I don't think we'd all agree that, actually. Part of informed decision-making is the acceptance that there is a possibility of unintended outcomes. By taking an action we are accepting the possibly unwanted outcome. If I invest in a particular fund, I am not intending to obligate myself to lose money, but I will…

Point well made. There's certainly a more even-keeled choice between "Fuck off!" and "here, let me indulge you!" I think RuthSlayderGinsburg had a snappy comeback in "I don't teach feminist kindergarten."

That's exactly what it is. Ugh.

Oh my god, that's AMAZING! I've always wanted to do a small room in some sort of typographical or literary wall treatment and that sounds amazing. Romance novels usually have pretty colorful covers so I'd imagine it's quite the sight!

It's interesting how broadly interpreted her distinction and group is here — I and a lot of others read it as pretty explicit in enunciating "derail trolls" as a very specific group of question-askers who ask very specific questions in very specific ways. That's the group being told to shove off. I thought she made…

Dogs are wonderful. Fabulous, gorgeous creatures. So are cats. They are also not human. Far be it from me to tell someone NOT to include their beloved pet in their ceremony, and that's not my intention, but please understand you're doing it for yourself. If it makes you happy to have your dog in your wedding, or…

OK, the hydra-bird-flipping Queen has me in stitches. This is going in the archive!

Definitely the appropriate response.

As someone funnier than I succinctly stated a few articles back, "Evolutionary psychology is modern-day phrenology."

Fair! I think the "he must be fucking with me" option also arises, though, and for me it arises a lot faster than "he's cheating on me!" I've also never found out I'm being cheated on... so there's that.

Today I learned: most people think the end of "I haven't been completely honest with you..." must be some sort of horrific, life-ending jawdropper that they are languishing in hell until the other shoe drops. I've seen people compare it to pretending someone's been murdered, or pretending someone's house is on fire. …

I'm glad this exists for all who want and need it; it always sucks to accidentally traumatize one's child / self with needless pet death.

I know your comment is a few days old by now, but seriously — Cook's Country and America's Test Kitchen are appointment watching for me. I have extended fantasies about being one of their test cooks and getting into all sorts of food-related shenanigans with them. It's kind of like Good Eats, only less…

THANK YOU! There was that commercial he did awhile ago for... Bud Light? Sprite? Where he wanders into a club looking like somebody's dad came to pick them up.

They're "medicinal edibles." But I totally had the same reaction — why is this article re: marijuana accompanied by a photo of a bowl of The Last Emperor's turdlets?

That's a very good point. There is inevitably a counter movement to this proposed law and it'd be useful to know about that so interested parties could support the counter movement.

At 10:30 on a Friday, I am all for both giggling and optimism.

Doug, do you also have the Merriam-Webster Word-of-the-Day calendar?! Chatelaine was WotD recently.

I agree it's a poor starting point, but I think that would be the first impulse of many readers when hearing about legislation regarding "black magic" in a foreign country. That's why I wanted to draw the parallel between the way the US legislates based on superstition and religion and remind myself and others that…

I think this is, in general, true — look at the tortured "logic" that Prop 8 defenders had to use in making their court case because our society, at least at a judicial level, has rejected superstition as a legal justification.