Actual Towns in the UK

Thanks to Tom & Aaron
for finding this in the NYT...
full story w/ more pictures here,
highly recommended.

All right? Alright.

Hi friends, the issue of The L Magazine out on the streets now contains my review, here, of Gregory J. Snyder's new book "Graffiti Lives: Beyond the Tag in New York City's Underground". Kinda funky & fun. The title of this blogpost refers to an editorial change to my first sentence that I wish had not been made, but ah well. Please enjoy!

Lists

1. List
2. Listel
3. Listen
4. Listenership
5. Lister
6. Listeria
7. Listeriosis
8. Listless
9. Listserv
10. Liszt, Franz

Synonyms for "Duh"

by JOHN CUSICK, guest blogger

1. Der!
2. Der-hey!
4. Doi!
5. A-doi!
6. No duh!
7. Uh...der!
8. Double der-hey!
9. No doi!
10. Uh.....YEAH!

Caption Contest!

[Mine: Abe Plays the Backup-Drums]

The Butter Progression

by THE McMILLANS, guest bloggers

Lard
Butter
Margarine
I Can't Believe It's Not Butter
I Am Growing Increasingly Skeptical That This Is Butter
You're Not Fooling Me, That Is Definitely Not Butter
Butter? Sheeee-it.

Every Day

I.
Me: He's here.
Chris: Who?
Me: Dummy.
Chris: That narrows it down to, everyone.

II.
Me: I want to go out to lunch.
Chris: Where do you want to go?
Me: Somewhere extravagantly expensive.
Chris: In that case, may I interest you in, everywhere.

Wednesday's Reasons Not to Despair

1. Battlestar Galactica season 5 premiere
2. Ben and Jerry's "Chubby Hubby" ice cream
3. The power of logic and the magic of math
4. Friendly fat and furry cats
5. The New York Times website
6. A new pair of scissors and a pile of National Geographics
7. That new Junot Diaz novel I've been meaning to read
8. "Visiter" by The Dodos (Frenchkiss Records, 2008)
9. Finding my old clarinet from high school marching band and still knowing how to play it
10. You, dear reader.

To Do: Christmas Gifts to Throw Out

1. Not-officially-licensed "Hello Kitty" Strawberry-Flavored Glitter Lip Gloss (Made in China).

Rejection Letter....Win

from: McSweeney's <lists@mcsweeneys.net>
to: Lauren Kirchner <lauren.kirchner@gmail.com>
date: Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 5:12 PM
subject: Re: List submission: Tattoos I Want to Get

Hi, Lauren -

I'm afraid I'm going to pass, but I think this reply would look awfully good on your right forearm.

Best,
Chris

>Lauren wrote:

>Tattoos I Want to Get
>by Lauren Kirchner<mailto:lauren.kirchner@gmail.com>

>Nicolas Cage's face, life-sized, superimposed on my face
>Studio portrait of my future family
>Siskel & Ebert's Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down logo (on my boobs)
>Musical score of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin
>New York City subway map, just for convenience
>Phone numbers & addresses of ex-boyfriends
>Chinese character for "ironic"
>My latest rejection letter from McSweeney's
>A frowning baby head on my bicep

What's Your Resolution?

by JESSALEE LANDFRIED, guest blogger

A letter to the editor that my dad received at the newspaper where he works (he is the editorial page editor at the Durham Herald-Sun), in response to the prompt, "What's your New Year's resolution?":

> I think the person who keep dropping off unwanted pets at
> my house should resolve to stop this. We are going broke
> trying to take care of what we do have. We are trying to
> find the chicken a good home. The last little kitten we
> didn't find until it was run over. Enough is ENOUGH !
> Besides being broke, we are tired, my health could be
> better, and we are mad at whoever is doing this. Hope I
> don't see catch them. I live not 1 1/2 mile from the
> Durham County Animal Shelter which has facilities for
> unwanted pets.

[Editor's note: This is unrelated, but I really like the headline of Wednesday's Herald-Sun editorial: "Getting Serious on Dog, Cat Tax."

TYFBAF is the new LOL

by LEILA ESTES, guest blogger

Thank you for being a friend!

[Thanks to D-Listed for the pic. More celebrity dolls here.]

Pop Quiz: CNN Anchor or Dashiell Hammett Character?

1. Sam Spade
2. Matthew Chance
3. Dana Bash
4. Dinah Brand
5. Reno Starkey
6. Candy Crowley
7. Poppy Harlow
8. Miss Wonderly
9. Nick and Nora Charles
10. John and Jane King


[Answers: 2,3,6,7,10 - CNN. 1,4,5,8,9 - Hammett.
Cross-posted today at 23/6. Thanks to Chris.]

Best Years (So Far)

1. 1981
2. 1984
3. 1989
4. 1990
5. 1996
6. 1998
7. 2001
8. 2003
9. 2007
10. 2008

Best Hangover Food & Drink

1. Sesame bagel with scallion cream cheese and a tomato
2. Nantucket Nectars juice (Carrot Orange Mango flavor)
3. Sunny-side-up eggs on buttered toast
4. Enormous black bean burrito
5. Tomato Soup and a huge round roll
6. Large coffee w/ whole milk and 1 sugar
7. Tropicana grapefruit juice (Some Pulp)
8. Sharp cheddar cheese on Wheat Thins
9. Hot oatmeal with a pile of brown sugar on top
10. Cup of room-temperature water and 2 more hours of sleep