The Nincompoop Awards

For When Celebrities Open Their Mouths… Yes, it is a real word. There are so many nincompoop–worthy moments out there, somebody has to keep track of them. Here are this week’s contestants: Honorable mention: Scarlett Johansson Miss Johansson makes this week’s awards for her criticisms to the journal Cosmopolitan of President Bush. She remarked in … Read more

Inflation

Remember the old saying, “Hey buddy, can you spare a dime?” Heard on the street today: “Hey buddy, can you spare a dollar?”

Games of Tag

My good friend Charles Halton likes to play tag, and apparently I’m “it,” or one of a few “its” al least. It’s summertime, so I’ll play along the recent TV personality’s little book meme. Here goes: 1. One book that changed your life. The Man Who Was Thursday, by G.K. Chesterton 2. One book that … Read more

The Cat In The Hat, Twice Removed

I’ve never been a big fan of Cliffs Notes. Though the publisher calls their product “trustworthy study guides,” we all know what they’re used for 99 percent of the time. They encourage laziness, illiteracy, and all the other bad things your high school English teacher warned you about. There was one occasion, however, that I … Read more

Headlines

Contrary to what today’s front page might say, my project funds are doing just fine, thank you very much.

Say Cheese

There’s an AP story out now about Sonya Thomas, a 100-pound woman who “ate 26 grilled cheese sandwiches in 10 minutes Wednesday at a New York restaurant, winning the World Grilled Cheese Eating Championship.” I’m a grilled cheese fan. There are few pleasures in life that are so simple, yet so tasty — especially when … Read more