February 14, 2014
Happy Valentine's Day
[Thanks to Peg Bowen]...
December 16, 2013
WOW -- World of Words
How appropriate that at our event, The Wonderful World of Words, we played WOW -- World of Words. The fourth and final of the four word games we played has the simplest of rules. If you see this video, you'll...
December 04, 2013
Oddly Obvious
Imagine the clue to a crossword entry is: "A cow with no legs." Or another clue is: "A turtle without a shell." Any answers come to mind? Would you be confident? When you are solving a crossword, you usually have...
October 31, 2013
Dabble
Every November, a group of word fanatics congregate at Mohonk Mountain House for Will Shortz’s Wonderful World of Words weekend. On Saturday afternoons, we play word games, and the group that selects what we play tries to find newish word-oriented...
December 12, 2012
Penguins Are Awesome
Make sure your sound is on....
May 07, 2012
How Have I Lived So Long Without a Monkey
[Thanks to Andrew Sullivan]...
March 30, 2012
Bad Day, Good Day
At least it was a happy ending....
February 23, 2012
The Myth of the Eight-Hour Sleep
For centuries, folks went to sleep soon after dusk, slept for about four hours, and then woke up for a couple of hours, and then go back to sleep for another four. Today, we would call this insomnia. Maybe they...
January 12, 2012
Jeff Harris: Self-Portraits Extraordinaire
January 10, 2012
The Pathway of an Amazon Order
Thanks to My Name Is Not Matt...
November 07, 2011
Even If I Weren't a Penguin Fanatic...
I could still not resist: [Thanks to Michael Feldman]...
October 10, 2011
14 [More] Wonderful Words with No English Equivalents
From Mental Floss...
August 21, 2011
Google Gravity
Good clean fun. [Thanks to Gin Petty]...
August 08, 2011
Want a Free Starbucks Coffee?
Or perhaps a better question is: Want to participate in a social experiment?...
August 01, 2011
REAL Monopoly
What's a new cause worth supporting? World Hunger? The environment? No? How about following the darn rules of Monopoly?...
July 05, 2011
What the Fireworks Saw
May 29, 2011
Advice for Young Journalists
Good advice from Nate Silver, creator of FiveThirtyEight....
April 16, 2011
Penguins Prevail!
[Thanks to Michael Feldman]...
February 10, 2011
Chow Daddy!
January 24, 2011
A Unique Selling Proposition
December 23, 2010
Merry Digital Christmas!
December 05, 2010
Life
[Thanks to Leon Lively]...
October 11, 2010
Man Vs. Dog
[Thanks to Michael Feldman]...
September 12, 2010
Pennies
I don't care that much about whether pennies and nickels should be banned. This guy does: [Thanks to Freakonomics]...
May 11, 2010
Sioux City Rocks
Sort of. [Thanks to Michael Feldman]...
May 02, 2010
Timm Gunn Critiques Superhero Costumes
Is Batman Fashion Forward?...
April 29, 2010
Maybe I Shouldn't Have Bought a Macbook...
...and invested my money directly in Apple?...
April 18, 2010
Edible Flags
Courtesy of Flavorwire: [Thanks to Jeremy Osner]...
April 12, 2010
A Passionate Defense of the Hyena
Someone besides us has to do it....
March 13, 2010
Penguin Couple Pose for Photograph
Penguins Prevail! [Thanks to John Di Bartolo]...
March 10, 2010
Who Drives Better, Men or Women?
It's complicated....
February 25, 2010
Why Won't Anyone Clean Me?
Hear the desperate cry of your refrigerator....
February 15, 2010
The Symphony of Science
February 14, 2010
The Top 43 Sexiest Presidents
According to the editors of Nerve: Who knew Zachary Taylor was such a hunk?...
February 11, 2010
Jim Parsons for a Good Cause
With Zach Selwyn singing....
February 02, 2010
Can't We All Just Get Along?
December 31, 2009
5 Cats That Look Like Wilford Brimley
There weren't ten?...
October 30, 2009
Is This Cute Or What?
Introducing the nudibranch, courtesy of FU Penguin....
September 02, 2009
Eyewitness Clothes
Who needs Brooks Brothers or Ann Taylor?...
August 16, 2009
Rat Musicians
Blow, rodents, blow. [Thanks to Mark Evanier]...
