In addition to bizarre full-page ads like the one I mentioned two days ago, another pleasurable thing about the dead-tree version of newspapers is the ironic juxtaposition of articles and opinion pieces.  For example, on Sunday in hte NYT there was a smart article about how in light of Rod Blagojevich (and the other 3 [...]

In pursuit of reaching all 50 states before I’m 30 (as I promised I would do when I was 20; seven to go), here are some road trip itineraries.  Not that they go to that many states, but I want to go everywhere.

S.F. – Carson City/Reno – Boise – Bend, OR – Crater Lake – [...]

Ha ha ha ha ha!
When the Times took him on a little over a year ago, smart people freaked out.  This was of course cited as the secret intolerance of liberals for differing opinions.  But actually, it was mostly because in pursuit of a post-William Safire conservative the NYT mistook “wrong-about-everything” for “right-of-center.”  Worse than [...]

One of the weirdest articles ever.  To sum up: lesbian teenager in 1967 Virginia kills two co-workers who made fun of her while she scooped ice cream, colludes with FBI to bury murder weapon, admits guilt practically on her deathbed.  Yet mysteries abound.  Like, was she really a lesbian?  Is the article implying that 1967 [...]

Ahem, if you’re not going to order another soy chai, get out.

Do I really need to feel apologetic to a website cause I got up and did something else?  (I’m being a total grandpa about this, aren’t I?)

Jesus Christ, has this guy had enough from Jesus Christ.
I especially love the church’s justification for paying the guy to keep quiet about it:
“Here was a young man who wanted to get on with his life. We considered it more compassionate assistance — certainly not hush money. I know what’s what everyone will want to [...]

It’s not just a really good Ratatat song.  (Sigh, shortly I expect to add an mp3 feature).
Lapland:

The Swedish province’s shield crest is all right:

But the Finnish one is amazing!

Closer!
That is so fucking hot.  I want to drink beer and cuddle with him.

I blame VH1 for the resurgence of meaningless lists over the past decade, since they started with the 100 Greatest Bands of All Time.  (None was more self-serving and ridiculous than Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, which had “Like a Rolling Stone” and “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones at no. 1 and [...]

My friend Alison works for Etsy and has begun a new blog for them, a compendium of assorted delightful oddities from around the world.
This week’s is particularly great.
The bus-cozy is one thing, but the figure sculpted from tobacco products is like a deranged Muppet.  I fucking love it.  It reminded me of this childhood gem:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG-0_p_yefg&hl=en&fs=1]