THE LEFT LANE
Musically amusing

'Sopranos' aims high

When we last saw Tony Soprano ... uh, does anyone remember back that far? By the time a new episode of "The Sopranos" finally makes its way onto HBO Sept. 15, it will have been nearly 16 months since the last original show. That's about a week before the networks begin their fall seasons — and that's a sign that HBO knows it can compete with the big guns.

In the past, HBO has scheduled season premieres of its original series away from those of the broadcast networks, often opting for spring or summer debut dates. This year, the "Sopranos" premiere will probably have the week to itself, and some observers think it could surpass the 11 million viewers who tuned into last season's debut.

State of our moods

Feeling happy in Hawai'i? There may be more like you — in fact, you may even fit the general mood of the state today.

Take a trip over to MoodMap at www.moodmap.com and click on the icon that best describes your mood . Everyone's contributions go toward deciding the average mood for each state. On a recent morning, the mood in Florida was particularly dark, while most of the rest of the nation was feeling rather average.

You've seen it happen in the best of circles. The woman is a fashionable vision with a traffic-stopping wardrobe. The man in her life has a penchant for wrinkled khakis and Grateful Dead T-shirts. How can this pair last? Enter here a paperback called "How to Make Your Man Look Good: Without Making Him Feel Bad" (Perigee Trade Books, $13.95) by Nancy Butcher. If the concept sounds a bit sexist, statistics show that women still buy more than 50 percent of men's clothing. Among Butcher's tips for women who want to help:

On wardrobe: She should be aware of color and proportion. Learn the rules on sleeve lengths, for instance, and collar sizes. Then, to make him interested, clip magazine pieces on style for him. Or watch Fred Astaire movies together. He was a master at elegance.

On grooming: Insist on sunscreen and buy him moisturizers, face cleansers and conditioners as gifts. Or, maybe just give him the book.