My mom and stepdad used ‘mate’ for years before formally marrying (I think now they use husband and wife), but I think it does have the issues you mention.

Spousecake is cute…I say try it in public circles and see how it works out. Every popular term has to start somewhere.

Here in the wacky, hippie-loving, semi-communist North I got much less pushback when I didn’t change my name, but there were still a few comments. I heard that I wasn’t committed to the marriage if I didn’t change my name…which, well, no one was questioning my husband’s commitment because he kept his name, and I’m no flightier than he is, so no dice.

I have no issue with any woman who does change her name–do whatever makes you happy!–but I agree, for me it just felt weirdly like changing ‘me-ness,’ and you know, I’m pretty OK with the ‘me’ I already am.

People will learn to deal with it. (Possibly, in some cases, by persistently calling you the wrong name, but whatever.)

Also, is there a point system for biking? I got stuck in a median and startled a young woman who appeared to be drug-addled. There’s got to be a bingo card for this.

It seems like sci-fi shows are particularly prone to dumping the pregnancy storyline on their female characters, but maybe it’s just the shows that I watch. On the series Angel, Cordelia suffered through two demon-y pregnancies in the course of the series. Which, gross on every level.

I will not be going to the Mall of America either.

Robots are great, but microbes are the new robots. I read about a guy in the UK who was modifying human gut microbes so that we could manufacture our own vitamin c. He was doing this not in a big fancy lab, but in his garage. Yikes! Cool, and yikes!

I think a lot of it depends on individual non-phone computer uses. I use a lot of Google products (Docs, Calendar, Gmail, etc) and those integrate VERY smoothly with Android phones. I also use Google Voice for practically all of my calling, so I can get away with a very low minute-limit on my package.

You know, it’s resembling (in my mind, at least) the old PC vs Mac dichotomy. The PC was a bit clunkier, but more tweakable and upgradeable, whereas the Mac was generally smoother.

Anyway, grow some peppers. Cucumbers also do well, and are a great “cool” vegetable in the heat of summer.

Also, they do update the software regularly. There are some things we shouldn’t expect, like Flash, but the originals didn’t have copy/paste, now we do (and the original phones got it with the new ones last year). Multi-tasking wasn’t possible before the coming update, but all phones and iPods with sufficient power to handle multi-tasking will get it now. Same for folders and lots of other UI features. If the devices hardware can handle it, it gets the update with the new phones.

Thanks for the links! I planned my garden back in March and started in April when it was a reasonable temperature. I just will have to start them in early March next year. There’s no frost after February anyway.

Andrea: Try carrots in cooler weather. Also try the Carrot Museum. http://www.carrotmuseum.co.uk/

Also: http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/summer_vegetable_gardening_in_the_deep_south

John:, Yeah, okay, whatever. I’ll keep all that in mind when using turn-by-turn driving directions in the alps… for free. http://googlemobile.blogspot.com/2010/06/fun-on-autobahn-google-maps-navigation.html

Alternately: http://vegetablegardens.suite101.com/article.cfm/summer_vegetable_gardening_in_the_deep_south

@John: The problem I have with the iPhone is that in Apple’s quest for maniacal Sony-like control, they stifle progress. For example, there are things about my phone that I don’t like, but I know that when Android 2.2 comes out, some of them will be fixed. With the iPhone (as far as I know), you don’t really get big updates… what you buy is what you’re stuck with. Google’s in business to make money, no doubt about it… but I just like the way they’re doing it better.

I’m with Andrea on the iPhone. Design and usability count for a lot. And don’t give me that Apple is evil routine mister! Google is just as evil now that they’ve grown huge, and all telecoms are fit for the sulfur pits. Making their development platform open doesn’t make them “good” it just means that they have a different path to domination, diffusion instead of centralization. Google thinks like a 21st century empire and Apple thinks like a 19th century empire. But they’re both still empires. I think the 21st century empire is eventually going to win out, but until then, I’m going to enjoy my finely crafted and beautiful steampunk phone.

I have carrots! As far as I can tell they are lovely green tops with no fat roots growing beneath to feed me. I’m not really sure what their problem is. Snap peas and green beans are also sounding their death knells, but in their defense, they are early summer veggies and it is ridiculous swamp desert season here. I should plant tropical fruits and veggies until October, I guess. Not sure what I can plant that would survive. Sweet potatoes are in my plans.