The List App, later rebranded li.st, was a short-lived social media app from, of all people, B.J. Novak of The Office fame. A friend of mine who’s way more looped in to this kind of thing than I am sent me an invitation during the pre-release beta period, when The List App was tiny and finding its footing.
The app was something like twitter for lists of things. There were lists, likes, re-lists, and trends. But the content of a post was always a list—bulleted, numbered, reverse-numbers, but always a list of things. I think Novak envisioned things like “My favorite restaurants in LA” and “Best albums of the year” or whatever, but TLA pretty quickly turned in to a weird sometimes beautiful place where a core of likeminded and somewhat bookish people shared things that made them happy, gave encouragement, and evolved a subculture. It was fun while it lasted (and it did not last long).
When the app shut down I archived all my posts because I’m a digital hoarder. You can find them all here.
The tv lists reminded me of my parents’ penchant for taking me to movies I probably shouldn’t have been at. I was the youngest and I think they just got tired of kid movies and, apparently, babysitters. Read more…
We didn’t have a tv from birth to 5 and again from 12 to 16. And when we did have a tv I mostly watched with my brother. My mom never watched tv and my dad usually worked until close to bed time. But here’s what I remember watching together. Read more…
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to feel. Read more…
Everything labeled “spicy” in the Bay Area.
I suspect some of the Thai places around here might be an exception.
This list is mostly a lie. Read more…
Central Barber Shop / 5026 N Central Ave, Phoenix Read more…
To the airport to pick up my wife who I haven’t seen in over two weeks. ❤️
Just thought you should know.
This is for the lovely young woman at smashburger who asked twice. Read more…
If your phone doesn’t guess the word that comes next it’s time for a new phone. Read more…
Phoenix has a wonderful culture of mostly-Mexican-inspired urban murals. They are all over the city, often tucked away so you have to wander to find them. This list is long but it isn’t close to comprehensive. I didn’t do any South Phoenix, North Phoenix, or West Phoenix, or any of the surrounding cities. I’m sure they all have examples. Read more…
Although I fear by making this list I will undermine its assumptions and it will stop fixing these for me. Read more…
There are lots more Shakespeare movies but these are the ones I’ve seen recently enough to comment on. Read more…
The Complete Works of Shakespeare
Scrapbook of my wife and kids
I’m a little anti-social which might factor in to these. Please note: there’s no judgement here. I’m not suggesting these things are unworthy of time. I have great respect for our culture. I just don’t understand it sometimes or don’t feel a compulsion to engage. I’m not sure why. Read more…
Bud Starling
Audubon chapter president in Indianapolis, lead bird watching tours in Eagle Creek park when I was a kid.
Doug Bowser
Recently-appointed VP of Sales at Nintendo.
As you know, marriage was undermined last week. Here’s my diary of the aftermath in this lonely post-marriage outpost. I hope there’s somebody left to read this. Read more…
I love words. And I especially love words that came to us in interesting ways. Here are some of my favorites. Read more…
The perks and perils of growing your music library from 6,000 to 30,000,000 songs. Read more…
This list is built upon irrefutable fact. Read more…
There’s a big hole between 1 and 2 so suggest away… Read more…
How well do you know your sometimes-apocryphal pictographic history? Read more…
This is for you @ChrisK Read more…
Nine years of my daughter saying things. (This list is ridiculously long. I’ve been keeping these for ages.) Read more…
I feel sorry for the majority of you who are probably too young to have experienced this splendor in situ between Saturday morning cartoon episodes. It was an amazing time. Read more…
My future wife will be my present wife. We’ve been married almost 21 years and I see no reason to change. Here’re a few of the things I love about her. Read more…
“You are not my mother. You are a snort.”
From “Are You My Mother?” Pretty much every time anyone ever says the word “snort”.
“He will live at our house. He will grow and grow. Will our mother like this? We don’t know.”
From “One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish”. Occasionally when we talk about doing something mom or dad probably shouldn’t be ok with.
“The rights of the people to find joy in cooking their family and their dog shall not be infringed.”
Just because it would be fun to watch Scalia argue that we now have to allow cannibalism. “Do you see a comma? I do not see a comma. There is no comma. It is right there in the text. It is so ruled.”
“We take back #2. Not sure what we were thinking."
