06.17.09 – Wednesday

Word: demure [di-myoor] adj. 1. characterized by shyness and modesty; reserved 2. affectedly or coyly decorous, sober, or sedate

Birthday: Edward Longshanks (1239), Igor Stravinsky (1882), M. C. Escher (1898), Newt Gingrich (1943), Barry Manilow (1943), Tommy Franks (1945), George S. Clinton (1947), Joe Piscopo (1951), Jello Biafra (1958), Bobby Farrelly (1958), Thomas Haden Church (1960), Greg Kinnear (1963), Jason Patric (1966), Will Forte (1970), Michael Showalter (1970), Venus Williams (1980)

Quotation: Had the price of looking been blindness, I would have looked. – Ralph Ellison

Tune: Check out this cool Sims-like video for “Them Kids” off Love At The End of the World – the new album from Sam Roberts.

Gallimaufry: My friend Beth has started a blog called Operation: Find Beth A Guy. Like most of us who are (or have been) out in the modern dating world, Beth is constantly left wondering, “What the fuck?” The blog details her own journal and some personal thoughts on dating overall. She’s a particularly funny person, so go check it out. ∞ I’m not one of those people who think texting is an absolute waste of time. (Anymore.) However, I do think the emerging trend of “Fastest Texter” contests is kind of ridiculous. First, the contests are organized by companies (see LG, Nokia) who’ve got lots to gain from increased text messaging. Second, is being a super-quick texter really something teenagers should aspire to be? I guess it’s no difference than video game tournaments, but still, it sounds kind of messed up. ∞ Donte’ Stallworth, the Cleveland Browns receiver who struck and killed a man while drinking and driving last March, has pled guilty and will now face – wait for it – 30 DAYS IN JAIL. Not 30 years. 30 days. For all of you kids out there who are even remotely competent at catching a football, keep practicing. Because if you get good enough at it, you could get a college scholarship and eventually become a star wide receiver in the NFL. After that, the sky’s the limit. You can literally drive over people in your car and kill them after a night of binge drinking. Doesn’t that sound pretty goddam sweet? You bet your ass it does.