Category Archives: Factoids

And only recently did I catch an NPR piece about the Danish company’s comeback too! We dropped by Austin’s only one at Barton Creek Mall (one store over from Apple) because Somara wanted to get a new case for her … Continue reading →

The built-in safe which came with our room in Las Vegas was a minor source of irritation…when the door was closed, we couldn’t remove the key in order to protect the valuables we left behind. It was so small anyway, … Continue reading →

Artist Alex Varanese did this funny series of contemporary products being marketed and sold by time travelers to the residents of 1977. In order to make it accessible to our past selves and ancestors, the solid-colored, smooth anodized metals are replaced … Continue reading →

When I’m writing for Picayune, I frequently have another window open in my browser on webster.com. I love to use the site to assist me on spelling, definitions and synonyms. As a speaker of the American dialect of English, I … Continue reading →

This weekend may be America’s 234th anniversary (the concept of a new nation, the US isn’t really formalized until the Constitution was ratified by the majority of states) but beyond having a three-day weekend, it’s also when Lucky Brand Jeans … Continue reading →

This “magical” blanket I heard about today would’ve come in handy during my stint in the dorms with Paul or during the legendary English class incident.

Before the Internet made so much ubiquitous, you knew a slang term was worn out when your parents or a Prime Time show used the term. Now this columnist from the Guardian proposes its retirement. That would be too good … Continue reading →

I will have to try these out with my Japanese co-workers, see if they’re accurate or still used. Somewhere buried in the slew of boxes tucked away for Operation: Alexandria (soon to be happening again) is a book I bought … Continue reading →

With all the cutbacks in the SCLM, here’s a nice glaring example of what happens when the copyeditors are axed. High five to my friend Bryant for finding this.

One hazard with written communication in my profession and personal life is tone. When I was a big, geeky letter writer as a teenager, this wasn’t much of an issue with all the correspondence between my friends and me; we … Continue reading →

For years, I have always been given compliments for a hilarious Christmas card I gave back in 1995…well, hilarious to non-Christians and Christians with a sense of humor (who are the majority despite the noisy born-again Christo-Fascists). Sacrilegious? Probably. Blasphemous? … Continue reading →

To quote Somara’s least favorite Wonderpet, Ming Ming, “This is serious!” Actually, it’s probably not. I’m with my friend Jeremy who invited me to lunch at Whataburger today…the drive to save the Thick n’ Hearty burger (two patties with a … Continue reading →

The UK’s Guardian does another funny series of pictures showing the contrast between food advertisements and the reality when you purchase said products. You may get an additional chuckle at one of them if you notice the brand name because … Continue reading →