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She's no Bill Bryson, but her books are nearly as hard to put down. They keep you entertained as they delve into unknown aspects of topics in general science.—JS

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Finally, somebody else brings up the utter pointlessness of the Inglourious Basterds. (the characters, that is; not the movie. The movie is a fun watch; but the existence of the actual Inglourious Basterds, in the world of the movie, turns out to be pointless and inconsequential). Spoilers abound, for Basterds and other films.—JM

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Everyone hopes the injury problems affecting phenom Stephen Strasburg are nothing serious, but as JoPo details, baseball has a long, sad history of pitching injuries derailing talented young careers.—BK

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In the age of Hallliburton and Blackwater, you'd think Eisenhower's "military-industrial complex" speech would get more play when it's time to beat the deficit drum. (Okay, that's hopelessly naïve, but anyway...)—JS

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One of the many reasons you should be watching Parks and Recreation. (And if you already are watching, you may find it hard to read this interview without hearing her character April's voice.)—BK

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Parnell talks about his new Comedy Central show Big Lake, and makes a brief mention that there's more Dr. Spaceman in his future (woo-hoo!).—BK

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If you thought the franchise started going downhill with Return of the Jedi and that damn Ewok party, well, Kurtz says you're pretty much right on.—BK

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A fun review of some the best (or worst, you decide) facial hair in MLB history.—BK

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I'm telling you: beekeeper outfits. My daughters will never be allowed out of the house wearing anything more revealing than beekeeper outfits.—JM

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Bob Inglis (R-SC) forfeited his incumbency in this year's primary because he disagrees with Glenn Beck, won't publicly denounce Obama as a "socialist," and steers clear of a few of the zanier conspiracy theories.—JS

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More sharp criticism for 3D movies, centered on Christopher Nolan's announcement that his third Batman film won't be shot in 3D because the process interferes with the brightness and contrast of the image.—JS

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The laugh track may be the scourge of sitcoms today, but it still occupies a fascinating place in TV history. (Please excuse the freak coincidence that the authors of today's links have co-written a book; I didn't plan this.)—JS

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Apparently, America is what she is today because the Pilgrims ran out of beer. I'd be prouder of that story if America wasn't one of the worst beer-making nations on the planet, but, there you go.—JM

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It's a Bill Murray interview, which means you will read it and like it. What are you waiting for?—JS

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You think you get upset when Google Maps gives you directions that mire you in traffic? Imagine if you were involved in a contentious border dispute with the neighboring country and Google kept moving the lines!—JS

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I love hearing from Penn & Teller pretty much any chance I get.—JS

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A look at why music concerts are being cancelled or downsized this summer. Gee, you mean a bloated, overpriced industry that's in bed with Ticketmaster is starting to see some consumer backlash? Go figure.—BK

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"Evolution favored meat-eating primates, enlarging their brains and enabling them to live in more and more complex and survivalist societies that today extend our life spans, provide genteel habitats, and produce philosophers who have the wherewithal to object to the very components of their own existence."—JM

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Think we're sick of posting Louis C.K. links here at PoopReading.com? Think again!—JM

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This guy makes the stupid Facebook game sound practically like Scientology. That's good for a link in my book.—JS

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Your sitcom is awful, but the network is contractually obligated to keep airing it. What do you do? Make it good? No – make it bizarrely awful! (Hat tip, Tenessa G.)—JS

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Anniversary piece on the classic and influential Airplane!. (And, to makers of "direct hit" spoof movies that have taken that influence awry, Patton Oswalt explains the difference.)—JS

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Thinking of giving your child a ridiculous, made-up name, or saddling your boy with a girl's name (or vice-versa)? This may have consequences beyond making you look like an asshole.—JS

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Sounds like a plan.—JS

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Now that Smirnoff has tragically cut the sport down in its prime, some of O'Brien's alternatives should get some consideration.—JS

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This piece about parenting makes me feel a little bit better about my occasional lapses into a more laissez faire (i.e., "Just play your computer game while Daddy finishes 'Last Comic Standing'") style of child-rearing.—JM

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I can't say I agree with everything here, but it's an interesting read nonetheless.—BK

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Yes, the new A-Team movie inspired the list, but no, it did not make the cut.—BK

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Defending Steve Jobs against claims of exaggerated marketing-speak becomes a really interesting discussion on optics and the limits of human vision.—JS

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This is one of those inspired ideas that makes you (well, alright, me) jealous: which current Major League Baseball player will be last former Montreal Expo to retire from the game?—BK

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Geez, P.J. O'Rourke is really mean. Still, pre-obituaries are a pretty good idea.—JM

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Including a probability puzzle which will drive you as mad as the Monty Hall problem – honestly, what is wrong with these people?—JS

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I would have called the piece "Humans: Why We Triumphed," because the likelihood of a non-human ever reading it seems pretty low. Other than that, though: pretty interesting stuff.—JM

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I'm not necessarily a huge fan of NBA basketball or of the Star Wars films, but I have at least heard of both of those things. And I think that's just about all you need to be able to enjoy this piece. Not that Posnanski ever isn't enjoyable.—JM

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How Law & Order became a lifeline for New York actors during its 20-year run on NBC.—BK