Rat Musicians
Blow, rodents, blow. [Thanks to Mark Evanier]...
June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day
Well, maybe not for everyone. I wish everyone had a cool father, like Mark Evanier's....
Why Do Doctors Wear White Coats?
And Are they unsafe?...
June 07, 2009
Why Are More Females Elected in Male-Dominated Districts?
Nate Silver doesn't know, but he lays out the stats, which are fascinating....
February 06, 2009
A Charitable Note
With the recession, many charities are facing a pinch. That's why we urge you, if the heart prompts, not to neglect the recipients of the good work of the Childhood Goat Trauma Foundation....
December 24, 2008
Hobbymasters
We don't usually run ads on this site, but exceptions must be made:...
December 06, 2008
Art in the Eye of a Needle
Micro-art extraordinaire. [Thanks to Peg Bowen]...
December 05, 2008
How Can You Tell a Male Polar Bear from a Female Polar Bear?
With great difficulty, evidently....
November 26, 2008
A Penguin Thanksgiving
[Thanks to Andrew Sullivan]...
November 23, 2008
What Is the Value of a Big Bonus?
According to economist Dan Ariely, author of Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, not much. Keep that in mind the next time executives requesting a bailout assert that huge bonuses are required to attract top talent....
November 13, 2008
Does Anyone Ever Respond To Spam?
Very, very few. Like one in every 12-1/2 million. So why do spamsters bother? Money. Money. Money....
November 08, 2008
Puppies!
The latest in live streams. [Thanks to Newton Caldwell]...
November 06, 2008
You Can't Keep a Good Shrimp Down
[Thanks to John DiBartolo]...
October 13, 2008
Awwwww Alert
It's from Gawker, so it's not without snark, but take a look at the photos right here: [Thanks to Jeremy Osner]...
September 19, 2008
The Ninja Cat
No one is safe....
June 29, 2008
How Much Is a Handful?
Some folks, including this amateur cook, are mystified by how vague some cookbooks are about quantities of ingredients to put into recipes. In his most recent blog post, cookbook writer extraordinaire David Lebovitz explains the dilemmas from the other side....
June 20, 2008
Cursive Buildings
Dave Friedman writes: This guy takes old stereogram photos and combines them into a single image that quickly goes back and forth between them......
June 10, 2008
FREE! FREE! FREE!
No, we're not giving anything away for free, but if you hate paying exorbitant fees for directory assistance, and aren't familiar with GOOG411, how does free sound to you? And if you aren't near your Imponderables collection and want a...
June 07, 2008
The Evolution of Tech Logos
Neatorama strikes again....
June 05, 2008
Presidential Facial Hair
One website that is probably happy that Hillary Clinton didn't win the nomination. [Thanks to The Daily Dish]...
May 25, 2008
Optical Illusions
If you like them, as I do, may I commend Illusion Sciences?...
May 05, 2008
Fun with Google Maps
What with the price of gas and all, perhaps a nice long drive isn't the greatest idea. That hasn't stopped one intrepid blogger from finding the longest routes on Google Maps (be sure and read the comments from readers, too)....
April 29, 2008
My Favorite Feline
I'm a dog person, but this is my kind of cat. [Thanks to Terry Joseph]...
April 21, 2008
Rube Goldberg Would Be Proud
[Thanks to Joel Derfner]...
April 15, 2008
How Many Cannibals Could Your Body Feed?
I can feed 17. [Thanks to Michael Feldman]...
March 18, 2008
The Shorty Complex
Are short people truly more insecure about their height? Researchers in Spain and the Netherlands weigh in....
March 16, 2008
Starlings on Otmoor
February 24, 2008
I'm Alive...
and on vacation. I haven't spent so little time online in a long time. I've taken a bit of a break on the blog, but thought I'd share this story from the New York Times about the reaction of Japan...
February 06, 2008
Six Degrees?
Does the theory of "Six Degrees of Separation" work in practice?...
November 20, 2007
What's Your Walk Score?
One of the things I love about my apartment's location in New York is despite the massive population density, for me it's a little like living in a small town in Europe. Almost everything I need is within easy walking...
October 18, 2007
Book Autopsies
Actually, there's a lot of cool stuff on Centripetal Nation, but Brian Dettmer's work takes the cake. Depending on where you live, you might be able to see Dettmer's work in person. [Thanks to Ruth Bavetta]...
