In reference to Pete Wells merciless takedown of Guy Fieri's upscale Times Square dive, Brain Pickings brought up John Updike's rules of critical opinion, which state that the author — or, in this case, the restaurateur — should not be blamed "for not achieving what he did not attempt."

Political genius and shadow Senate candidate Harold Ford has called on New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand to release her tax returns, but says he doesn't have to do the same because he hasn't "announced" his candidacy yet. It's the rule!