Mike Pilewski writes about life, politics and culture in the United States
The cold, wet weather that lasted into the early part of August didn’t provide much of an incentive to go outdoors. Fortunately, however, this year has offered some very interesting reality TV. In January and February I found myself watching what I call the Egypt show, a touching soap opera that was on every night. That series ended with a … >>
Three times in one week, the world almost ended. Joplin, Missouri was wiped out by a tornado on Sunday. Our sympathies go to the residents, some of whom are known to our staff. In California, an 89-year-old Bible enthusiast had predicted the Rapture for the day before. Afterwards, he said he was “flabbergasted” that this didn’t happen. He’s now rescheduled … >>
I have to say the news hasn’t been good lately. In fact, it’s been so bad that only one thing can help. That thing is Auto-Tune. Auto-Tune is software that can correct anyone’s singing voice to give it perfect pitch. Music producers use it on a large percentage of pop and especially R&B singers, many of whom would seem rather … >>
Our hero has crash-landed on an alien planet! Spaceman Spiff crawls from the smoking wreckage of his ship, but he is soon captured by hideous creatures. Their leader — an octopus with the head of an insect — tells him, “You have knowledge we need. Cooperate, and we’ll kill you rather painlessly.” “What is it you want from me?” Spiff … >>
Well, the iPad’s been on sale — depending on where you live — for a couple of weeks now. Much has been made of the things it can do (such as be operated by cats and two-year-olds) and the things it can’t (such as multitask and display countless websites that use Flash). But only now are we hearing the question … >>
Who’s the person you’d most like to have dinner with, if you had the chance? There are lots of world leaders, famous actresses and authors who’d be on the list, I’m sure. But I’d choose Yakov Smirnoff, because he’d be the most entertaining. I did finally meet the Russian-American comedian last weekend. Well, not really; it was his double. (You … >>
There are times when I just can’t read the news. It’s too depressing. There is some value in knowing, I suppose, that California is better equipped to handle earthquakes than northern Mexico, or that the price of energy in China and West Virginia may sometimes include human lives, or that a major church might be full of pedophiles. But often … >>
Going to a gym has many obvious benefits, but also some that are not obvious. For example, at my gym you can watch six television screens, each showing a different channel, at the same time. It’s something I can’t do at home. So there I was the other night, dividing my attention between news reports about Iran and my favorite … >>
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” wrote one of America’s great philosophers, Benjamin Franklin, in 1789. In our time, conservative populists have often tried to prove him wrong. It’s an easy way to get votes: tell people their government is stealing from them and needs to be replaced. “It’s your money” is … >>