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Part of a series on the 2009-10 TV season, it's a look at how the fantastic Modern Family is crafting a new formula for the family sitcom. (Spoiler alert if you haven't watched the episode "Starry Night" from earlier this year.)—BK

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It's a shame Singel takes such a pee-drinking, tinfoil-hat-wearing, shrill tone, because some of the privacy concerns he cites would sound downright reasonable coming from a normal person.—JS

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Jamie Moyer is still pitching in the Major Leagues – and pitching effectively, for the most part – at age 47. 47!—JM

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Joe devotes a non-sports column (though there's still a little sports) to a long, meandering (but always interesting) explanation of why Brendan Fraser just might be his favorite actor working today (seriously).—BK

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Just a fascinating look at how baseball has grown more specialized, and the result is more plate appearances than ever ending in a walk or strikeout, which means less action on the field, longer games, and, for many fans, a slightly more boring product.—BK

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As you might expect, Ebert makes a number of excellent points, written, as always, from the point of view of someone who simply loves movies with every fiber of his being.—BK

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This is, hands down, the longest Scott Adsit interview I've ever seen. I can only now conclude, based on this evidence alone, that Movieline is awesome.—BK

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As you might expect, loads of praise for Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, but the best part is the candid honesty about the worst movie he's ever appeared in.—BK

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Nice look at how baseball is evolving in the post-steroid era. (Hat tip, Matt K.)—BK

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A nice recap of the Tonight Show situation, a plausible George Lopez reenactment, and a Pimpbot shout-out. Basically, everything the Internet needs.—JS

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Fey talks about comedy, her new hit movie Date Night, and, of course, Poop Reading favorite 30 Rock.—BK

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If he is real, he may be planning to go again.—JS

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Great profile of Sarah Silverman and her new memoir, The Bedwetter.—BK

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You hear that, people of Southern California? It's not my fault... it's science.—JM

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"But once you try one, you won't be able to resist." The title and that line pretty much sum it up, huh?—BK

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The astonishing thing is, aside from being highly entertaining, it is actually pretty good advice. (Not that any advice on the subject is remotely useful.)—JS

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Nice look at how baseball is embracing a new emphasis on fielding, even if its fans may not be so crazy about the idea.—BK

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Includes the awesome Alan Alda 30 Rock/MASH joke, so it gets my seal of approval.—BK

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The NFL just ruined overtime, and the NCAA might just ruin their basketball tournament next year by expanding to 96 teams. But for now, while we can, let's revel in one last weekend when everything was as it should be...—JM

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Posnanski gives his take on the Kansas Jayhawks' bracket-busting loss to Northern Iowa this weekend.—BK

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Thorough, cogent, and surprisingly readable – gosh, it's fun to hate banks! (Plus, I linked to The Nation; I believe I win a Volvo.)—JS

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Including Iron Man 2, Toy Story 3, and the latest from Christopher Nolan.—BK

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Great point about how baseball writers and fans tend to romanticize and whitewash the behavior of past players while demonizing the players of the present.—BK

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If you're not watching ABC's Modern Family, you really should be; it's easily among the best comedies on TV right now.—BK

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Chad Moeller talks about some of the memorable pitchers he has caught during his 10-year career as a journeyman catcher.—BK

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Ebert gives a thumbs up to the in-depth profile of himself that recently ran in Esquire Magazine.—BK

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The girl with the cheesy last name talks about her work on Mad Men and Community, though really, it's no contest: it's much more fun to watch her on Community.—BK

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Making the case for Thomas belonging in the Hall of Fame. I'm on record as despising Thomas during his playing days (his constant whining and money-grubbing really turned me off), but even I readily admit the guy should be a no-brainer Hall of Famer.—BK

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Surprisingly interesting, detailed, and witty. (Also, "Testicond" would make a great name for a band – or a tablet computer.)—JS

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We have finally realized the true potential of robotics. And sex.—JS

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ChatRoulette is the next big hit from the "social web" machine - like speed dating via webcam. Needless to say, it's overrun with perverts, crazies, and crazy perverts.—JS

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Isn't it comforting to know that someone is out there making these lists so we don't have to?—BK

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The rare opportunity to read Breathed talking about Bloom County is one worth seizing. In a perfect world, I'd apply for three weeks' paid leave to just sit and enjoy the new five-volume anthology.—JS

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And, in some cases, 11 minutes that can really ruin your weekend. (I'm telling you, this "time-in" idea is a winner!)—JS

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Being a Royals fan is so painful, it has led Joe to discover a new addition to Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross's famous five stages of grief.—BK

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Exhaustive trend analysis from one of the more user-friendly online dating sites out there. (Although, if you want the one that works, it isn't pretty but it's plentyoffish.com.)—JS

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Pretty interesting: partly for the stuff Facebook is doing; partly for the stuff they think it's worthwhile or important to do; and partly for how cool they think they are for doing it.—JS

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Rabin, on loan from the A.V. Club, gives an excellent summation of Leno's career and his role in NBC's late night turmoil.—BK

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A write-up of the brilliant sketch comedy show by someone who, like me, came to appreciate it only after it had come and gone.—JS

