$20 Bill Is Now Missing Something

ONE OF THE FIRST victims of Sunday night's storm/flooding was something we didn't give much thought about: an elm tree on the White House's North Lawn. We thought, sure, there are lots of trees down across the city, but yet this one is an extra special tree, a tree that is believed to date back to the administration President Andrew Johnson, NBC News reports. Dig out your wallet, and take out a $20 bill if you're ever so lucky to have one. Look at the Executive Mansion and off to the right at the tree. There it is/was sticking into view in the corner. Our proposal: Redesign the $20 bill to include the spot on the North Lawn driveway where television news live shots are done. It's a more accurate representation of the White House.
» "Tree Down At White House Changes $20 Bill?" [News10 via Fark]
Photo by Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

» BOTCHTED WORDS: You might think it's easy to pronounce "president" or "usage," but yet there are common mispronunciations. Go take a look at this site to see some words with odd spellings. Ever wonder why there's an extra "u" in "vacuum" ... ? [PBS via Eric Zorn/Tribune]

» ELECTRONIC CULTURE: While it seems sad that Tori Spelling learned of her father's death via BlackBerry, this probably doesn't faze too many people in a city like Washington. Since CrackBerries were in broad popular use much earlier than most places, there must be someone on Capitol Hill who's learned of a loved one's death via the electronic device. Still, that doesn't excuse Tori's mom from not telling her the news to begin with. [Us Weekly, via Tabloid Whore]

With contributions from Donn M. Fresard.