October 15, 2007
Catalog Choice
It's that time of year -- our mailboxes are clogged with mail-order catalogs: wanted and unwanted. How do you get rid of the unwanted catalogs? Along comes a new website to the rescue, attempting to do for catalogs what the...
August 11, 2007
Jessica the Pet Hippo
This hippo has a dog's life. [Thanks to Ruth Bavetta]...
June 05, 2007
Dancing with the Nag
Give this horse a reality show....
May 24, 2007
Is This the Cutest Cow in the World?
Ree thinks so. [Thanks to Monkling]...
March 27, 2007
My Latest Addiction
Glide Cool Mint Floss tastes just like the stuff my dental hygienist used to apply to my teeth after bruising and poking my gums into a bloody pulp. Honestly, I think I would use Cool Mint even if flossing weren't...
March 24, 2007
Theater Brings Out the Best in Everyone
Smackdown, arty-style!...
March 17, 2007
Vern Fonk
When I think of insurance, Vern is on my mind. Here's why....
March 10, 2007
Quote of the Day
"I'm down to a little more than a billion. You can get by on that if you really economize and don't buy a lot of planes and yachts and stuff." - Ted Turner on CNBC's "High Net Worth"...
March 05, 2007
Great Customer Service
Joel Spolsky, major domo at Fog Creek Software, tells it like it is....
February 19, 2007
What's Become of Me?
First, I laughed at this YouTube video, which I couldn't defend in Aesthetics Court. And then I went and opened up a MySpace page. I get a kick out of YouTube, but I haven't warmed up to MySpace. My sole...
February 06, 2007
Sitting Pretty
The ultimate in modular seating....
January 18, 2007
Bird Formations
You don't have to be an ornithologist to enjoy these birds. [Thanks to Joanne Pavia]...
January 17, 2007
Say It Isn't So!
Woodsy Owl's extreme makeover...
January 08, 2007
How Small Are We?
Very, very small....
January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
May all your Imponderables in 2007 be minuscule ones....
December 29, 2006
100 Things We Didn't Know Last Year
And in some cases, didn't know even in 2006. [Thanks to Uday Ivatury]...
December 09, 2006
Cats Got Your Computer?
Relief is on the way....
December 07, 2006
My Christmas Gift To You
The Holiday Party Excuse Generator. [Thanks to Joanne Pavia]...
December 05, 2006
The Toothpick Trick
Do try this at home....
November 22, 2006
One-Page Wonders
Very cool artwork....
November 20, 2006
It's Magic
What's more fun than deftly executed close-up magic? Not much. Mark Evanier links to a great video of the master card manipulator, Whit Haydn....
November 12, 2006
When do we lose our taste for the new?
Adults: Do you find yourself listening to the same music you did when you were a teenager. Or in your 20s? Do you find yourself resistant to trying new foods? If so, you are not alone. Neurobiologist Robert M. Sapolsky...
November 10, 2006
Dull Men's Club
These are my soulmates. This site revels in National Fig Month (you do know that this is National Fig Month, don't you?). It studies the direction in which carousels around the world rotate. And it includes a book review section...
November 06, 2006
Two Burning Questions
Will the Democrats take over the U.S. Senate? And more importantly, Will It Blend? [thanks to Michael Feldman]...
August 17, 2006
Latte Art
What you don't get at Starbucks......
August 15, 2006
The Age Gauge
Wanna feel old? Then here you go....
August 10, 2006
Hair Makes the Woman
Imagine taking a photo of your face in the same position every day for three years, and then assembling a video of each photo in quick succession. That's what Ahree Lee has done in less than one minute's worth of...
July 05, 2006
Ice Chewers of the World, Unite!
Here's your place on the Web....
July 04, 2006
Be a Phil
On this July Fourth, please, please, please don't be a Mr. Bungle. [Thanks to Mark Evanier]...
July 03, 2006
The Best Way To Celebrate Independence Day
With cats that look like Hitler, of course. [thanks to Mary Yelenick]...
June 26, 2006
Bugs on Parade
Stunning photography, although perhaps not for the phobic. [Thanks to Gin Petty]...
June 22, 2006
The Hitler vs. Coulter Quiz
Harder than you'd think. [Thanks to Jerilyn Dufresne]...
