Wes Phillips

If you think you know how, it's probably because you don't have problem feet. I have wide feet, which makes it impossible to get comfortable bicycling shoes—which are mostly made on narrow Italian lasts. The wide foot lacing solution on the Dick's Sporting Goods site has been a godsend. I'm sure the other lacing fixes work equally well.

Is it in the genes?

Thanks for the kind birthday messages, everybody. I had a great day. Joan & I went to the Frick">http://www.frick.org/">Frick Collection to gaze at our favorite Vermeers, Franz Hals, and J.M.W. Turners, not to mention checking out a comprehensive display of the New Testament drawings of Domenico">http://www.frick.org/exhibitions/tiepolo/">Domenico Tiepolo, which were completely new to me.

Bagheera, in basic black, always looks ready for a party, but for my birthday, she got all dolled up.

I just discovered the neurobiology website Beta Rhythm, which is so densely packed with information that it'll take me ages to pore over. The best post I've found yet is this one about sound.

Language Log offers some good advice on protecting yourself from&#151'wait for it—good advice on writing.

Really, don't bother.