Bird Brains

Here's how Harold E. Ford Jr. described U.S. Sen. Kristin Gillibrand of New York recently: "Understand that you're not elected to the United States Senate to be a parakeet or to take instructions from the Democratic leadership." Ford, who is considering whether to run against Gillibrand, later elaborated on that. Voters want to elect representatives who show some independence. Like bluejays.

Three's Apparently Not a Crowd

Everybody's already seen this, but it's still funny, so here it is: The wedding announcement last month in The New York Times, with Ricky Bobby hovering behind the happy couple. I can't believe an editor said okay to this. But good work!

Beauty Sleep

It was an unwelcome wake-up call: One morning about five years ago I looked in the mirror and discovered that the wrinkles on my face bore an eerie resemblance to the wrinkles on my scrunched-up bed pillow. Ever since, I've been preaching to friends and family about the need to become a back sleeper (easier than it sounds).
No on really listened. Maybe now they will, since MORE magazine has published this item in an article titled "Want Skin Like a Skin Doctor?":

Fetal-position snoozers, take note: A surprising number of doctors believe that smashing your face into a pillow leads to permanent creases—so they try never to do it. “Sleeping on your face not only etches wrinkles into the skin, but fluid pools on the side of the face that’s pressed against the pillow, stretching out the skin,” Lupo says. Rodan went so far as to buy herself a Therapeutica Sleeping Pillow ($79 to $110, depending on the size; therapeuticainc.com), which is contoured to cradle your head and neck, making it easier to lie on your back. “The connection between wrinkles and how you sleep is no joke. I can look at 80 percent of my patients and tell you which side they sleep on,” Rodan says.

Big Bird

This just in ... VIDEO: Seagull drops in on Hitch

Good Eggs

SUNNY SIDE ... The egg-themed cookware line from Joie - the Whiskie Egg Whisk, the Yolkie Egg Separator - is pretty much irresistible (so cute, with those little egghead chicks!). I was especially intrigued by the "Small Fry" mini pan that the company pitches as "eggsactly the ideal shape and size for a single egg sandwich, muffin or bagel." So I bought it. And it was eggsactly the right size. But it was also impossible to clean, it turns out. Per the instructions, I always added a little oil or butter to the pan before cooking an egg, and washed it with a nonstick-surface-friendly scrubber afterward. But the finish ended up losing its lustre (not to mention its nonstick-to-itiveness).
So I emailed the Web site of the manufacturer, MSC International. Almost immediately I got an apologetic email in reply, saying that the surface must be defective, and offering to send me a new pan. It arrived in short order. Eggsceptional.

Mastering the Art of Eating Politely

MISSED MANNERS … It's one of the things you learn in Mom School. As soon as your child can pluck up Cheerios with his/her chubby little fingers, start with the rules. Rule Number 1: "Don't talk with your mouth full!" So, was Nora Ephron napping during that lesson? In "Julie & Julia," Ephron's picture about Julia Child, Chris Messina plays the husband - and taste tester - of blogger Julie Powell, who set out to cook every dish in Child's cookbook. Messina gobbled down his food so crudely - it was practically flying out of his mouth as he chomped away - that it turned our stomach. Movie? Delicious. Messina? Disgusting.

The Wall Street Journal Guide to Manly Hugging

"At first they seemed destined for a routine handshake. But Mr. Clinton pulled Mr. Gore into a bear hug. ... "

From an article in the Wall Street Journal about the sudden display of affection between former President Clinton and former Vice President Gore, upon the journalists' return from North Korea. Read on for more details.