The Reliable Source: Virginia Guv Mansion, Holder in Vegas, Gilbert Arenas's Third Baby, Kate Gosselin, Michael Steele, More

Washington Post columnists Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts were online Wednesday, Oct. 14, at Noon ET to discuss your favorite gossip, recent celebrity sightings and their recent columns.

In Recent Columns: Your handy-dandy guide to the kids who might move into the Virginia guv's mansion. Eric Holder in Vegas. Inside the shower for Gilbert Arenas's third baby. Every nice family now has a kid who makes documentary films. Who will be the White House florist? Kate Gosselin wants Nobu! GQ tries to lure "D.C.'s Most Powerful" to a party in their honor. What up, Michael Steele -- why'd you change the name of your blog?

E-mail and bookmark Reliable Source Blog.

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Amy Argetsinger: Good morning! Let's get things started, unless Roxanne already has...

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Michael Steele's blog: I've got a new name for it, "No Fly Zone" as in "I'm not as fly as I think I am!"

Amy Argetsinger: I like it!

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"Kids who might move into the Governor's Mansion?": More like -- adult children who might visit the mansion on weekends and holidays. After all, the youngest one is a high school senior, so will probably finish the year where she is and then go on to college. Nowhere near as interesting when they are actually still-at-home elementary and middle school students!

washingtonpost.com: Hoping for a change of address (Reliable Source, Oct. 21)

Roxanne Roberts: Oh, I have to disagree. Little kids are cute but usually well-behaved. Teenagers and college kids, on the other hand, have all sorts of opinions, boyfriends, girlfriends, etc.---which make them much more fun to watch.

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Having a bad day and glad you are here: There are days when the only people I want to read from are the two of you. Thank you :) Meow meorrrrrw mrrrrrrrrow is sitting right next to me and feels happy.

Roxanne Roberts: Right up there with the purry? What a compliment. We'll try to make you feel better.

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Bethesda, Md.: Thanks for the heads up on the Vanity Fair article on Kate Gosselin. It was the most balanced and thoughtful article about this woman I have read. How she became such a diva is still baffling to me. Do you think TLC is regretting letting such an unbiased peek into their "brand"?

Amy Argetsinger: Glad you enjoyed. At first I thought, "I can't believe Vanity Fair is delving into such an US Weekly topic." But it was a very smart story about the whole crazy fame-damaged Truman Show nightmare these people have become. I think TLC is thinking, hey, just spell our name right; anything for ratings.

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Some guys never learn....: ESPN analyst Steve Phillips is again having sexcapades in the news! After being fired by the Mets in 2003 for inappropriate sexual relations with an employee, he is now in the middle of a messy break-up with a 22-year-old employee. While the media is trying to make this woman look like Glenn Close in "Fatal Attraction," the bottom line is that this guy can't keep his pen out of the office ink!

Amy Argetsinger: Fascinating isn't it? Link to the NYPost story to follow. A reminder to the Letterman apologists that just because a subordinate is willing, it still isn't a good idea.

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washingtonpost.com: EXCLUSIVE: ESPN's Steve Phillips in foul affair with production assistant (New York Post, Oct. 21)

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Elvis's hair auction: Am I the only person who finds this creepy? And how did they authenticate this? And should we all save hair, in case we become famous later and someone will buy it after we've been dead for 30 years?

Roxanne Roberts: Creepy? Kind of, although I wonder if some evil genius would use the hair to make a clone of the King. The hair comes from a friend, who claims he got it from Elvis himself after a haircut.

And no, don't save your hair. When you become a superstar, maybe. On second thought, no. Ewwww.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: Rox and Triple A --

Please ask the redesign people to remove that thick black line that runs between your main story and the "This Just In" and Hey, Isn't That?" features. It makes it look like the features aren't part of your column, especially since there's a similar thick black line separating the whole of your column from the rest of page C2 (sorry, I refuse to say 2C). They'd be better off with a thin line similar to the one that separates the contact info at the bottom of your column.

Roxanne Roberts: Happy to mention it. Like the color photos?

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Nondescript cubicle, Md.: Saying this may make me a heretic, I couldn't care less about the Redskins. However, I'm pulling for Jim Zorn to keep his coaching job because I like staring at his picture in the Post. He's middle-aged hottt.

