@westvillagegirl: Read the series—the first few books are sublime. The last three weren't as strong because they feature more of the children than Anne or Gil, but the last is an interesting look at WWI life on the homefront.

@blondegrlz: After waiting for so long for thsese shows to come back, I'll be damned if I miss them! And my friends all keep saying that they're all returning on the 3rd, so I've been re-checking the dates for a while to see if they're right. Top Chef can tide me over (ha—pun) for now, but I need some funny NOW.

@blondegrlz: According to this, My Name is Earl is back the 3rd, but the Office and 30 Rock wait until the 10th: [www.hollywoodreporter.com]

@NotAPrettyGirl: "The free market will solve global warming—if that even exists!"

@faire-la-moue: It took years for my Irish grandmother to accept my mostly-Italian-but-a-wee-bit-Irish boyfriend because he was Italian. It was kind of crazy.

@NotAPrettyGirl: Yep—I know the Secretary of Natural Resources for PA, and he told us that was one of the first things he did, which is pretty cool.

@arodriguez.romero: I have no backyard, so sadly I can't do that. But my mom has been doing that for years, well before it was the "green" thing to do! She only uses the dryer in the winter, and again only for towels and sheets.

@bellethellama: Should have added in PA.

@NotAPrettyGirl: They changed at least some of the state-issued vehicles to more environmentally-friendly cars when Rendell became governor in his first term because they also were SUVs, I believe.

@arodriguez.romero: I only dry towels and sheets for a multitude of reasons: it's significantly cheaper, I hate using my basement washer/dryer, I'm paranoid of shrinkage, and it's consequently better for the environment. My clothes hang out on drying racks in my kitchen all the time, and I seldom go to the dry cleaner…

@blondegrlz: You MUST look up the Shat's spoken word albums (I know there is at least one) if you haven't before—it's a little chunk of awfulness in that completely awesome way. Sooooo weird, but still oddly entertaining.

@NotAPrettyGirl: Also if we were given more freaking vacation time and required to use it. Ten days in 365 does not a centered, focused llama make.

@hugnkiss:

@brendastarlet: Good point. I'm very curious to see what their pricing plan will be compared to the other Euro-cheap-chic chains since they are only opening one location for the time being (last I heard, which could be inaccurate). How much will the draw/hype/location of the store factor into them justifying higher…

@hamburgerhotdog: Considering the likely markup that took place converting pounds to dollars, that's hardly surprising. And the new stuff is pretty freaking fug.

@jeweltones: Well, my work playlist is set—have the whole OST on my iTunes, so I'll be nice and blue today.

Loved The Talented Mr. Ripley—the score, the cinematography, the costumes, and the cast were all dynamite. Granted, I was an easy customer to please—a movie about ex-pats in 50's Italy using jazz (and specifically vibraphone) to underscore the mood is always going to please me. Looks like I know what I'll be bringing…

@blondegrlz: [tmbw.net] Yeppers. My favorites are "Alarm Clock Emergency!" and the "Job Interview" one where people are sneaking out of work and drinking delicious DunDo smoothies.

@stacyinbean: She started shilling for DunDo. I much prefer the They Might be Giants commercials myself.

@brendastarlet: Reading that has gotten the Chapi Chapo song stuck in my head: