It always amused me they were called haw flakes. As kids my brother and I wondered what a haw was.

I remember watching a show on TLC about a woman who was such a picky eater she couldn't eat anything but Ore-Ida french fries. Turns out she was a super-taster, whose taste buds were somehow overstimulated by pretty much everything, and anything but bland foods like bread or fries were actually painful for her. She…

I assumed it was mainly because those are very bland foods that taste mostly of salt and nothing else.

And to ensure that women have less control over their reproduction, because that means they also won't be in control of their careers either.

Under the Banner of Heaven scared the crap out of me. I haven't been able to reread it because the descriptions of the murders they committed in the name of the FDLS were so disturbing.

I'd read Serena Joy was a fictional Phyllis Schlafly but Tammy Faye fits too. Also the beauty pageant woman who went on to sing orange juice jingles and rail against gays.

One thing the Republicns have always been better at is ruthlessness. Time the Dems started bearing down and quit talking about compromise, bipartisanship and working with the other side. How many times do the Republicans have to flat-out say they're not interested in any of that before the Dems believe them?

Feeling shame is the first step to recovery! I have faith in you.

Holy crap, we are so screwed for the next four years.

Harry/Charlotte was the best pairing. I liked that she started out thinking he should be on his knees, grateful to have her, and he took the rug out from under that idea, leaving her room to think maybe SHE should also be grateful to have HIM.

I adored Molly Dodd. I think I was too young to see myself in her, but she gave me a pretty good idea of what life was like for a single adult woman. From what I recall, she was mentally a lot healthier than the SATC women. Plus, can't go wrong with Blair Brown.

That's because he was barely in them. In addition to completely missing what made the TV show good and just focusing on shopping and stereotypes, the movies didn't have enough Harry. All he got to do was stand around murmuring supportive things.

I completely agree.

By the end, Charlotte seemed the most well adjusted, and I credit Harry's influence. The most adult thing Charlotte ever did was humble herself and realize that she wasn't a gift to a man who should be grateful to have her. Harry was the best.

I read an article (in EW?), just as the show was ending, in which Kim Catrall or Cynthia Nixon said that if Sex and the City were real, none of those women would have been friends with Charlotte. Much as I love the evolution of Charlotte's character, I think they're right. Her link to the others is the most tenuous of…

So Girls is a documentary series? NOW it makes sense.

I figured the three-times rule was an actual rule, because then people would all be fighting over the iPod and no other gifts would get opened.

and donuts.

This year's felt so demoralizing my brother and I agreed not to exchange gifts, just make donations in each other's names to the ACLU and International Rescue Committee. It just felt more appropriate, given how monumentally shitty this year has been. I don't think either of us is going to miss getting gifts this year.…

Your lips, God's ears…