The humanist Bartolomeo Scala wrote a consolatory essay to Cosimo de Medici upon the death of Cosimo's son Giovanni in 1463. The essay (Dialogus de consolatione) is presented in the form of a dialogue between Cosimo and the author. As the conversation progresses, Scala separates the “goods” (i.e., the good things which make life happy) of this world into three classes: goods of the body, goods of the soul, and a third category of what he calls “external goods.” External goods are such tangibles as wealth, riches, or glory. We can list our “goods” as follows: 1. Goods of the Read More

Scientists are not famous for their social tact. Granted, I do not know how often the “nerd who is a genius but can't figure out people” stereotype is true, but I imagine it applies to several people in the field. These people are more concerned with knowledge and discovery than they are with hitting the club, and I commend them for that. Whether looking for a cheap hook-up or serious wife material, getting laid involves a lot of time and effort, and this minority chooses to prioritize other things, even if they do get around with the chicas when they Read More

Today I'm proud to announce the official launch of a new video game site called Reaxxion. It is based on the Return Of Kings model where articles are submitted by weekly columnists and guest posters. To understand why I opened this site, take a look at Welcome To Reaxxion. Here's an excerpt: I'm starting a video game site even though I haven't played video games seriously since the year 2000 (Starcraft was my jam). I don't even play mobile games. I won't blow smoke up your ass by pretending I'm a gamer or have a deep commitment in furthering game technology. My Read More

In the past year, I've had no less than five different girls cheat on their boyfriends or husbands—or attempt to cheat—with me. I'm not talking about seedy hookups on Tinder where I found out the girl was attached after I banged her, but normal girls I knew socially who decided I was the man they wanted to have an affair with. Some examples of the girls I've encountered: An Ivy League-educated housewife in her early twenties who tried to make a move on me when I visited her and her husband some time ago. She later divorced her husband so she Read More

It's hard being a feminist. Every time you settle down for some good green tea and Ani Difranco, another wicked patriarch comes along and harms another poor innocent piece of masculine objectification. Summoned by the spirit of envy and resentment fairness and equality, you take up your formidable guns: cliché-heavy rants on Twitter, Facebook, and Jezebel, impassioned letters to persons of authority (mostly greedy white men), and, when spaces fairly accommodating of obesity are available, hearty marches—hearty because they engender such an appetite, and even occasional squabbles over Wheat Thins. Still, the feminist cause is not without certain deep satisfactions. On Read More