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It really was, wasn't it?—JM

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How books shrank during the '00s. (When the average person's attention span is measured in tweets, a thousand page novel doesn't seem so viable.)—JS

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Chuck, Lost, Don DeLillo, and Tim Burton. The A.V. Club and I are definitely not looking forward to the same things this year.—JS

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The baseball journalism legend says farewell with his typical humility and grace.—BK

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Leopold, who earlier this year made us giddy by linking to our Movie Draft, offers up a look at whether The Simpsons has stayed on the air too long. But he missed his chance to link to us again.—BK

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More Scott Adsit interviews and features that I can link to, please.—BK

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Normally when I think of James Franco, I think, "What the fuck?" As in, "Why do I have to watch this douche be on-screen?" After reading this treatise on performance art, dada, and how it pushed him to appear on General Hospital, I'm saying "What the fuck?" with horror… and just a little respect.—JS

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A piece about Brett Favre? That's a linkin'. A piece by Joe Posnanski? That's a linkin'. A piece about Favre, written by Posnanski? You better believe that's a linkin'.—JM

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Crime, pedestrian safety, increased exhaust emissions... just a few of the reasons some U.S. cities are ending their love affair with the fast food drive-through.—BK

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This is not exactly a knee-slapper, but it's an interesting read.—JM

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The author believes this death is a good thing, because the Method is no longer a proper fit for this era. I can't say I disagree.—BK

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Most of this simply confirms my own independent research from a few years ago.—JM

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I could not agree more with the premise of this article, nor with its praise of Ron Swanson as played by Nick Offerman.—BK

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A look at baseball players who received between 15 and 20 Hall of Fame votes in their first year of eligibility; enough to indicate support from writers, but not enough to keep them on the ballot in the future.—BK

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I haven't caught "The Daily Show" in a little while; I can only assume they're all over this story. Right?—JM

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A holiday classic from a year ago that inspired a fantasy draft of our own.—BK

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This guy is desperate to show you how smart he is, and his "look how many words I know" writing style makes this a bit of a chore to get through. Still, any time somebody wants to analyze reality TV from a sociological standpoint, I am so there.—JM

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A.V. Club also has personal faves Ricky Jay and Richard Dawkins this week, but we've agreed not to overlink the same site too much and Levitt's the one debunking the TSA, rethinking the response to global warming, and talking about penis size. Advantage: Levitt!—JS

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There's danger all around us. Danger that explodes with awesome destructive force.—JS

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I've been featuring an awful lot of Joe Posnanski on the site recently, but as long as he keeps writing stuff you ought to read, I'll keep linking to it.—JM

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The best part is comparing the grosses of the sequel to the grosses of the original, which in most cases, shows that not only were these movies unexpected, they were unwanted by the public.—BK

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A thoughtful piece about Glenn Beck (not that Jon Stewart's sillier work on the subject hasn't been excellent). Includes a nice parallel to the great Andy Griffith movie A Face in the Crowd (which inspired the Gabbo Simpsons episode).—JS

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They actually give out awards for pharmaceutical ads, rather than holding the accountable parties at gunpoint until they promise to shut up and leave us all alone. What a world!—JS

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Joe Posnanski agrees with me, and with math.—JM

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"Hey, if the game is rigged, rig the game." Indeed. The Yankees have a decidedly unfair advantage (though who could blame them for taking advantage of it? Not this Twins fan, for one...). That they hadn't won in nine years only shows how unwisely they used their overwhelming financial advantage before getting it right this season.—JM

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The A.V. Club is doing a "Best of the Decade" theme this month, and this one about cancelled TV shows is a goodie. With Invasion and Wonderland, plus an honorable mention for Boomtown, I'm satisfied.—BK

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I couldn't be happier about how good Parks and Recreation has become, and Chris Pratt is certainly a big part of that. (And even if you're not a fan, you should at least skip down to the middle of the interview for a great Nick Offerman quote about the "new" American dream.)—BK

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I loved Barbara Ehrenreich's appearance on The Daily Show, and I'm intrigued by this thoroughly unexpected train of thought resulting from her book.—JS

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One of these games will obviously have to be bumped off the list when Brett Favre and the Vikings visit Lambeau Field on Sunday...—JM

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This isn't exactly news (Fischer died in January of 2008), but the bizarre story of the chess champion's life remains morbidly fascinating.—JM

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The actress talks about her new one-woman Broadway show, Wishful Drinking, and the life that helped inspire it.—BK

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What can poker teach us? Pretty much everything, if this piece is to be believed.—JM

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With stops to work on Heat Vision and Jack and The Sarah Silverman Show in between.—BK

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Worth reading, if only for the insanity that was former NFL coach Dick Vermeil.—BK

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I'm delighted to be validated on this one. A quirky, tonal send-up with a certain acquired-taste appeal, Down With Love was nonetheless much better than it ever got credit for.—JS

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An eloquent exploration of the role that depression and mental instability can sometimes play in the creation of great art.—BK

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I had the great pleasure of seeing The Big Lebowski for the umpteenth time on the big screen with a theater full of fellow fans this weekend. That has nothing to do with this link, other than to give you a glimpse into my mindset: Coens!—BK

