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Jay Stooksberry

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Neither Trump nor AP controls our words

Neither Trump nor AP controls our words

The Associated Press’s legal victory highlights the limited power presidents and the press have over the creative destruction and spontaneous order of our language.

Be honest with your verbs

Be honest with your verbs

Whatever you do, don’t bullshit yourself.

RIP to Government Acronyms

RIP to Government Acronyms

One perk that may materialize from Elon Musk upending the federal bureaucracy is the downfall of the government’s obsessive use of abbreviations.

Guns and Grammar

Guns and Grammar

Though awkward and antiquated, the Second Amendment’s syntax and grammar unambiguously protect gun rights.

Asylum Isn't As Crazy as Trump Claims

Asylum Isn't As Crazy as Trump Claims

The president-elect can't tell political asylum from an insane asylum. But a little linguistic history reveals a more compelling American tradition.

Trump's Grammatical Time Machine

Trump's Grammatical Time Machine

The president-elect uses conditional grammar to craft self-fulfilling speculative historical fiction.

Us-Versus-Them: The Pronouns of Populism

Us-Versus-Them: The Pronouns of Populism

Populism’s pronoun usage taps into the darker elements of the human condition.

The Presidential We

The Presidential We

How U.S. presidents habitually use—and abuse—pronouns to deceive.

No, the Oxford comma didn’t win in court

No, the Oxford comma didn’t win in court

Despite what you’ve heard, O’Connor v. Oakhurst Dairy didn’t set a legal precedent for the serial comma.

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Inanimate Object?

Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Inanimate Object?

I invited guns, booze, and weed to my house — and the results were frightening.

Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond

Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond

In her sixth book, Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond, author and ska historian Heather Augustyn asks a simple question: In a movement so dedicated to principles of racial equality, why did gender equality flop in the ska scene?

The Oxford comma is overrated

The Oxford comma is overrated

Alternative title: “Oxford Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Obsessing and Become Ambivalent About the Serial Comma”

What Richard Arreola taught me about Paige Pierce

What Richard Arreola taught me about Paige Pierce

I didn’t know Paige Pierce, the woman shot and killed by a Delta County Sheriff's deputy. But I did know Richard Arreola. And I think his story may be helpful in light of recent events.

We ain’t getting any younger

We ain’t getting any younger

Our declining birth rate may put the squeeze on younger generations.

Disqualifying qualified immunity

Disqualifying qualified immunity

How this made-up judicial doctrine protects buffoonery, brutality, and everything in between.

Can sex ed get any worse?

Can sex ed get any worse?

Hard to believe that we are debating sex ed in my community, but here we are.

Fauci Ouchies, vaccine hesitancy, and passports

Fauci Ouchies, vaccine hesitancy, and passports

There is no immunity to scientific illiteracy or bad policies.

Guns & Immigration: What’s good for the Glock and the Greenlander?

Guns & Immigration: What’s good for the Glock and the Greenlander?

What if the arguments used to refute gun control were applied to immigration restrictions? Because what’s good for the Glock might be good for the Greenlander. (Or the Guatemalan, the Ghananian, or many other non-alliteration-based nationalities.)

Is gun control effective? Evidence says, "Meh."

Is gun control effective? Evidence says, "Meh."

Studies suggest that some gun-control policies are, at best, cartoonish.

The Mask at Hand

The Mask at Hand

To mask or not to mask? That’s the obnoxious question.

First, cancel culture came for...

First, cancel culture came for...

Tales from the frontline of cancel culture by an easily spooked white dude.

Presidents are overrated

Presidents are overrated

Our obsession with the White House is misguided and the presidency is vastly overrated.

Free Speech Failures on the Left and Right

Free Speech Failures on the Left and Right

Conservatives and progressives seem to agree on one thing: the First Amendment is confusing.

Take it from this libertarian: Lauren Boebert isn't one

Take it from this libertarian: Lauren Boebert isn't one

I once thought that Lauren Boebert could be an ally for libertarians. That changes when I hosted her for a libertarian meetup.

Colorado's Growing Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement

Colorado's Growing Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement

What happens when cities and counties have their own ideas about a law that authorizes the seizure of guns from people who are mentally ill?

Colorado Teen Banned From School for Going Shooting With His Mother

Colorado Teen Banned From School for Going Shooting With His Mother

Posting “Finna be lit” on Snapchat shouldn’t have gotten Nathan Myers thrown out of school.

Referendum C hurt TABOR; Prop CC will do more harm

Referendum C hurt TABOR; Prop CC will do more harm

The latest attempt to undermine TABOR—Prop CC—is appropriately named because it is a double-down of the lies that were used to passed Ref. C in 2005.

