This will be our last post until the New Year, FYI. We know it will be tough for you, but we're sure you'll get along just fine without us for a little while.

Our Big Poppa the Apiary is proudly announcing the forthcoming launch of the LA branch of our indie comedy network: "--And finally... In a move that will hopefully fare better than when Marvel Comics created the abysmal West Coast Avengers... an LA version of this site is launching soon!" Who is the new editor? How do we all find each other, in this crazy, crazy world? Details coming soon.

Jason Chin's "Ten Easy Ways to Be a Better Improviser" includes the admonition: "Shut up. Make a personal moratorium on gossip and back-biting. Not a resolution (those rarely last) but a 1 month hiatus from a destructive habit that has a tendency to spill onto stage."

Is "tragilarious" a word? Mackenzie Condon's critique of the Santorum family's reaction to Daddy Rick's failure to get himself re-elected to Congress is damn good. Matching plaid jumpers have never been as tragic (and funny).

Chicago is abuzz with chatter about who got into Aspen. We know kevINda are in. We've heard about others, too. What have you heard?

Are you setting yourself up for disappointment by making New Year's Resolutions? Share with us. What are your priorities? Better nutrition? Less bar-hopping? Better financial management? Fewer jokes that involve a rabbi and a priest? We want to know. Leave your resolutions in the comments of this post. We promise we won't tell anyone.

And don't forget: Chicago comedy isn't going to let you down in helping get the New Year off to a great start. There's the party over at Kitty Moon on NYE -- producer Dave Odd says, "Doors at 9:30, show at 10:30. Line-up so far will be Blitz style with me, Mark McClathchey, Sean Rumrill, Matt Roberson, John Pawlowski, Lauren Bishop, Cindy Cornelson, Alex Orozco, Chad Briggs, Mike Palascak, Fay Canale, Darius Kennedy, and Mike Cody. Cover is only $10 and I'm sure there will be drink specials, I just don't know what they are." The Lincoln Lodge and Blerds.com are teaming up for Chuckle Bowl at Lincoln Lanes, and tickets are going fast -- with free pizza and bowling, in addition to stand-up comedy, $3 domestics, and a film screening, why wouldn't they? What else is going on, you guys?

If you can't wait until Sunday to get yer laugh on, join the Bastion over at the Lodge tonight to see some L.A. folks bring the funny, including the recently displaced Renee Gauthier, Channel 101's Eric Acosta, and the buzz-worthy Mike O'Connell (Rolling Stone's "Hot Comic", Jimmy Kimmel Live, Late Night With Conan O'Brien).

- Elizabeth McQuern