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Hitchens, evidently no fan of the Nobel Peace Prize, nevertheless finds Obama's "premature." Perhaps "hopeful" would be a nicer way of putting it.—JS

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New "30 Rock!" New "30 Rock!" New "30 Rock!" New "30 Rock!"—JM

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Wow; talk about my wheelhouse: a piece about how boring it is to read bad children's books to your kid. I will make one point in defense of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar," however: it's short. Lots of tediously bad children's books are not.—JM

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The answer to this question: yes, but just barely.—JM

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ABC's new reality show "Shark Tank" is even better than this review would lead you to believe.—JM

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One of the best Cracked entries we've linked to (which is saying something). Manages to be funny while staying mostly "straight" (except for the photo captions). It just proves what I've always said: women aren't not funny.—JS

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Please indulge Joe and I in a little "farewell to the Metrodome" (at least for the Twins) excess this week. Posnanski does a great job of nailing the "hate it but I've grown to love it" attitude many of us have toward the dump, and how, at the end of this baseball season, it's refusing to go away quietly.—BK

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True stories behind the battle to put "naughty" words in dictionaries. (The language may get rough, but if you're offended by that sort of thing, I doubt you're on this page to begin with.)—JS

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I had hoped this would be in verse form – still, it's a savvy look at the prospects and shortcomings of The Jay Leno Show. (And I was surprised to learn Marina Franklin is on it – maybe I'll tune in!)—JS

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I'm sure that the arts community would be defending him just as vociferously if he were a Catholic priest rather than an acclaimed director. Aren't you?—JM

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"For easy reference, I made up lists of alternative names for breasts, penises and vaginas, and supplementary lists later on for buttholes, as that trend gained popularity." Not for the squeamish reader, but very entertaining.—JS

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Smashing a sand-smoothing vehicle into an outfield wall and nearly tipping over a wheelbarrow full of infield dirt were two of the ways the author embarrassed herself while working as a member of the Washington Nationals grounds crew.—BK

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Ricky Gervais on his directorial debut The Invention of Lying, and on his penchant for abusing himself on screen. (Contains a couple tiny spoilers, for those concerned about such things.)—BK

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Turns out every new advance in communication, from the typewriter to the telephone to writing things down, was met with resistance and prophesies of doom, so maybe Twitter won't destroy the world after all.—JM

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"FNL" Seasons 1 and 2 are available to stream on Netflix, so you don't even have to wait for the DVDs to come in the mail. There's no excuse anymore. Get off your ass like I did last week, and start watching this show. (more "FNL" info to come very soon in a "Best Show On TV" piece if "Glee" is bad again next week)—JM

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The number of quality shows on this list is simply astounding. Perhaps there's something to be said for self-referential television.—BK

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The "death panel" idea is a farcical lie, but I actually wish it weren't. I stand ready to pull my mom's plug, precisely because of how much I love her.—JS

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Today is apparently the "official" start of the new fall TV season, as this week is when the Nielsen tracking kicks off. In honor of that, here's a solid preview from TV critic Alan Sepinwall.—BK

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Don't let the title mislead you; this is about sports. Or, more specifically, about Posnanski debating fellow writer Ken Rosenthal about the debate over whether Joe Mauer should be AL MVP. (I think he should.)—BK

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As the owner of a mixed breed dog, I'll admit I'm curious about these DNA tests being offered. Not curious enough to spend $60 to $125, but curious nonetheless.—BK

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More than worth linking to for the caption on the picture of the squirrel alone, but the entire piece is pretty good.—JM

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In light of Kanye West's most recent bizarre, off-putting outburst, this piece written back in May is worth revisiting. The author is kind of kidding, but not really, and makes a pretty convincing argument.—JM

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How we overuse the term, sometimes to the point of diluting its significance.—BK

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How the "Wildcat" offense has infiltrated the NFL, and what it means for the future of the game.—BK

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With all of newspapers' bellyaching about their declining relevance, it's sometimes easy to forget that they refuse to work at being relevant.—JS

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A nice feature on the fake Seinfeld reunion that will be a part of the new season of Curb Your Enthusiasm (a feature that EW took their sweet time posting online). It's going to be awesome! (It's got to be awesome, right?) [I'm getting paranoid that it might somehow turn out less than awesome.]—BK

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Inspired by LaGarrette Blount's post-game coldcocking of a Boise State player, Page 2 takes a look at other such incidents. If you are in a position to watch the videos that are linked in this piece, all the better.—JM

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The author and a high-ranking former narcotics officer calculate the yearly cost of America's war on drugs: more than 15,000 deaths and 50 billion dollars spent.—BK

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The creator of "Hypothetical Horatio" weighs in with a half-dozen points, only a few of which are suggestions about how to fix the NFL, but all of which are dynamite.—JM

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Turns out money can help buy happiness if you use it right, which is what I've always assumed.—JM

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How Hunter's success in baseball (first with the Twins, and now with the Angels) and the revelation of a half-brother brought a troubled family together.—BK

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Ebert deconstructs the phrase, questions Facebook politics, ponders health care reform and end-of-life issues, and properly explains the oft-misused term "meme." (My hero!)—JS

