Eric Spitznagel | author, humorist, journalist, shut-in

Explaining MCA’s Death to My Mom: A Lesson in Ill Communication

It was an unlucky coincidence that my mother’s birthday happened to fall on the same day that Adam Yauch died. The moment I got on the phone with her, she noticed that something was off. I seemed vaguely sad, and … Read more!

Odd Jobs: White House Chimney Sweep

Jeff Schmittinger, the owner and founder of Wisconsin Chimney Technicians in Waukesha, Wisc., has been cleaning the chimneys at the White House for 19 consecutive years and three administrations, and he still hasn’t been paid. To be fair, he never … Read more!

Spitz Take: Don’t Call My iPod Classic “Classic”

“What you have here,” Karl the Apple store employee tells me, “is an iPod classic.” I cringe a little, because the word “classic” always makes me cringe. Unless you’re talking about soda, “classic” hardly ever means “better.” It’s usually a … Read more!

“I’ll Trade You For Fake Boobs!”: Rise of the Barter Economy

When Toronto-based financial planner Shannon Simmons offered her expertise to a professional clown, it wasn’t exactly business as usual. Simmons advised her new client to switch from a “couch fund” to a high-interest-bearing account with limited market risk. And in … Read more!

Odd Jobs: Prosthetic Dog-Testicle Maker

Photograph by Joerg Buschmann/Gallery Stock

Gregg Miller remembers the first time he realized just what an uphill battle he was facing with his new business. He was sitting backstage at the Pat Bullard Show in New York, waiting to introduce the world to Neuticles. He … Read more!

Richard Simmons: The Men’s Health Interview

Fitness gurus don’t, as a general rule, have long careers. When was the last time you heard anything about Susan Powter, the “Stop the Insanity” lady? Or Tamilee Webb and her “Buns of Steel”? Or Tony Little, “America’s Personal Trainer?” … Read more!

Odd Jobs: Burlesque Danger Artist

When Tonya Kay performs her “fire pasties” routine this Wednesday at TRiP in Santa Monica, Calif., as part of the bar’s weekly burlesque show (doors open at 8pm, $10 cover), she’s almost positive that her breasts won’t blow up this … Read more!

Spitz Take: Script Notes For My Bob Marley Documentary

There’s a new Bob Marley documentary premiering this week. It’s called Marley, and on Friday, April 20th, you can watch it pretty much everywhere. It’ll be in theaters, video-on-demand, and even streaming on your Facebook page. The only way to … Read more!

Peter Farrelly Q&A

Peter Farrelly — along with his co-directing, co-writing brother Bobby — has given us some of cinema’s most indelible moments, both lovably juvenile (the bathroom mishaps of Dumb & Dumber and There’s Something About Mary) and just lovable (most everything … Read more!

Odd Jobs: Dog Poop Removal

Jacob D’Aniello, the co-founder and CEO of DoodyCalls, can imagine only one scenario in which his business could fail. “If one day everybody in the world woke up and decided they loved picking up dog poop,” he says grimly. “If … Read more!