Drawing upon her rich experience of life, Prudence (Prudie to her friends) responds to questions about manners, personal relations, politics, and other subjects. Please send your questions for publication to prudence@slate.com. Queries should not exceed 200 words in length. Please indicate how you wish your letter to be signed, preferably including your location.

Dear Prudie,

Does working at Slate allow you to be critical of parent company Microsoft?

Journalistically, your answer almost has to be "yes," but I've noticed an underlying love for all things rendered unto Gates. What is your opinion of the antitrust suit?

If you're pro-MS you're a sell out, and if you're anti-MS you'll prove us skeptics wrong.

Don't you hate how that forced decision-making works? Kinda like Windows.

--Monopolistically yours,Mr. Free Parking

Dear Mr.,

Of course Prudie is allowed to be critical of the parent company--should she ever find something of which to be critical. As for the antitrust matter, Prudie is always in favor of trust.

--Prudie, Microsoftly