About an hour ago, a play handed me my ass. “Here you go,” it said, “have your ass.” In this case, “ass handed” means inspired, galvanized, surprised and moved. It reminded me why I love theater. Here’s the thing–this show, the one I just saw, I shouldn’t have liked it. It’s not for me. It’s about the [...]

Have you guys been reading some of the crazy blogs about dating on this site?  I mean, sexting, sponsored international travel, smooching on the brother of the guy you met on an online dating website for people seeking sugar daddies. Hot damn. I can’t hold a candle to that. Not even gonna try. You know [...]

An Open Letter to Women Coming of Age in the Time of Twilight About two years ago, I wrote an open letter to boys becoming men in the age of Twilight.  I sought to prepare them for the trials ahead, trials made tougher by the unrealistic expectations established by Ms. Meyer and her coterie of [...]

This year, I’ll be winging it to Chicago to spend Thanksgiving with my parents. Given past experience, I’m guessing that expressions of gratitude will be in short supply.  So instead of saving up all my thanks for a Sharing Circle of Thanksgiving Fun, I reckon I’ll just unleash it on you fine folks.  Here it [...]

Ladies, do you like a man with an accent?  I bet you do!  Then today’s blog is for you.  Today, we introduce an exciting new concept in Dating Technology: The Accentalizer! Like The Litmus Test, but more effective, this revolutionary new Neurosis Detection System can save time, emotional hardship, and the crippling uncertainty that comes with wondering [...]

On Saturday night, three friends and I went to the Haunted Hayride at Griffith Park.  I hoped for some overpriced cheap thrills and instead found something far more terrifying: a Purgatory filled with lost souls searching, pleading, clawing for escape. It starts promisingly enough.  The smell of fresh hay hangs in the air, red and green [...]

Y’know what the awesomest thing about being single is?  You can go anywhere and do anything!  Last week, for example, I just picked up stakes and drove up to Fresno.  Sure, it was for work, but I didn’t need to clear my schedule with anyone or check in.  I just rented a Kia and zipped [...]

Do you ever feel awash in a flow of information?  As if your identity is being shaped by the various social networks, newstreams, and push notifications cluttering your inbox and clamoring for attention?  Like you’re just a cog in a massive, convoluted information economy? You probably are.  And that must hurt.  Because if you’re reading [...]

When I was about 12, some kids in my neighborhood beat me up a little.  I’d been taking the same route to and from school for three years–subway, bus, walking.  I’d gotten used to seeing the same faces every day, a comforting routine.  These kids were new faces.  And they beat me up a little. [...]

The small prop plane suddenly drops out of equilibrium, careening sharply into the volcano.  It swoops down, losing altitude as it tilts at a nearly 90 degree angle.  The three other passengers and I hold on for dear life certain that we’re about to crash into a crater.  A moment ago, we were placidly snapping [...]