Today would have been Hunter Thompson’s 68th birthday. How are preperation going for his giant cannon send off? Just fine, according to Johnny Depp. If you missed the commemorative Rolling Stone issue, here’s your chance to read several dedications to Hunter.

It’s been said that Nero fiddled while Rome burned. Not true. In fact, the fiddle had not yet been invented. Nero did own this instrument, however, and may have been playing it as Rome went down in flames.

Johnny Goodtimes is teaming up with the local SPCA to bring you a pet of the week each and every week. You can learn more about the inaugural pet of the week, Cocoa, by clicking here. If you do decide to adopt a pet from the SPCA, please send me a photo of you with your new pet so I can put it on the website.

Johnny will not have time to post last night’s results because he is currently on a top secret mission, the results of which are to be published in a local newspaper sometime in the near future. Results for Thursdays contest will be posted Sunday. In the meantime, let’s take a trip down memory lane. It was almost a year ago when the First Annual Be the Next Johnny Goodtimes Contest took place. Let’s have a look back at the contestants.

The Dark Horse Tavern in Headhouse Square was the site of a quizzo foray on Monday night. Gotta say, it’s the best quizzo of the four I’ve played so far. Even though the host, John (in the quizzo handbook, it states that you’re not allowed to host unless your name is John) goes old school with no electronic equipment, he’s got a loud enough voice to make it work, though I would still suggest an amp. The questions are definitely the best of any quizmaster heard thus far. No b.s. about Irish uprisings of the 12th century or parts of motorcycles. He sticks pretty close to the history, sports, geography, pop culture tack that has made me millions. Ok, hundreds. Anyway, he had four rounds, including the joker round. Though he doesn’t call Round Four the impossible round, it’s definitely harder than the others. Oh, and in case you’re wondering, my team won, despite a meltdown in the final round. What made the victory even sweeter was that it was by one point over former Doc Watson team the Holy Pontiffs. (Quizzo at Dark Horse begins at 9 p.m. on Mondays)

Just posted a little recommended summer reading on the message board. Please lemme know what you would recommend. I just finished my book, and am looking for something new to read.

Here’s the article that Joseph Wilson wrote that caused the White House to out his wife. And here’s the one Robert Novak wrote in which his Wilson’s wife is outed. Finally, my boy the RZA discusses spirituality (Nice transition, no?). Thanks to Andrew for bringing this to my attention.

I think you’ll enjoy this op-ed piece in the New York Times on Sunday about the Judy Miller case.

Has someone insulted your manhood, family, etc., and you feel that the only way to settle it is at fifteen paces like a gentleman, but aren’t sure of the proper way to approach such an endeavor? Read the code duello here. If you wanna learn more about Aaron Burr, I highly suggest a book called “Aaron Burr: The Great American Scoundrel” written by Philip Vail. “Burr” by Gore Vidal is ok, but I find the real Burr so interesting that I didn’t see a need to create fiction around him.