Mad Woman: Vote for Porter!

AMC and Banana Republic are having an online casting call contest for a single episode walk-on role on Mad Men. How much fun is that? And Porter Hovey of Hovey Girls fame is desperate to win. Vote for her by clicking on her photo above. You can vote once per day - now, that's voting Chicago-style (you know: vote early, vote often).

You can also visit Hollister Hovey's site here to see one of her other photos. She looks like a cast member already, doesn't she?

Good luck, Porter! The new season starts August 16. Can't wait.

HOVEY UPDATE: Don't miss Porter and Hollister in today's New York Times. Click here for the article on those pith-helmet-wearing, taxidermy-lovin' sisters. Thanks to Pigtown*Design for the heads up.

The Perfect Gift.

Hail to the Chia-ief.

Looking for a gift for the liberal in your life?

This made me laugh out loud when I saw it at Kitchen & Co. last night (in my mad search for some good vanilla to ease my chocolate chip cookie craving) and then I saw that it has been pulled from Walgreen's because people think it's racist.

Sigh.

Of course I found a picture of it. The internets, they is magical.

Speaking of weird things that grow faux hair when you get them wet, did anyone else have Fuzzy Wuzzy soap when they were a kid? You know, it was shaped like a bear or something and you got it wet and it grew "fur"? And when you washed and washed, you were rewarded with a toy prize inside? God, we were easily entertained...

How to Drink Campari.

It took me years to love Campari and now I do (must be all those dead taste buds...).

You may remember my winter drink with Campari, the Negroni, from this post. But for summer it's Campari and soda on ice (equal parts for me) or fill a glass with ice, add about half Campari and fill with Pellegrino Aranciata.

Mmmmm-mmmmm. Good and good for you.

What a Difference a Door Makes.

All of these doors are in Old New Castle, Delaware, just a short drive from Wilmington. William Penn first landed in (old) New Castle in 1682 on the banks of the Delaware River. The former county seat and center of Colonial government (before Penn established Philadelphia) still has fewer than 5,000 residents.

There's a home and garden tour every May. And there's a great little pub called Jessop's if you're ever in the neighborhood.

You Know Things Are Bad...

when Boone Pickens can't get financing.

Story on the collapse of his wind farm dreams here.

Some Gorgeous Gossip (and Early Alaskan Fireworks)...

You've heard that Sarah Palin resigned. Have you heard this?

EXCLUSIVE: PALIN RESIGNATION 'DAMAGE CONTROL' FOR COMING 'ICEBERG SCANDAL' ... MORE: EMBEZZLEMENT INDICTMENTS COMING?

FURTHER UPDATE from The Brad Blog: Okay, I've now been able to get independent information from multiple sources that all of this precedes what are said to be possible federal indictments against Palin, concerning an embezzlement scandal related to the building of Palin's house and the Wasilla Sports Complex, built during her tenure as Mayor. Both structures, it is said, feature the "same windows, same wood, same products." Federal investigators have been looking into this for some time, and indictments could be imminent, according to the Alaska sources.

Palin's Wasilla Lake House

True? Or just gossip? Only time will tell...