We failed to consider the ramification of such a right within a completely screwed up society.
To all my gay friends and list app associates: this is your day. We love you. Read more…
Carole J. Johnson is indeed a whore
“There’s no question in the court’s mind … that she was not of virtuous character and that she perhaps fit all of those descriptions of a whore.” Link
Alleged apple cider vinegar is indeed not apple cider vinegar
In the case of United States v. Ninety-Five Barrels of Alleged Apple Cider Vinegar. Link
Couldn’t possibly love two humans more. Read more…
The dishwasher
The washing machine
Neck ties
I shall dangle a piece of decorative fabric down my front.
The spelling of the word “subtlety”
I’m sure there’s some subtle reabson ibts spbelled thabt way.
A couple years ago my daughter’s teacher was pregnant. The teacher’s favorite book was Gatsby so Sophia decided to make her a soft baby-book version. She did the cutting and sewing. Her older sister and I did the textual adaptation. The result was arguably the coolest gift a kid has ever given a teacher. Read more…
Over the top proposal videos
When my wife and I entered into a verbal contract to marry it was … more clinical. If you have an elaborate flash mob at your proposal I secretly hate you while I click Like in Facebook.
People who are always late
“Oh no it’s no problem at all” he says while secretly down-rating his internal accounting of your fitness to complete any task at all.
Anybody here? Read more…
There’s a difference between “it’s not my fault” and “I can’t help it.”
The former is common. The latter is rare.
Postel’s Law is just as relevant to human interaction as it is to computer communications.
“Be conservative in what you do, be liberal in what you accept from others.” Link
When Maia said goodbye
My daughter’s dear friend Maia moved to Taiwan last year. She was like an extra child around our house for a few years and we sincerely love her. When I said my last goodbye, which was already tough, she hugged me tightly, looked me square in the eyes and said, “you’re a really good dad.” [weep]
The Elvis Costello song “A Good Year for the Roses”
This song so beautifully captures an ambivalence of loss that can only happen when good things fall apart. Every line is perfection.
Cardboard milk cartons.
I had these under control when I was in kindergarten but now they’re an enigma.
The foil under the flap in a package of Trident gum.
Is it even perforated? Do I need a scalpel?
I’ve been away from my family for a week and I’m getting surly. You probably shouldn’t read this indulgent judgmental BS. Read more…
…for a person relocating from Phoenix who likes the city, likes to walk, hates long commutes, works in Cupertino, has one college-aged kid and one high schooler, doesn’t care a ton about square footage and isn’t made of money. $800 and under probably. Doing some pre-shopping today. May be moving in a year. Read more…
Rape
Being over charged, sold something you didn’t want, or humped by a dog do not meet the criteria of “rape”. Find another word.
Draconian
Is Facebook the government? Do they cut your hands off when you chew gum? No? Then their stupid policy isn’t “draconian”.
Like that Simpson’s episode: “I wanted Mary Ann on ‘Gilligan’s Island’ ugly, not Cornelius on ‘The Planet if Apes’ ugly. TV ugly, not… ugly ugly.” Read more…
“The air was as still as the throttle on a funeral train.”
From “My Mexican Home”.
“Heat lightning burned the sky like alcohol.”
From “Mexican Home”
“Shantaram” by Gregory David Roberts
It took me a long time and most of the world to learn what I know about love and fate and the choices we make, but the heart of it came to me in an instant, while I was chained to a wall being tortured.
“Charlotte’s Web” by E B White
Where’s papa going with that axe?
Peach Yogurts
Come with the strawberry and blueberry. Peach yogurt is gross.
Apple Logo Stickers
Come with everything I ever buy from Apple. I really only need between zero and one.
This mini apple tart my daughter made looks like a rose.
I think it was supposed to.
This incorrectly-installed towel hook looks like a buffalo.
He’s been that way for 10 years and I kind of love him.
My smoker is my new hobby and @ChrisK will find out first hand if he comes for a visit. Read more…
We’ve known about Pluto since 1930 but it’s so small and far away that we don’t know much. Space probes have studied every planet in the solar system but we’ve never had a probe to Pluto. The New Horizons mission has its closest Pluto encounter on July 14. It will dramatically expand our understanding. Here’s how our view of Pluto has evolved. Read more…