June 14, 2006
The Lyrebird
Why Do Pirates Love Parrots? is going to have a chapter about why birds mimic sounds. Sometimes, guys just want to hook up. [Thanks to Debbie Puente]...
June 13, 2006
How Will You Die?
In my case, it's natural causes, and I'm pretty happy about it. How about you? [Thanks to Jerilyn Dufresne]...
June 12, 2006
The Extreme Diet Coke & Mentos Experiments
Science at its best. [Thanks to Steve "Wookie" Houle]...
June 11, 2006
Chef Boyardee
In the City section of the New York Times, the F.Y.I. column answers questions with a New York slant. Today, an anonymous reader asks if it is true that Chef Boyardee once worked at the Plaza Hotel in New York....
April 19, 2006
One Top 100 List I'm Proud Not To Be On
The 100 Unsexiest Men in the World....
April 06, 2006
Don't Try This at Home
Or even in Paris....
April 01, 2006
One Down, One To Go
I'm proud and mostly relieved to say that I won't be going to Phantom of the Opera. The prospect of interacting with the music and pageantry of Andrew Lloyd Weber was enough to inspire me to lose 15 pounds in...
March 19, 2006
Think It's Easy Being a Baby Octopus?
Au contraire!...
Juggling
This guy is good. For a few shorter movies, go here. [Thanks to Paul Fryd]...
March 10, 2006
Animal Love
There's more going on in Florida than Spring Break. Here's the feel-good story of the week....
March 04, 2006
Gardens in a Petri
Science meets art. [Thanks to Gin Petty]...
February 01, 2006
Hikikomori
Because of my slavish work on the next book (I whimper in martyr-like mewling), I missed this fascinating article by Maggie Jones in the New York Times Magazine about a peculiar phenomenon: Hundreds of thousands of Japanese teenagers and young...
January 22, 2006
Role Models of the Week
The snake and the hamster....
January 03, 2006
My New Year's Resolution
In How To Win At Just About Everything, I wrote a chapter entitled "How To Win at Losing Weight," which detailed a system that had helped me lose weight. Twice, I used what I called the "Penalty Diet" to motivate...
December 20, 2005
Facts On Farts
The Fart FAQ...
November 06, 2005
Where I've Been
Here's where I spent my weekend: and here's why I was there: The Wonderful World of Words (you can view the PDF file of the program). Next year will be the twenty-fifth and final WWoW weekends, created by the illustrious...
October 13, 2005
Find a Human!
You're the customer. Talk to a homo sapien. [Thanks to Brian Rose]...
July 29, 2005
Mark Evanier on Hold
The hell that is "on hold" with customer support is chronicled in real time in yesteday's entry at Mark's wonderful site, News from Me. (Be sure and read from the bottom up, as Mark's entries are time-stamped). Yesterday, the villain...
July 27, 2005
Multitasking of the Highest Magnitude
Combining two of my favorite things. It's not too early to prepare for April, 2006. [Thanks to Michael Feldman}...
July 01, 2005
The Slingbox
Please, someone, stop me!...
June 14, 2005
I'm Alive
Honest. But I'm on vacation, from my home and blogging. Be patient. I'll be back in a few days and will have some Imponderables-related news to report....
April 09, 2005
Think You've Outwitted the Snooze Alarm?
Clocky has your number....
March 20, 2005
Off To Parts West
I'm going to be on the road for the next two weeks. I might not be able to update the blog quite as much as usual. Later this week, I'm going to be on three panels at the national Popular...
February 19, 2005
The Crackers
Ooooh. Food and art....
The Somerville Gates
Christo hogs all the publicity. By an astonishing coincidence, while the mainstream media is all atwitter about the installation in Central Park in Manhattan, another worthy artistic endeavor is being unjustly ignored....
February 07, 2005
Need an Effective Monitor Cleaning?
I don't usually endorse products, but... Thanks to Mudge for the tip....
January 28, 2005
Weight-Loss Breakthrough!
I knew I fidgeted for a good reason....
January 14, 2005
Off to Boston...
this weekend for the semiannual meeting of the American Library Association. I'll be signing copies of my new book for librarians. Behave while I'm away....
December 31, 2004
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
And may all your Imponderables in 2005 be little ones....
October 01, 2004
Dave's Tip o' the Day
Don't spill hundreds of loose coins on a hardwood floor. Just a little, uh, theoretical suggestion....