The Thin Blue Line Flag: The Artist’s FAQ

First off, I just want to say that I’ve been blown away by the positive response to my flag. I hadn’t made a lot of flags before, but the feedback ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Hey, Girl. It’s Me, the Ball Pit. Can We Talk?

“A beloved childhood experience, or a petri dish of germs? Public ball pits will reopen in August.” — Headline from the Boston Globe, 5/5/21- - -H... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Ten Hot Beverages That Are Your Best Friends Now

1. Morning CoffeeLike all true friends, Morning Coffee brings out your best. This warm, invigorating companion is always there for you, even when ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Human Teeth Development Meeting Notes

Design— Round 1 spacing was excessive. Definitely need more than three teeth.— Dave to minimize the spacing, throw a couple more teeth in there. ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

An Interactive Guide to Ambiguous Grammar

Depending on whom you ask, the use of the active voice over the passive is arguably the most fundamental writer’s maxim, thought to lend we... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

My Mother’s Day Gift to Myself Is This Dissociative Episode in Costco

I’m so sorry, sir — did I just crush your foot? I don’t know how that happened. I’m not even sure how I got here, to be honest. Today is Mother’s D... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Gregor Samsa’s DIY Mother’s Day Gift Ideas

A CardTake that 1099 you got from your 9th side hustle you took just to make rent, and fold it in half. Then fold it again. Don’t worry, you don’t... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

We Need a New York City Mayor Who Will Take Mom to the Cloisters When She Visits

Another New York City mayoral race is upon us, and there’s a wide variety of candidates from all kinds of backgrounds and ideologies vying for thei... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I’m the Judge Who Approved the Custody Arrangement in The Parent Trap, But in My Defense, I Didn’t Think They Would Go to the Same Camp

Years ago, I presided over a complex international divorce and custody arrangement, resulting in an unconventional legal ruling in which each of th... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Community Theatre Dress Rehearsal of The Crucible, or Perimenopause?

1. “It’s really hot up here. Hotter than I expected.”2. “Whoa, you need to take it down a few notches, hon. This isn’t Medea.”3. “I have... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Of All Your Teaching Skills, Passion Is the Most Important

Dear Prospective Teacher,Are you passionate? I mean, REALLY passionate? Are you so passionate it hurts?Because here’s the thing: People rant abou... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Updated Privacy Policy From Your Children

This privacy policy describes the processing of information collected by, provided to, or snooped on by your children. This policy describes the wa... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

How Being a Teacher During a Pandemic is Similar to Being a Steward on the Titanic

1. The whole ship is going down. I mean the entire freaking ship.2. You think to yourself, “I’m pretty sure we were assured in some paperwork some... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Thanks For Coming Over For Dinner. I’ve Never Cooked Before and I’m Going to Ruin Your Life

I’m sorry. Why the hell did I just say that? I’m nervous. Blah. Come on in.Don’t worry about taking off your shoes. I’ve never worn shoes inside m... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Sure, Velociraptor Repellent Is 95% Effective Against Velociraptor Attacks, But Do We Really Need to Wear It to Visit Jurassic Park?

“More than half of adults in the United States have been inoculated with at least one dose of a vaccine. But daily vaccination rates are slipping, ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Scenes Deleted from Star Wars Because the Stormtroopers Came Off As Too Relatable

INT. DEATH STAR – CORRIDOR[As CHEWBACCA and HAN SOLO evade capture, STORMTROOPER 1 and STORMTROOPER 2 stand and chat.]STORMTROOPER 1: Lisa starte... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

The Empire Should Continue Working Remotely Post-Pandemic

Dear Lord Vader,You have said in recent weeks that everyone in the Empire must soon return to work in person. I’m afraid I have to disagree. Stayi... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I Am Thrilled That My Career Day Exhibit on Shaft Hardening at My Son’s Middle School Was So Popular

TO: Tim Cavanaugh, P.E., VP of Structural EngineeringRE: Volunteering at the STEM Career Day at my son’s middle schoolHi Tim,STEM Career Day a... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Five Things Only Morse Code Fans Will Understand

(Click codes for translations.)- - -1.Starting off with a classic. Every Morse code fan worth their salt knows this inside joke!2. Getting a ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

It’s Me, God, and Yes, I Do Know What Brian Wilson Would Be Without You: Fine

Do not be alarmed as I am everything that has been, everything that is, and everything that will ever be. You saw me in the sparkling gossamer that... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Great News from the Nine Circles of Hell: We’re Reopening

Hey there, abandoners-of-all-hope!We’re thrilled to announce that the fires have been stoked, the pools of blood refilled, and the harpies’ talons... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

CDC’s Guidelines for When It’s Safe to Still Wear Lounge Pants

With more and more Americans being fully vaccinated, they are ready to return to work and leisure activities. Here are guidelines for when it’s saf... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

The ’90s Are Back, and They Aren’t Leaving Without Their Son

Every couple of years, some hotshot said the 1990s were back. No one took it seriously. The ’90s were long gone, dead as the Noid or print media. J... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

The Self-Checkout Machine at CVS Gaslights You

Hey, I’m the self-checkout machine at the CVS you frequent. Have to be honest here — it feels like you haven’t been yourself lately. You’ve placed ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

If Libraries Were Like Run Like Used Car Dealerships

We have BOOKS!Big books, small books, tall books, short books.Books for all your READING needs!Ask us about our NO-INTEREST LOANS.No money? No ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

We’re Acquiring Your Company, But Don’t Worry, It’ll Be Weeks Before You’re Laid Off

We, the management of Capital Venture Partners, are thrilled to announce that effective immediately, Gonzo Media and its various subsidiaries will ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Are You Accused of Being a Vaccinated Teacher or a Salem Witch?

