Let’s just get to it, shall we:

+ HBO has a new show called The Black List about prominent African Americans. Jezebel has clips. What Toni Morrison says is particularly poignant. She says both that she writes for herself: “It’s the only place where I’m not doing what somebody else wants or asks or needs. Writing is mine.” She also says that, once you take white men off of the menu, there’s a lot you’re free to write about.

+ Smarter than lolcats: the Catorialist.

+ The Times has an article about a Florida teacher teaching evolution in evangelical classrooms.

+ I only just saw Michelle Obama’s speech at the Convention. It was pretty great, am I right?

+ The real issues being addressed at the Convention.

+ Marketing New Jersey.

+ We know now that Joe Biden is our veep candidate. Will this bring him fame and fortune? Historic veep candidates as predictors.

Just listen to the rhythm of my typing.

I’ve been out of town 8 out of the last 14 days. In other words, it’s time for some quickies:

+ John McCain on the captors who held him as a POW: “A lot of them were homosexual.”

+ Baseball pitcher Dottie Collins dies at 84. Quoth Dottie “I pitched and won both games of a doubleheader once pitching underhand. I think I could have pitched a doubleheader overhand, too. I don’t think it would be that hard. Nowadays, the men can’t do it, but hell, they can’t do nothin’.” Ha!

+ Julia Child was a spy!

+ Today’s internet oddity. Cats swimming.

+ I’ll admit that I’ve been watching as much Olympics coverage as my schedule allows, and part of it’s for the eye candy. (Call me, Michael Phelps!) Turns out I don’t have to feel shame because that’s what the Greeks intended.

+ Polygamy watch: courts say a few of the kids taken from Yearning for Zion should go into foster care.