Monitor picks

Rats worth packing

In the ranks of gallant moms of literature, Mrs. Frisby ranks up there with Marmee from "Little Women." The widowed field mouse faces down owls, cats, and men in white coats to save her family from a farmer's plow. She seeks the help of some unusual rats and uncovers a secret involving her late husband. Now in a lovely new hardcover edition, Robert C. O'Brien's Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH still enchants 35 years on.

The selection process for the 58th Emmy Awards (NBC, Sunday, Aug. 27, at 8 p.m. EDT) was revamped to give underdogs their due. Instead, some of today's most critically acclaimed shows – "Lost" and "The Shield" – have been snubbed, and nominations have turned into a popularity contest. To wit: Veteran actress Ellen Burstyn was selected for her 14-second, 38-word part in "Mrs. Harris," the story of the Scarsdale diet doctor. Tune in to watch the fireworks.

Fall is state fair season and Weekend Events.com is a great resource to find fairs near you. Go to weekendevent.com/statefairs.htm and click on your state. The site includes information on city and county fairs, too.

Whether you're a gas-electric hybrid driver, think you might like to be one, or just want a neat aggregation of news on a major automotive front, check out hybridownersofamerica.org, the home page of a new (free) club run by the independent Civil Society Institute and 40mpg.org. Find news, tips, and incentives.

Tennis is poised to lose one of its greats. Andre Agassi will call it a career after the US Open, which begins Monday (on USA Network and CBS). The long-haired rebel with acid-washed shorts evolved into one of the game's top ambassadors and clutch performers. He's one of only a handful of players to win all four Grand Slam events. Andre, you will be missed.