News: Taylor Swift Lurves Jane Austen! Etc.! (9/14/09)

Ahem.

Hi.

So, in case anyone was wondering whether I A) fell off the planet; B) said, "Eff it!" and moved into a fortress of Terry's Chocolate Orange and Crunchie bars; or C) decided to throw over everything I stand for and become a Francophile instead…well, never fear. I did none of those things. (Although option B is obviously still under consideration.)

I did, however, start my fall classes, which are inconsiderate enough to occupy the evening hours that I am accustomed to devoting to your edification and entertainment re: all things Anglo. Bastard classes.

Result: Let's see what happens if I promise ever so faithfully to update every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with extra posts thrown in, should time permit.

And now, on to the news:

1. Beyonce is a Brit?
   Miss B rocked the VMAs last night (I lurve that instead of lip-syncing during the chorus, she just dances her ass off and lets the recording take the vocals). But she closed her performance with a "Thank you very much indeed." It weirded me out a little, I'm not gonna lie.

Beyonce tore up the stage at the VMAs. Indeed.

2. Even British cats have accents.
   American cats say, "Meow." British cats say, "Miaow." I wonder if they take their milk with a bit of tea and sugar.
   
   This isn't actually news, of course, but I do love kitties. My roomie's kitty, one Fred the Cat, saved me from a ginormous alien bug last night. Go Fred!

Fred may look lascivious here, but she's got mad bug-locating skillz.

3. Taylor Swift rocks it like it's 1799.
   Last week, my country music-loving pops told me I would like the video to Taylor Swift's "Love Story." And people, let me tell you: I think Ms. Swift may have read Pride and Prejudice. Several times. Go watch the vid (and send lots of magmatic hate in the general direction of Kanye West, while you're at it).

Taylor Swift has a "Love Story" with Pride and Prejudice. Word.

4. Headteacher of school in Kent acts all crazy
   Headteacher Andrea Charman of Lydd Primary School let her students name, cuddle with, handfeed, and generally get all kinds of attached to a lamb. Then she sent said lamb (Marcus the sheep) to the slaughterhouse (more appealingly called an "abattoir" by the Times of London). Circle of life, food chain, etc. - I get it. But you can't raise a little lambkin as a pet and then send it to the chopping block. Bitch, are you crazy?

Marcus the sheep is condemned. What the eff?!

5. The Times of London on celebrity temper tantrums
   This bit about the Emperor Nero is awesome:
   

   Today’s celebrities have nothing on the emperors of Rome. Nero was particularly fond of a good shout, and once, rather depressingly, sent a party guest to his death. Other tantrums involved murdering his mother and kicking his wife to death

Emperor Nero: One crazy motherfucker

"Fond of a good shout" is my new favorite Anglicism. I think I'll go have a good shout right now.