And he's still married to his original wife, right? Who is about the same age he is? That just makes him hotter.

That's all I've got to contribute to the conversation, sorry!

Roxanne Roberts: Hotttt? Really? Okay, then. Yuo, he's been married forever.

But better get all your lusting-from-afar in while you can: I betting

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Roxanne Roberts: Oops. ....betting Zorn doesn't last the year.

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Gratuitous George Clooney Question/Comment: Did you see the interview where he said that he is "lonely" in relationships? So, are we to infer that he has problems with intimacy (not to be confused with sex)? I think I could help him to get over this....

Amy Argetsinger: Hmmm, let me see, George Clooney is doling out intimate details about his love life... Does he have a movie coming out or something? Ah, yes, in fact: Two. He's totally playin' you, babe.

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Please, please, please: Do a piece on how Tony Danza is doing as a school teacher! I mean, it's been so long since we've had any good Danza info!

Amy Argetsinger: I think we probably have to wait until the reality show airs....

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Thanks for the bit on the baby shower...: for the new member of the "0" family. But, it started me wondering -- it used to be that showers were only for the first one, to get you started. After that, it was assumed that you had all the stuff to recycle. When did we start with showers for all the babies, no matter how many? And how would that work for that family with the 19 biological children? Mind-boggling!

Amy Argetsinger: Is that the case? You do raise a good point. However, if that were the case, then Roxanne wouldn't have had a chance to visit Gilbert's shark-tank grotto.

Roxanne Roberts: I think it depends on the means of the family. Obviously, the new Arenas baby doesn't need anything they can't buy. But the presents were fun and not over-the-top, so there's nothing here to frown at. It was a celebration.

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Photos: You are both clearly hott.

Roxanne Roberts: It's the ink drawing.

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The Kate Gosselin talk show: I, for one, will NOT watch this! I'm tired of this woman being pushed into my consciousness, almost as much as I am sick of her (soon-to-be-ex) husband! Who do you think will watch this, and why is it a marketable idea?

Amy Argetsinger: Just a wannabe pilot at this point, right? I don't see it flying. I mean, ratings for Jon & Kate have plunged, which is the tragic paradox for these people (and all other famesque): At this point, the public is more interested in reading tawdry gossip about them them than watching their show.

Looks like she's getting a one-hour one-off thing next week where she will answer viewers questions, link to follow.

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washingtonpost.com: Kate Gosselin will answer viewer questions in new TLC special (Los Angeles Times, Oct. 20)

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Chris Brown's timing: So, do you think it was deliberate that Tappahannock, Va.'s favorite son announced his tour dates the same day that Rihanna dropped her new single? Seems a little to much to be coincidental.

Amy Argetsinger: If it's not coincidental, then it's a craven move designed to stir up publicity. I mean, who is particularly interested in the breakingnews! aspect of Chris Brown announcing his tour dates -- UNLESS you can stir up a bunch of stories about oh-how-dare-he-do-this-on-the-same-day-her-single-drops?

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Question on the florist job: Is the White House florist appointed for life? Employed on an at-will basis?

washingtonpost.com: Ahead by a rose? Va. florist pulls out front (Post, Oct. 19)

Roxanne Roberts: Not for life, but can last years if the first lady (ladies) like the work. Most of the White House household staff have worked for many administrations.

But even a short gig can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Not a huge paycheck, but a chance to set trends and piggyback with books, speeches, etc.

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D.C.: I was watching some reruns of Homicide lately and am becoming a huge Melissa Leo fan. Didn't realize she had been in Frozen River -- hardly recognized her. Any idea how old she is?

Amy Argetsinger: Oooh, I know! She's 49. dingdingding! And yes, I knew that off the top of my head.

I talked to her on the red carpet at the Oscars. Was fascinated by her because she has all her wrinkles and lines. If you saw her walking down the street in D.C. you wouldn't notice the wrinkles and lines -- she's just a strikingly good looking woman -- but it's startling to see because, well, NO ONE else on the red carpet has ANY wrinkles and lines. It makes you realize that everyone in Hollywood has had work, even the ones you think haven't had any work.

Anyway. She's great. So is Frozen River. It's really a nail-biter.

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Austin City: Who eats suishi anymore anyway? Am I mistaken or is that sooo late '90s?

