I've been enjoying the Sundance channel series Spectacle: Elvis Costello With.... It's an interview show in which Costello traces the careers and musical influences of his guests, which so far have included Sir Elton John, Renee Fleming, Herbie Hancock, The Police, and others. Even better, Costello ...

February 28th is Rare Disease Day. The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) is the U.S. coordinator, working together with EURORDIS in Europe and other organizations around the world to raise public awareness of rare disorders. Not every disorder listed by NORD is rare in the strictest se...

Dear Everybody on the Internet* In the course of composing a blog comment, you may find yourself typing the following words: “I’m sorry, but�; “I’m not trying to _____, but�; "I'm not a _____, but"; or similar constructions. Should this happen, then I have news for you: you are not sorry...

I watched some Bravo teevee again yesterday and saw what I believe to be either an Electrolux commercial or the trailer for a horror movie—possibly entitled Children of the Backlash—starring Kelly Ripa: A transcript is unnecessary; most of the voice-over is Ripa rhapsodizing about the virtues of...

Yesterday was my birthday, and I got the best cake ever. Still, I take any excuse to cook or bake, so I also made a cake. I can’t compete with chocolate-jimmy chest hair, but there was a flavor-combination I’d been meaning to try, so off to the kitchen I went. Last Spring, I was at a first commu...

Okay, I was sitting here writing Something Completely Different when Melissa’s Quote of the Day appeared. Then my partner L. came home with a ridiculous tale of how Dr. S., a urologist who often has lunch in one of the restaurants L. manages, laughed at him and called him a “sissy� for eating ...

This short Chemistry dot com spot is running on the Bravo network lately (transcript below): Woman: I promise to take out the recycling, even though I think you're way better at it. Man: I promise never to take myself too seriously. Isn't it time you found great chemistry with someone? Take our pers...