Today's album recommendation: Madonna's Confessions II. The Queen of Pop is officially back on the dance floor!

By Jim Benton

Get tix and don't be a fishwife! 😭

Have a productive and chill week, and babe, lock in! I love you! TAKE CARE!!!

Any screenwriters-turned-film producers care to share how they got their big break?😊

This weekend, I’m reading Mein Kampf by A.H., so you don’t have to. Consider me your designated historical toxin tester.😭

Word of the Day: "Meh-tee-ay" Métier (noun) is a formal word that refers to something that a person does very well. Example sentence: Sharp dialogue and parody are Megan’s métier.

DID YOU KNOW? On May 27, 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened for foot traffic first. Cars didn’t get the invite until the following day.

Bad writing teaches you what readers feel when energy dies.

Mean Girls Secretary American Psycho Kill Bill The Notebook

Happy Mother's Day to the single moms, stepmoms, cool moms, boring moms, helicopter moms, snowplow moms, wannabe moms, Type A moms, silky moms, crunchy moms, and women who never got the chance to become moms because of fertility struggles or by choice. We love you, and we see you.

Congratulations to the Honourable Louise Arbour, who will serve as Canada’s 31st Governor General.

Pulitzer or no Pulitzer, I love you, xoxo.

Word of the Day: "Ruh-kal-suh-truhnt" Recalcitrant (adjective) describes a person, animal, or entity that is stubbornly resistant to authority, control, or treatment. Example sentence: The government is trying to deal with recalcitrant local authorities that refuse to implement the new law.

The Devil Wears Prada 2

I’m eating ramen and drinking green tea after a 24-hour water fast while listening to “Big in Japan” by Alphaville. The song slaps, but I just found out it has nothing to do with Japan; it’s about heroin. 😭

Word of the Day: "Faw-ray" A foray (noun/verb) is a brief attempt or venture into something new. Example sentence: Her foray into stand-up comedy got a surprisingly warm response.

🐁☁️🎈💕

Word of the Day: Chortle CHOR- (stressed): Sounds like "chaw" or "chore" (but without the "r" sounding strongly) -TLE (unstressed): A quick "tuhl" sound A chortle (verb) is a joyful, partly muffled, or snorting laugh, often blending glee with amusement.

For starters, Bluesky has a chilled vibe. That said, I want to thank the dads, moms, and plant and pet owners who rock with me. I love you to the moon and back.😉

Word of the Day: "Uh-sur-buhk" Acerbic (adjective) describes a style of speaking or writing that is sharply critical, sarcastic, biting, or harsh in tone. Example sentence: Even his apology came out acerbic, like he was sorry but also grading you on your reaction.

Today’s good read: Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Accept the Islamic Republic of Iran by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett.

Word of the Day: FLUM (like “drum”) + okst (rhymes loosely with “boxed”) Flummoxed (adjective): Being completely, utterly confused, puzzled, or bewildered, often in a sudden or unexpected situation. Example sentence: I was flummoxed when my cat started hissing at a cucumber.

I'm not crying, you're crying.

Babe, diplomacy is the only way forward, but hey, what do I know? I’m just a boy, lol.😭

Word of the Day: "Soo-sur-uhs" Susurrus (noun) is a soft, whispering, murmuring, or rustling sound. Example sentence: “A susurrus of silk filled the room as the dancers shifted positions.”

If you’re a podcaster, maybe shift your priorities: less time behind the mic, more time moving merch—because the podcast disappears into the void, but a hoodie has a long and distinguished career. XOXO, okay bye.

The word of the day for March 10, 2026, is excursion.

A Rat Is a Pig Is a Dog Is a Boy — Wesley J. Smith’s 2010 book: for when you can’t decide who to root for… or eat.

Word of the Day: "Reh-kuhg-ni-shn" Recognition (noun) is the act of identifying, acknowledging, or giving credit to someone or something based on prior knowledge, experience, or achievement.

Word of the Day: "Uh-kown-tuh-bil-uh-tee" Accountability (noun) means you don’t blame, hide, or deflect — you own it.

A blunt reminder to document the truth while you can. Memories fade. Records don’t.

Today’s book recommendation: Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have by Tatiana Schlossberg — a sharp, eye-opening read that reveals how our everyday choices quietly shape the planet, often in ways we never see coming.

Word of the Day: "Uh-mend-muhnt" An amendment (noun) is a formal or official change made to a law, contract, constitution, or other legal document.

Chat, lock in—it’s the Year of the Fire Horse. No helmets, no brakes.

James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, and Donald J. Trump share the same spot at the very bottom of presidential rankings. Mount Rushmore, this is not. IYKYK.

Today’s book recommendation: Inconspicuous Consumption: The Environmental Impact You Don’t Know You Have by Tatiana Schlossberg — a sharp, eye-opening read that reveals how our everyday choices quietly shape the planet, often in ways we never see coming.

Word of the Day: "Dee-BUNK" Debunk (verb) means taking a confident little lie out for a walk and immediately tripping it with facts. It’s when a belief says, “Trust me,” and evidence says, “Absolutely not.”

Hero of the day: Ahmed El Ahmed.

This week’s book recommendation: Bread of Angels by Patti Smith—mourning, memory, and the slow ache of being alive.

Word of the Day: "Ra-tuh-fai" To ratify (verb) is to say, “Yes, we’re doing this,” in a serious voice, with paperwork, signatures, and at least one person who definitely didn’t read the whole thing. 🐀📜

The Third Gilmore Girl is Kelly Bishop’s witty dive into six decades of showbiz, from A Chorus Line to Dirty Dancing to ruling as Emily Gilmore, serving stories, lessons, and backstage tea with her signature charm.

Word of the day: "Mul-tuh-FAIR-ee-us." If something is multifarious (adjective), it basically has more variety than a buffet at 2 a.m. It’s a formal way of saying “wow, that’s a lot of different stuff.”

Word of the Day: "In-SYE-siv" Incisive (adjective) means impressively direct and decisive. Basically, it’s what you wish people would be when you ask a simple question instead of giving you a TED Talk.

Word of the Day: "SANG-gwin" Sanguine (adjective) is a fancy word that usually describes someone who’s weirdly confident and hopeful, even when everything is on fire.

Word of the Day: "MAH-luh-fye" To mollify (verb) someone is essentially to calm them down before they start to lose their temper. It can also mean “to reduce the intensity,” such as turning your emotional volume from screaming to a whisper.

Word of the Day: "Tuh-MAIR-uh-tee" Temerity (noun) is when you’re confident and unafraid of danger or punishment—basically bravado with no survival instincts. It can also refer to a bold, reckless act, like saying “I’ll be fine” and immediately proving you won’t.

Word of the Day: "seh-ruhn-di-puh-tee." Serendipity (noun) refers to the kind of luck in which valuable or pleasant things are found without being intentionally sought.

Word of the Day: "KOOM-bye-YAH" Kumbaya (noun) refers to an idealistic worldview centered on peace and harmony, often implying a naïve belief that such harmony is easy to achieve.

Words of the Week: Banished Evacuate Gerrymandering Collision Helpline Sheeple Truce