In light of today’s teabag parties, I present this clip from the HBO series Sex and the City.

Remember, just breathe through your nose. (h/t Chadd via Facebook)

The Washington Renegades defeated the Gotham Knights at Cardozo High School in Washington, D.C. on 4 April 2009.

During my time off, I took the time to head to a rugby match between the Washington Renegades and the Gotham Knights on the invite of a friend. I brought the big camera and took a sizable set of photos. Then I followed them to their post-match drink up and had a little too much.

When I was in high school, I shared a birthday with a couple of other students. Both were in classes ahead of mine – one was ahead of me by two years and the other by one year – and the three of us ran in the same circle of friends thanks to our mutual participation in theatre and chorus. We never did anything special about it, but it always amused me that we shared birthdays and interests.

Today is my birthday; my 31st, or as I’ve been referring to it the 3rd annual 29th birthday. I took myself to lunch. I went to dinner with dad. I came home to find presents from the housemates. It was a good day.

Continuing on the swing vibe I started last week, this week’s video is “Zoot Suit Riot” by the Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. The song refers to the Zoot Suit Riots that took place in Los Angeles in the 1940s.

The Zoot Suit Riots were a series of riots that erupted in Los Angeles, California during World War II, between white sailors and Marines stationed throughout the city and Latino youths, who were recognizable by the zoot suits they favored. While Mexican Americans were the primary targets of military servicemen, African American and Filipino/Filipino American youth were also targeted. The Zoot Suit Riots were in part the effect of the infamous Sleepy Lagoon murder which involved the death of a young Latino man in a barrio near Los Angeles. (Wikipedia)

CPD recorded and released the song in 1997 as part of their album of the same name. Two versions of the video were filmed; Isaac Camner directed the one below.

Little Red Riding Hood, as told through infographics.

An animated version of the classic children’s book written by Maurice Sendak in 1963.

A live action film version directed by Spike Jonze is due out later this year.

When swing music made a comeback in the 1990s, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was among those bands who led the pack. While they of course have their own repertoire of original work, some of my favorite cuts from BBVD are covers. The 1999 album This Beautiful Life features a cover of “I Wanna Be Like You” from the Disney film the Jungle Book; their version was originally recorded for the Swingers soundtrack. Every holiday season, I make a point to listen to their cover of “Mr. Heatmiser”; the original version was part of the Christmas special the Year Without a Santa Claus.

Below is one of the few embeddable music videos I could find, “Mr. Pinstripe Suit,” from their eponymous album released in 1998.

Stopped into Border’s this afternoon when I saw this in the travel section.

Why does D.C. have to be represented by Dulles International Airport (IAD)? Of the three airports in the D.C. metro area, I hear the most bitching about Dulles. I personally avoid flying out of Dulles whenever possible; I have a much easier (and often less expensive) time getting out to National and BWI.

Oh, well… at least that’s just part of the wrapping — it comes off rather easily.

Friends of the National Zoo debunks a St. Patrick’s Day myth in an undated article, “Why Ireland Has No Snakes.” Legend has it that St. Patrick banished all the snakes from the Emerald Isle; in reality, the Ice Age is to blame… or thank.

As I ran errands at lunch, the dismal conditions outside led me to think of this clip from the Simpsons.

Busting 10 myths of credit in 60 seconds. Also available in a handy, readable text format.

Most of these I already knew, but even still a couple were busted for me.

After about three years out of the pop music spotlight, Paula Abdul dropped her third album, Head Over Heels in 1995. The lead single, “My Love Is For Real,” featured background vocals by the late Israeli singer Ofra Haza.

The video — full of lush, exotic Middle Eastern imagery — received significant airplay on MTV and two Video Music Award nominations; it lost both awards to Michael & Janet Jackson’s “Scream.”

“My Love Is For Real” became a number 1 dance hit, but stalled on the mainstream pop charts.

View towards Massachusetts Avenue and K Street from the Washington Convention Center. The Washington Monument is visible in the distance but hard to make out in this photo.

From Sunday’s forthcoming episode of Family Guy, Peter gets injected with the gay gene.

Rev. Lovejoy comforts Marge Simpson in this clip from the Simpsons’ episode “Treehouse of Horror VI.” Meanwhile, Homer finds solace in his new surroundings.

(Prompted by a tweet from luclatulippe.)

Calling all U2 fans on the east coast and the central time zone, U2 is live now on Good Morning America (other time zones, check your local listings). Here’s an HD screen shot from the show so far.

Tonight, 150 restaurants throughout the D.C. metropolitan area are participating in Dining Out for Life, an annual event that benefits Food and Friends, a local organization which provides meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, and other life-threatening illnesses.

On Thursday, March 5th, 150 restaurants in the Washington metropolitian area will join together to support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by contributing a percentage of their sales to Food & Friends

Food & Friends is the only nonprofit organization in the Washington area providing daily, home-delivered, specialized meals, groceries and nutrition counseling to individuals in the community who are facing some of life’s most difficult challenges. The funds raised through Dining Out for Life allows Food & Friends to continue to provide these critical services at NO COST to the clients.

I’ll be joining Brian, Michael M. and Moose downtown at Georgia Brown’s tonight for the event. This is the first time I’ll actually be able to participate, and the only time I’ve ever dined at Georgia Brown’s — just a few months back — was rather exceptional, so I’m definitely looking forward to it.

Facebook: MMORPG, virus spreader, and dating service. (video via Mashable)