• LiLo wants John Mayer. [M&C]
• Alicia Keys’ video for “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” is out. [PopBytes]
• Joe Simpson says his daughters aren’t “failures.” [Celebitchy]

Happy Hump Day! Blind item time! Via Crazy Days And Nights:

This A-list female country singer just keeps on winning people over. At a recent event a paraplegic teenager in a wheelchair had been waiting with his mom for about two hours so he could meet his favorite singer and get her autograph and hopefully a picture with her. Well, after the event, the singer came by and said, “Don’t you look cute in that chair.” The teenager then asked for the singer’s autograph and she said, “Oh sorry, not today, I’m too tired, but I hope you feel better soon.” She then walked away.

Hmm, my guess is either Taylor Swift (who got flack after that whole “photographed with a guy in a swastika T-shirt” debacle) or Kellie Pickler (who is known for being on the dim side). What do you think?

As a girl who has been wearing Ralph by Ralph Lauren perfume since she was a teen, I’m intrigued by this new line of RALPH candles, which might just be the answer to finding a signature scent for the home. The collection includes brightly-colored soy candles in a few families of fragrances. Some give off soft floral notes (Flower Shop; Flowering Vines), while other varieties like Lemon Kick are bolder and fruity. They’re also timely with two holiday-centric flavors. If you’re not buying for yourself, this would make a great gift for a younger sister, as it’s fun and a bit sophisticated at the same time. [$25, Macys.com via Teen Vogue]

• The District of Columbia legalized same-sex marriage yesterday ... [L.A. Times]
• ... but today, New York’s State Senate voted down a bill to legalize same-sex marriage. Extreme disappointment. The only good thing to come out of the vote was this rousing, passionate, and impressive speech—above—in favor of passing the measure, by NY Senator Diane Savino. It’s funny, as well as moving and worth watching all 7.5 minutes. [New York Times]

“...women have power in numbers. We draw strength from the support of other women. In some cultures, girls can be seen as a burden to a family because of the need to pay out a dowry when they marry ... they are vulnerable to all kinds of abuse. When I visited shelters for female victims of violence in India, I found that a lot of the women had been raped, even at home. That’s still very taboo. Even in the United States, it’s hard to talk about being sexually abused by your husband or your boyfriend ... being able to find solace in support groups makes a huge difference.”

—Scarlett Johansson, an ambassador for (PRODUCT) RED, on the impact her trips to Africa have had on her life in the January issue of Harper’s Bazaar [ONTD]

I just love living in California, where with a doctor’s note for anything ranging from insomnia to cancer, you theoretically could be peacefully stoned all the time. As if colleges weren’t pot-friendly enough, now there’s a new option for “higher” learning in Detroit, which is taking steps to revive their sad economy with the new Med Grow Cannabis College. Acting as a trade school for medical marijuana caregivers, 24-year-old founder Nick Tennant modeled the college after California’s Oaksterdam University, which was the country’s first cannabis college when it opened in 2007. Besides Michigan, 12 other states have legalized medical marijuana, including Alaska, Colorado, Hawaii, and Maine. The five-week Med Grow curriculum costs $475 and covers cultivation and breeding, cooking tips and recipes, and how to start a care-giving business. Oh, and there’s Cannabis History 101. Michigan care-givers are only allowed a maximum of five patients, unlike California dispensaries which can provide hundreds of patients with edibles, potent strains, oils, and extracts. Which is why graduates of Oaksterdam have more options and can become lobbyists or dispensary managers as well as care-givers. So if you’re unemployed and want to go where the money is, perhaps patting on the patchouli and planting some seeds might be the way to go? [ABC News]

The holidays are pretty important to most of us, although some of the reasons why are a little superficial. For example, it’s the perfect time to show off a new look, your hard work at the gym, and the outfit that took you hours to find. But are you aware of just how many hours are spent prepping for the season? Apparently, 312 of them, or so says a new study commissioned by Clothes Show Live. Shocking but true. In those 13 days, 72 hours are spent shopping for clothes while 48 hours are directed at accessories alone, 96 hours go to the gym, 63 hours add up the time you’ll chat with friends for advice,12 hours on hair styling, and 23 hours encompass the time spent getting pretty. Add to that 10 hours of magazine research and six hours of makeup inspiration searching. It sound exhausting just detailing all of the minute requirements to look “beautiful.” [Daily Mail]