An Apt Description Of England

In today’s New York Times: “[A] country that delights in lavatory humor.”

No Snickering [NYT]

Liz Spikol Continues To Take Over Media

PW executive editor/blogger/all-around cool gal Liz Spikol hasn’t stopped her quest for world domination at the New York Times. She’s headed across the pond as well.

Yesterday, Liz’s first name was the fifth word in a piece about the increased acceptance of mental illness in The Sunday Times. There’s also apparently something called “Bonkersfest,” which features “a moving padded cell, a de-normalisation programme, and performance art by Bobby Baker featuring seven adults dressed as frozen peas.” Sounds downright staid.

Hmm… now that The Trouble With Spikol has mentions in major newspapers in both the U.S. and England, I should re-title this blog “Paxil Will Do.”

Mental illness in the limelight at Bonkersfest [The Sunday Times]

Wells: Assume All Pro Athletes Are Gay

“In order to relieve the pressure on those in the closet, we should assume that all professional football players, without exception, are gay.” That’s ex-PW A&E editor Steven Wells in The Guardian. Aww, we miss you, Steven!

Prince Not Stopping In Kenzo During Philly Trip

Hurrah hurrah! The royal family — not the hunk princes, but the ugly prince and his middle-aged wife — is visiting Philadelphia this weekend.

Prince Charles is technically in America for an environmental award ceremony in — where else? — New York. (The prince also showed his strong commitment to environmentalism by reserving all of first class on his trip.) The Daily News‘ Catherine Lucey writes the two will visit the Liberty Bell, a Mural Arts Program ceremony, the Academy Ball tomorrow and the International House in West Philly. (Sadly, the prince won’t be going to the International House of Pancakes.)

As for any big news happening to the prince while he’s in Philadelphia, well, Camilla Tominey, royal editor for the Sunday Express, thinks it might be when Rod Stewart plays the Academy Ball:

“If Rod Stewart has a little chat with Camilla and pinches her ass, that would be great.”

For the good of your country, Rod, please, please make this happen.

Welcoming the prince and the papers [Daily News]

British Teens Way More Awesome Than American Teens

To the United Kingdom!

Video: British Youth Gone Wild [CNN.com]

Quickies: Don’t call him D-Mac

• A bit of housekeeping: Yes, the links are darker now. Easier to read? And in case you’re wondering, re the essay yesterday: My plan for now is to do a few per week, say three. But we’ll see where that leads.

• Ahh, Jerry Mondesire says that Donovan McNabb doesn’t care about black people. He says that McNabb changed from a running quarterback to a passer and that made him a worse player and it was race-related. Um, okay. All I have to say: Football-wise, running quarterbacks haven’t quite done so well, have they? Or did I forget the six Super Bowls Fran Tarkenton and Michael Vick have won? [Attytood]

• I didn’t know there was a list like this, and it’s kind of amusing: Santa Claus tops Forbes‘ Fictional 15. Not that he’s not real. Oh snap! Somehow I think Forbes just crushed the dreams of a million kids. [Life, Family at al]

• If you’re into the whole “stuffing your face with good food thing,” The Reading Terminal Market is now open on Sundays. Mmm… cookies. [Metroblogging Philadelphia via dragonballyee]

• Being fans of local community newspapers and the pointless stories contained within — and a media nerd also — I was excited to read this, even though it’s from England: Shopping cart found 30 minutes from store. Oh, man. That really might be the most boring story in the history of newspapers. [Londonist]