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Which is not to say that's a bad thing, as evidenced by the presence of excellent works like In Utero, Kid A, Different Seasons, and Pinkerton.—BK

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The Chevy Volt sounds impressive, but we've been hearing about it for years – and other numbskull moves by the automaker we all partly own.—JS

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You may be thinking "Who's that?", but if you've seen Role Models, Party Down, or The Hangover, you definitely know who he is. He's been doing such good work over the last couple years that it's great to see him finally getting recognition.—BK

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Lies, damn lies, and statistics...—JM

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Not the actresses, but the writers, more than half of whom are women. (Contains some spoilers from the first two seasons in case you aren't caught up on the show.)—BK

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Poe on plagiarism, punctuation, and God. (With some surprising sarcasm in the balance.) Get 'em, Eddie!—JS

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Let's hope not (unless the end of such a "moment" lets him operate outside the scrutiny of such moronic scorecarding), but it is fascinating how comedy tastes change, and how success can be unpredictable.—JS

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A few quibble-worthy selections, but mostly a good list, with a number one pick that will make fellow PoopReading.com contributor Jameson Simmons very happy.—BK

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Do drunks become writers, or do writers become drunks? [that's not quite an apt blurb for this piece, but it's cute and pithy so I'm keeping it here]—JM

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It really is a great site, and Sean Forman's success is deserved, as it sprang from hard work, dedication, and a quality product.—BK

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If you've grown tired of us trying to convince you, let the Brits give it a try.—BK

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Always nice to hear from the guys over at Cracked.com.—JM

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Bateman talks about drugs and alcohol, getting clean, the rebirth of his career, and yes, even a little mention of the Arrested Development movie.—BK

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With Rickey Henderson's Hall of Fame Induction just a week away, several of his former teammates share their memories of the eccentric superstar.—BK

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If I've got a link in the Sports category, you can bet it's a nerdy link. (How can you not love nerd athletes?)—JS

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Come on, EW! Don't you know how much we love this kind of thing? Why must you always screw it up? There's far more than 25 people, midway through they just chuck the "America" part, and there's an undeserved pick at #20. That said, they get a lot right, and I do loves me some listmaking.—BK

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ESPN's "30 For 30" has to be one of the best ideas in the history of television, and apparently a lot of the credit goes to PoopReading.com favorite Bill Simmons.—JM

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Keep churning out sane, difficult-to-refute arguments in favor of marijuana legalization, and I'll keep linking to them.—JM

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The Sci Fi Channel just rebranded itself as "Syfy." When I first heard that, I thought "what possible reason could there be for something like this?" Turns out there were a few good ones, actually.—JM

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Great profile of Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy as he finds peace in marriage, parenthood, and the success of his band.—BK

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Budget cuts and commercial alternatives are putting state-funded interstate rest areas at risk, depriving travelers not only of a place to stretch their legs or walk their dog, but also a bit of local flavor.—BK

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A rare inside look at the busiest – and highest paid (I think) – man in television comedy.—BK

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A slightly hysterical overview of parallax in the TV depiction of baseball pitching: more accurate vs. easier to watch.—JS

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Infidelity may no longer be the political career-killer it once was.—BK

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A few election predictions make it a little dated, but overall a nice introduction to a fascinating topic.—JS

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As with most successful people who didn't benefit from nepotism, John Grisham's rise to publishing super-stardom took talent, hard work and a decent amount of blind luck.—JM

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I've always tended to join the torch-wielding masses when it comes to Fehr, hating him for his part in the 1994 strike and the steroids problem in baseball. But you can always count on Joe Sheehan to play the contrarian to conventional wisdom, and that's why I love reading his stuff.—BK

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Well, duh. But Henry Fairlie said it all along, and his decades as a political essayist make for a revealing account of one conservative's deepening dissatisfaction with conservatism.—JS

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One of the phone's latest tricks is already making for gritty suspense drama on the streets of Chicago.—JS

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Seems to be an interview minus the questions, with all of Cera's answers provided with no context. So it's a bit of an odd duck, but still interesting.—BK

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Most of what we know is how much we don't know, but it's still fascinating when we get a little new perspective (on both).—JS

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A book excerpt from Wertheim's tome about the epic 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Father's Day is coming up, you know...—JM

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A "comfort wipe" is basically a stick to help old and/or obese people wipe their butts.—JM

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Pitch counts in baseball have evolved from a beneficial cautionary guideline to an overly simplified rule and a way for managers to avoid criticism in the press. Joe and Bill like how Nolan Ryan and the Rangers are trying to change that mindset, and I concur.—BK

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A book by Richard Wrangham, it is theorized that mankind really made the evolutionary leap once we started cooking our food. I don't know about you, but, I love stuff like this.—JM

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The "reality shows are destroying television" rant has been done to death. But when it makes me laugh as hard as this did, done-to-death is just fine.—JS

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Which is, of course, the best kind of Larry David encounter to have.—BK

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A pivotal clip from Downfall, with the subtitles adjusted, can say pretty much anything you want it to, with hilarious results.—JS