Amy Argetsinger: I don't know. What are they eating instead in Austin City? What's the Next Big Thing we sushi-eating D.C. hicks don't know about?

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C., again: LOVE the color photos.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks! How do you feel about the move to page two? I think it's worth it for the color photos...

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So Roxanne was an invitee: to the baby shower? Not a media rep because it was open to them for publicity? I am impressed! How did she get on such close terms with them?

Roxanne Roberts: Nope, I attended as a reporter. A couple of us were invited to cover the event. Needless to say, it was a fun assignment.

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Steve Phillips: Not to be a bad person here, but his mistress is really pretty unattractive. You would think that people should not only be afraid to have affairs because they are wrong, but also should be concerned about having an affair where people will judge you.

Amy Argetsinger: I'm sorry, but you kind of are a bad person. This, however, should be a lesson to us all: We've all got a bunch of unflattering photos floating around out there, and if you go missing or end up in a scandal, that's what they're going to run.

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Speaking of things Redskin: Have you seen the "Trade Snyder" shirts? That really cracked me up!

Roxanne Roberts: Yup---and I'm surprised the security at FedEx Field haven't ripped them off the backs. Dan doesn't do criticism very well. A bunch of fans brought big paper bags to cover their heads (an NFL tradition when a teams sucks) and guards took them away.

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Hollywood, Fla.: I hate to sound like a nudge but isn't there something unseemly about fresh flowers in the White House when kids are still going to bed hungry in this country ?

Amy Argetsinger: Anyone else want to weigh in on this?

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Anonymous: I think they eat buffalo and wild boar in Austin...

Amy Argetsinger: True? Maybe some buffalo nigiri.

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Washington: I'm really worried about Rosie O'Donnell and her wife -- as they say they are working on issues. First Jon and Kate, now this. If these kids can't find happiness, who can?

Amy Argetsinger: Sad, isn't it? Next thing you know, Jennifer Love Hewitt will be breaking up with -- well, who is she with these days again? Anyway, if those great kids can't make it work, etc. etc.

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Baby shower thing: Fun until the honoree spits up on your silk blouse...

Roxanne Roberts: Doesn't usually happen with grown-ups. I like my baby showers without babies.

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Bold Predictions: Kate and Jon's fifteen minutes are almost over, methinks and the Balloon Boy Family gets the replacement show on cable...

Roxanne Roberts: And they'd be better? Seems even crazier to me.

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Proposal for a new celebrity baby rule: I have an idea. Journalists should only be allowed to cover the first 2 babies. Any subsequent babies and the celebrities have a total news blackout. If celebrities can't get any attention for it, they might stop the madness. It would help with population control and automatically stop stories about (to name a few) Elizabeth Hasselback, Octomom, the Gosselins, Brangelina, Lil Wayne with all of his baby mamas, etc. Total shunning after 2. Whatcha think?

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, we are much stricter than that. Our policy is: No one cares about your second baby. And definitely not your third (sorry, Mrs. Hasselbeck).

Only the first gets a write-up... until, of course you start rounding the corner onto freak-show numbers, i.e. Brangelina, Heidi Klum (how often do you see a family of four kids in Hollywood?), or Lil Wayne (three babies by three women in one year!)...

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New York: Do you people have no heart? I mean, poor Kate could not go out and get some Nobu sushi because people might judge her. Huge sacrifices she is making for those kids. I blame Jon.

Roxanne Roberts: The best thing about the article is how much a diva is really is....I mean, we suspected, but still. I wonder how she's going to take it when the cameras go bye-bye for good.

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Melissa Leo: I've loved her since the days of Young Riders... What? It was a fun show, and had lots of hot late teens/early 20s guys on it, too. We didn't know then Stephen Baldwin would turn out as, um, what he has.

Amy Argetsinger: How am I not familiar with this show? Starring both Stephen Baldwin and Josh Brolin, who both went on to -- well, take completely different directions in their careers.

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Melissa Leo: I seem to remember that it was a big deal, during the heyday of "Homicide," that she didn't wear makeup. (Or didn't wear much -- the camera might demand some -- I don't remember the details.) I always respected her for that, even though I found her character a little annoying.

Amy Argetsinger: Interesting, I didn't know that...

