From his new column answering email feedback: Q: I was watching “Seinfeld” the other night and wondered: How many dates do you think it took to sleep with Elaine? I say third date and you’re in. I think she would go all the way on the second date, but she probably would think that’s a…

In the latest entry of his ongoing Libertarian Bookworm series, Timothy Sandefur writes about H.L. Mencken, in my opinion the finest essayist in American history and probably my single favorite writer, period. He mentions a new biography of Mencken written by Terry Teachout, which I had not heard about and would like to read. Teachout…

His name is Scott Thomas and he apparently is another right wing radio host. He wrote this obnoxious piece of falsely patriotic bullshit, which includes this statement: Patriotism in the United States is loving God and country — in that order — and appreciating the blessing it is to live in freedom. Patriotism is acknowledging…

I just had a conversation with one of my loan officers about Frank Sinatra. In my experience, you either get Sinatra or you don’t. I’ve talked to people who just don’t understand his appeal, and if they don’t get it, you really can’t explain it to them. Sinatra was simply the coolest man on the…

“To me, the comic is the guy who says ‘Wait a minute’ as the consensus forms. He’s the antithesis of the mob mentality. The comic is a flame ? like Shiva the Destroyer, toppling idols no matter what they are.” Bill Hicks After writing yesterday’s list of the greatest comedians, it has occured to me…

Inspired by a conversation this afternoon, prompted by the death of Alan King, I’d like to lay out my list of the greatest comedians of all time. If anyone bothers to read it, I’m sure there will be lots of debate over who is on the list that shouldn’t be, or who was left off…

The third entry on my “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” list is my favorite sportswriter. That honor goes to the legendary Sports Guy, Bill Simmons. The Sports Guy writes for espn.com, as well as for the Jimmy Kimmel show, and he’s the funniest sportswriter this side of Bill Scheft. But whereas Scheft…

I posted on who I thought was the funniest comedian a few days ago, now it’s time for who I think is the funniest writer of our day. The award goes to Joe Queenan. Queenan is a freelance writer who has written in dozens and dozens of magazines as diverse as Spy and Forbes. He…

As a former stand up comic, I get asked a lot who my favorite comedians are. I tend to like dark, edgy humor more than anything else, and if it’s got a real identifiable view of the world attached to it, so much the better. I think the best comic working today is Doug Stanhope.…