Archive for July 2015
THE GREATEST APP RECOMMENDATION OF ALL TIME: Wakie
Brace yourselves for the greatest app recommendation that you may ever receive: Wakie, the world’s first social alarm clock. The new app, available on iPhone and Android, replaces the generic alarm clock with a friendly wake-up call from a stranger somewhere around the globe. Sign up, submit your phone number, and register as either a “Sleepy”…
Read MoreSome fun facts are just facts
Sorry, LEGO. This fact is not fun in any way.
Read MoreThere are so many things wrong with this sign.
The capitalization of Do and Not is terrible. Of course. I despise random and inaccurate capitalization. The lack of punctuation is forgivable but still annoying as hell. But it’s the existence of the sign that bothers me the most. Why taint a perfectly good table with a sign asking patrons not to move it and the…
Read MoreNaked clog fighting. Let me say that again: NAKED CLOG FIGHTING.
This existed. It was real. You’re welcome. “From such beginnings sprang the combat sport of clog fighting, or ‘purring’ as it was known in Lancashire. An illegal sport, purring involved two men kicking each other until one admitted defeat or blood was drawn. Sometimes the men were naked, and there was also a variation in which…
Read MoreA restroom puzzle: How exactly is this configuration of toilets supposed to work?
Could someone please explain the restroom configuration to me? I stepped into the restroom, wondering if I should lock the door. I planned on using one of the urinals, so should I have left the door unlocked in the event another man entered, wanting use of the other urinal? That seemed to make sense, but what if the…
Read MoreWatching “Jaws” while floating in a murky pond at night helps explain why storytelling continues to gain in popularity
I’m often asked why storytelling has become so popular. Why do 500 or more people wrap around the block in hopes of getting inside a bookstore that can only hold 300 people in order to hear ten strangers tell stories? There are a few reasons, but this photo speaks to one of them: Storytelling is…
Read MoreWhy I choose to write in McDonald’s
Two old, Italian guys are sitting in a booth beside me at McDonald’s. FIRST GUY: Leo, where were you? I thought you were going to take me to Avon today. SECOND GUY: I was. But then I got into my car and fell asleep. FIRST GUY (with complete sincerity): God. Damn. I hate when that happens. This is…
Read MoreSticks & Stones made it to the stage! I could not have done it alone.
On Sunday, I had the joy of watching my latest musical, Sticks & Stones, performed at a summer camp in central Connecticut. It’s the story of a group of middle school students coming to terms with the parts of their bodies and the parts of their lives that they like least. As a novelist and…
Read MoreFive important questions to ask about a religion before joining (or choosing to remain a member)
On a recent episode of Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, comedian Kurt Metzger explains how he evaluates a religion by asking three questions: How much does it cost? Does God do the killing or will I be required to kill on his behalf? Do I need to stay in the religion for Mom or Dad, and what…
Read MoreWould you share your toothbrush with a loved one? Or anyone?
There are two kinds of people in the world: People who are willing to share their toothbrush and those who are not. The people willing to share are generally better people. Perhaps not as wise or prudent, but better. More trusting and generous and relaxed. I would share my toothbrush with my wife, my children, and almost…
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