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Fresh flowers in the White House: Help the nation's economy of greenhouses, etc. Plus they are like art, and make things pleasant. It is a little luxury in which I partake sometimes, just because it is a little thing that makes me feel good. That said, centerpieces for official events, etc., are just a necessary part of head-of-state functions. So, I'm all for flowers in the White House!

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote.

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Hollywood, Calif.: Do you ever buy fresh flowers? Even at the supermarket? What do they have to do with hungry kids? The kids can't eat the flowers. Idiot.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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isn't there something unseemly about fresh flowers in the White House when kids are still going to bed hungry in this country: How about if the White House started using flowers grown in its own garden (and greenhouse?) exclusively?

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: "How do you feel about the move to page two? I think it's worth it for the color photos."

It's taking some getting used to (same with John Kelly's Washington). It's just natural to glance at page 3 when you open up the paper, so the first thing you notice is that "The Reliable Source" isn't there.

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, know what you mean.

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Unflattering photos: The beauty of it is that I photograph so poorly that I'm barely recognizable. So when I get caught in an an inappropriate relationship no one will be sure it's me. Only a couple of problems with this. I'm not a celeb and so very few people will care and I seem to be constitutionally incapable of entering into an inappropriate relationship.

Roxanne Roberts: Oh, someone will figure it out. And how do you define "inappropriate?"

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Celebrity Baby Rule: Clearly that wasn't in place during Joe and Rose Kennedy's time.

Roxanne Roberts: They were devout Catholics before they were celebrities.

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Meow: Thanks :) Both of you are always kind. Mrooeow left me to sit on the couch.

Roxanne Roberts: Traitor! It's sunny there, isn't it?

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Hair of the Famous: Speaking of which, did you catch that story about some museum's prized sample of Amelia Earhart's hair that turned out to be thread? And they got it from the Smithsonian. Strange.

Roxanne Roberts: Weird. Mysteries of Celebrity Hair, coming soon to the History Channel.

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Washington, D.C.: Don't you think the Miss California contest is cutting their own, and every other pageants', throats, by billing Miss C for her breast implants? Where would beauty contests be without surgical enhancements?

Amy Argetsinger: Actually, it's the opposite. Who knew that they'd buy you implants if you won the stage pageant? Now we know. For a lot of potential contestants, this is better than a tiara. And we only learned about this because Carrie Prejean lost the title and they're suing her to get the implants back, or something like that.

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Tysons: Isit the mock-turtle neck shirts that make the poster think Zorn is "hott"? ;) ain't nothing hot (or hott) about a mock-turtle neck.

Roxanne Roberts: Not even to turtles? We have a wide fan base....

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Insatiable: When will we see the Reliable Source Reality show so we can finally get to see more of you two 24/7 ?

Roxanne Roberts: Over my dead body.

Amy Argetsinger: Depends. What kind of reality show are we talking about? If it's something involving competitions and roses and scales and hot tubs and gladiator-style matches, I'm all for it. If it's just cameras following us around in desultory style -- we'd all be bored.

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Fresh Flowers: The flowers are going to wilt no matter who gets them. Of course money could be spent more wisely but we live in the USA. Plus, I think the president, first lady, and children (as well as their dog) deserve some flowers after all the trouble they have to go through to get a hamburger.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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Wheaton, Md: Just read that Glen Beck is going around with an armed guard now. Any reports of threats?

Roxanne Roberts: Oh, please! The man is a PR genius. The only real threat would be not to watch his show.

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Have you seen the Marge Simpson cover?: For Playboy? I laughed so hard, I almost choked! Very clever! Should really boost Marge's career (oh, wait -- she's not real).

washingtonpost.com: Photos: Nude Marge Simpson hits Playboy: Curiosity meter at all time high (Reel Loop)

Roxanne Roberts: Neither are most of the breasts, but that doesn't keep them from making the cover. Enjoy the blue-haired vixen.

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Miss California breast implants: So THIS is what they mean when they talk about "scholarship" winnings related to the pageants! I thought they meant money for college! D'oh!

Amy Argetsinger: We were so naive.

In fairness, we're talking about the Miss USA system, which -- tell me if I'm wrong -- I don't think has ever pretended to be about academics, as the Miss America system does.

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Inappropriate: Any relationship that violates a pre-existing relationship or involves people in positions of formal or informal authority over the partner.

