Category Archives: Critic

June 16, 2013

Wedding etiquette torn down by one of the most popular advice columnists in the world. I’m impressed.

Emily Yoffe, the Ask Prudence advice communist for Slate, recently did a podcast in which people were able to ask questions about wedding etiquette via the telephone as part of Slate’s wedding issue. Yoffe tends to lean toward tradition and … Continue reading →

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June 11, 2013

Placing an engagement ring in food is stupid.

Last week comedian and podcast host Marc Maron proposed to his girlfriend by hiding the engagement ring in a stack of pancakes. I do not understand the decision to conceal the engagement ring in food or drink. I cannot imagine … Continue reading →

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June 3, 2013

A perfect example of how my disputatious mind works

So it turns out that some of my closest friends were highly amused by my surprise in discovering that my wife (and my arch nemesis) think I’m a know-it-all. Apparently they feel similarly. Finding myself in the position now where … Continue reading →

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May 27, 2013

There is a name brand on my zipper, and that is a problem.

Some of my students have become aware of my policy of not wearing any clothing that advertises a name brand. No stupid alligator where a breast pocket would be. No Abercrombie & Fitch splashed across my chest. No company name … Continue reading →

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May 15, 2013

There may be things that are fun to squeeze, but this umbrella ain’t one of them.

I don’t hate this new umbrella design. I just don’t think it solves an existing problem. I just don’t think people are suffering from an inability to text in the rain while holding an umbrella. But my real complaint is … Continue reading →

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May 1, 2013

Bigot? Hypocrite? Ignorant? All three?

ESPN commentator Chris Broussard does not consider NBA player Jason Collins to be a Christian because he is gay. He declares that Collins is living in “open rebellion” to God and Jesus Christ. I’m sure that Collins is devastated by … Continue reading →

Posted in Critic, Religion | 1 Comment
April 30, 2013

Is there be anything more tragic than a left handed kid stuck with a right handed baseball glove?

It just occurred to me this week: I am left handed. I am very clearly left handed. I have always been left handed. Yet the first baseball glove that my parents bought me as a child was for a right … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Critic | 2 Comments
April 25, 2013

A toddler bikini? I’m think I’m okay with that. A poorly written defense of the toddler bikini? I take great umbrage.

I did not like this piece by Jessica Grose in The Daily Beast defending the toddler bikini. I don’t like it at all.  I’m not quite sure how I feel about toddler bikinis. Honestly, I think I agree with Grose … Continue reading →

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April 9, 2013

The omnipresent coffee culture has officially jumped the shark

There are ten items in this “10 Tools For Success”  slide show from Jonathan Coleman. I’m not a fan of the slideshow in general. I think all ten items are fairly ridiculous. The slideshow is either designed to highlight Coleman’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Critic, Food and Drink | Leave a comment
April 8, 2013

Pixar’s bathroom. Eddie Van Halen’s M&Ms. Enough. We got it.

I’ve heard the story of Pixar’s bathrooms about a thousand times now. Enough. I get it. People peeing together make for great collaboration and great film. I’ve also heard the Van Halen brown M&M story a thousand times, too. Brown … Continue reading →

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