My trick for getting butter to room temperature quickly (because I always end up baking on impulse and so never actually have time to leave the butter out for a while) is to put it on the toaster for a bit. I prefer that to putting it in the microwave because I can keep a better eye on it.
(Obviously it is still in the wrapper when I put it on top of the toaster)

I am a hypocrite and still call it NaNo. This makes me a hypocrite because I get really irritated when people call MMORPGs MMOs.

I am suspicious of combining pumpkin and chocolate. I think you'll have to try to convert me.