If you know enough to say if it's true, you know too much to tell if it's clear (credit: @cjforms.bsky.social)

The greatest thing about this story is that after the technician listened to users freak out about the check engine light, he changed his mind and got passionate about explaining it.

Never expected "how to pronounce biopic" to become just as evergreen an argument, with partisans fiercely dug in on both sides, as "how to pronounce GIF."

I navigate this every time I write trivia questions. My goal is always to be clear and reasonably difficult but not impossible, but in early drafts I almost always make things too hard. It's hard to let go of "of course everyone knows that" even if I just learned it 5 minutes ago.

The Greatest Films of All Time (According to Trans People)! I polled more than 40 transgender and non-binary filmmakers, film critics, and cinephiles to find out which films trans folks connected to most. Check it out below!

So, anyway, I have no patience for people who complain that not enough people understand their area of expertise and do nothing to help non-experts.

If a whole bunch of readers are confused about the job of the op/ed page, the people publishing that op/ed page are doing a shit job of communicating what it is.

“The heart has its reasons; it’s the mind that’s suspect.” — Bel Kaufman in Up the Down Staircase

Roger Ebert is one of my heroes but it's hilarious to listen to him talk about Legends of the Fall and make one of his main critiques that "Brad Pitt needs a haircut."

You’d think so, sadly Deloitte Digital didn’t see it this way. Part of the reason the big 4 (was big 5 previously) very slowly dying off and will inevitably be a thing of the past. On paper, yes, “expertise” is sold, in actuality they didn’t want their experts to question anything & just deliver.

Kinda grim scrolling LinkedIn and seeing self-described AI enthusiasts bemoaning the fact that they were laid off by a company moving all-in on AI. Strong leopards-meet-faces vibes.

Good word I'm trying to use more often: yet. Whenever I write "but," I take a moment to consider if "yet" might sound better. Conjunction junction, that's my function.

The Era of Abundant Intelligence apnews.com/article/wash...

Daily life has matched Kubrickian satire.

#LastFourWatched #letterboxd Finished the Criterion Channel's Nordic Noir collection, caught my first Wiseman, confirmed that an epic car chase is not enough for me to like a movie. Good set. letterboxd.com/scarequotes/

When I was new to consultancy work, I used to ask what the difference was between what we were doing and being a contractor. The answer I've come to, a few years later, is that you're hiring consultants to have a point of view. Opinions. Just want something built? Contractor.

People really underestimate how effective it is to cater your approach to the specific audience you need to persuade. Mamdani knew what he wanted and knew the kinds of things that would get Trump to agree to them, and then did them.

This guy could convince the devil to volunteer at a soup kitchen

I am honoring the history and tradition of the Internet by posting a picture of what I made for lunch on social media. Avocado toast, two ways: smoked trout with furikake, and radishes with mint

Today in "what's on MUBI that I can't watch anywhere else before this trial runs out": The Happiest Day in the Life of Olli Mäki was nice. Very nice! So nice that it helps clear up why Scorsese made Raging Bull about an asshole.

Another incredible indicator here: As of 2024, “There are now more natural-born Americans living in Norway than Norwegian-born residents in the U.S.”

I think about how much money/time/suffering is wasted on turning fast food into emotional labor/abuse centers rather than a place to grab food. When white people complain about Chinese restaurants being "rude" the thing is they're there to give you food not take shit from you and scrape.

Why does nobody understand how to play hardball with the studios? The correct response here isn’t to cave; it’s pulling SCREAM 7 from the site and having search redirect to an explanation of exactly why that was done. Let Paramount ban individual critics from press screenings if they want to.

Another perfect morning to support tcpipeline.org www.zeffy.com/en-US/donati... But also…

It’s finally over

It struck me how ridiculous it is that there are probably millions of Americans who are terrified by two of the nicest and least threatening politicians I've seen in my lifetime.

Hi, Native person here. This is revolting, on the slop front alone, but also because there's are reasons most Indigenous American Nations history and storytelling are traditionally oral. For example, there are stories we only tell at certain times of year, and a printed version doesn't respect that

Also the seasonal LearnedLeague "is this experience that may or may not have given me the correct answer actually cheating?" discussion has kicked off surprisingly early this year, after the first match day.

Nothing has made me feel older recently than finding out that only 54% of LearnedLeague players got the REM question right yesterday. The question:

Analysis: Tonight's speech gives Donald Trump an opportunity to revitalize his failing presidency. To do so, he must not sound like Donald Trump, have the priorities of Donald Trump, or be Donald Trump. Joining us are three pundits with seven figure incomes who believe this might happen.

Shout out to throngs. Don't just run around with a group and whatnot. Make sure that shit is a throng.

Trans rights are human rights. Protect trans kids. Protect trans grownups while you're at it. I'm thankful for my trans friends, colleagues, cultural figures, and family. You're all great just the way you are.

not only do you not have to watch you can log off and not read any of the posts about it you can read a book about wizard detectives bake a cake hug your dog paint a picture go to bed early get a drink with a friend plan your garden start a jigsaw puzzle knit a scarf do some stretching take a bath

“A slavish concern for the composition of words is the sign of a bankrupt intellect,” roared the Humbug, waving his cane furiously.

Sorry, Frederick Wiseman, that I never saw one of your movies while you were alive. But I did recently watch The Store, which is very good, so I will catch more. (I am delighted that the header image here is one that could be plopped into a found footage horror movie with no changes.)

The original Gone in 60 Seconds is not very good! (I have never seen the remake. Not tempted, at this point.)

Threw together some thoughts on Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die, which is not great but is a lot of fun.

Lexicography hive: Has anyone done a history of "plussing [something] up" as a verb phrase? Or "plus up" as a noun, meaning an added ingredient that makes something better? (Yeah, Sandwiches of History got me thinking about it. Merriam-Webster doesn't list "plus up" or "plus" as a verb.)

I have never understood the compulsion people have to watch the SOTU live even when the president giving it is not one of the most unpleasant people alive. That dopamine must be primo shit.

it’s beautiful to think One Battle inspired a whole new generation to read Thomas Pynchon’s wikipedia page

All detectives on deck.

All detectives on deck.

Email subject line: "We’re updating the cost of your subscription" Me: "Oh, an update! Exciting. Is it going down?" Body of email: LOL no. Current price: $59.88 USD / year New price: $71.88 USD / year

I marvel at the creativity of whoever came up with "How much did you weigh in your last year of high school?" as an available security question.

if there’s one thing clients do, it’s constantly change their mind and sabotage their own projects no matter how much you, the consultant, do your best to shepherd them to better decisions how’s an llm going to fix that

Masterful Troll, TCM.

Most of these rip. Not a fan of “Doctor Robert,” my least favorite song on a favorite album. (Can’t believe “Mr Moonlight” gets more plays than some of these.)

it must suck to be a cat. you are born into this world, no one feeds you. you live a long life, but no one feeds you. you have never been fed, not once, not ever, never ever

Most of these rip. Not a fan of “Doctor Robert,” my least favorite song on a favorite album. (Can’t believe “Mr Moonlight” gets more plays than some of these.)