On Friday, I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. Via The Happiness Project, check out City of Words DC, which tracks quotations around Washington, DC.

2. Who knew? Monopoly was once a socialist utopia. Shhhh….don’t tell.

3. Over at A Design So Vast, Lindsey encourages us to embrace the darkness of winter. This is my new mantra. For everything.

4. If you happen to be a Prince fan, watch this entire clip. If not, speed ahead to the last 3-4 minutes and watch how the artist turns the table on the interviewer and – in the most natural way possible – utterly disarms her. (Hat tip: My husband)

5. This poignant post over at Big Little Wolf’s Daily Plate of Crazy about a letter from a love gone by really struck a chord.

6. Finally, where would any of us be without The Oatmeal? Here the comic genius muses about what it’s like to be a creative of any sort: writer/blogger/artist/you name it. Love, love, love.

Have a great weekend!

Every Friday I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. My inner geek was really fascinated by this piece by philosopher Gary Gutting on the New York Times Opinionator blog about the reliability of the social sciences.

2. I usually read The Oatmeal to laugh, but Dear God how I loved his response to an article in Forbes critiquing his recent comic on Nikola Tesla. (And yes, I had to have my 11 year-old explain who Tesla was.)

3. Over on Big Little Wolf’s Daily Plate of Crazy, check on the post on actress Jane Lynch’s commencement speech at Smith College. Wonderful!

4. I was quite taken with this short post on Surrender, Dorothy on why, as we age, we care more and more about things that last.

5. Finally, this short film by Mike Birbiglia about his “encounter” with NPR radio personality Terry Gross is, quite simply, brilliant.

Have a great weekend, everybody!

Every Friday I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. I’d like to begin this week with Frank Bruni’s sad and all too apt reflection in The New York Times on what it means that Republican Senator Olympia Snowe will be retiring from the Senate.

2. And speaking of prominent female politicians, have a look at Roger Ebert’s typically thoughtful review of Game Change and Sarah Palin’s tragi-comic role as the greatest actress in American political history.

3. I absolutely loved Connie Schultz’ contribution to My Story In 5 Faces over at Parade.

4. This post by Regina Barreca in Psychology Today on what it means to be a grown up really struck a chord. Best line?: “Wouldn’t it be great if you think that “arugula” is what the background singers are chanting in “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” you would be sent back to school?”

5.Check out these amazing photos of the London 2012 Olympic park over at The Guardian. Can’t wait!

6. This may be the most amazing thing an Oscar-obsessed soul like myself has ever seen. It’s a montage of slow-motion videos of Best Actress and Actor nominees as the winner is announced at The Academy Awards. Yes, you can actually watch a close up of these actors’ faces shifting from despair to muted joy as they pretend to be happy for their colleagues who win the big prize. (Hat tip: Communicatrix)

7. Have I mentioned how much I love The Oatmeal? Check out this series called Minor Differences. Brits and Americans who’ve spent a lot of time around one another will particularly love Part Four.

Every Friday I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. As always, Michael Lewis’ story in Vanity Fair about the California budget crisis is not only hugely informative but a heckuva good read.

2. In the event that you haven’t maxed out on Steve Jobs eulogies, here are some great, unsung stories about the man that you probably haven’t heard. (Hat tip: Communicatrix)

3. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to tell your kids that you and your spouse are separating, read this. Heartbreaking.

4. OK, so this video on how to lock your bike so that it won’t get stolen is both fascinating *and* useful. (Bonus? It’s brought to you by the quintessentially insane New Yorker. Love him!)

5. As someone who blogs about adulthood, I absolutely adored Hyperbole and a Half’s take on Why I’ll Never Be an Adult.

6. Clever blog of the week award goes to Feminist Ryan Gosling. Hilarious!

7. Finally, if you’ve ever helped a friend move out of an apartment, you’ll love the Oatmeal’s take on that memorable experience.

Have a great weekend, folks!

Every Friday I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. This segment on about why an episode of The Daily Show was banned in the U.K. made my day.

2. Absolutely adore this Oatmeal comic strip about what your email address says about you. (Hat tip: Marian Schembari)

3. And speaking of comics, parents will love the new blog Crappy Pictures.

4. Love this office art by my former colleague Robert Trussell on Malice Palace. (Check out the tee shirts!)

5. I’m not much of a Fantasy fan, but this article by Lev Grossman in the Wall Street Journal will convince you that you should be.

6. Finally, Paul Simms’ God’s Blog in the New Yorker speaks for itself.

Enjoy your weekend!

Every Friday I point you towards some recommended reading around the blogosphere:

1. I absolutely adored this video about Kafka’s fitness routine over at Slate by my colleague Sarah Wildman (with a little help from her Dad.)

2. Here’s a beautifully rendered essay by Lisa K. Friedman in the New York Times about the e-affair.

3. Writers near and far will instantly relate to the painful truths found over at Bo’s Cafe Life. (Hat tip: Lisa Romeo Writes.) I’m particularly fond of the entry on January 22nd.

4. And speaking of writing, you will also enjoy Victor Borge’s act, phonetic punctuation.

5. The Oatmeal never disappoints. Here’s another brilliant comic strip – this one entitled Why I Don’t Cook At Home.