Live Q&As

You make a fair point -- similar to what Dana Milbank had to say today.  Shall we put it to a vote, then? Shall we move on?

Awww. That's so sweet. Anyone in your office today? The Wednesday before Thanksgiving has become a de facto holiday, too -- Union Station was mobbed last night.  

No, I believe she's gone back to Charlotte.

Can't they be both? Pass them over if you've got some on you, btw.

Personally, I like sausage and a hint of dried fruit. But the fastest way to start a debate is asking what is a proper Thanksgiving menu.

And now that you mention it -- 1981 was a pretty good year. Happy days are here again? It took me years to recognize what a good song "Bette Davis Eyes" is. You just take that stuff for granted as a kid.

Went well -- and more to the point, I had a blast. The contest is the National Gingerbread House Competition 9but they don't have to be houses); my piece was named one of the Top Ten and I received a big ol' ribbon. Will try something I've never done: Attach a photo to a chat answer. let me know if it worked.

If one is inclined to work, it's a good day to be productive. Not too many phone calls!

Actually, I disagree. Kid's involvement in the Romney campaign gave them a timely peg to hang the story on, but the New Yorker often does profiles of interesting artistic figures, and I think the story made the case for why his career is, well, interesting, even beyond his politics, the whole hip-hop/rock/country melding and progression.

And, of course, deep inside the story, this little gem, which no one called to my attention (not even the New Yorker itself, which issues a weekly press release with every new issue that is roughly the length of the Book of Genesis, and yes, I read it) until the magazine had been sitting on my bedside for a full week.  It was the same way last year when they had an amazing profile of Rita Jenrette and did nothing to promote the world-shattering revelation midway through that she says she never had sex on the Capitol steps.

Crazy can be hot -- and makes affairs take strange turns.

You're right, bad link. I'll correct, but meanwhile here it is:

Michael Morse marries Jessica Etably, first couple in busy Washington Nationals wedding season

That's actually an easy one:

The first Reliable Source author, Lois Romano, is writing about politics for Politico. Ann Gerhart is covering the second-term transition here at the Post; Ann Groer is doing freelance writing and working on a book. Lloyd Grove is writing up in New York; Rich Leiby is overseas for the Post. And that brings us up to the two of us, who've been writing the column for seven-plus years. 

Here's the story on John Lannan's wedding. . . Did you and I have an exchange in the comments about the lack of details from the Morse wedding? If that wasn't you, then I'll point out that many VIPs, perhaps most, don't put out a lot of information about their weddings -- and even if they do eventually, it's not usually their first priority on the morning after the nuptials. We were lucky enough to get so much information about Lannan's wedding because it happened weeks before our item (there was a Christmas holiday in between), after we'd had a chance to work the phones and find people who've returned from it and were willing to chat. Morse, though, we wanted to write about the very next day -- and we had roughly as much information as the media could provide the day after the Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds nuptials, which is to say, not a lot. Sorry! But Morse has been trickling out details since then on his Twitter feed.

Thanks for both of your votes.

Well, true.

That's in there! It's automatic budget cuts scheduled to take place over the next 10 years starting on Jan. 1. Mostly defense and big federal entitlement programs. Big fight brewing.

Does he now think you have imaginary friends?

Both have their virtues.

Christmas falls on a Tuesday this year, right? So I don't know why we're planning so far ahead.

Good point.

Since I'm not a military brat, I know very little about the life. But the big generals seem to have a pretty sweet deal.

It's very, very good. The only part about it I don't like is the part where she gushes, "This came out in 1981, eight years before I was born!"

You know the saying, "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person." Seriously, I've heard of execs so busy they scheduled their mistresses for 6 a.m. Plus, I'm assuming these are not lingering hours in bed -- maybe just short encounters.

You know. . . .I don't often skip a Bob Dylan show, but I did skip this one. It conflicted with the 40th anniversary of The Palm. Besides, I realized it would be much cheaper to just continue to listen to "Basement Tapes" over and over and over again, as well as have the occasional conversations with Bob in my head.

I think he considers it more homage than stealing.

It's been ages since I say a movie. I promised myself one this weekend, and "Lincoln" is on the short list.