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I listened to Teresa Strasser almost daily for about three years on Adam Carolla's morning radio show, and grew quite fond of her. Alas, she married another. Now she's blogging about her pregnancy, which may be of interest to those of you who are pregnant, or have been pregnant. Or who once had a pregnant spouse, or relative, or friend. Or Mom.—JM

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Dipping back into the A.V. Club archives for a second opinion on one of my underappreciated favorites.—BK

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Believe in Michael Moore or don't, but his passion on this issue is undeniable. (And he can sound loony and poetic at the same time, which is kind of cool.)—JS

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Halfway through your third decade on the planet? Sars has some advice for you, and it boils down to: grow up.—JS

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On top of this, Conan O'Brien gives the movie kudos in the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly. Everything's coming up marionette!—BK

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The difficulties and rewards of attempting to visit all 30 Major League Baseball stadiums in a single season.—BK

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Y2K, global warming, the Mayan calendar coming to an end in 2012... like they once said on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," I find myself needing to know the plural of "apocalypse."—JM

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As Sesame Street turns 40, it faces reduced episode counts, staff layoffs, and sagging ratings. My kids watch it, but I have to admit, it's not their favorite show. Still, I'm grateful to have a cultural touchstone we can share.—BK

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Action scribe Shane Black gives a short guide to what every action movie should have – which is, oddly, tied to the dopey Renny Harlin movie 12 Rounds.—JS

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Will I get tired of nerdy science types deconstructing the tropes of science fiction? Not until someone travels back in time to stop me.—JS

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For Memorial Day, your requisite dose of "freedom isn't free." True freedom, of course, involves even the freedom to take for granted the sacrifices of those who came before, and unfortunately that's a freedom of which I occasionally avail myself.—JM

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I know it's not football season, and I know it's not 2008. Still, this is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. Also, the Major League Baseball draft is coming up, and I'm going to steal the living hell out of this idea.—JM

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Just one of many jaw-dropping revelations in this short Q&A about teens and new technology. (Sadly, danah boyd is the "actual" spelling of her name.)—JS

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Networks clamor for "Buffy"-like material, but when they get it, they have no idea what to do with it. Some updates on the Buffyverse.—JS

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The piece doesn't quite live up to the title, although to be fair, no piece could ever hope to live up to that title. But, apart from a few tiresome "fork" puns, it's a fun read.—JM

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Twenty and thirtysomething singles are still relocating to Portland, Seattle, and Austin in droves, but the poor economy means there are fewer jobs waiting for them when they get there.—BK

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You mean there are guys out there like me, funnier than 90% of monologue jokes? And they're getting paid for it?—JS

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It's pretty simple: if there's Big Lebowski material out there worth reading, we're going to link to it. I hope everybody's cool with that.—BK

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"Fringe," I saw a couple of times but don't really watch. "Dollhouse," I've flip-flopped on several times over the course of its short run; right now, I'm a fan.—JM

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It should go without saying that you should probably listen to doctors and scientists more. It should.—JM

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It's a fascinating story all around, but to answer the obvious question: yes, there was a girl involved.—JS

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You mean there's a guy out there like me, writing a vicious riposte whenever anyone belittles Pixar? And he's getting paid for it?—JS

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Posnanski makes a compelling argument against knee-jerk hatred of egomaniacal baseball agent Scott Boras. I'm still going to hate Boras, but I'll try to mull it over for a minute before I do it.—BK

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Interesting – if generous – perspective. I could've handled a lot of the other stuff if Topher had been more like Xander and less like an obnoxious ass.—JS

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"Excessive use of exclamation marks in expository prose is a sure sign of an unpractised writer or of one who wants to add a spurious dash of sensation to something unsensational." That's what an English usage guide cited in this piece says, and that's what I'll assert 'til the day I'm deep in the cold, cold ground.—JM

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How 30 Rock's storylines have a tendency to embrace a conservative worldview. It's a really interesting observation, even if the writer – understandably – isn't quite sure what to make of it.—BK

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I suspect that Bill Simmons wrote this column a few years ago and just held onto it until the time came to run it, like newspapers do with obituaries for really old celebrities.—JM

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ESPN.com's "The Sports Guy" is dead serious about wanting to be the general manager of the Minnesota Timberwolves. There's not a chance in hell it could happen, of course, and that's quite a shame.—JM

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If you know Penn & Teller, you know Teller never speaks. If you really know them, you know it's always fascinating when he does.—JS

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ESPN's Tuesday Morning Quarterback has nice things to say about the late Jack Kemp, with whom he was (slightly) personally acquainted.—JM

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As in which entertainers can't fall out of your good graces, even when they deliver a clunker or two. The Coen Brothers, Steve Martin, Albert Brooks, and U2 come to mind for me, and all have tested that status at one point or another.—BK

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Think the slumping economy might mean a nice cut in ticket prices for your favorite team's games? Turns out that might not necessarily be the case...—JM

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The ongoing battle between high-fructose corn syrup and cane sugar, one that could potentially have a big impact on soda drinkers (gulp).—BK

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Fascinating insights into the development and mentality of infants. You were one, once.—JS

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An interesting piece on, among other things, how Team Obama makes lemonade from Joe Biden's lemons.—JM

