- Cat vs. Mirror Cat: It’s the perfect tit-for-tat mechanism of game theory!
- Miley Cyrus’s Latest Look Will Definitely Shock You: What’s worse, this or what Justin Beiber wore when getting the award from the Canadian Prime Minister? I’d vote for this all day long.
- The 25 Funniest AutoCorrects Of 2012: The first few are MEH, but then they get rolling. And really, “EPIC PENIS” is always my first recommendation for a bee sting.
- The Most Extraordinary Feat Of British Scholarship Ever: “Professor Richard Sorabji, of King’s College London, has just completed the Herculean task of editing, translating and overseeing 100 volumes of translations of ancient commentaries on Aristotle, written from 200-600 AD.” Awesome!
- Smoking and sudden death — even worse than you thought: Smokers might not get much warning of the damage they’re doing themselves, but instead just keel over one day without warning. Yikes.
- Susana Trimarco, Argentine Sex Slave Advocate, Awaits Verdict In Missing Daughter’s Case: This case is heartbreaking — and inspiring. It’s amazing what one woman can do.
Dec 282012
Dec 212012
- Three Debate Tips for Those Calling for More Gun Restrictions: Ari Armstrong offers some really excellent advice for people loudly crying for more gun control.
- Mariah’s trolls: Oh, now this is a sillyfun party game!
- Letters of Note: Hot Hot Hot: The staff of “Will & Grace” respond to a letter of protest written by “a ‘former gay man’ and Youth & Gender Specialist at Focus on the Family, a Christian organisation which actively promotes sexual orientation conversion therapy.” Too funny!
- Before & After Meth: UGH. I know of no other way to ruin your body and your mind so quickly and so completely.
- Big Rich Texas Tip: Stylish Adult Baptism: Um, is this satire? In any case, I’m sure this is what John’s baptism of Jesus at the start of his ministry was like!
- Which President Is the Biggest Spender, Part II: Dan Mitchell presents some interesting data, sliced multiple ways, comparing Obama’s spending to that of other recent presidents.
- Are ‘Meggings’ (Leggings for Men) the Next Big Trend in Menswear?: Surely, a man buying these must be immediate grounds for divorce!
- Nap Nanny: GAH. I hate to see good products taken off the market due to user negligence. At least they’re fighting back though.
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Dec 142012
- Dan Urbano, Dad, Buys His Kids A Cat After Placing An Adorable Facebook Bet: How could anyone not “like” these kids?!?
- Christmas Curmudgeon: This dog knew what to do with the “Elf on a Shelf”!
- The GOP’s consultant problem: Due to their own financial incentives, campaign consultants push candidates into more fundraising and media spending, while ignoring grassroots volunteer efforts that can really affect the results of a campaign. I suspect that Romney made this error in spades.
- Swiss Shepherd Adopts Abandoned Tiger Cubs: AWWWW.
- ‘Japan: high tech image, low tech reality’: I was intrigued by the facts, but wow, what utterly banal writing… and from a teacher of English, no less.
- Philosophy in Action on Facebook: The page now has over 2500 likes! Yay!
- Paula West Pottery: If you’re looking for a unique Christmas gift for someone special, check out Paula West Pottery. I love the work of hers that I own, and I’ve bought more as gifts.
- 60 Moments That Gave Me The Chills During Seattle’s First Day Of Marriage Equality: Committed love is what opponents of gay marriage are fighting — and that’s why they’re losing.
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Dec 072012
- Down Syndrome Researchers Remove Extra Copy Of Chromosome 21: “Geneticists from the University of Washington won a key victory in the battle against genetic diseases by successfully removing the extra chromosome 21 from cells derived from a person with Down syndrome, according to the team’s report in the journal Cell Stem Cell.” Awesome!
- What percentage of marriages survive infidelity? What percentage survive cancer?: Um … men … try harder please.
- Regarding your stupid complaint: Wow, I should have used this technique with the Premise Peckers. “Dear Chip, based on your recent postings, I fear that some unhinged asshat has hacked your FB account. You might want to fix that. Hugs and kisses, Diana”
- Time calls Google Glass “Best Invention of the Year”: WANT.
- Prince Charles: ‘I’m running out of time’: Translation: “Gee, if only my mommy would die!” Stay classy, Charles. But perhaps I’m expecting too much to expect him to wait his turn with grace. After all, murder is the more traditional option for impatient heirs to the throne.
- Sex Toy Sales Up In Canada Due To NHL Lockout, Retailers Say: Oh Canada!
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Nov 302012
- Home video shows police killing dog after being captured: Here’s yet another unjustified shooting of a dog by police officers, this time in Denver. The law, in my view, should recognize that beloved pets are not mere property, but rather a special kind of property. To wrongfully cause the death of a pet should carry a significantly higher penalty than merely compensating the owner for the replacement cost of that pet. Moreover, police officers and government officials who indulge in this kind of reckless killing without good cause should be disciplined severely, preferably fired.
- Wretched woman!: This indignant and eloquent letter is from an escaped slave to the wife of his former owner, in response to her attempt to extort $1000 out of him. Such is the beauty of valuing yourself and your liberty.
- What language tricks do call center reps use to manipulate you?: These are cool examples, and the lesson here is simple: framing matters!
- Anarchism & Justice by Roy Childs: The Cato Institute publishes a new book promoting anarchism. It’s another reminder that, contrary to the claims of some Objectivists of late, anarchism is still a significant and active minority in the libertarian movement. Oh and here’s another example.
