philmaggitti, Author at Postcards from The Pug Bus

A vintage wood-and-brass Hall of Fame plaque reading "911 Calls Hall of Fame — In Recognition of Exemplary Civic Service," flanked by a rotary phone and a moon stamped CLEARED.

The Moon has been inducted. It earned it.

The 911 Calls Hall of Fame

The 911 Calls Hall of Fame honors reported emergencies that are not true emergencies, but are treated as such—or worse. Each entry has been preserved… Read More

Illustration of a refrigerator containing expired leftovers that have become sentient, including a smug lasagna speaking to hazmat inspectors during a federal recall investigation.

Leftovers rarely age well. Some develop opinions.

News

Federal Recall Issued After Expired Leftovers Become Sentient

philmaggitti news 2 months

The U.S. Department of Applied Refrigeration has issued a recall of expired leftovers that have become sentient. The department issued its recall at 9:14 this… Read More

Satirical fine dining scene where diners experience a conceptual tasting menu experience: empty plates, cardboard candles, and a violinist playing mournful notes.

A server delivers atmosphere, implication, and the faint aroma of regret.

Culture food

Restaurant Éthéré: The Invisible Tasting Menu Experience

philmaggitti cultural commentary, food 2 months

Restaurant Éthéré offers a unique tasting menu experience. Food is obsolete and flavor is a mindset. The menu is composed entirely of aromas, narratives, and… Read More

Cartoon of a deus ex machina moment in ancient Greek theater as a god descends on a crane to fix the plot while confused actors watch the sudden divine intervention.

Playwright stuck? Lower a god and call it character development.

Book of Daze

Book of Daze: Deus ex Machina Day

philmaggitti bookof-daze 2 months

When ancient Greek playwrights painted themselves into a corner and were stuck for an ending, they employed a maneuver of staggering genius known as deus… Read More

Illustration of a man signing a computer disclaimer while robotic lawyers watch and a holographic AI appears on screen, symbolizing an AI romantic liability waiver agreement.

Before chatting, please confirm the chatbot is not your soulmate.

Technology

The AI Romantic Liability Waiver Agreement

philmaggitti tech satire 2 months

Silicon Valley, having created the world’s most attentive, eager-to-please conversational partner, the AI chatbot, has now developed The AI Romantic Liability Waiver Agreement, a disclosure… Read More

Political cartoon depicting Gandhi’s shortcomings, showing Gandhi engaged in several of them..

History remembers the halo. The footnotes remember the man.

Culture

Speaking Ill of the Dead: Gandi’s Shortcomings

philmaggitti cultural commentary 2 months

The question of Gandhi’s shortcomings is, for many, an unwelcome one. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869–1948) occupies a position in the global imagination normally reserved for… Read More

People sitting in a circle of folding chairs at a support group meeting while one person stands and speaks about the personal consequences of going viral online.

Going viral wasn't such a good idea after all.

Culture

When Going Viral Ruins Your Life

philmaggitti cultural commentary 2 months

One tweet about sandwiches should not ruin a life. Unfortunately, social media excels at turning small accidents into permanent identities via the phenomenon known as… Read More

When the cosmos offers you a theatrical limp and a strategically placed bandage, do not question the aesthetic of your own fragility.

Horoscopes

Candid Horoscopes

philmaggitti horoscopes 2 months

Today we present candid horoscopes. The usual cosmic claptrap has been replaced with the kind of blunt disclosure normally reserved for tax attorneys and ex‑spouses.… Read More