The origins of the word "chaos" are surprising (well, let me clarify that by saying, "The origins of the word 'chaos' are surprising if you are a... More >>

To paraphrase John Kerry, you can be very certain about something and still be very wrong. This has been bothering me for quite some time.... More >>

My grandfather had the enviable experience of seeing Marilyn Monroe's panties. As a crew member for 20th Century Fox, he was the person who held... More >>

Anyone who believes in Intelligent Design has never experienced natural childbirth. After huffing and heaving and moaning for 36 hours, my... More >>

I am the proud owner of a Nichelle Nichols CD (Lt. Uhura from Star Trek). Nichols putting out a record is not that big of a stretch, because... More >>

When a fly rubs its, er, "hands" together, it is not being Machiavellian. It is, in fact, the insect's way of cleaning itself, no doubt... More >>

Owls are bulbous and therefore one of the cutest animals we've got. They look like Keane paintings of birds, with huge eyes, fat, feathery feet,... More >>

Yes, I know that pirates are so 2003, so goddamn Eggers, but they've been on my mind a lot lately so bear with me. I have been spending time in... More >>

Social scientists say that it is rare for a person to move from one class to another; people generally stay in their income/status bracket for... More >>

It's not often that you can meet a German in a Latin club and talk about the Nazis, but I guess I was just lucky. "Birgit" was more than happy to... More >>