I’m not one of those who needs to see a female Dr. Who, but Tilda would be totally, totally awesome.

Yes—one is culpable of murder and the other isn’t. There are many reasons why the second person might not have been able to help the victim. Also, Obama hasn’t ignored the issue, though it’s not at the forefront to the degree I would like. Climate change was a center issue on this year’s budget. He’s also called it a…

Equally? No. Obama did not create a political environment where it became okay to deny scientific facts and inconvenient truths—that was all Bush and co. Prior to Bush, Republicans did not fight every environmental issue tooth and nail. Obama’s not as green as I would like, but he’s also faced an incredibly…

Yes, but the terrible thing about global warming is that we actively fought things like the Kyoto accords, which means we’ll have to do more than we would have otherwise.

Ah, finally a list where I kind of know my stuff. So, let’s add:

Italian Folktales by Italo Calvino for those who like their folktales terse and unadulterated

Yep. I love Austen, so I found it an entertaining read. The plot’s not at all Austen like, just the writing style. Clarke’s short stories are also written in an Austen-style, so clearly Clarke just likes the Regency period and language as a setting for her work.

Well, they’re both called huckleberries—so different variety or different species? Anyway, I’ve had both, but years apart, and they’re both in the category of blueberry-like, but with more zing (and more seeds).

Huckleberries don’t just grow in the Rocky Mountain states. They grow in Washington, Oregon and California—there are huckleberry bushes that grow on top of old-growth redwoods on the soggy north coast.

People don’t order Jello though—they make it, so it wouldn’t have picked up by Four Square. So data-collection error.

Canada stole your cheese curds for their poutine.

“VERY common”? No, it’s not. Having made some long road trips, I only wish it were.

Close relative of the blueberry. And, yes, you should.

Did think NM might get fry bread. Do like some fry bread.

Northern California also eats a lot of dungeness crab—it’s not just Washington by a long shot—it’s SF all the way up the Pacific coast.

Poke and shave ice. Pretty much what I eat when I’m in the islands. I’ve tried getting poke in California, but it’s not the same.

No, haven’t heard of the Thirteenth Tale—will check it out.

The Dark Lord of Derkholm is pretty much a perfect parody of high fantasy—takes place on a magical world that’s connected to our own and tourists go on quest packages that are actually really hard on the local population and the magical ecosystem. One wizard has to play the Dark Lord each year—and let’s see—some of…

Sorry, didn’t mean to sound harsh there—no question that Heinlein’s a giant in the field—I think anyone who wants to understand SF should read him. I just don’t think he’s a good gateway drug for people who aren’t inclined to read SF in the first place.

I didn’t like the Time-Traveler’s Wife very much, but I like Nifenegger’s Her Fearful Symmetry—which is weirder, darker and altogether more perverse. I may be alone in this.

Love, love, love that one. When I’m blue, I reread this one and Diana Wynne Jones The Dark Lord of Derkholm.