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Observations on fatherhood, the state of the term "nerd," and the author's ongoing gay crush on Jason Statham.—JS

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It's good to see someone devote some column space to the underappreciated Adsit, though I can't help wishing it was longer and more in-depth.—BK

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How do you get two byline links in the same week here at PoopReading.com? By making at least one of your pieces about Michael Schur, of course.—BK

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How the success of This is Spinal Tap and the mockumentary in general have made it harder for some real documentaries to be taken seriously – particularly a new one about a very Tap-esque band named Anvil.—BK

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Yes, it failed to live up to the ridiculously high expectations, and sure, it almost destroyed the Kids in the Hall, but it deserves a little love and the A.V. Club is here to give it.—BK

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Anna Faris was a much-debated omission from this PoopReading column, and since I was the guy who shot her down, my posting of this link will no doubt now cause Jameson's head to explode.—BK

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How some MLB teams are starting to embrace advanced statistical analysis of fielding as a way to get a competitive edge.—BK

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It's not just a stupid promotional gimmick that ruins otherwise good cinema, it's also physically detrimental!—JS

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Simon Callow (the actor, I can only assume) on a new Charlie Chaplin biography by Simon Louvish.—JM

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Jim Caple takes a look at what the failures of newspapers, and the corresponding loss of baseball beat writers, means for the fan.—JM

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A meaty profile of San Diego State pitcher Stephen Strasburg, who has clocked 103 mph on the radar gun and might someday throw the fastest pitch ever.—JM

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A.V. Club embraces its own onrushing irrelevance. "Aren't as bad as you think," maybe – but "among the series' best?" Not this jumble of non-actor cameos and lame film/TV spoofs, no way.—JS

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Why that particular benchmark has always been an unreliable indicator for presidential success.—BK

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I've got a VHS copy of Dirty Work, and I personally got it signed by both Norm Macdonald and Artie Lange. I figured I'd mention that now, since opportunities to mention it don't come up all that often.—JM

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Exploring the concept of baseball stadiums as architecture via a look at the new Yankee Stadium and Citi Field.—BK

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I didn't want to like Brand, the whole time he was winning me over in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Since then, despite his style and appearance, he's only grown on me.—JS

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The awesomeness of the idea is diminished a little by the author's atrocious spelling.—BK

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Exporting our memory (phone numbers to our cell phone, addresses to Google, facts to Wikipedia) means dramatically increasing our storage space. More memory equals smarter.—JS

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A second look at the project that killed the Mike Myers comedy dynasty. Conclusion: it still stinks.—BK

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What does Guitar Hero's popularity mean for the future of rock and roll?—BK

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The original article sounds interesting, but this recap/extension hits the high points succinctly.—JS

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I'm of the opinion that you can't assume any player is/was clean, but if you have to pick a slugger to make that assumption about, Delgado seems like a good choice.—BK

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A look back at the NBA legend's brief foray into Major League Baseball.—BK

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Sixteen films that do exactly what the title implies.—JS

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A nice take on the fallacy of trying to rewrite the baseball record books.—BK

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Having recently viewed it for a second time, I have to agree: it never really got a fair shake.—BK

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A thoughtful – if not necessarily groundbreaking – rumination on Abraham Lincoln in general, and how different generations have perceived Lincoln in particular.—JM

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A list that includes two famous players whose bans you might not be aware of (I certainly wasn't).—BK

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The first of many Oscar-themed links and posts you'll see this week.—BK

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Wasn't Grover Cleveland fictional? I mean, that name... come on. Put a colon in the middle and you've got the title of a regional Sesame Street spin-off.—BK

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Out of all the links we've posted, this one kept a smile on my face the longest.—JS

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A computer-generated sci-fi epic with grand ambitions to communicate the perils of war and racism fails to remember the principal rule of filmmaking: Do Not Suck.—JS

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You can quibble about the rankings or the omissions (Bowfinger anyone?), you can complain that you can't get it all on one page, but the fact remains: it's still a chance to spend several minutes of your day reveling in Steve, and that's a wonderful thing.—BK

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The all-too-brief interview touches upon their recent reunion, new projects, and yeah, the whereabouts of those damn DVDs.—BK

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David Denby has seen the enemy, and it is this year's Best Picture nominees. (FYI: Contains a few small plot details that might be considered mildly spoilerish.)—BK

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WALL-E director Andrew Stanton discusses the animation ghetto, and the trouble with sequels. (Hat tip, AC for the link.)—JS

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Number one on their list (and mine): those annoying head-box DVD sets The Simpsons used starting with Season 6.—BK

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Personal ads in the London Review of Books. We're all just looking for a little companionship. These people do it with dry wit and a charmingly antiquated spelling of "favourite."—JS

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Good stuff, though sadly the list does not include the time Scooby Doo and the Gang met the Harlem Globetrotters.—BK

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It's hard to know what to make of this, but it's fanciful and fun to think about.—JS

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It's less about Obama than it is about the changing ways Hollywood has portrayed black men over the last 50 years; but an interesting read nonetheless.—BK

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Typical MLB crisis management: identify a problem long after it has become obvious to everybody, commission a half-assed study, refuse to share the resulting data, then institute unsatisfying new rules that piss people off.—BK