“A private school in Miami, citing false claims, bars vaccinated teachers from contact with students.” — New York Times, 4/26/21- - -1. You are ac... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Baba Yaga Announces That She Is Distancing Herself From Tucker Carlson

“Your response when you see children wearing masks as they play should be no different from your response to seeing someone beat a kid in Walmart… ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I Hope You Like Carrying Your Coat Because I’ve Transformed My Entryway Closet Into a Cozy Reading Nook

Hello and welcome to my home. Yes, I did answer the door extremely quickly, thank you for noticing. I was just here inside, sitting quietly in my c... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Beaver of Fine Arts: Career-Launching Moves for Pond Life Stardom

Beaver of Fine Arts: Career-Launching Moves for Pond Life Stardom | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

“Bust a Move”: The Faculty Mix

This here’s a tale for all the teachersGradin’ those papers in the empty bleachersTry to turn Zoom bugs into featuresLookin’ for the choir but j... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Who Said It: Dana Scully from The X-Files, or Me Talking to My Aunt Sharon, the Anti-Vaxxer?

1. “I’m not gonna ask you if you just said what I think you just said.”2. “I have never met anyone so passionate and dedicated to a belief as you.... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

The Cute Dog in This Gritty Drama Knows It’s Toast

Hello there! I could barely see you through the adorable scruff that covers my little puppy face. My eyes are so cute and tiny. I hear you praying ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Track Your Ovulation Cycle Naturally, by Watching Outlander

There are many products purporting to clear up the complexities of your ovulation cycle, but mother nature (and the Starz network) has provided the... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Vaccine Side Effect, or Have You Just Been Alive for 40 Years?

Did you get the COVID-19 vaccine?A) Yes, because I’m ready to get back out there and start partying again!B) Yes, because I am haunted ... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I’m a Full-Blown Argument, and I Will Be Attending Your Family Dinner

So, I hear your parents finally got their second dose, huh? Moderna? That’s great. You’re probably feeling a whole lot better about visiting them n... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

AITA For Not Wanting to Be Seen with My Donkey-Headed Boyfriend?

I should start by mentioning that I (F1035) had just come out of a so-called “fairy tale” relationship with O. (M1037). Technically, O. and I are s... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Shakespeare Finds Out About the “Shakespeare Authorship Question” from Walter Mondale

So, Walter Mondale shows up in heaven the other day, and I’m all eager to talk to him because I’m kind of a political junkie — see Richard III — bu... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Our Company Is Committed to Going 100% Carbon-Free By the Year 3000

The scientific consensus is clear. We’re facing an urgent carbon crisis that is already drastically affecting the world around us. We know that it’... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I Will Gladly Explain Why I Hate The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Just As Soon As I Finish Reading All 22 Pages

“I’m glad I ran into you today @AOC to plan our debate about the Green New Deal. After I finish reading all 14 pages, like we agreed, I’ll schedule... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

I Will Gladly Explain Why I Hate The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Just As Soon As I Finish Reading All 20 Pages

“I’m glad I ran into you today @AOC to plan our debate about the Green New Deal. After I finish reading all 14 pages, like we agreed, I’ll schedule... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Cassandra Speaks Up

Can I just say, I am so sick of hearing about Nostradamus. I mean, obviously, the comparison has been there for ages, but last year was harder than... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

House Hunting in 2021 Bingo

Click board to enlarge | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

We Need to Prepare Our City in Case the Police Start Rioting

“As the nation reacts to the guilty verdict a jury handed to Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd, Republican-led states are introducing pu... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

An Interview with Nikita Lalwani, Author of You People

Amanda Uhle spoke with Nikita Lalwani about her new novel, You People, which Publisher’s Weekly says, “surges with passion, intrigue, and a rigorou... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

A Tribute’s First Day of the Hunger Games or a Teacher’s First Day of School Reopening?

1. No one wants to say it out loud, but the public expects you to die for your district.2. As the day begins, everyone lines up six feet apart... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

The Salad Bar Is Back, Baby!

Hey, how’s it going? I’m a Salad Bar, and we’re back. Know what that means? It means the pandemic is pretty much over.What, you don’t believe me?... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago

Writing Prompts from a Teacher Trying to Get Her Class to Reveal Where They Hid Her Keys

Write an Agatha Christie-style mystery where a woman leaves a room for five minutes and returns to find the keychain left on her desk is now missin... | Continue reading


@mcsweeneys.net | 3 years ago