Jan 1215 Things Only People-Pleasers UnderstandIllustrated, quite helpfully, by Medieval art. — There is no known cure for the affliction of being a “people pleaser,” and even if there were, those of us who are sufferers would likely turn it down out of fear that it might be too much trouble for someone to administer. Or else we’d be too busy helping…Humor4 min read
Dec 31, 202121 Actually Quite Nice Things That Happened in 2021And yes, it’s mostly cats. — When historians finally get around to writing the story of 2021, they will not pause to ask themselves what the cats were up to. This will be entirely appropriate, but that doesn’t make it a bad question, and for those of us who are inclined to find a silver lining…Humor2 min read
Dec 29, 2021Thirteen Things a Middle-Aged Man Can Learn From the Baby-Sitters ClubHow Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and even Stacey taught this Dad to live his best life. — I’m the host of the Baby-Sitters Club Club podcast (now called Strange Bedfellows). This essay is reprinted from the excellent collection We Are the Baby-Sitters Club: Essays and Artwork from Grown-Up Readers. I’m a Mary Anne. I like to read and I’m shy. Wait, no, that’s not quite right. I’m…Books15 min read
Dec 28, 202117 Glorious Things You Can See If You Look UpwardsThese breathtaking photographs are the winners of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition — The 13th annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year Competition conducted by the Royal Observatory in Greenwich has produced an awe-inspiring array of images of cosmic phenomena, from colorful nebulae to solar eclipses to swirling storm clouds above Jupiter. …Photography8 min read
Dec 4, 2021Awkward Moments as Vintage PaperbacksPulp fiction that only makes sense if you’re a little bit awkward — Have you ever been stuck in an endless “I’m good. How are You?” loop? Have you ever felt like skipping the country and starting a new life because you thought someone was waving at you but they were waving at the person behind you? Have you ever literally forgotten how…Humor3 min read
Nov 14, 2021My Review of Clifford: The Big Red DogMan, this dog is big. — I took my family to see Clifford: The Big Red Dog this weekend and boy, was I surprised by what I saw. Here’s the thing they don’t tell you: This dog is HUGE. I mean, it’s absolutely massive. And I know what you’re going to say: “We’ve seen big dogs…Humor3 min read
Oct 6, 202117 Pictures That Show Us What Pit Bulls Really AreThe real truth about pit bulls — It’s a lot easier to see what a pit bull truly is when they’re decked out in comfortable nightwear. Daylight may be the best disinfectant, but when it comes to pit bulls, there’s nothing quite so illuminating as catching one just as he’s getting read for bed. If you ever…Pets5 min read
Sep 6, 202127 Photos of Nature’s Most Sublimely Impressive GoofsEach of the finalists of the 2021 Comedy Wildlife Awards is a revelation — The very best nature photography shows us the kings and queens of the jungle stalking majestically through their terrain; the lords and ladies of the forest gliding effortlessly from branch to branch; the fearsome rulers of the ocean lurking in the soundless depths. And the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is…Photography4 min read
Jul 1, 202118 Gorgeous Photos of Wildlife and WaterThis WildArt Photographer of the Year competition showcases the interactions between animals and the water they need to live — A simple concept with breathtakingly beautiful results: The WildArt Photographer of the Year Competition’s most recent winners highlight an interaction that is common to every living thing on the planet — the relationship between animals and water. …Photography9 min read
Jun 29, 202125 Spectacular Pictures of Squirrels Doing Awesome Squirrel StuffSquirrels have never looked so good — Niki Colemont is a photographer based in the Belgian village of Diepenbeek who has developed a particular talent for capturing the essence of just what it is that our friends the squirrels are all about. …Photography3 min read
