Both sides of the climate change 'debate' have decided that the snowstorm proves their case. 'Morons' argue that because it is cold, global warming is a myth. 'Scientists' counter that climate change means more extreme weather, not just warming. [NYT]

Jennifer Aniston turns 41 today (even though she celebrated the occasion last weekend with Gerard Butler). The woman who could have been a heartbeat away from becoming president, still thinks she has a chance in 2012, and whose name we cannot even type without feeling nauseous, is turning 46. Sheryl Crow is 48. Brandy is turning 31. Mr. Burt Reynolds will be blowing out 74 candles on top of his cake today. Kelly Rowland is celebrating her 29th. Actress Carey Lowell is 49. Legendary British fashion designer Mary Quant is 76. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is turning 57. The always classy Aubrey O'Day turns 26. And Twilight actor and tween hearthrob Taylor Lautner turns 18 today.

A survey has revealed that the majority of Americans think Sarah Palin is unqualified to be president. This survey wildly misses the point of Sarah Palin, and the tea party movement she inspires - both are ideological, not political.

Gaga's dress gets messy in the snow, Jersey Shore's Vinny forgoes a surreal appearance at Yale. John Mayer apologizes for using the n-word. Amanda Bynes doesn't see why craving "chocolate" men is wrong. Thursday's gossip is white all over.

An ambassador to Dubai has annulled his marriage: his bride had never revealed herself, wearing the full Islamic face-covering Niqab on the occasions the couple had met. After the wedding he tenderly lifted the veil to kiss her...

On the anniversary of Iran's Islamic Revolution—which launched the nation's current, contested regime—Iran has blocked Gmail and slowed all internet service to such a crawl that some say they can't access any web-based email. A Google spokeswoman confirmed a "sharp drop in traffic." She continued, "Sadly, sometimes it is not within our control." [NYT]

The Wrap has what appears to be a secondhand quote from NYT CFO James Follo about new layoffs: "I think we would expect that to be the case, yes." (It's like playing "telephone.") Bill Keller's December sigh of relief: Premature?

How icy is Snowpocalypse? So icy that an arctic seal swam all the way to New Jersey before it realized something was wrong. Then it crawled ashore and got hit by a snowplow.

The National Enquirer says John Edwards proposed to Rielle Hunter and is buying a $3.5M beach house. Now that we've found the real estate listing, a guide to the custom mahogany cabinetry (that's yuppie for "marital bliss") that lies ahead.

Penelope Cruz is in Pirates of the Carribean. (Sorry for the pun.) Susan Sarandon is typecast as a matriarch. Spider-Man will be in 3-D. Ellen DeGeneres is back. Alice In Wonderland angers Britons. Almost too much trade to roundup!

Today, Politico published a hard-hitting report: "Press Room Laughter Dies Down." No one is laughing any more at Robert Gibbs! But is it because of a change in "tone," or because Robert Gibbs is the least funny person in D.C.?

Ben Lerer tells us he plans to launch Thrillist London in the next few weeks, the first international edition of his emailed city guide. Remember: there's no recession for the well-to-do, and Lerer's not alone capitalizing on that fact.

Internet superhunk and MySpace CEO Owen Van Natta quit right as he was on the cusp of becoming one of our generation's great social networking anti-heroes. He's leaving MySpace just 10 months after taking the job. Update: He was fired.

Dramatic readings are usually hilarious and have long been a go-to comedy tool: they've even kept William Shatner relevant to this day. Here, Kristen Wiig regales us with the sexy life story of Suzanne Somers.

Because the place doesn't have enough stuff yet: A Toronto-based developer has made a tentative deal to build a $100 million, seven-story aquarium at the bottom of 11 Times Square complete with "sharks, rays, penguins, otters, and other animals." [WSJ]

the winning entry in a 1897 New York Times reader contest to find a motto that "most aptly" described the paper according to newspaper historian W. Joseph Campbell. The paper stuck with "All the news that's fit to print."

It looks like Gerald Posner's "time out" from the Daily Beast is now permanent: After his editors found fresh instances of plagiarism, the lead investigative journalist offered his resignation, and it was accepted.

[This new picture from the European Southern Observatory's new VISTA telescope of the future makes the Orion Nebula look like a bit of swirly sci-fi goodness. Image via ESO via Wired]

A day working from home only reminds me how unproductive it is. Luckily, you were busy on #tips: Beware the bunds! Muppets! And a job — a really crappy job. At #crosstalk, anyone know how to hold a rifle?

Today is a pensive, wintry day. The mind is snowy! So let's turn to a thoughtful comment about the nature of public and private.