If you’ve been enjoying the Parker and Saki references of late — their succinct wit, their keen social observations — you might also enjoy the classic movie “The Man in the White Suit”:

Alec Guinness delivers one of his most beloved performances in this smart satirical comedy that pits a mild-mannered but single-minded inventor against the forces of Britain’s textile industry. Sidney Stratton (Guinness) is a brilliant if under appreciated research chemist on a quest to bring progress to mankind by inventing a new kind of fabric that never gets dirty and never wears out. When he finally succeeds, he is hailed a genius. But both textile manufacturers and labor unions soon come to realize that his miracle cloth could destroy their industry, and resort to desperate measures to make sure his invention never gets to market.

“Man in the White Suit” is going to kick off Coolidge Corner’s “Science on Screen” series on September 6, and will feature a post-show talkback featuring Mr. Improbable himself. Check out the theater’s description- — they’ve got a great page, including a trailer from the film — and perhaps I’ll see you there, yes?

I’ve got a bit of radio coming up in the Boston area over the next couple of days. Today (Tuesday) I’ll be doing the Emily Rooney Show on WGBH 89.7 FM Tuesday, between 12:30-1:00 pm EST, almost immediately followed by the Dean Johnson Show on WCAP 980 AM from about 1:20-2:00 pm.

If you don’t catch the Rooney show, you can listen to the podcast later — if you don’t catch WCAP, tune in next week, because I have a regular appearance on Tuesdays.

Tomorrow, I’ll be on the Peter Blute Show on WCRN 830 AM between 8:30-9:00 am. This is also a semi-regular appearance, more or less every other Wednesday.

… and of course I’ll be chatting live with you online, tomorrow from noon-1:00 p.m. on boston.com. And you’re the very best of all.

I’m back in KC for the week, getting in touch with my past and a few interesting new bits of my present. (The ConductMom has a new feller, and I got to meet him!) Anyway, I got to be on KCUR’s legendary Walt Bodine show yesterday. Here’s the podcast.

I’m going to be participating in the opening of Petco’s new boutique store, “Unleashed,” next Thursday (June 17) from 6-8 pm at the new Wellesley store at 165 Linden Street. Here’s what the press release has to say:

Unleashed by PETCO, a community pet store iintroduced by leading pet specialty retailer PETCO, invites Boston dogs and their owners to join the Animal Rescue League of Boston for a special benefit and celebration of the human animal bond kicking off June 17, 6 – 8 pm at the Wellesley, MA store. Complete with a green carpet and “pawparrazi”, the VIP event for pets will launch a four-day fundraiser and adoption event …

Open to all Boston-area pet owners, pets will receive star treatment during the June 17 fundraiser launch event with “pawparazzi” photos of dogs strutting the green carpet, pet swag bags, bartenders serving treat bar snacks, a pet-friendly ice cream social, and giveaways. Pet owners will also be treated to hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, such as the “Cat’s Meow” and “Hair of the Dog” fizzes. In addition, the Animal Rescue League of Boston will bring over 30 adoptable pets via the Mobile Animal Transport (MAT) to meet with potential new parents and will host adoption and education events at select Boston-area locations throughout the weekend.

I’ll be doing a brief reading from the pets chapter of Mind over Manners, answering your questions on “petiquette,” and introducing some of those adorable dogs up for adoption. And yes, Mr. Improbable is really, really hoping I don’t come home with one.

I hope to see some of my fellow dog-loving readers there! (You won’t get to meet Milo, alas. He is not quite ready for prime time.)

Some exciting news for booksy folk, local and elsewhere:

I will be doing a reading and signing for Mind over Manners this Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library, 123 Main Street in Watertown (directions here). I hope to meet some of you there!

The Rock Bottom Remainders are doing a four-city tour this week, finishing at Boston’s Club Royale (formerly the Roxy) on April 24! As all good book nerds know, the RBRs is comprised of famous writers who nonetheless harbor dreams of rock stardom. All proceeds from the concert (priced at a reasonable $30) go to relief efforts in Haiti.

Louisiana State University Press is having a great big sale, illustrated by an awesome online flier. (C’mon, you’re cool, you know who that drawing is of.) Enter the code 04ANNIVER when you check out to get the 35% discount. My friend Alisa Plant is an editor there, and you can e-mail her at aplant@lsu.edu to ask about particular areas of interest. They’ve got lots of stuff, and are particularly excellent in Southern culture and history.

This just came in, from a rabbi at a greater Boston area synagogue:

Don’t know if you recall, but in one of our previous email conversations you mentioned that you do (like to do?) speaking engagements – and even more, that you are “reasonable”. Since I already know you are reasonable from your column, I take it that you mean reasonable in fee.

The rabbinic mind in action! Love it.

I’ll be doing a reading from Mind over Manners next Wednesday, April 21, at 7 p.m. at the Watertown Public Library. I hope to see some of you there and put some faces to handles. Please introduce yourself, if you come!

Here’s a nice article about moi in a Boston University alumni magazine. Lots of good pictures, especially of Milo! (It’s relevant: he’s a terrier. I thought it was so funny when I was accepted to BU that I would be going to a school with a terrier mascot. All my life, I’ve loved dogs — except for terriers. The one type I couldn’t tolerate, the one sort of dog I’d never own, never … never say never, eh?) And, featuring an appearance by the Golden Rod Rainbow Stripe Shawl Sweater Shrug Cardigan!

Notice, too, the clever bit of design where it looks like I’m holding the headline with my chopsticks.

Next Thursday, October 15, I’ll be doing a special reading and signing for “Community Night” for Actors’ Shakespeare Project in conjunction with their production of “The Taming of the Shrew.”

From 5:45 until 7:15, I’ll be doing a reception, reading (from the relationships chapter, I think!), discussion of the play, and book-selling and signing at Upstairs on the Square. (In the Zebra Room, and do I have a fabulous zebra dress to go with it!) The play begins at 7:30 in The Garage, which is about a block away.

Tickets are a special price of $25, and can be gotten by calling Joanna at 617-776-2200 x 225. If you can only come to my (free!) segment, but not to the play, please call anyway so they can get a good head count. You will still be able to get the special Community Night price for any of the 3:00 pm matinees 10/24, 10/31, or 11/7. (Regular tickets are $47 and $38, so this is a good deal!)

I hope to see you there!

(This post will run at the top for the rest of the week. New content below.)

A couple of fun interviews I did last month have now surfaced online. KRUU-FM is a non-profit radio station in Fairfield, Iowa, that runs a food show called “Great Taste.” Here‘s my guest appearance. Usually I don’t mind doing radio interviews from home, but I would really have liked to be in the studio where that fried cheese was being prepared.

And here is an interview I did for a woman who writes for military newspapers and publications, on the topic of “bad compliments.” What a great idea for an article, eh? It’s a good one, too.

What’s the most awkward/backhanded compliment you’ve ever received?