Snoop Lion, #WiggoWednesday, Gore Vidal, Zara Phillips

What’s trending and why?

Snoop Lion / #UpgradedRapperNames

The rapper Snoog Dogg (real name Calvin Broadus) has had a mystical experience in Jamaica with some Rastafarian priests and renamed himself Snoop Lion (‘Snoop Jackal’ would be a more apt upgrade for the Canidae genus, but nevermind). Twitter has joined the party with suggestions for other upgraded rapper names. @realkway has “3pac, 60 Cent, Kanye East”

Gore Vidal

The US author and political commentator has died, aged 86. Amid the many tributes, @benedictbrogan quotes Jonathan Miller’s alarmingly honest one on Radio 4: “I barely knew him but we self-congratulating patricians have to stick together.”

#wiggowednesday / Wiggo

The Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins has got Britian’s medal hopes behind him, as he competes in the Olympic men’s time trial this afternoon. Today’s Sun newspaper even includes cut-out-and-keep Wiggo sideburns for his most enthusiastic/fashion conscious fans. “Mod save the Queen”, says @ahiggitt.

Zara Phillips

The Queen’s granddaughter has won a silver medal in her equestrian event. Independent columnist @mrmarksteel remarks, ”I wonder if Zara Phillips will be stripped of her medal when she tests positive for having aristocracy in her blood.”

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