Even if they aren’t always followed, New Year’s resolutions are a ritual for many of us. What’s more, year after year, Americans tend to resolve to do the same things they resolved to do the year before, probably because when we made our resolutions the previous year we stuck to our guns through mid-February, but […]

What’s really nice is when the Internet allows for a little armchair activism. I say that without a trace of cynicism in my voice because, with most people chained to their desks all day every day, armchair activism is all any of us have a chance to do before going home and crashing into bed. […]

It’s a well-established fact that the holidays can be depressing and stressful. So, if you’re feeling the seasonal pressure, suffering from holiday shopping crowd-related claustrophobia and finding it difficult to meaningfully commune with anything aside from your computer screen, and that in turn is making you more depressed, may I suggest a brief Lolcat intermission? […]

There is no doubt that there are some things that the Internet is very good for: gossip, news, pointless games, funny videos, research tools. One thing I have never really thought that the Internet was very good for was art. I stand corrected. The latest project from artist, designer and computer scientist Jonathan Harris (known […]

A friend helpfully pointed out to me the other night that I am, beyond any doubt, the most utterly nerdy example of uncoolness. I recommend this website to you with his words ringing in my ears. BibliOdyssey is without a doubt a nerdy website, but it is also a treasure trove of human accomplishment and […]

I used to be a fan of Slate. Not so much anymore. It’s gotten to the point where I can have a stupid conversation with a friend and end up thinking that, with the right headline, the conversation could become a 3,000-word Slate tirade. "How Patchouli Came to be the Scent of a Subculture," for […]

It’s a bit embarrassing for me to admit that sometimes I much prefer reading the Internet to reading a good, old-fashioned book, or even a chapter of a book. I suppose this means I have become what my parents and their friends fear. No doubt I am scary, but in my defense, allow me to […]

I don’t know about everyone else out there, but I was totally thrilled that Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize. Talk about one hell of a decade that man has lived. Good God. I was sitting in a coffee shop when I read the news of the award and I was so touched and […]

You know how whenever people are asked what they are looking for in a mate, more often than not at the top of that list is something along the lines of "has to make me laugh"? I certainly fall into that segment of the population, and this has forced me to pointlessly ponder the following […]

The best gifts are always those that you didn’t ask for. For example, that set of pots and pans is great, but really it’s every time you wear that cashmere sweater that you feel like you’re opening up a present all over again. I would say that the website The Edge is similar to this […]