Health~ma to your mom, Aimee.

Happy Birthday, Suzi!!

So much ~ma to your mom and to you, Aims.

P-C, I'd say just go test drive them--I was surprised at how much some of the very very similar cars I drove felt very very different to me, when I was buying a car.

Yeah, I'm test driving them all this week. The Camry drove fine, but the steering audio control was really awkward, and the radio reception was staticky for no apparent reason. I'm hoping one of the cars just feels right.

Much ~ma to you and your mom Aims.

Happy Birthday Suzi!

So I'm buying a car and wanted to consult the hivemind. Using U.S. News and World Report rankings as a guideline, I'm looking at the Chevrolet Malibu, Mazda Mazda6, Ford Fusion, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, and Hyundai Sonata. One of these better just stand out and be awesome. The Camry was fine, but I feel like not getting The Car That Everyone Has. (I've arbitrarily nixed the Accord on the basis that it's basically a more expensive Camry.) I'm looking at midsize sedans since I plan to keep this car for a long time, and it'll be good to have a bigger car for my future dysfunctional family. Or, if you're my uncle, I'm looking at midsize sedans because they are inherently safer than small cars because of physics.

How much are you looking to spend? If you are looking at these new might I suggest you go take a look at a 2005 or 2006 Mercedes C230. They can be had for less than $20,000 with very low miles and will be a much safer and better built car than almost any of these. If you want the new car dealer experience only better, go pick up one at CarMax.

Ok, so I know I'm all lurky, and I jumped the line here, but I was asked about gathering a listing of film industry trade mags, and my mind immediately went to Buffistas. I couldn't help myself. So, does anyone have any suggestions beyond Variety and Hollywood Reporter? They're not looking for popular entertainment magazines or academic criticism types.

Thank you in advance, oh, wonderful hivemind!

I do have to add that although I'm mostly just lurky now, and often not even that, I do check Press and Beep Me, and although I don't type my squees and ~mas, I have them and send them in my heart, always. You guys are the best, and love when life treats you well, and shake my tiny fist in the air when it doesn't.

And because I just thought this should be a separate post, you're in my heart Aims. May your mother's symptoms turn out to be a panic attack, or the like, which is no fun, but is a damn bit better than a heart attack. Hugs and ~ma.

And happy birthday, Suzi! You deserve a good day, so you might as well have it be this one. After all, you made it through another year, and grew in hard but wonderful ways. Whoot!

Mom ~ma, Aims.

Happiest of Birthdays, Suzi!

PC, rather than just relying on U.S. News and Buffista hivemind, I'd get a copy of Consumer reports. Buy the latest annual car guide, then go to the library and look up the magazine updates. This does not mean it should be deciding. (And there are statistical flaws in CR methods, but still their reliability data is generally right on. They really are the best guide to how likely your car is to break down. (Not perfect, those statistical flaws, plus your car can be tghe exception, but still the best out there.)

libkitty, we get a magazine (more like a newsletter) here at the theatre called "Previews" that is published by the National Association of Theatre Owners. Is that the sort of thing you had in mind?