A Post that Ends in an Infomercial

Sesame Street is going to make a Mad Men parody!  I can’t tell you how excited this makes me!  (Almost as excited as this!)

In other Muppet news, Count Von Count is now following me on Twitter.  I am amused.

It’s Shark Week!  What Type of Shark are you? (Courtesy of Lauren)

Those controversial Air Force One flyover photos that freaked out everyone downtown.

Thirteen-year-old throws 25 no hitters!

And the Pursuit of Happiness. (via Erin)

How Different People Spend Their Day.

Now that I’ve moved home and found that I have saved absolutely everything, I’ve decided to sell some of the junk great stuff taking up room in my house.  If you’re interested in either of these great package deals, please, let me know in the comments.  TMN readers get a special price and home delivery, where applicable.  As the weeks of my unemployment wear on, stay tuned for more exciting shopping opportunities.

Things You’ve Already Seen on the Internet

Kelly Hildebrandt to wed Kelly Hildebrandt.

Palin’s resignation speech, edited by Vanity Fair.

The world’s most crowded swimming pool?

From this week’s news:

Politicians in NYC must speak Yiddish.

This guy is running for his father’s seat in an effort to eliminate the position…

Another reason to love Target.

This guy is awesome.  Just look at his picture:

Photo Credit: Michael Nagle for The New York Times

Good Links to Start Your Monday

Although most of you probably have no idea what I’m talking about, I’m bummed that CBS radio is getting rid of their “chirp.” Thanks, Dan, Dan, The Weatherman!

101 Muppets of Sesame Street!!!!  And it’s interactive!

Behind the scenes with the video editor at “The Daily Show.”

Woman changes her name to Princess-Rainbow.com. (Via Jezebel)

A guy drives a Tesla in NYC and gets lots of attention…from men.

Frank Rich on the Sotomayor hearings.

Bo’s thoughts on his time in the White House.

The Onion: New Live Poll Allows Pundits to Pander to Viewers In Real Time

Ridiculous Frisbee action flick.  (According to Manzell, this is a real movie…)

LOLTatz.  Lots of poor life decisions there.

This is old, but Terrapins are not just dangerous on the football field.

Store review!  Marni, on E 67th Street.  Describing the clothing:

“If Jackie Chan was in a screwball fight sequence that took place in a wealthy retirement community and he jumped down a Salvation Army donation chute, this is the stuff he would fly out wearing. It’s senile-fabulous: sporty, loud, intentionally clashing and slightly clownish. Much of it can and should be accessorized with white golf shoes and a Phyllis Diller wig.”

Happy Belated Bastille Day

Umpires v. Judges.

Coffee cups in NYC. (Mom and Dad, you’ll enjoy this one.)

Frank Rich on Sarah Palin.

A store review for a store where I’ve actually shopped!  Here’s a lovely quote from the review:

“If you were to secretly dose the celebrated Japanese artist Takashi Murakami with LSD, spin him around in a swivel chair, bounce him on a trampoline, then repeatedly hit him over the head with a piñata, the interior of this store would be his hallucination.”

To shock no one, this story on ‘energy shots’ focuses on College Park, Maryland.

A look back on a decade of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Monkeys can recognize poor grammar! (Thanks, Lauren!)

NPR on tourists.

Newspapers cutting out crossword puzzles?!?!  Sad face! (This has been all over my twitter feed, but I did read it first in the Times, so I am not going to attribute it to anyone.  Sorry.)

The “Real World” DC crew looks VERY young.  Does this mean I’m old?

We’re so classy that we go to an art museum one day, and a few weeks later, Bergdorf uses its art in its windows.

I went to this game with my parents, and I think you should all read about the crowd cheering “We want the apple!”

WooHoo Wednesday Times!

Refugee gets adopted by doctor, but can’t find a good pickup game in California!

A Times editorial about undocumented students who deserve the chance to get an education.

Recovering alcoholics in the food and drink industry.

Another example of why abstinence education does not work.

Dear New York Times, Do not piss off us puzzle-doers.  We are very powerful and subscribe to newspapers to do our puzzles on real paper.  Also, do not let the Wall Street Journal beat you to the story.  Love, Puzzle-Doers.

Fake “Made in India” products actually made in Nigeria.

Heidi Klum Barbie. (Via Jezebel)

The ABCs of Bartending…From the Times!

No Tuesday Times Update…

…Because someone stole my newspaper.  Grrr.

In other news…(Mostly via Jezebel)

Richard Nixon saw interracial pregnancy as grounds for abortion.

Obviously, the girl with 56 face tattoos asked for them and lied when her dad freaked out.

NPR asks for more movies about renegade toys.

Iceland argues that commercial whaling can coexist with whale watching.  Erm, as long as we’re not watching the whales getting slaughtered?

American Apparel introduces shiny kids’ leggings.  Ew.

Yay!  A bad review of the Armani restaurant in The New Yorker.  Fashion restaurants seem to be a bad idea to me even if they’re good (unless they’re in real department stores…).

AARP has a spelling bee!

From Lauren: The 10 Dumbest Moments in “Wheel of Fortune” History.  (I disagree with their rankings.)

