Wed Oct 17, 2007 — by Shira Gregory

Happy birthday, Mike Judge!

Oh my God, he voiced Kenny!

Born in Ecuador forty-five years ago, a talent no one could have imagined would grow up (in New Mexico) to make his mark on the world with timeless phrases such as "I do believe you have my stapler" and "I need T.P. for my bunghole." It's Mike Judge's birthday today, the brain behind classics such as Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, Office Space, and the incredibly underrated Idiocracy. Thank you, Mr. Judge, for bravely blazing the path of tastelessness for the rest of us to follow in. Thank you for illuminating adolescence in a way that is relatable, for encouraging office anarchy and for being responsible for the only movie in which Jennifer Aniston was bearable. We salute you!

And while we're on the subject, go visit Me And My Red Stapler, a favorite comics blog of ours.

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Tue Oct 16, 2007 — by Shira Gregory

On this day: Marie Antionette beheaded

She got a head of herself...

Today, we honor the patron saint of women in refrigerators. Devoid of pop-culture nerd-dom, somehow this event in history never loses its morbid charm.

Yes, this day two hundred and fourteen years ago, the extravagant life of Marie Antoinette was ended by the French resistance. Upon hearing that the French peasantry had no bread to eat, she famously responded, "Let them eat cake," and paid for such callousness with her head.   Little did she realize what her notoriety would leave in her wake: thousands of musical theatre fans and a peg in Kirsten Dunst's unfathomable career. 

Perhaps Ms. Hilton should take heed of history's lessons…

UPDATE FROM GH: The missus reminds me that Marie Antoinette is a character in the manga and anime series, The Rose of Versailles.

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Mon Oct 15, 2007 — by Shira Gregory

Happy Birthday, I Love Lucy!

Waaaaaah!

On this day in 1951, CBS first aired the hilarious classic, "I Love Lucy," and it's never been off the air since. We must also honor the memory of Lucy for inspiring countless cosplayers across the country.

Where would they be without her?  Forced into the likes of Barbra Streisand and Cher? Is that really the world we would want to live in? Thanks Lucy, we owe ya.

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Sun Oct 14, 2007 — by Shira Gregory

Happy birthday, Winnie the Pooh!

A bear of little brain but phenomenal staying power

81 years ago, A.A. Milne’s Winnie-The-Pooh was published, sparking generations of happy fans to revel in Pooh’s adventures. Yes, our beloved fuzzy bear is a pretty old guy -- and a good thing for it. Had he been introduced today, Pooh might have been shunned as figure of obesity what with his addiction to honey and prescribed Rozerem to get through sleepless nights of Heffalumps and Woozles.

Yet despite an increasingly uptight audience, a glossy make-over by Disney to account for it, countless empty jars of honey and a conversion to Tao Buddhism, Winnie-the-Pooh remains as ever, our silly, willy-nilly, old bear. Good timing, Mr. Milne!

For extra fun throughout time and space, we suggest Peter David's The Tardis at Pooh Corner.

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