Roxanne Roberts: You'd never make it in Hollywood.

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McLean, Va.: Whatever happened to Roger Clinton? And Hillary's deadbeat brothers? Are they still alive?

Amy Argetsinger: You know, it's like they all ceased to exist after 2001. Hardly any news about them at all.

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Arlington, Va.: Oh, my -- I just took a break from the chat to read the Kate Gosselen Vanity Fair article. She comes off as a genuinely horrid woman. Poor kids, poor kids.

washingtonpost.com: The Unreal Rise of Jon and Kate Gosselin (Vanity Fair, Oct. 19)

Roxanne Roberts: I thought I hated Jon, now I hate Kate. My cats would be better parents.

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Why is Zorn hot?: Well, he is very fit. But it's mostly the hair. Best coach-hair in the NFL! (And way better than Snyder's!)

Roxanne Roberts: Well, to each her own.I think it looks goofy.

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Melissa Leo Homicide Wire Pelecanos: Finally dove into the world of Georges Pelecanos after admiring the work done on The Wire. Didn't realize he still lived in the area. Which raises the question, is there a literary "scene" in D.C?. I know he's part of the group including Lippman and David Simon from Bmore.

Amy Argetsinger: My favorite D.C. literati of all: Edward P. Jones, author of Pulitzer winning novel "The Known World." Also author of a lot of D.C.-set short stories.

Other fiction writers based around here (and thanks to my Book World colleague Steven Levingston for refreshing my memory on some of these)

Thomas Mallon

Susan Shreve

Alice McDermott

David Baldacci

Brad Meltzer

Matt Klamm

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Philadelphia, Pa.: "I hate to sound like a nudge but isn't there something unseemly about fresh flowers in the White House when kids are still going to bed hungry in this country ?"

Unless the White House is putting on display only edible flowers that hungry children would be eating otherwise, it isn't really unseemly. A lot of (sometimes government, sometimes not) money could be spent feeding people that goes instead to what often appear trivial purposes, such as how offices of government are presented to the public - partly because at least some of politics has to do with the image presented to "others": non-politicians, members of the opposite party, visiting politicians, etc.

At a place like the White House, employing people to provide fresh flowers is no different from employing people to manage the art collection.

Of course, if you give absolutely everything you have to charity except just enough for you to eat three meals a day and have a basic place to live, you're justified being a nudge.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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SW D.C.: @ the fresh flowers in the White House question

People are employed at every level from growing the flowers to making the arrangements to delivery. These people's kids are eating and may even have health insurance because the White House is putting fresh flowers out.

Could there be better ways to spend the money? Maybe. But for good or ill, we as a country, and the Obamas as a first family, are judged by aesthetic as well as moral standards.

Roxanne Roberts: Well put.

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You can take my word on this ...: There is an incredible amount of fraud in the "celebrity hair trade." Some of it is real and some is definitely fantasy. An Old French proverb: "Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear."

Amy Argetsinger: Wait, what? Are you telling me Jessica Simpson wears extensions?

Oh. Celebrity hair trade. This is about the Elvis hair clippings. Sounds about right to me.

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A view from Commerce: Well what about the artificial flower industry? There are many, many hardworking gifted artists making pansy and posies from recycled paper.

Amy Argetsinger: Do most of our plastic flowers come from overseas?

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The Heenes: How jealous must Jon Gosselin be right now that Mr. Heene has stolen so much of his public spotlight?

Amy Argetsinger: Best quote in the VF Jon+Kate story was from Harvey Levin of TMZ, about Jon: "Oh, he's headed for Buttafuocco territory."

Same could be said of Mr. Heene.

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Georgetown: I read somewhere that the trend is doing your Halloween costume on a budget this year. Any suggestions for a cheap costume?

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, recycle last year's costume.

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Is this the same chat from two years ago ?: I'm sorry to report but these chats are becoming very sanitized and mainstream. Whatever happened to those two wild and wacky Post reporters who started this thing, are they still in the business?

Amy Argetsinger: We're still the same. You're the ones who've changed.

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More on the 'Skins: John Riggins says folks shouldn't wear the bags, just stop going to the games. He claims that silence will send the message. He also blames Snyder. Apparently, Riggo has a radio show -- nice to know he's still around!