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This list was written before the NFC title game, so the Cardinals aren't on it. And even if the Cardinals win the Super Bowl, they belong on it.—JM

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Interesting research regarding the impact of urban stimuli on our mental health.—BK

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The hilarious New Zealand duo talk about the upcoming season of their HBO series.—BK

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An interesting look at the emerging field of photography-as-art-history. Sort of heady, but that's okay once in a while.—JM

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If you've never read anything by Edward Gorey, consider this out-of-print 1965 parody of an etiquette book – written as Hyacinthe Phyppe, fake social expert – your introduction to his demented genius.—BK

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As millions prepare to descend upon D.C. for the Obama inauguration, the place where they will spend a good deal of their time is in disrepair.—BK

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A look at twin failed adaptations of the same Elmore Leonard novel. An entertaining read, even if you haven't seen either film (as I have not).—BK

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A compare-and-contrast look at the various methodologies used by spell-check programs in word processing versus online search engines. What's that? It sounds boring? Well... you're boring!—JM

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I know next to nothing about the NBA, and even I can find a lot wrong this this piece. Still, it makes for a good read, as do most things dealing with the Lebron-to-New York topic.—JM

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Looking back to the 1930s for clues about how baseball might weather the current economic downturn.—BK

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Pretty much what you'd expect – "in my day" this, "kids today are pussies" that – which is to say: awesome.—JM

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An interview with Bill Lawrence on the eve of the show's revival on ABC.—BK

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Meets the minimum acceptable standard by listing Jack Donaghy, then exceeds it by including several Poop Reading favorites from Pushing Daisies, The Office, and How I Met Your Mother.—BK

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A professional athlete and a burgeoning screenwriter. I suppose he also sleeps on a pile of money with many beautiful ladies.—BK

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Dog emotions, math gender gaps and the dangers of excessive flip-flop wearing; it's all here.—BK

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Newly discovered, even though it was written a year ago. You can quibble with the rankings or the omissions (Gil, Dr. Nick Riviera), but anybody who references the Krusty Brand Chew Goo Gum-Like Substance gets an A+ in my book.—BK

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A look at an artistic tradition that too often veers into laziness and comic absurdity.—BK

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In defense of Jason Statham, Counting Crows, and, believe it or not, Boat Trip.—BK

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UniWatch is the non-sports-fan's dream come true – provided said non-fan is a geek for trivial minutiae (and he damn well ought to be).—JS

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As the last major distributor abandons the format, so goes the final nail into the coffin.—BK

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A look at why the Tom Cruise brand, like the stock market, may be on the verge of collapse.—BK

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A review of the worst, strangest and funniest band names of the year. With apologies to those of you who are fans of Anal Hearse.—BK

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Nothing misleading about that title... TWoP looks at their favorite films of 2008. It takes a bit more mouse-clicking than is ideal for our purposes, but it's not that bad.—JM

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How the man did his homework and scammed thousands from Press Your Luck. (The guy who beat The Price Is Right this week apparently took the honest route.)—JS

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Will the 2008 Detroit Lions one day join this illustrious list? That is, if they haven't already?—JM

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Not only is Ranger Joe Popped Wheat Honnies a great cereal name, it could also double as the headline for a criminal case involving midwestern beauty pageant winners and a state park employee.—BK

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On Jim Carrey's legacy of characters locked in struggle with the self.—JS

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An odd, fascinating profile of what is either a mid-life crisis or a period of enlightenment for Murray. I can't tell whether to feel pity or be impressed. Don't the Germans have a word that means both?—BK

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Good advice for Baron von Funny contributors. (Not really, but it's tops in unintentional hilarity.)—JS

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Checking in with Joe's former co-workers from Cheap Seats.—JS

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Cracked.com has some great stuff, but it isn't ideally formatted for our purposes. This one, however, absolutely must be read. Must!—JM

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Interesting tales from their collaboration, on the eve of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Pitt's much-anticipated third film with the director.—JS

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Because nothing says Christmas like a surprise dinner visit from your boss or stealing the identity of a man you just killed.—BK

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Why college recruiters are more successful than NFL scouts at finding gridiron talent.—BK

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A beautiful idea executed to comic perfection. I'm jealous. (Ignore the early formatting problems, they go away.)—BK

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Corporate innovation in the time before history. Fear not: no real bears are involved.—JS

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Michael Ian Black is nothing short of a national treasure.—JM

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A terrific Q&A session that will make you miss them all over again.—BK

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Remembering the former MLB pitcher and Indians radio broadcaster with just the right mix of lighthearted sentimentality.—BK

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Most UniWatch columns rely almost completely on clicking on links. This one, mostly an interview with the designer of the MLB logo, does not, making it ideal for our purposes.—JM

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Jameson, Joe and I have been making this point for years. Way to jump on the bandwagon, L.A. Times!—BK

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An oldie but a goodie, FJM takes a look at one wacked-out Pittsburgh columnist's outsized obsession with superbike racing.—JS

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Explaining the judicial consequences of an Obama presidency.—JM

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Somebody finally succeeds in convincing Joe to be scared of an Obama presidency, without even calling Barack a Muslim!—JM