Lacking significance through having been overused; unoriginal and trite.
Mildly Amusing
Mildly Amusing

“If you can’t be a good example, at least try to become an interesting cautionary tale.”

Not sure what is exactly that Merlin Mann is up to, but he’s been posting words of wisdom on Github. Lots of gems.

  • People think about you much less than you either hope or fear.
  • Whenever you’re not sure what to say, either say nothing, or ask a question.
  • Never argue on the internet. No one will remember whether you won or lost the argument; they’ll just remember that you are the sort of person who argues on the internet.
  • Be sparing in how often you tell someone their negative feelings are wrong; it rarely helps a sad person to be told that they are also a liar.
  • Whatever your problem is, remember that before you can get better, you have to stop getting worse. Try first to stop getting worse.
  • Just because you know something doesn’t mean everybody knows it. Every day, somebody’s born who’s never seen The Flintstones.
  • Archive any email that’s older than 30 days. If it kills you to archive a given email, immediately turn it into a task, and then archive it.
  • Avoid any children’s movie whose theatrical trailer includes more than one fart or butt joke. That’s their idea of the best parts of the movie.
  • If you have cool stickers, use them. Put them on things. Be carelessly joyful about using your stickers. If you die with a collection of dozens of cool stickers that you never used, you did it wrong.
  • Related: food is for eating, heirlooms are for using, champagne is for drinking, and fancy clothes are for wearing. You are not a fucking docent, and the Pope is not coming to your house.
  • When you die, your family will be charged $100 for every time you’ve ever honked your car horn. I cannot tell you how I know this, but please just understand with all sober certainty how very important it is that you never again honk your car horn.

Pop (T)art(s)

From Wikipedia:

“Introduced in 1964 and initially called Fruit Scones, the name was soon changed to Pop-Tarts as a pun on the then popular Pop Art movement.”

(File under “things learned watching Jeopardy!)

The Sears Wishbook

I had a lot of these toys so this is not me complaining, but one of my funniest Christmas memories is my stepmom handing me one of these and telling me to circle everything I wanted for Christmas. I went to town, greedily circling every item imaginable. That holiday morning, I believe I received exactly zero of the things I had circled. In retrospect, she was getting me to settle down and be quiet for a bit, which, yah, totally understand.

Coyote V. Acme

Another New Yorker piece, in which Wile E. Coyote files suit against the Acme Corporation:

ACME

“Mr. Coyote states that on December 13th he received of Defendant via parcel post one Acme Rocket Sled. The intention of Mr. Coyote was to use the Rocket Sled to aid him in pursuit of his prey. Upon receipt of the Rocket Sled Mr. Coyote removed it from its wooden shipping crate and, sighting his prey in the distance, activated the ignition. As Mr. Coyote gripped the handlebars, the Rocket Sled accelerated with such sudden and precipitate force as to stretch Mr. Coyote’s forelimbs to a length of fifty feet. Subsequently, the rest of Mr. Coyote’s body shot forward with a violent jolt, causing severe strain to his back and neck and placing him unexpectedly astride the Rocket Sled. Disappearing over the horizon at such speed as to leave a diminishing jet trail along its path, the Rocket Sled soon brought Mr. Coyote abreast of his prey. At that moment the animal he was pursuing veered sharply to the right. Mr. Coyote vigorously attempted to follow this maneuver but was unable to, due to poorly designed steering on the Rocket Sled and a faulty or nonexistent braking system. Shortly thereafter, the unchecked progress of the Rocket Sled brought it and Mr. Coyote into collision with the side of a mesa.”

(Via Kottke)

A Conversation at the Grownup Table, as Imagined at the Kids’ Table

By Simon Rich

Mom: Pass the wine, please. I want to become crazy.

Dad: O.K.

Grandmother: Did you see the politics? It made me angry.

Dad: Me, too. When it was over, I had sex.

Uncle: I’m having sex right now.

Dad: We all are.

Mom: Let’s talk about which kid I like the best.

Dad: (laughing) You know, but you won’t tell.

Mom: If they ask me again, I might tell.

Friend from Work: Hey, guess what! My voice is pretty loud!

Dad: (laughing) There are actual monsters in the world, but when my kids ask I pretend like there aren’t.

Mom: I’m angry! I’m angry all of a sudden!

Dad: I’m angry, too! We’re angry at each other!

Mom: Now everything is fine.

Dad: We just saw the PG-13 movie. It was so good.

Mom: There was a big sex.

Friend from Work: I am the loudest! I am the loudest!

(Everybody laughs.)

Mom: I had a lot of wine, and now I’m crazy!

Grandfather: Hey, do you guys know what God looks like?

All: Yes.

Grandfather: Don’t tell the kids.