Balloons and cake.

The @ sign celebrates it’s (estimated) 473rd birthday this year.

In celebration of this momentous occasion that could, in effect, be any day from now until the end of the year because of the (estimated) date, I made a little picture*.

I also propose some kind of celebratory action every day for the duration of 2009. Nothing fancy. Just cake. And maybe a few streamers. And a hat. A pointy one.

Or we can Oprah-fy it. Make it sentimental. A celebratory good deed a day? Coupled with three tears, a reaffirming shoulder squeeze. And a book club dinner.

Cake it is.

For those who really are interested, here’s the original @ sign:

An Italian merchant’s letter from 1536.

Happy birthday, @ sign. Here’s to a great year ahead.

*Not actually. It was Shameema.