Presumably because employees of the American government have become so damn laughable to people around the globe, the city of Washington, DC is installing in its metro stations friendly reminders for its citizens to value their own lives. Drawn in by new, "fun" games like hopscotch (at left) and I Spy, depressed commuters in our nation's capital will then be tricked into reading this cheerful slogan: "Life is fun. Keep on living. Use caution around the tracks." Ironically, one way to exercise caution around the tracks is to not play hopscotch on the fucking slippery platforms.

Lucky us, we don't need fancy safety warnings in the subways here in New York, where the human feces and urine soaking the tracks are more than enough of a reminder that we don't wanna go in there.

THE SHARPTON EFFECT This from a black woman in her mid-30s on the L train just moments ago: (screamed at nobody in particular) "You have no idea! You have no idea! But Al Sharpton does. Sharpton knows! Y'all better listen. Even I don't know! But I do know about them Apple Bottom jeans and the peach fuzz." [At this point she sang "Low" by rapper Flo Rida while clapping off-beat and staring menacingly at everyone.]

• It's really sad when one can find a more lasting love on I Love New York than on The Bachelor. [People]

• Omarion defends Chris Stokes against child molestation allegations. He said Stokes was always like a father figure to him. [SOHH]

• Kobe Bryant is the youngest player in NBA history to score 20,000 points. Sports. Yay. [EUR]

• Check the difference in enthusiasm — IDRIS ELBA! YAY! [BV]

• Marion Jones's sad steroids evidence. [TSG]

Disregarding the fact that a dating show called Interracial Love seems to be of highly questionable taste to begin with, an anonymous employee of VH1 said that execs nixed the reality show idea because it wasn't "ghetto" enough. This is VH1, home of Flavor of Love and all its spin-offs we're talking about, here? Sounds about right.

An employee of the network leaked information about a production meeting regarding a potential new show titled “Interracial Love.” According to the employee, network execs passed on the idea because it would feature professional black women who choose to look beyond race to find true love. The images would be in direct contrast to those shown on such shows as “Flavor of Love” and its spawns “I Love New York” and “Flavor of Love: Charm School.”

In a letter written to Black Press Radio, the employee shared what she was told went down behind closed doors in a meeting about the show. According to the employee, the exec said: “It is our thoughts that the viewers are more interested in seeing black people in a ghetto role. This show will not sell.”

According to EURweb, Black Media News has launched a boycott of VH1 due to the negative portrayal of black people, in particular black women, on the channel.

These shows make me cringe, yes. But people of all races watch them, and there is no shortage of women dying at a chance to make it on a show and embarrass themselves, their gender, and their race. A part of me hates VH1 for putting these programs on the air, but it's us (as in the viewers), not them, that made the formula a success.

[EUR]

It's no secret that lots of reality television whores jump from show to show like it's nothing — several Flavor of Love girls also appeared on Blind Date, and don't think I didn't notice Melissa S. from Search For The Next Pussycat Doll (shut up, it's an entertaining show) was also vying to be a member of Danity Kane way back when. But I swear, if Sanjaya Malakar becomes a contestant on the second season of I Love New York as TMZ predicts, I'm canceling my cable and throwing the TV out the window.

[TMZ]

No, I'm not talking about New York's fake breasts. I'm talking about her fake show. Naturally, VH1 is casting for I Love New York II, since the man Tiffany chose at the end of the first season dumped her during the reunion show. Conveniently. VH1 producers better be careful with the casting. They will only recapture the "magic" of the first season if they get the ratio of gay to straight cast members — my guess is about 10:1 — exactly right.

[CL]