Eighty-one years ago today marked the release of the animated short Steamboat Willie, the first fully synchronized sound cartoon, directed by Walt Disney and Ub Iwerks. Although it featured the third appearances of cartoon stars Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, today is considered to be Mickey's official birthday by the Disney corporation. Huh-huh! The cartoon is below, in its uncut, uncensored, restored glory… It should also be in the public domain by now; but watch it quick anyway, just in case Disney's lawyers get it pulled down.

Here's an all-star comedy cover version of "Do they Know It's Christmas" featuring Weird Al Yankovic, Garfunkel and Oates, Aimee Mann, and others. It's the first track from a Comedy Death-Ray Christmas 2009 album. (Ganked from yendi.)

Richard has really been into the Beatles lately – listening to their music, watching their movies, even watching the cheesy old Beatles cartoons. So, this morning I popped in this movie…

He's tired of signing bills that don't address the pet causes he deems important. So when another unworthy bill crossed his desk recently for signing – addressing funding issues for the Port of San Francisco – the guv vetoed it and sent lawmakers a little note saying why. Only the note said a little more than lawmakers were expecting. Buried in the text was a hidden message directed at State Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, author of the bill, according to the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Ammiano had strongly criticized the governor in early October and reportedly told Schwarzenegger at the time to "kiss my gay ass." Schwarzenegger's veto letter, issued a couple of days later, reads:

To the Members of the California State Assembly:
 
I am returning Assembly Bill 1176 without my signature.
 
For some time now I have lamented the fact that major issues are overlooked while many
unnecessary bills come to me for consideration. Water reform, prison reform, and health
care are major issues my Administration has brought to the table, but the Legislature just
kicks the can down the alley.
 
Yet another legislative year has come and gone without the major reforms Californians
overwhelmingly deserve. In light of this, and after careful consideration, I believe it is
unnecessary to sign this measure at this time.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
 
Arnold Schwarzenegger

When asked by the Bay Guardian if the message was intentional, Schwarzenegger's spokesman said only, "What a strange coincidence." The paper noted that he was "clearly being sarcastic." (From Wired.Com. Here's a link to another story by ABC News, and a link to the PDF file on the CA.Gov website.) As you may recall from The Terminator, that is one of the standard responses with which he is programmed: