This ‘n That

This ‘N That: Once around the dial

T-pills, Pringles and Angels—TV has it all. Or nothing. Illustrations: Megan Mericle I was a TV baby. Rather, a TV teen. I watched waaaay too much television growing up because of the lack of a social life. Today, I watch…

This ‘N That: In my room

Illustration: Megan Mericle I think I hear someone—oh, it’s just my brain talking. A sneak peek into the future and Day 561 of isolation … “You got the stuff?” “Yeah, I got the stuff. You got the money?” “Yeah, I…

This ‘N That: For whom the toll tolls

You’ll never take me alive, coppers! I was driving in Tampa and didn’t want to go through town, so I jumped on the freeway. I got mixed up for a while before I finally found an Ybor City exit. But when…

This N’ That: A call to arms … and bent elbows

I’ll give you my beer bottle when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. No beer? What the hell is wrong with them?” That certainly was the universal reaction recently when a deranged group in the United Kingdom described…

This N’ That: QUIET!

Can’t a guy get a little peace around here? What is all that noise outside my office window? Landscapers blowing leaves. Sanitation workers sucking sewage from beneath the street. A semitrailer idling. Hammering from building renovations. Jackhammers breaking up concrete.…

This ‘N That: Journalism is dead

These days, everybody thinks they’re a writer. Illustration: Megan Mericle Sad news today from the publishing world, where we’ve learned exclusively that journalism has died. Journalism, whose roots can be traced to the hieroglyphics of ancient Egyptians, had its breakout…

This ‘N That: Give up already

You’re not kidding anybody with those fake New Year’s resolutions. Happy New Year! New year, new you! Get excited! Get healthy! So much is going to change this year! You’re going to do everything you ever wanted and become the…

This N’ That: Everything must go

These thoughts come from the bargain bin of the mind. Just in time for the holidays, here’s my end-of-the-year clearance sale on concepts that didn’t make the cut for this column during 2019. For better or worse, you missed out…

This N’ That: Apathy: My life’s work

You don’t need to know everything—read this only if you have room in your brain. Story: Chris Gerbasi ≈ Illustration: Megan Mericle Apathy is underrated. I don’t mean apathy only in the sense of not caring, but apathy in the…

This N’ That: Off the top of my head

Halloween is a reminder of out-of-body experiences. Story: Chris Gerbasi Illustration: Megan Mericle Whatever happened to Ted Williams’ head? Remember that head-scratcher back in 2002? After the baseball hall-of-fame slugger died, his son had Ted’s head cryonically frozen, ironically in…