I'm not sure how you define "very published" — are you a household name? would I recognize you walking down the street? — but I write stuff that appears in a lot of outlets (though I doubt anyone notices the byline). And even though I know nothing good ever comes of reading the comments, I still can't help it. Nobody…

I was just going to suggest Joe Hisaishi and Ennio Morricone, whose work is in my regular rotation. The soundtracks to Nausicaa, Porco Rosso and Spirited Away are just amazing. (Granted, I also love the movies, but the score is really evocative on its own.)

I can definitely live without it, but somebody just gave me an ice cream maker and it is AWESOME.

Kate Beaton tells it like it is/was.

Do any of you remember the gender-neutral baby scandal from a couple years ago? http://www.thestar.com/life/parent/20… It made SO MANY PEOPLE — even people who didn't know this family — that they were being denied clear cues on how to treat this kid. They took it as a personal affront. So I'm not surprised there's a…

Possibly, but you can appreciate the fact that it avoided some major tropes without otherwise enjoying the movie. In the end, it comes down to what people find funny, and that's not something anyone can really control.

Excessive quoting of movies or TV shows (especially bro-ish ones) and really regrettable tattoos. But really, I have a huge list and it would probably be too depressing to list them all.

I'm assuming you mean "axe" instead of "ask," not the body spray. Though I think either would count.

Ahhh! Grown men who use text speak! No go.

I usually travel with carry-on only, so bringing a gift with me is not so convenient. But I always take the hosts out for dinner (at least) and generally pick up something while I'm there — a book they wanted, some fancy dessert, whatever.

I've heard this from a few people and totally plan to go that route should I ever get married. Also, I really want to just get an ice cream truck instead of cake — something for everyone! Plus I don't really like cake.

Me too. I consume enough of those three items to offset the average for everyone. No fruity cocktails, though, and very few things on the so-called "real" side either (at least not very often).

Does Gabrielle Union bathe in unicorn blood or something? I swear that woman doesn't age.

I just got home from seeing this and really liked it. Is it the greatest movie ever made? No. But it was a blast and made me laugh tons and didn't rely on played-out gender jokes (OK, maybe once or twice, but in passing).

See, that was one of the least funny scenes in my book. But I did like the movie, even though it wasn't the be all and end all of comedies (as some people seemed to think).

What's this about Numair books?? This I definitely need to read.

I recently read Kel for the first time and it wasn't bad. She's no Alanna, but Kel is an interesting character and I like that they're completely different people — you know, like real women are completely different and not just tiny variations of one "female protagonist" template.

I also re-read Tamora Pierce (and read some of her stuff I'd never read before) AND managed to see Magic Mike. The two aren't mutually exclusive! :)

I had the same experience - went to see it as a girls' night because of how silly and over-the-top it seemed, then had to kind of regroup afterward to get our momentum back before going dancing. It was kind of a downer, but the kind that makes you think.

What's more humiliating — getting beaten up by Justin Bieber or having him make out with your wife while you're deployed?