See You in September!

We'd write something clever about how we're closing shop for the rest of August, taking a much needed respite --


Renee's off to Paris (Texas), Jay's off to the country (Rehab), I'm off the fake tanner (not really)-- but the amusing little elves who write our zingers have already made like bakery trucks and hauled buns. See? Told you.

We'll be back in September though, so check back then if you're bored, lonely, and need to laugh at someone else's expense!

This Day in History

Know what today is? Today is August 14th! Sure, that was an easy one -- even the contestants on The World Series of Pop Culture could have gotten that one right. But I mean do you know why this date in history is special? Aside from the fact that 3 years ago to the day NYC was plunged into darkness during the aptly named "August 14th, 2003 Blackout"?


Well children-who-like-history, today is not only special because it's the anniversary of the "Oregon Territory," which Congress created on this day in 1848, as the area encompassing present-day Oregon, Idaho, Washington, and western Montana. It's also not just the day that Nehru granted Indian independence in 1947. Or the day that the very first issue of Field and Stream Magazine went to press in 1873. Wasn't just the day in 1945 that US President Harry S. Truman announced that Japan surrendered during WWII, either.

Turns out on this day in 1973, our very own Renee Kaplan arrived in this world. Okay, not the Renee Kaplan pictured here. I have no idea when this one was born, nor do I know why she chose to wear sandals with pantyhose. I mean this Renee Kaplan, bon vivant, cupcake lover, all around great girl and Half/Life rockstar.

Seems like this is going to be quite the big year for our little girl... yesss, big things are afoot, which she might or might not tell you about herself. But right now all you need to know is that today, August 14th, is Renee's birthday, and we're sending her all best wishes for a fabulous birthday and wonderful year to come!

Maybe it could get fucking hotter!

Pardon my French, but this heat is fucking ridiculous. I was going to post earlier in the day, but I literally turned into one of those Wonder Twins puddles. And the New York Times wasn't helping matters by putting this picture in the paper. It's like, Grandma, I know it's hot, but put a fucking bra on! Oy.


So since we're very pro-environment here on the Shaking Blog--in a "just don't fuck with my air conditioner" kind of way--we urge all of you to turn off all unnecessary appliances like your computer right this moment. Wait! Before you do that, though, be sure to check out these two sites because right now they're running articles featuring my esteemed (hot) fellow Shakers:

The Food Section - by Mlle Renee Kaplan
McSweeney's - by Monsieur Jay Dyckman