Roxanne Roberts: You're right---the only way Dan will get the message is to hit him where it hurts: His wallet.

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You'd never make it in Hollywood: LOL, that's not the only reason. BTW, just read Tracee Hamilton's column about her stalker. That should be required reading. As a guy, I've had the occasional odd occurrence (college mascot, a woman in a bear costume would come and sit next to me at basketball games). But never felt threatened. It's a good reminder that you don't need to be Erin Andrews to have someone delusional fixate on you.

washingtonpost.com: A Fear That Can't Be Locked Away (Post, Oct. 14)

Amy Argetsinger: You never felt threatened by the lady in the bear costume? I think I would.

Seriously, though, it's a very eye-opening column, well worth reading.

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Let them eat cake.: Sorry but the flowers in the WH thing reeks to me of a waste of my tax dollars. I think now is a good time for the government to place austerity over aesthetics.

Roxanne Roberts: Honey, if you want to talk government waste, flowers are the least of it.

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L.A. sheriff going after TMZ: Ironic that Harvey Levin of TMZ could turn into a poster child for journalistic freedom. (Per Kurtz today.) I hate to admit it but TMZ is one of my guilty pleasures. Not the Web site but the very trashy TV show where the staff sits around with Harvey Levin and they show snarky exchanges with celebrities they have stalked. It is so not appropriate but you can't not watch.

washingtonpost.com: Targeting TMZ (Post, Oct. 21)

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, agreed, the TV show is SO much more fun than the web site.

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Halloween Costumes: Many of us can wear our work clothes from our former jobs, and go as "employed person".

Roxanne Roberts: Yes! Your date can wear a pink slip!

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Are you telling me Jessica Simpson wears extensions? : I dunno if she wears them, but she sells a mean one. My wife swears by hers.

Amy Argetsinger: Some free Jessica Simpson extensions showed up at the office a few years ago when a colleague was writing a story about extensions. I appropriated them and wore them as part of a Halloween costume, though I now forget what the costume was. They're pretty awesome.

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The flowers are going to wilt no matter who gets them: Simple solution: Use living plants. They can rotated in/out of local greenhouses, donated to local organizations, or eventually be planted in the ground.

Roxanne Roberts: Nice, but I think people will always love floral bouquets, recession or not.

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Pink Slips: Do they still make pink slips? Or slips for that matter?

Roxanne Roberts: Thrift stores have them.

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Cheap costumes: A few years ago I bought a cheap vest at an army surplus store, put on a cute outfit, too much makeup and printed out a "Fox Press Credential" so realistic someone on Metro said she had seen me on TV and went as a Fox war correspondent. Total cost, $14. Plus, my Metro fair to the party.

Amy Argetsinger: All right, then, there's an idea. Why Fox?

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Cheap Halloween costume: Pun costumes can be pretty inexpensive. My bf (who is an attorney) once wore his normal work clothes and a pair of Dracula teeth: he was a blood sucking lawyer.

Roxanne Roberts: Ha ha!

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Bear costume: Sadly our university's "bear" was old and past its prime. That may have made me feel more sorry for the wearer than threatened.

Amy Argetsinger: I swear, wasn't this a plot line from a John Irving novel?

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Best quote from Kate article: "A young British paparazzo is clandestinely snapping -- Kate's visit to FAO Schwatz -- I ask him what he sees in Kate. "She's a massive story at the moment," he whispers. When I relay this comment to Kate, she scoffs, "At the MOMENT?"

Amy Argetsinger: Sigh. Yes, that's a pretty great one too...

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New Game Show: "Jon and Kate: Who do you hate?" There would be a variety of print and video interview challenges, parenting obstacle courses, and a "nice off" where the first person to say something mean loses. All of this would include fake kids of course. The real children will be adopted by Brangelina and serve as junior U.N. ambassadors: helping child victims of reality shows worldwide.

Amy Argetsinger: You could probably get some high-placed meetings with this idea.

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D.C.: The Dan Snyders are not near as much fun as Jack Kent Cooke's brood used to be. The players (Redskins)also don't seem nearly as involved with us locals as the old guys were. It's hard to connect with any of them -- for better or worse. Do you think we've reached the demise of the "local" team when they're not fun locally anymore?

