Apparently this was first done on SCTV (and of course both were based on the great Abbott and Costello bit), but if you're about my age, you probably first saw this gag here.

EDIT (08/04/06): The letter was printed today. I'm not thrilled with how the first section was changed. My point wasn't to rail against the Democrats per se, but to show that both major parties suck at basic economic policy (and running the country).

To the Democrats: Every time you increase the minimum wage (or, in economic terms, raise the price ( Read more... )

Let's see, the past month has consisted of, chronologically:

-- Being hired as a reference librarian at Indiana University Northwest. This is only marginally exciting in that it is only for seven hours a week, which also means I have to try to find another job to fill the time. There's an orchard near my house that's hiring. Fun ( Read more... )

EDIT (06/29/06): I've decided which piece I wanted to use, but I'd still like to hear which one you like better or would choose in my situation.

David Boaz of The Cato Institute is inviting me to interview as well as offering to take me to a couple of other libertarian organizations that are looking for writers. While there are no guarantees, it ( Read more... )

Every time I hear from a random high school classmate (i.e., one I've never heard from after graduating for years up until that point) through my journal, a profile, or whatever, I'm genuinely surprised that they liked me enough to bother to contact me ( Read more... )

I have had upwards of forty columns, commentaries, and letters edited by various editors. Sometimes the changes were subtle, but I understood them and often preferred them. Sometimes there were pretty significant cuts, but those were usually for space, and hence were understandable as well. However, I can't ever remember writing something and ( Read more... )

Hey, look, the world didn't end. Imagine that.

Dallas Mavericks: Western Conference Champions.

Wow.

If you're a basketball fan, I bet you'd never have expected to hear that ten years ago.

Hell, given those Don Nelson teams, you probably wouldn't have expected to hear that three years ago.

Go Mavs!

Chipotle is the antithesis of McDonald's. Chipotle's menu is simple, straightforward, and uncluttered. McDonald's seemingly believes if every slot on their menu isn't filled with a food item, they're not trying hard enough. The result is that while McDonald's does just about everything mediocre at best, Chipotle's food is all quite good. McDonald's ( Read more... )

I can't wait for the day that people like Danica Patrick and Bill Lester are simply race car drivers and not news stories or social movements.

That will be real progress.