Hmmm, now that you've brought Nickelback into the equation, I'm going to have to rethink my theory.

Clarification: It's not long by New Yorker standards. It's just long by the standards of Kid Rock profiles. But it's not bad at all.

It is fixed now.

Yeah, but that's always the wild card in affairs. They  think it's a managable situation, then the other party does something so off that they realize they're in over their head.

Hey, has anyone seen Anna Karenina yet? Let me know how it was.

That says that you're a prosperous and classy guy. For me, it brings up ads for REI, some jewelry store at National Harber I've never heard of, ALDI grocery stores, and "Toyotathon is ON!"

You know, I always wondered how great those deals are anyway, and if it's worth the effort. I suppose I would have stood in line for a toy my kid desperately wanted, but he never craved anything that much. Besides, I've never been a morning person, so 5 a.m. anywhere -- except bed --  is not happening.

They have not yet filed for divorce, since last we checked -- but they've also both moved on, it seems. Al has a new girlfriend, and Tipper has a new boyfriend. And thank you for your kind words. . .

For you last-minute menu planners.

Thanks. Will see if someone more tech savvy can help.

You know, last week you all were waiting for the next shoe to drop, somehow thinking there should be a sixth shoe to drop or something -- but there's really been nothing new since then, has there? Except for the revelation that the shirtless FBI agent photo was really not the least bit sexy or confidential and clearly kind of a joke.

More ideas.

Judging from the shrewd marketing the W gets out of this, I'm guessing they comp the birds.

Oh, you don't think Billy Bush would have risen on his own merits? (Yeah, I'm following you.) I actually think he might have just done. That mellifluous voice and those celebrity suck-up skills -- not just anyone can do that. He was like a pre-Ryan Seacrest, really. A Pre-crest, if you will.

She's here a lot but I don't think she's ever lived here.

They've cleared the place out of little stores and are bringing in a new batch of stores -- a Marshalls, I think, and other big discount retailers. 

One by one the tenants have been leaving; there's not much there at all these days as the new owners try to rehab and reconfigure the place. There was talk that a T.J. Maxx might be a new anchor.

Don't quote me on this, but I think not.

And we're thankful for you.

Merle Haggard. Or Wendy Rieger, if he's not available. How about you?

My international celebrity crush, British playwright Tom Stoppard. 

I think the argument is that all those perks may encourage a certain sense of entitlement.

There are always local citizens near bases who host parties and raise money for military families, etc. That's not the weird aspect -- the fact that two four-stars would get involved in a custody battle is weird and ill-advised. And yes, there are general groupies.

Uh, no. Sorry. Many places, I assume. And she probably has stylists showing up at her mansion with groaning garment racks, and designers Fed-Exing her their gratis offerings. In other words -- wherever and however she shops is probably not relevant for our lives.

This is a new one on me -- I have a hard time imaging it's not just souped-up mashed potatoes instead of stuffing.

Except for running a war, you mean?

Aiming for the 2:10 p.m. showing at Gallery Place. Meet me there? I think a Hemsworth is in it.

If you haven't already seen it, do check out Michael O'Sullivan's "Red Dawn" review.  The lead is a highlight:

"There’s good news and bad news about “Red Dawn,” a remake of the 1984 action film about high school kids from the American heartland forced to become guerrilla warriors when their small town is invaded by foreign troops. I’m happy to report that the amped-up retread, which substitutes North Korean soldiers for the original Soviet bad guys -- and a steely Chris Hemsworth for a cheesy Patrick Swayze -- is a big improvement.

"The bad news is: That’s not saying much."

Excellent point.

Because "socialite" is one of those all-purpose terms describing a woman of a certain class who typically doesn't work outside the home and goes to/throws a lot of parties. Not every socialite is a social climber.

Oscars, here they come.

Dry Riesling or Pinot Noir.

Hell, don't ask me. That's probably the wrong answer, but it's what I like to drink. Anyone else here know?

I haven't figured this out; will attempt to post a gingerbread picture in the next chat.

According to Wikipedia, he was on D.C.'s 94.7 before moving to Z104, before becoming a big TV star. . . .