I thought the frat boys were very boring at first, but they grew on me by the end. They're big dorks, which I like.

I like that they aren't trying to pretend they're anything they aren't -- they're like, "we're lazy! We hate to work." I'm fine with that.

Were the hippies the only ones who actually had any Portuguese?

Thanks, msbelle and Jesse. And good luck with your marathons, msbelle!

Usually I know that the Oscars took place when I log in to b.org, see hundreds upon hundreds of new Natter posts, have no idea what the movies mentioned are (mostly) and enjoy skimming the clothes discussions. If all that the Oscars had were the Buffistas clothes discussions, I would still be quite pleased.

TAR: Wow, I found them really offensive, though from the intro I thought I might like them. It seemed to me like they were constantly talking about "bitches", sex obsessed in a very "women are there for me to judge" kind of way and yadda yadda. I didn't save the recording or I'd go back and watch to a) marshal my argument and b) see if I was overreacting.

The mother and daughter (who I like better than I thought I would, the daughter anyway) have Spanish, but I don't think anyone else has demonstrated any language facility.

The frat boys were NCAA track stars in their college days, fwiw. They do actually know how to work hard, but they're definitely slacking careerwise now.

I am intrigued by Rt. 1 cuisine, namely Kowloon and the German Sausage Kitchen.

Oh, yeah - I AM intrigued by Karl's, and they have a good reputation. In that vein, if you've never checked out Century House in ...Peabody I think but it might be Danvers (down 114 past the North Shore Mall), they do just good solid homestyle food. I've never had anything but breakfast there (daily until 11), but, mmmm, their breakfast food is FINE. They also have a nifty epicurian shoppe.

It's possible I should stop travelling on Rt. 1 because it puts weird and dangerous ideas in my head.

As long as they don't involve the orange T-Rex, the (WORLD FAMOUS) Golden Banana, the plastic cows at the Hilltop, and/or the Leaning Tower of Pizza, I think you're OK.

I am also intrigued by the Golden Banana.

And I have been to the Century House! I actually met my uncle there for dinner, like 2 days after we moved to Salem. It's old school New England cookery.

Nilly, Jon Stewart is hosting the Oscars this year. Many of us are excited by this.

Do you get to see any Jon Stewart there? Some non-US cable networks show a 'highlight' of each week's Daily Show with Jon Stewart episodes.

Some non-US cable networks show a 'highlight' of each week's Daily Show with Jon Stewart episodes.

I guess that some Israeli cables channel or another has that, too, then. I wouldn't know - I don't have cables.

I've seen his name mentioned here on b.org, enough that I recognize it. But I'm afraid I'm terribly ignorant in those matters.