What Would Jane Austen Do?

Tickle Me Harder via Teeny Manolo

Today we honor the master ! I believe it was Joan Rivers who once described his shoes as "Park Avenue fuck-me pumps." In any case, you should celebrate by buying me these , the most perfect pair of shoes ever designed. I take a 38.5.

reading drinking ( yay fungus! ) listening to

That would be Margherita of Savoy, Queen Consort of King Umberto I of Italy, and, more importantly, the namesake of Margherita Pizza. I'll see you at NY Pizzeria .

in 1955, Bo Diddley was the first "person of color" to appear on the Ed Sullivan show. The story is that Ed Sullivan wanted him to sing "Sixteen Tons," but Mr. Diddley had other plans; he sang "Bo Diddley" instead. Sullivan told him he was the first "colored boy" to cross him, and Diddley was banned from the show for life. I guess things worked out okay for him, though. I couldn't find footage of his appearance on Ed Sullivan , so you're getting this clip instead. Check out the girl on guitar! That's Lady Bo (a.k.a. Peggy Jones). I think I need those pants.

Reading Waiting for: the writers' strike to be over! (photo: Reuters) Watching

1. Long-wearing lipstick. L'Oréal Infallible Lipcolour isn't too drying. It might last through Thanksgiving dinner. And the gloss smells like Strawberry Shortcake dolls, which will remind you to bring up any lingering childhood resentment you still have toward your sisters. Fun for the whole family! 2. Time to get your highlights touched up. You don't want to look like Pepe LePew in the family pictures. 3. You'll need a blouse that doesn't touch your waist. This tunic from Banana should do the trick. Be sure to drink a lot, though, in order to dispel any pregnancy rumors. 4. Get a pedicure so you can pad around your mom's house barefoot. Bogotá Blackberry is a great fall metallic. Don't bother with the manicure, though -- the dishwashing will be absolutely epic this week.

in 1985, Calvin and Hobbes made its debut. Today is a great day to spend lying around on the couch, reading old comics. I couldn't decide which of the Snowman Series was my favorite -- go back and read them all. It's not like you need to get any work done today.

Went to the Rice Gallery this afternoon with Becca and John . On view right now is Dans la Lune by Kirsten Hassenfeld. It's an installation of intricate chandeliers made entirely of paper. I enjoyed the exhibit very much, but I wish there had been better lighting. The idea is that the viewer is in a dream -- that's why it was kind of dark -- but I would love to see her work with light shining through the vellum. I couldn't get any good pictures; these are from the official site .

1. At one point in Sweden, the highest marginal tax rate was 102% . 2. In the year 1000, Cordoba, Spain was the largest city in the world . 3. Sepia dye was originally derived from cuttlefish . 4. Slash's real name is Saul Hudson . 5. Kanye West's mother was an English professor . 6. Kanye West's father was a Black Panther . 7. Stella McCartney designed a one-legged pendant to mock her former stepmother . 8. Bill Watterson fought with Universal Press Syndicate for years to avoid merchandising Calvin and Hobbes . 9. Almost all Calvin and Hobbes merchandise ever sold was unauthorized . 10. In the early days of the Iran hostage crisis, the captors released all women and African-Americans from captivity .

Pippi forever !

My Aunt Winnie emailed me late last week desperate for a birthday gift for her best friend, Swanee. Swanee is definitely The Woman Who Has Everything, so buying for her is a tough call. Swanee really likes gardening, among other things, and was just getting back from the Galapagos. I recommended that Winnie make Swanee a terrarium. I have been thinking about doing one of these for a while -- they would be great for kids, too. I found some ideas here and here . Winnie put one together and seemed happy with how things turned out.

Stay away, I said just STAY AWAY from the J. Crew Holiday Gift Guide . Don't go! I mean it! It can't be good for your FICO score.

Reading -- I can't believe it's the last one! Watching Sneaking out for

64? Inconceivable!

The answer to every New Yorker caption contest . Hat tip: Gawker

laughing at today: dead people. Steve Almond, Not That You Asked "On April 11, 2007, Kurt Vonnegut died [...] Someone was cruel enough to send me a link to the Fox News coverage. The reporter cited Vonnegut's 'unique brand of despondent leftism,' which struck me as an apt reflection of Fox's unique brand of thrift-store fascism." Madame X, My Open Wallet Obituary for wrestler The Fabulous Moolah, "First Goddess of the Squared Circle."

It has sections on "How to Tie a Sari," "Math Tricks," and "Queens of the Ancient World," among others. The boys should be so lucky.

Spirits In honor of All Saint's Day... Ale Beer Casper Dodge Eau-de-Vie Firewater Gin Holy Ghost Islay Jagermeister King Hamlet Low Mead Nog Of St. Louis Port Quady Rye of Seventy-six Teen Unicum Villains on Scooby Doo Wine Xmas Past Yuengling Zeitgeist

Chili + Vodka = bad :-(