Want to Stop Gun Violence? End The War On Drugs

Want to Stop Gun Violence? End The War On Drugs

Without legal mechanisms in place, the only option for arbitration in the black market is violence.

Dear marijuana prohibitionists: Please think of the children!

Dear marijuana prohibitionists: Please think of the children!

One of society’s most vulnerable groups is young people. And the only environment where young people can get help is one that is centered on legalization, acceptance, and treatment—not prohibition, fearmongering, and moralizing.

As a Father, Kavanaugh Screwed Up

As a Father, Kavanaugh Screwed Up

When his children needed to learn the truth about “Bart,” he pretended that he was “Brett” all along.

Thankful for sleepless nights and leftover eggs

Thankful for sleepless nights and leftover eggs

I am exhausted, but I will be forever thankful for the reasons why. Not realizing their grandeur would be foolish and selfish on my part.

Cops Were Chasing a Shoplifter. They Ended Up Destroying an Innocent Man's Home.

Cops Were Chasing a Shoplifter. They Ended Up Destroying an Innocent Man's Home.

The outcome of this case may bring clarity to the property rights of Americans living in the shadow of police militarization.

How losing my cat helped me find humanity

How losing my cat helped me find humanity

I could easily hang humanity out to dry for the actions of one man trapping my cats, but then I would be ignoring the overwhelming amount of people who helped me to find them. 

Selling Higher Education Is Sleazier Than Selling a Used Car

Selling Higher Education Is Sleazier Than Selling a Used Car

Tuition markup, predatory lending, and moral hazard of higher education.

How to survive the online world of politics

How to survive the online world of politics

Online culture and politics can be a toxic combination, but it doesn't have to be if you follow these best practices. 

Colorado Traffic Tickets By Comparison

Colorado Traffic Tickets By Comparison

A look at how much traffic tickets cost in and around the Centennial State.

Don’t Blame Capitalism for Your Pricey EpiPen

Don’t Blame Capitalism for Your Pricey EpiPen

The incessent meddling of regulators and other busybodies does nothing but pad Mylan’s monopoly.

I stand—but probably not for the same reasons you do

I stand—but probably not for the same reasons you do

I have my own reasons to stand for the national anthem. And you have yours to stand or not stand. And that's ok. 

Getting to know your libertarian friend

Getting to know your libertarian friend

So what’s the best way to handle your libertarian friend? As a libertarian myself, I am here to offer some helpful tips and best practices. 

Amendment 71 is Still Wrong for Colorado

Amendment 71 is Still Wrong for Colorado

A renewed opposition to this poorly designed and deeply flawed amendment has picked up steam.

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Previous Next
Neither Trump nor AP controls our words
Be honest with your verbs
RIP to Government Acronyms
Guns and Grammar
Asylum Isn't As Crazy as Trump Claims
Trump's Grammatical Time Machine
Us-Versus-Them: The Pronouns of Populism
The Presidential We
No, the Oxford comma didn’t win in court
Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Inanimate Object?
Rude Girls: Women in 2 Tone and One Step Beyond
The Oxford comma is overrated
What Richard Arreola taught me about Paige Pierce
We ain’t getting any younger
Disqualifying qualified immunity
Can sex ed get any worse?
Fauci Ouchies, vaccine hesitancy, and passports
Guns & Immigration: What’s good for the Glock and the Greenlander?
Is gun control effective? Evidence says, "Meh."
The Mask at Hand
First, cancel culture came for...
Presidents are overrated
Free Speech Failures on the Left and Right
Take it from this libertarian: Lauren Boebert isn't one
Colorado's Growing Second Amendment Sanctuary Movement
Colorado Teen Banned From School for Going Shooting With His Mother
Referendum C hurt TABOR; Prop CC will do more harm
Want to Stop Gun Violence? End The War On Drugs
Dear marijuana prohibitionists: Please think of the children!
As a Father, Kavanaugh Screwed Up
Thankful for sleepless nights and leftover eggs
Cops Were Chasing a Shoplifter. They Ended Up Destroying an Innocent Man's Home.
How losing my cat helped me find humanity
Selling Higher Education Is Sleazier Than Selling a Used Car
How to survive the online world of politics
Colorado Traffic Tickets By Comparison
Don’t Blame Capitalism for Your Pricey EpiPen
I stand—but probably not for the same reasons you do
Getting to know your libertarian friend
Amendment 71 is Still Wrong for Colorado
 
 
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Jay Stooksberry, Copyright © 2017