Phil, the beloved family tube, is on his last diodes. We're expecting to replace him any month now. But do we really need 1080p?

Plus, fighting the English with tax-delayed retirement accounts, why I only ebay to Americans, she's back, Discworld: Ankh-Morpork and less in the TGIF diary!

Poll: Favorite part of Saint Paddy's Day?

and breaks my plan to ration Pratchett.

Plus The Hunger Games, Civ III, a winter without sledding, Rauchbier, Archer and less!

Poll: Favorite witch?

Plus holiday wrapups, Al's Archimedians Points advances again, Lego tank design, that intoxicating air of freedom - no that's dope and less!

Media reviews of Born Fighting, Bloodlands, Wyrd Sisters, Wickedly Charming, Shameless, Albion's Seed, Combined Fleet Decoded, Red Sniper on the Eastern Front, Red Queen, Battlefield Detectives, Greatest Tank Battles, Ghost in the Shell, Chipwrecked, The Smurfs and less.

Poll: Favorite Doctor?

Plus, Iowa thoughts, financial crises, Camry crap (including Haynes errata), other wrenchin', job changes, birthdays are over, vacation and the following long list of media:

Pattern Recognition, Cetaganda, Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time, Batty's operation Barbarossa and Dien Bien Phu, Spearhead from Space, Pyramids of Mars, The Family, The Haunting in Connecticut, Harry Potter and the Previously Hidden Cleavage, The Fifth Continent, Outliers

Poll: What to do on vacation?

Plus Days of Exhaustion, Hell is other people, budget cuts, a victory for corporate executive insiders, late night partying, all I wanted was a Pepsi, stupid Craiglist and less.

In book reviews Paycheck, Beka Cooper, Brazen Chariots, Lords and Ladies, The Dream Machine and Germany's Last Mission to Japan.

Poll: Best car for the mature driver?

Including Thanksoweenistice wrapup, localized Keynesian stimulus involving trickle down, swimming, Lego Robotics, Droid Incredible and LG Ally reviews, reviews of Bonk, Pyramids, SuperFreakonomics, The View from the Turret, Pendulum of War: The Three Battles of El Alamein, Dark of the Moon, and less.

Poll: Most challenging Lego Robotics task?

Two birthdays one party, kitchen remodeling, med withdrawal and many work problems are getting to me.

Plus tickling the Dragon's tail in The First War of Physics, Lady in White, long long weekend, tiny bladders, Day of Battle, Hitler's Holy Relics, Sourcery, touchscreen gizmos, now we are nine and fourteen, purple french fries, sorry about that heat wave, when flathead screws are outlawed, book club and less.

Poll being filibustered.

Plus new glasses, good weekend, good airplane food, deflated Fat Tire, 12 hours in a beige print room, Panzer Commander, Equal Rites, The Last Stand of Fox Company, Dodge Avenger and less.

Poll: Favorite kind of music?

Pus long lazy weekend, hierarchy of dorkdom, Motorhead, Brick, best BLT, aptly named Summit drive, cash for couches!

Poll: Favorite book that ends in O

hot cross buns

Plus Hogfather, how do you sign wood for sheep, sick house, 7 1/2 lots and less.

Poll: Favorite Palm?