http://www.patheticfallacy.org Thu, 19 May 2011 17:02:53 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This was entertaining, but it sometimes felt as though the author was trying to force himself into stereotypical or superficial situations for "The Experiment" rather than making an honest attempt to gain insight into the conservative viewpoints. For example, what do eating beef jerky or listening to Kid Rock for ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2011/05/review-conservatize-me-how-i-tried-to-become-a-righty-with-the-help-of-richard-nixon-sean-hannity-toby-keith-and-beef-jerky-by-john-moe/ Hot Cha Too Darn Hot Hot Child in the City Hot Blooded Hot Freaks Strange that there's never been any rox avec lying sweet-talk, now that I think about it. http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2011/04/the-five-songs-most-likely-to-play-in-my-head-in-the-shower/ Oh, hello! What have you been up to lately? Here are a few things I've been enjoying. Swamplandia! by Karen Russell People either love or hate her, but her George Saunders-esque take on Everglades life is engaging and poignant, so far. And some of her sentences are just killer. Extra credit for ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2011/03/some-things-i-like-lately/ SETTING: Aging Outdoorsy Dude arrives at baggage claim, greets his Balding Friend or Brother. Manly hugs, back slapping. BFoB: You look great! AOD: Ehh, I could stand to lose a few pounds. [Pats paunch.] BFoB: Where's the glasses? AOD: Yeah, I had Lasik! BFoB: Oh yeah, how's that? AOD: Amazing! Last year I got my ear ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2010/04/overheard-at-jetblue-baggage-claim-lax/ So wow, yeah — I am engaged! And I'm a little surprised at how thrilling and swoonifying and altogether exciting this new circumstance actually is. Because I did this once and it didn't turn out so well and so spent many years a bit jaded and such. And it's not as though ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/over-the-moon-and-then-some/ Audrey Niffenegger's novel The Time Traveler's Wife isn't the sort of book I'd expect to enjoy. In fact, I did everything I could to resist its premise for the first half or so, until I finally realized how much I liked the characters and wanted to learn what happens next. Why ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/book-review-the-time-travelers-wife/ Or, wow, how did I miss so much the first time? The bigger themes of choice vs. fascism, the paradox of infinite choice, the cycles of pleasure/satisfaction and pain/craving, the whole Marat-Sade angle, Hal as Hamlet paralyzed by indecision, the glorious hilarity of the Eschaton section, the incredibly satisfying Gaudeamus Igitur ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/thoughts-on-rereading-infinite-jest/ A new report on the MBTA finds that three-fifths of my commute is made of fearsome limb-rending deathtrack.One example of an unfunded project that received the maximum safety score of “10” is the floating slabs and tunnel leak repair project between Alewife and Harvard stations on the Red Line. This $80M ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/bad-transit/ Has everyone already seen this? http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/this-is-rather-nice/ Ceiling tiles falling on my taxi while driving through any of the Big Dig tunnels. Water flooding in when in any of the Big Dig harbor tunnels. Someone hip-checking me off the subway platform into the path of an oncoming train. (Or even just onto the third rail.) My hand slipping when I'm ... http://www.patheticfallacy.org/2009/11/things-i-sometimes-imagine-against-my-will/