Amy Argetsinger: Did we already put up a link to Mike Wise's profile of John Kent Cooke in today's Style section? If not, I think we have a link up on the blog. Really worth reading.

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Fresh Flowers: Local flowers are the way to go. The cut flower industry is a bit of an environmental disaster. High energy and transportation costs, lots of fertilizer, complete with exploitation of workers. We all like a little beauty around us, but people should be aware of the costs. How about some beautiful fall leaves to delight the senses?

Roxanne Roberts: Another good point.

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Amy Argetsinger: Oh, apropos of nothing, WP's Short Stack blog has an interesting post this morning about why French women are sexier than the rest of us. Link to follow.

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RE: Flowers in the White House. : This may be too late, but I will offer. People go to bed hungry every night somewhere. You think flowers are unseemly? I don't. It's a matter of preference. I kept my home presentable with things you may consider extravagant. So? The White House is a representative of the whole county. A nice presentation trumps austerity in this case.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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Let Them Eat Cake?: I'm sure most people would be happy to eat brioche (which many now think -- if the quote was spoken at all, although it was not by Marie Antoinette -- actually was), whether they're hungry or fully sated. If we're going to grumble about government waste, I think landing on an aircraft carrier claiming "Mission Accomplished" when it wasn't close to halfway is far more disgracefully wasteful of tax dollars.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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washingtonpost.com: Unlocking the Secrets of French Women (Short Stack, Oct. 21)

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Flowers and hungry children: Just FYI: The Obamas are hosting a WH event today about childhood hunger and nutrition programs. Presumably flowers might be present, but the two are not mutually exclusive.

Roxanne Roberts: We're veering into a very thoughtful chat---what, no celeb doing anything stupid right now?

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Northern Virginia: The story you are missing on the Virginia governor's race is Creigh Deeds's hair from back then. Let's just say it wasn't always his current rather conventional (quite nice) cut... Look at the graduation, college, wedding, etc., picks! Quite the long-haired cutie back then.

Roxanne Roberts: We'll check it out! Thanks.

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John Irving Plot: My life has often felt like an Irving plot, but no, this particular episode was not related to Hotel New Hampshire.

Amy Argetsinger: That's the one I was thinking.

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Have you seen this ?: Brooks Brothers Ad

Amy Argetsinger: Hilarious. There's your costume everyone! For $998, you, too, can be Don Draper for Halloween!

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Rosie and Kelli -- say it ain't so!: That is sad news if they are splitting. But have to say Rosie was hysterical on Curb Your Enthusiasm this week. Scary but hysterical.

Roxanne Roberts: That's going to be on her gravestone: "Scary but hysterical."

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Washington, D.C.: We think the flower arrangements have WMDs hidden in them.

There. Now these morons can stop crying "wasteful spending." I mean, the WMD thing worked on them once, right? It'll probably still work now.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for your vote...

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Literary scene: Talk to the folks at Politics and Prose (NW D.C.) if you want the skinny on D.C.'s literary scene. You'd be amazed at what they know (and, gossip- wise, what they don't tell).

Amy Argetsinger: Well, if they're not going to share the gossip, why bother?

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Washington, D.C. : I got nothen. Rahm at Bibiana the other night, but saw him at Starbucks two weeks ago. Yawn. Now if it were George lying to me about his inability to be intimate after a chance meeting at Teaism, then, we'd having something. Flowers: good! Hunger: bad!

Amy Argetsinger: Rahm -- the most recognizable guy in D.C.

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Bob Newhart on "Rahm most recognizable....": Well...uh..yeah..uh...other than the....president of course.

Amy Argetsinger: How often do you see him at Starbucks, though?

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George and intimacy: There's intimacy and intimacy. I understand he's fantastic to his friends.

Roxanne Roberts: And pot-belly pigs. Girlfriends, not so much.

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Politics: Not EVERY WaPo blog needs to be about politics. The Redskins I can take, especially given their recent performance, but there are other blogs to plant your flowers in.

Roxanne Roberts: I'm thinking my cats could do a pretty awesome blog: Hate most everything that's not warm, edible, or cozy. Don't give a fig about politics or the Redskins, unless they're on my lap and I jump up when we blow another play---then they give me dirty looks.

In the meanwhile, let's keep our chat lively: Send us your tips and costume ideas to reliablesource@washpost.com. Same time, next week.

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