Text messaging will most assuredly lead to the downfall of our society. What with all the ghastly abbreviations and acronyms, we might as well quit worrying about teaching the kids how to spell. There really won’t be a point, because even their names are being misspelled, perhaps based on the way someone might type it in a quick message: Cam’ron, Flicity, etc. Some people have taken that middle-school need to spell their names differently a little too far (and they’re making their children suffer). [The Guardian, U.K.]

Lily Allen’s brother, Alfie, will be playing the lead role in Equus in Yorkshire this month. Yep, it’s the role Daniel Radcliffe stripped for. Alfie said that he doesn’t have any qualms about getting naked on stage: “It’s just part of the job I do. In fact it’s really liberating because you get a real sense of freedom and after a while you don’t really think about it.” [Yorkshire Evening Post]

Women are twice as likely as men to report weight discrimination, and it’s as common as weight discrimination, according to data from the National Survey of Midlife Development in the United States. [NYTimes.com]

Kate Moss, who is reportedly engaged to Jamie Hince, is planning on having a gypsy-themed engagement party after Lily Allen suggested it. [The List]

Finland’s foreign minister is being pressured to resign after being accused of sending raunchy text messages to an erotic dancer. At first, the minister denied that he had sent about 200 messages to the dancer, but later apologized and said they were work-related. Huh? [AP]

Harlequin, the world’s largest publisher of romance fiction, is keeping up with the times by offering all of its current titles as ebooks, holding readings in Second Life, and blogging about paranormal romance.  According to Brent Lewis, Harlequin’s director of Internet and digital, five of the top 10 bestselling books in Japan were written on a mobile phone (mostly written for consumption on mobile devices and later published due to their popularity). For its own ebooks, Harlequin breaks stories down to 500 words chunks that are delivered daily via text message. We’re kind of wondering what happens when those 500 words end in the middle of an especially steamy scene—do they get you all worked up and then leave you hanging for 24 hours until the next 500 words arrive? [Fast Company and Harlequin]

Yesterday, Maxim‘s Sex Blog had a post about “sext messaging,” you know, sending dirty text messages. It even offered up some suggestions, i.e., “IANWAP” means “I am not wearing any panties.” As you know, we think text message abbreviations are a little ridiculous, so Amelia and I (OK, mostly Amelia) came up with a few suggested texts for when you’re NOT in the mood. See if you guess what they are, then find out after the jump.

Three couples were married in a Columbus, OH, White Castle on Valentine’s Day (BTW, Columbus is White Castle’s home city. Go Ohio!) Instead of throwing rice, a flower girl threw salt and pepper packets. We hope she threw the salt over her left shoulder for good luck. Also, there should be a movie, Harold and Kumar Get Married In White Castle. [Yahoo!]

Right after Valentine’s Day is a super popular time for people in Knox County, IL, to get tested for STDs. “The week after Valentine’s Day, we are swamped with STD testing,” said Laura Fullerton, the health department’s director of chronic disease and clinical services. “Any holiday is usually a good time to have sex, but Valentine’s Day is bad for STDs. We are busy after today.” We thought you were supposed to spend Valentine’s Day with your special someone, not that un-special anyone you picked up at a bar. [The Register-Mail]

If you find yourself in possession of an STD, do your lucky partner a favor and send him an anonymous email telling him he better get tested or risk discomfort in the crotch area. [inSPOT]

The Prime Minister of Finland is suing his ex-girlfriend for about $70,000 in damages because she divulges details of their relationship in her book, The PM’s Bride, which was published days before the general election in Finland. (He still won.) Also, apparently he broke up with her via text message. [Daily Mail (U.K.)]

The day that sees the biggest increase in text messages is not Christmas, Thanksgiving, or even New Year’s. No, given that today is February 12, you will no doubt guess that Valentine’s Day is the most popular holiday for text messages, according to data from AT&T. How romantic. Personally, I despise text message shorthand, but if you’re really lazy and need some suggestions for what to send your lovers and friends, keep reading…