A guide to what's hot and what's not
What's hot
FitflopsThe new fitness-shoe craze. At least they're better looking than MBTs. Find Irish stockists on www.thefitflop.com.
Read onWe're glad Dublin's central library is moving to the old Ambassador cinema.
Intelligent LifeThe new quarterly from the Economist looks and reads well.
Breakfast at Dublin airportAfter a night on the town, we board the Aircoach for a final caper and a pre-dawn McMuffin. Under-21s only.
Roberto BoleñoForget magic realism. The Savage Detectivesby this Chilean presents a new view of Latin America, dispelling the myths of Allende and García Márquez.
Monday nights on RTÉSo hot they scheduled the first episode of Prosperity and the Fr Cleary documentary at the same time.
What's cold
The Generation GamePussycat moms are among the latest tags from David McWilliams. Enough name-calling.
Skyscrapers in BallsbridgeWhy not follow the example of La Défense, in Paris, and create a new centre for high-rise architecture?
Competitive eatingA US woman ate 173 chicken wings in 12 minutes this week. Wafer-thin mint, anyone?
Christmas decorationsGive us a break. And go easy on the Halloween tat, too.
Nigella Express on BBC2Turn it off, quick, and remember her in her heyday.