subscription season at npr is like being repeatedly proposed to by a well groomed vaguely desperate fortysomething polygamist who keeps politely guilting you about all the good times you had together (i mean who else are you going to find to ruminate thoughtfully with you about the post-9/11 world while rubbing your back) while all their others spouses burst in like MARRYING NPR WAS THE BEST THING I EVER DID THEIR SMOOTH JAZZ COOKBOOK IS SO CHALLENGING YET SOOTHING