Richard: Lorelai, how's summer with you? Anything new?
Lorelai: Um... we planted some pansies at the Dragonfly, in the back there. They look good. And, um, I finally bought a new DVD player. And Luke and I broke up.
Emily: Did you? That's too bad.
Richard: Hmm.
Emily: Now, Charlotte, when the conversation lags, a good guest ought to be prepared to introduce a new topic. Keep it light: no politics, no religion. My little trick? Just think of things that you've read in the middle three sections of the Sunday New York Times. Travel, arts and leisure, Sunday styles. And forget the rest of the paper exists.