Chris Sosa

Writer, cultural analyst, vegan advocate

While other kids unable to conform were using drugs, harming themselves, or committing suicide, I was able to process my seething hatred through music that helped me understand the source of my anger. It was a catharsis that led to processing and release.

Napoleon Perdis

Makeup artist

As a makeup artist, I've always been fascinated by how makeup, hair and fashion choices can completely change a woman's look, her outlook, and the way she's perceived. Watching celebrities change like chameleons has practically become a national pastime in the age of Instagram.

Cesar Millan

Founder of the Cesar Millan Foundation

When I teach people how to assess a dog's energy and behavior, one of the things that surprises them is how many dogs that are instantly classified as aggressive are not.

Denette Wilford

TV Blogger

This has arguably been the best season of So You Think You Can Dance. I know, I know, all series -- particularly ones from the reality genre -- boast that the current season is the best ever but, really, Season 10 has truly been amazing.

Sydney Levin

Senior homepage editor, AOL.com.

The group is off to their "horse healing." I'm picturing a pony dressed up in a saucy Dr. Quinn Medicine Stallion outfit, but the session is a lot less sexy.

Jamie Lee Curtis

Actress and children's book author

As we pause, and broil or grill or just sit and watch a ball game with our friends and family, let us remember those who have worked and struggled and died for us, for us to be better people individually as well as better people as a nation.

Alec Baldwin

Actor

Julie Harris' voice was like rainfall. Her eyes connected directly to and channeling the depths of her powerful and tender heart. Her talent, a gift from God.

Kia Makarechi

Entertainment Editor, The Huffington Post

The deaths of two Electric Zoo attendees and hospitalization of at least four others prompted the cancellation of the third day of the festival on Sunday. As a music journalist who covers dance music for one of the nation's biggest media outlets, it's a story I can't say I'm shocked to hear.

Roz Warren

Writer

Orgasms have always come easily for Shirley Jones, and if that's too much information for you, you might not enjoy 'Shirley Jones,' her new memoir, in which the actress writes frankly about both her successful acting career and her sizzling sex life.

Mike Dunn

Proud Nutmegger, Univ. of Nebraska graduate

It's been described as a meltdown, but it really wasn't. At no point during Dave Chappelle's show at the Oddball Festival in Hartford was he ever anything other than in measured control of his actions. I was part of the audience at the show.

Sue Kerr

Founder and editor, Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents

Fast-forward to Fox News' recent decision to use the song to denigrate Pfc. Chelsea Manning. As with most attempts to do this, the media got the song completely wrong: The song is not mocking a man for looking like a lady; it's describing the sex appeal of a transgender woman.

Hulu.com

Watchers of Good TV

We've created a few (totally fake, sadly not-for-sale) examples to send your child back to school feeling confident about their identity as well as the integrity of that peanut butter and fluff sandwich that you packed with loving care, and with the intent of surviving an ATV crash into the side of a brick building.

Scott Barry Kaufman, Ph.D.

Author, 'Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined'; co-founder, The Creativity Post

While introversion, sensitivity, and narcissism are all partially separate traits, hypersensitive covert narcissists are more likely to report that they are introverted and sensitive.

Greg Archer

Author, journalist, TV host, and professional mood-swinger

Revelers and roasters hit the Red Carpet for The Comedy Central Roast of James Franco with spunk and fervor recently and their target was clear: To poke fun at the eclectic Oscar nominee/filmmaker/artist/Yale student/teacher/esoteric, creative beast.

Christine Bronstein

Founder, A Band of Women

So, lounging upside down fully-dressed is too sexed up and gyrating in latex is just sexed up done wrong?

Zac Hill

Author, journalist, Luce Scholar, consultant, game designer, intrapreneur.

I think Miley Cyrus' VMA performance totally ruled, and was totally awesome, and was a successful indictment of all the absurd societal constructions that have defined the environment inside which Miley became a cultural juggernaut.

Lester & Charlie

Political satirists

On the off chance you were one of the few Americans paying attention to the news in these waning days of summer, you may be forgiven for concluding that, in America, this was the week of the chicken. Seriously, chicken was everywhere.

Kirk Douglas

Actor

I haven't smoked in over 40 years (I am 96 years old). Of all the drugs, smoking has the highest death rate -- more than 400,000 people per year (which is more than AIDS, alcohol, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined). Stop smoking and live longer!

Nathan Blansett

High school sophomore from rural Georgia

Could Miley have expressed herself in a subtler manner, sans twerking teddy bears? Perhaps. But if she wants to use that extreme form of expression to shock people and create publicity, then shouldn't she be able to?

Rachel Campos-Duffy

Parenting expert, author, blogger, political pundit and television personality

This week, Miley moved the ball deeper down the cultural cesspool. In that dreadful performance we witnessed the cannibalization of what is most beautiful about our gender.

Richard Thomas

Covering: Energy. Policy. Politics. & Parenting.

The more quickly we come to terms with the next generation's infatuation with excessive expression, the more quickly we can figure out how to harness their creativity for more productive purposes.

Pat Gallagher

Celebrity Journalist, Soup Expert

Actress Betty Lynn is 87. It's hard to believe that 'Thelma Lou' was born on Aug. 29, 1926! Who woulda' thought? Even though it has been 48 years since The Andy Griffith Show actress appeared as a regular on TAGS playing the sweet, mild-mannered girlfriend of our favorite bumbling deputy Barney Fife, reruns keep 'Thelma Lou' young in our minds and in our hearts.