- College Humor: Gay Men Will Marry Your Girlfriends: In response, the straight men of America yell, “OH NOES!” But wait… the straight men reply, and up the ante! And now the lesbians are in on it!
- The Hater’s Guide To The Williams-Sonoma Catalog: My favorite snarky remark is on the “cheese hamper”: “Where else am I supposed to put my dirty cheese?” Indeed.
- Wedding Portrait Taken 88 Years Later: LOVE, it rocks.
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Nov 232012
- Panarchy: An Idea Whose Time Has Come?: Oh look, another ridiculously fantastical utopian scheme from a libertarian anarchist in a prominent libertarian magazine. Well, if they get “panarchism,” I want a pony and a time machine… and a lollipop that tastes like a rainbow! *facepalm*
- British have invaded nine out of ten countries – so look out Luxembourg: The list of countries that the British haven’t invaded is remarkably short.
- Il Mondo Vecchio will close at the end of the month, ceasing its salumi and sausage production: The fascist food police strikes again, for no reason whatsoever.
- Telling Legislator, “If You Vote for This Law, We’ll Try to Defeat You in the Next Election,” Forbidden in Colorado?: Well now, I’ve broken this law more than a few times!
- Op Op Op Op… : Outlet Gagnam Style!
- M OR I?: Don’t aim to “pass” rather than “fail” in your important endeavors. Instead, seek “mastery” if you’re “incomplete.”
- Little dog carries his cat friend home over his neck: Crazyfunnycute!
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Nov 162012
- An alternate universe: A report on Microsoft’s launch of the “Surface with Windows RT.” Clumsy imitation is not a good business stratgy.
- Truth, Lies, and ‘Doxxing’: The Real Moral of the Gawker/Reddit Story: The analysis at the end isn’t anything to write home about, but these three cases of exposing private information are really interesting for thinking about defamation.
- NYPD Cop Busted Before He Can Kidnap, Cook, and Eat Women: Um, stay classy, NYPD? Pretty please…
- Things Holly and I have argued about this week: I was in hysterics as I read these stories.
- Shoeshine stand torched in celebration: “Morons set [the shoeshine stand of Larry Moore, the dapper, homeless shoe shiner of Market Street] ablaze because … well, there’s nothing that says World Series celebration like burning down a homeless man’s only source of income.” Yeah, that’s sarcasm. The good news is that more than enough money has already been raised to repair the damage done.
- MIT Gangnam Style: I’m pretty sure that Paul Hsieh’s MIT experience was exactly like this… but you have to watch to the end!
- Supreme Court denies Personhood Oklahoma case: Atlee Breeland of Parents Against Personhood has an excellent analysis of the Supreme Court’s refusal to hear Personhood Oklahoma’s appeal.
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Nov 092012
- Google Election Results: The map and underlying data is pretty cool.
- Colorado’s “Personhood” Candidates Take a Beating by Ari Armstrong: “As I’ve been pointing out for some time, Colorado demographically tends to be the type of place where people want government out of wallets and out of our bedrooms. Unfortunately, the Republican Party in this state is dominated by a religious right that wants to outlaw all abortion and discriminate against gays–and that explains to a large degree why Democrats now control the entire state government, again.”
- Immigration, The 2012 Elections, And The Future Of The GOP by Doug Mataconis: I’d be delighted to see some good immigration reform come in Obama’s second term — and even more delighted if supported by GOP politicians.
- Election Results: Amendment 65 – Campaign Finance Limits: Alas, Colorado’s toothless pro-campaign-finance amendment passed handily. I think that’s because most people don’t understand that campaign finance laws destroy free speech. They just think that big money corrupts politics.
- Slate: The Victory for Gay Marriage Was Bigger Than You Realized: Take note, GOP. Embrace gay rights, or continue to sit at home and cry.
- The Unmitigated Disaster Known As Project ORCA: According to reports from volunteers, the GOP completely failed in its election day “get out the vote” effort due to technological stoopidity. *facepalm*
Ouch, sorry to make that entirely about the election!
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Nov 022012
- 30 of your Britishisms used by Americans: I’ve used lots of these — like cheeky, proper, naughty, and wonky — forever.
- Maxipad Brand Goes for Blood in Brilliant Reply to Facebook Rant: It’s brilliant!
- Sound of Cylons: The Simon and Garfunkel hit, updated.
- Free Online Education Is Now Illegal in Minnesota: Stay classy… and ignorant, Minnesota.
- The Brink of Oblivion: Inside Nazi-Occupied Poland, 1939-1940: These are color photographs, and it’s amazing how just a bit of color makes these scenes seem so much more real.
- A Charming Mendicant: I really enjoyed reading this story from Robert Garmong on teaching an eager student whose English was “very pooh.”
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Oct 262012
- Quora: What phrases commonly used today are derived from obsolete technologies?: I often think about just how obsolete talk of “rolling down” a car window is.
- How to stop wasting time and get the most out of life: John Drake talks about living a “value-dense” life.
- How Tom Hanks responds to an interview request with a typewriter: Oh, Tom Hanks, you’re awesome.
- Homosexuality will lead to race of super-ducks, claims homeschooler in local newspaper: I, for one, welcome our new duck overlords.
- Toward a more realistic Popeye: Fun!
- Billy Graham Bought a Whole Page in the Wall Street Journal to Tell You What He Thinks About Gays and Women: Oh hai, theocracy and apocalyticism!
