple:

About two weeks ago, we asked readers to offer alternatives to the hackneyed phrase "throw (someone) under the bus."

Much abused in sports and politics, the cliche means "to reject or betray (someone); to treat as a scapegoat; to put out of favor or at a disadvantage," according to the Double-Tongued Dictionary.

The male rules of physical engagement have changed.

Did prehistoric hunters perform an ancient version of the high five upon making a good kill? Did Roman gladiators do some variation of the chest bump to celebrate victory?

What's with all the bussing and blabbing?

Barbara Walters.

Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-N.Y.).

Even former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson is making graphic revelations in the documentary "Tyson," which was screened last week at the Cannes Film Festival.

What possesses celebrities to kiss and tell? Or drug and tell? Or beat people up and tell?

Sen. Barack Obama's remarks to San Francisco fund-raisers about bitter, small-town Pennsylvanians -- who "cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations" -- have contributed to the exponentially expanding political merchandising realm.

PITTSBURGH -- Until about 2-1/2 weeks ago, Ed Soto used to get home from work, turn on the TV and watch CNN into the night for the latest political news.

About now, he's sick of it.