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Peter David on the current season of Heroes:

Every time I read something new about the series, I’m happy again that I gave up on it months ago. I think it used up whatever limited storytelling chops it really had in the first couple (if not the very first) seasons.

Neal Stephenson on his new novel Anathem:

Apropos of nothing at all, just because I was taking some pictures earlier this evening, here’s me at this particular moment in time:

I received a jury summons in the mail today, even though I served back in May and was told that, under New York State law, I could not be called again for another six years. I thought I’d already explained this to the state when they sent me a jury questionnaire a few months back, but apparently there’s still some confusion.

Now I need to find the letter that confirms my service (again) — which, because I am exceptionally disorganized, might prove a little time-consuming. I honestly have no idea where I put it. And then I need to call the phone number on the summons to explain (again) why I’m ineligible this time around. It’s not that I can’t serve or won’t. This is a telephone standby summons for mid-January, so there’s no guarantee I’d actually have to present myself in court. But I’m just trying to follow their rules. And their rules say I can’t serve because I already have.

• “Keep it down, I’m trying to SCIENCE in here!” Watchmen Condensed is deceptively simple and crude but also very funny and spot-on. (Okay, some of it might just be as simple and crude as it seems. But still.) [via]
• Wow. I’m getting the sense that Virginia Heffernan really doesn’t like Sarah Vowell.
• There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about Sesame Street being dumbed down, primarily to appeal to its increasingly pre-school audience. But then it goes and does something like this winning nod to 30 Rock, or the Law and Order: Special Letters Unit spoof from a while back. It’s clearly not just all Elmo’s World over there.
• Today’s Wal-Marts and Best Buys — tomorrow’s cathedrals, museums and artists’ communities? [via]
• I don’t drink coffee very often, and I’ve never actually used a hotel coffeemaker, but this is helpful advice nonetheless. If I’m staying overnight someplace where methamphetamines are regularly brewed, I think I should know about it.
• Out for Justice? Steven Seagal has been a New Orleans cop for the past twenty years. You just can’t make that kind of thing up. [via]
• There’s something distinctly weird about watching this promo for the upcoming Cupid remake. I was a fan of the original, but it was canceled pretty quick. If this one fails too, will Rob Thomas try again in 2018?