Muppets, Crocs, Echidnas and Other Wildlife

You’ve probably all seen this by now, but it wouldn’t be TMN, if I didn’t post the link tying my two favorite television shows together: 30 Rock is a rip off of The Muppet Show. (Thanks, Matt and Lauren, who both sent it to me within an hour.)

Hermes is breeding its own crocodiles to keep up with demand for handbags.

A great story about a librarian who immigrated to our country.

This is one crazy animal.  Look at him!

 

 

 

 

(photo from NYTimes)

 

If I was easily embarrassed, I would not post this link.  But I love Guess Who.

Obviously, something like this would happen at my alma mater. 

This is absolutely heartbreaking, but important to read.  (Thanks, Kelaine.)

Shoe Sales, Sesame Street and Some Seriousness

Sorry for the lack of postings.  I’ve been traveling a lot, which cuts down on my article reading significantly. 

Still, I have a bunch….

A fantastic article on the perils of the Barneys shoe sale.  

Another great shopping review: Mike Albo on the Tommy Hilfiger store.

From Eric, Old Jews Telling Jokes.

I love Barack Obama and I love Sesame Street, so I naturally love this. (Related, from Jezebel, via Valerie.)

Stupid things interns in D.C. do and say.

The new iPhone is not that much cooler than the 3G, phew.  (But it is still cooler.  Thanks for this link so I didn’t have to watch the whole presentation, Bill.)

Sauerkraut as an aphrodisiac.  (via Jezebel)

Networks might shy from Beltway-based TV, but cable networks certainly do not.

I really want to complete a marathon one day, and with this technique, I just might be able to do it…Anyone want to try with me?

I don’t often opine on serious topics here, but if you know anything about my politics, you will know that I’m pro-choice.  The murder of Dr. George Tiller was terrible–no matter what you think about abortion.  I believe that it is perfectly reasonable to not want to have an abortion, but that is a choice for you to make with your doctor and, if appropriate, the man involved.  Terrorizing those who provide women’s health services and intimidating women who are seeking an option is not the right way to push your policy.  Killing someone you disagree with?  That’s vigilante terrorism.  Making the decision to have an abortion is impossibly hard.  I am lucky that I have never been in such a situation, and I genuinely do not know what I would do, but I do know that whatever I decided, it would be my decision and I do not believe legislators, judges or the President has the right to tell me how to make my decision.  Here are two articles that I think everyone should read, whether or not you agree with me:

If abortion becomes illegal, you can bet there will be illegal abortions.  

Gretchen Voss’ late term abortion.

Neither of these purport to push an agenda.  They’re just reporting the facts and are from major newspapers.  I’m not trying to feed you propaganda, because that wouldn’t help my cause.  Do what you want with your body.  I’ll do the same with mine.

It’s Been a While…

…So I have a lot to post…

WaPo Op-Ed on the demise of the newspaper.  Please read it, even if you disagree with me.

Having Their Bat Mitzvahs in Their 90s Because It’s a Hoot

You, Too, Can Own a Piece of the (Mini) City

When the Economy Sours…CANDY!

Bill Payment WIN!

A bar with a border running through the seating area.

Favorite column.

Man Holds Woman Hostage for Ten Hours With a Sega Light Gun

Greg Rutter’s Definitive List of The 99 Things You Should Have Already Experienced On The Internet Unless You’re a Loser or Old or Something.

Old-ish  Videos You’ve Probably Already Seen That I Think Are Funny:

Sesame Street Explains the Bernie Madoff Scandal (Thanks to Dad)

Rapping Flight Attendant (Thanks to Matt)

Subway Art Gallery Opening (Thanks to Lauren)

I’ll post vacation photos eventually.  I have work and job applications to complete before I get to that…

Dead Malls! Broadway! Dancing! Baseball! Ed Koch! Four Square! And More…

I love shopping, but I am not so fond of malls.  I also don’t like old things.  But I love old, abandoned malls.  I can’t explain why, but I find them fascinating.  Therefore, I am a big fan of blogs and bloggers that examine old malls and discount stores in America.  It means I don’t have to get in my car and actually go anywhere, but I can glimpse into the past of American retail history.  They’re a huge time suck if you’re interested, but you’ll probably learn something, too.

Here are some of my favorites:

Labelscar.com

Malls of America (Yes, it hasn’t been updated in a few years, but they’re old pictures, so it doesn’t have to be timely.)

Interior abandoned mall shots are even more apocalyptic than the outdoor shots.  This guy somehow got interior shots of the Salisbury Mall in Maryland.  Again, the blogger seems to have disappeared a few years ago…

Finally, the daddy of all tired retail blogs, deadmalls.com.

In other news…

Try to save Broadway or become a Broadway star.

Dana Milbank teaches us how to look like a Conservative.

I love spontaneous organized dancing as much as the next blogger. (Yes, I realize that’s an oxymoron.)

A baseball team that hasn’t played at home since 2005.

I just really like Ed Koch.

Things to do in NYC this week.  Tomorrow at noon, at P.S. 199 in Manhattan National Recess Week is attempting to break the Guinness World Record for the Largest Simultaneous Four Square Game.  Let’s hope the snow clears up!

Elevator operators will soon be a thing of the past; hear from one before he hangs his hat.

Woah.  This is one crazy story.

Conservative guilt?  Note: “24″ is one of my favorite television programs.

Man puts cat in bong (thanks, Matt).