Category Archives: Blog stuff

John Travolta will star as Robert Shapiro in the FX anthology American Crime Story: The People v. O.J. Simpson. This is a thing that will happen. “If we ever build a Moon base, I think we should absolutely build a … Continue reading →

Just a reminder that commercial air travel really sucks. And there’s not much you can do about it without spending a lot of money. David Duke is now part of the mainstream in the Louisiana GOP. “It was bad enough … Continue reading →

New year, same old linkdumps. “Microsoft and Google don’t agree on much, but they’ve presented a united front against the hotel industry, which is trying to convince government regulators to give them the option of blocking guests from using personal … Continue reading →

It’s almost the year 2015, but where are the hoverboards? We were promised hoverboards! Mythbusters meets The Simpsons. “Researchers are unsure why whales have suddenly chosen to inhabit the city, though they posit it has something to do either with … Continue reading →

Happy winter solstice, y’all. Now let’s have some longer days, please. The pros and cons of science stories and their pedagogical value. Instant replay in baseball hasn’t prevented managers from getting ejected for arguing calls. It’s about time – way … Continue reading →

“Indeed, evidence continues to mount that [Obamacare] is working extremely, even shockingly, well.” “And that’s what I’m writing about here—parents who believe that they need to nurture, protect, and encourage their children, especially when they’re still impressionable and very, very … Continue reading →

Let’s not just make noise, let’s make a difference. If you’re just now coming out of your Thanksgiving coma, this is what put you there in the first place. This is what oligarchy looks like. Tim LaHaye has been wrong … Continue reading →

So how many screens do you have going right now? Some alternatives to Uber that are hopefully available in your town. Please come to Houston, Sidecar. A review of the ways Major League Baseball is experimenting with to speed up … Continue reading →

Fans of comic art should be sure to check this out. Duck Dynasty: The Musical. Not a joke, apparently. When corn mazes get out of control. Maybe this will help Ted Cruz understand what net neutrality is all about. Republicans … Continue reading →

I was always sure that all six of these things were at the very least rude, but it’s good to write them down and make it clear. Beware Uber’s auto financing scheme. “Most people can think of someone who is … Continue reading →

What the President’s chip & PIN executive order is all about. “Americans did what they so often do after disasters. They sent hundreds of millions of dollars to the Red Cross, confident their money would ease the suffering left behind … Continue reading →

If you haven’t voted yet, your last chance to do so is Tuesday. “Bewitched: The Next Generation After The Next Generation”. I dunno about that. A constitutional right to vote is something we should have established a long time ago, … Continue reading →

Placebo power should not be underestimated. You’re no Brooklyn, you know. In her spare time, Laurie Holden, aka Andrea from The Walking Dead, rescues sex slaves. And what have you done this weekend? Are you looking for a good way … Continue reading →

On dealing with horrible bosses, in Hollywood and elsewhere. We’re using less gasoline. This is a good thing. “I have a friend who is a police officer and he never watches police procedurals. Even in the years when the Law … Continue reading →

News flash: “Reality” TV is heavily scripted and directed. Film at 11. A look at the extremely warped world of marriage counseling and advice columns of the pre-feminist era. “The prohibition against clause-final prepositions is considered a superstition even by … Continue reading →

A psychic tour of lower Manhattan. “Today the media are covering the next part of this story, the inevitable outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, mostly among children who have not been vaccinated.” Congratulations to Irish teenagers Ciara Judge, Émer Hickey and … Continue reading →

Immunization rates in the toniest LA preschools are in line with immunization rates in developing countries like Chad and South Sudan. “In short, mainstream economics – and the concept of homo economicus – recognizes only half of what makes us … Continue reading →