The much-talked-about Madonna episode of "Glee" premieres on Tuesday, April 20th. The cd and digital versions of the album that goes with it also debut that day (see lace-gloved hand above).

Looking at the cover of the upcoming TV Guide that hits news stands this Thursday (the 15th) I can't help but think most of the cast were either still in diapers or yet to be born when Madonna first burst onto the scene. They didn't go to school dressed like Madonna (when it wasn't Halloween!) because it was the style or hear "Like A Virgin" on the radio when it was still in the Top 40.

It's funny...my generation probably will always think of their Madonna as the one who wore leather and lace (I could never have gone to school and carried that look off like some of my classmates--including my sister!--did so well.) And a kid in high school in the early 90s has the Madonna who wore underwear over her outer wear..and today's kids have...extremely muscular and very slender Madonna who knows her way around a guitar and a riding crop:)

Out of view in the TV Guide cover is Jane Lynch dressed to the nines as this Madonna (wish I could have found the WHOLE cover):

 (Well, maybe she's always been muscular?) You'll get to see Lynch's Madonna next week if you watch the show!

My co-workers and I sometimes (discreetly, of course!) laugh at the new romance titles that cross our fiction desk. _What the Librarian Did_ by Karina Bliss is no exception. But it's not the title as much as the tagline: "She's got a secret that's long overdue."

The even funnier thing is I picked it up when I got to my desk in the back and started reading it and (so far!) it's not that bad!:)

 Now about those librarian stereotypes...those of us who work in the field rarely dress like the woman on the cover and some of us may be just as likely as the guy on the cover to sport tattoos (discreetly, of course!)

I'm trying to think of any other profession that has such a stuffy reputation and I'm coming up empty...from what I've seen it's one that's pretty false!

Listening to "Superstar" right on my MP3 player...it's funny how even though you know you put certain songs on your player, shuffle can still catch you by surprise. Karen Carpenter's voice has a certain haunting sound in some of her songs, but you have to wonder sometimes: was it always there or is it her tragic death that makes us think of those songs that way?

Her brother Richard has released (what seems like) endless compilations of their material (repeating the same classic songs over and over again for what some cynics--and sometimes I have to wonder-say is monetary reason).

All I can say for sure is the only Carpenters collection you really need is The Singles: 1969-1973. It contains all of their material from the height of their popularity and when both of them were at their best...amazing stuff!!!

Food like this makes me so nervous...even just looking at picture of it does. KFC's newest "sandwich" is supposed to debut tomorrow (Monday the 12th) from what I hear.

I have never been able to eat crap like this without feeling like a food whore immediately afterward...maybe like people who have one night stands feel the morning after?

Don't get me wrong...just because I call it "crap" doesn't mean I don't want some of it  (well not this necessarily, but I do have a weakness for other junk like Ben and Jerry's, Red Robin burgers...the list goes on!) ...part of the pleasure in denying yourself something is in how much you want it in the first place.

Here's more info:



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/36179954/

I've already briefly mentioned seeing this zombie anthology and buying it in the bookstore but now that I've actually started reading it...wow! I'm only on the fourth story in the collection, but one of them ("What Maisie Knew" by John Connolly) just blew me away. It would make a great movie (if done tastefully since there are some parts in it that could go horribly wrong on film if not handled right by the director!)

"What Maisie Knew" is also the name of a Henry James novel so I was even more intrigued by this story (though the two aren't related at all I would love to know if the author is a James fan.) The thing those new to this genre may be surprised to discover about zombie short fiction is just how good it often is, how well-written and full of emotion (or more times than not a despair that lifts off the page and into your heart and mind.)

Connolly's tale reminds me a little of a modern day truly twisted O. Henry piece, only I seriously doubt O. Henry could ever have conceived of something so dark. Without giving too much away, I will say that "What Maisie Knew" gives new meaning to He Had It Coming and will make you look at ethics and "reanimates" (okay, zombies) together in a way you wouldn't have thought possible.