My new favorite song

Camera Obscura's "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken." (It might help if you know the song it's in answer to, Lloyd Cole's "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?" but it's not necessary.)

I Heart Froomkin

Dan Froomkin's online-only column for the Washington Post is must-reading. He also does a once-a-week chat with readers, from which this wonderful exchange comes:

Beafort, S.C.: Mr. Froomkin --

The "compromise" on detainee rights/suspected terrorist treatment sure looks to me like [the president] got what he wanted, while the McCain/Warner/Graham trio pretty much caved.

Assuming this take on the situation is correct -- how does Bush still weld so much power when he is so wildly unpopular?

Dan Froomkin: That is a great question. It deserves attention.

Off the top of my head, I think it has a lot to do with intimidation by Karl Rove and Dick Cheney. One scares them about losing; the other scares them about dying.

That made me laugh out loud. Then I shivered a little. 'Cause it's true.

Way in which The Velvet Blog is like Spinal Tap

Marty: The last time Tap toured America, they where, uh, booked into 10,000-seat arenas, and 15,000-seat venues, and it seems that now, on their current tour they're being booked into 1,200-seat arenas, 1,500-seat arenas, and uh I was just wondering, does this mean, uh ... the popularity of the group is waning?

Ian: Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no...no, no, not at all. I, I, I just think that the ... uh ... their appeal is becoming more selective.

Only, of course, TVB never filled 15,000-seat venues.

A Mel Gibson quiz: What mask did Mel wear to his recent "Apocalypto" screenings to avoid attention?

GOLDSBY, Okla. Sep 24, 2006 (AP)— Actor and director Mel Gibson visited two Oklahoma towns this week to attend screenings of his new movie, "Apocalypto."

Gibson did not make a public appearance during screenings held at the Riverwind Casino in Goldsby and Cameron University in Lawton. At the entrance of the casino where the film was shown Friday to a mostly American Indian audience reporters were kept behind partitions.

He arrived at Cameron on Thursday morning wearing a mask and wig so he wouldn't be noticed, university spokeswoman Amber McNeil said. --The Associated Press

V for Vendetta

Gorilla

Alien

Owen Wilson

Israeli PM Ehud Olmert

Idea for a band name

The Blind Venetians

All hail Princess Projectra!

Kinda busy, so I leave you with this roll call of the Legion of Superheroes.

Have a good weekend, all.

Coming Soon to the Rachael Ray Emporium

Rachael Ray, the Food Network host, has teamed up with Epic Records to issue a series of recordings of songs chosen by her, as well as to distribute ring tones featuring messages from her --The New York Times

--Tickle Me Rachael TMX dolls
--Duets album with Fran Drescher
--Implantable Rachael Ray brain chip lets you hear her voice 24 hours a day

Why I will forever hold a grudge against Vanilla Ice

For ruining the Queen/Bowie song "Under Pressure."

When I heard that bass guitar line in a dramatic scene in Aaron Sorkin's new show, Studio 60, I thought, "Why on earth are they playing 'Ice, Ice Baby'?" Then I realized it was "Under Pressure," and it made a lot more sense.

Damn you, Robbie Van Winkle.

Oh, those shameless hussies in their daring one-pieces!

Don't know what it's like where you folks are, but I'm feeling like summer is pretty much over. A few trees on my block even have golden leaves.

Tom Wolfe, if you're reading this--and I know you are--please put away that white suit.

(I realized after posting this that the woman second from left appears to be wearing a two-piece bathing suit, and she's showing a bit of belly. She is a prostitute. Please avert your eyes.)

Bonus unsurprising headline!

[Willie] Nelson Cited for Marijuana Possession

New Yorker cartoon more relevant now than ever before

"It's broccoli, dear."

"I say it's spinach, and I say the hell with it."