Introducing more Situation Normal
The internet's 57th most popular humor newsletter now publishing twice a week!
Hi everyone & welcome to something new at Situation Normal! In addition to the slice of life humor I post every Sunday, Iām slicing off more funny pieces of life every Wednesday too! This is exciting news, so I suggest you celebrate like Jim Carrey š
Now, you probably have some questions about this news. So, Iāve prepared a brief Q&A with yours truly to bring you up to speed.
Q: Does this mean we get two Situation Normal stories per week?
A: No, not exactly. The Sunday edition stays the same. But the Wednesday edition of Situation Normal will feature multiple formats.
Q: Itāll still be funny, right?
A: It better be! Otherwise, Michael Estrin could lose his job.
Q: What kind of stuff should I expect on Wednesdays?
A: Itās a humor sampler platter. Iām planning to do some offbeat interviews and some even more offbeat reportage. Iāll share conversation snippets I overhear when Iām out in the field, questionable life advice from questionable people, reviews of direct mail, and the occasional book or movie recommendation. Plus, TikToks that will change your life, cold takes on topics that arenāt topical, and funny content that readers like YOU find in the wild.
Q: Wait! So, I can contribute to Situation Normal? This is a dream come true. Youāre not shitting me, are you?
A: I shit you not. I need your contributions. Unlike the Sunday stories, the Wednesday sampler platter aināt gonna write itself.
Q: Wow, this Wednesday edition sounds like just the thing I need to get me through the work week. By the way, have you noticed that the weeks are getting more and moreā¦ Unhinged? FUBAR? Apocalyptic?
A: YES! YES! And YES! I noticed the doom while doom scrolling. Itās very bad out there, things are getting worse, and the people with the power to do something arenāt doing jack shit.
Q: Can the Wednesday edition Situation Normal save us from the doom?
A: Thatās a lot of pressure. Iām hoping a few Wednesday laughs will save you from doom scrolling.
Q: Iām on board for more laughter. But I have one last question. I love your GIF-game. Will there be GIFs on Wednesday too?
Overheard at Outback Steakhouse
Husband: āItās the second time Iāve failed the sexual harassment training.ā
Wife: āWhat happens now?ā
Husband: āJust take it again.ā
Wife: āWanna get the coconut shrimp to start?ā
Husband: āSure.ā
The waiterās pizza math donāt math
I was never a very good math student. But skepticism comes naturally to me, so I used to ask my math teachers annoying questions like, āwhen are we actually going to use this stuff in the real world?ā My teachers never had convincing answers, but those were the days before social media. As it turned out, TikTok had me covered. Press play for the best math problem everš
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Nextdoor Creatures: 2 turtles lost, 1 duck found
Reader Becky R.R. in Santa Clarita has been busy, thanks to a series of animal adventures on Nextdoor.
First, a turtle went missing.
Then a second turtle went missing.
I asked Becky for updates, but thereās no news about the missing turtles, or any explanation as to why so many people in Santa Clarita canāt seem to keep track of their turtles. If a third turtle goes missing, I might have to launch an investigation, maybe even go undercover. Meantime, one of Beckyās neighbors found a duck that just needed a place to beat the heat.
Poll question
Note: the poll only loads in the Substack app, which you can download here.
Contribute to Situation Normal!
Got an animal post from Nextdoor that made you LOL or WTF? Spot something odd on your morning walk? Find a funny typo in the wild? Send your pictures to me at
michael.j.estrin@gmail.com
When submitting, please tell me if youād like to remain anonymous, use an alias, or do the first name last initial thing like Becky R.R. And if you write a newsletter, Iām happy to link to it, so let me know!
ICYMI
Scoundrels stole my catalytic converter. Time for vigilantism!
Respectful Smartass
Ariana Newhouse, the very funny woman behind a Substack called Respectful Smartass, analyzed one of my NyQuil dreams from a post back in May. You can read Arianaās hilarious and insightful analysis here.
Until Sunday, when Iāll have a story about cheeseā¦
If youāre new here, please subscribe š
After reading this I am obsessed with one thought: who the hell served 5 inch pizzas?ļæ¼
Congratulations! Twice as much of anything you enjoy is hard to resist. Helped a turtle across the street last week...tis the season...as far as the 5" pizza...if these ever become available in the store, the serving guidance will undoubtedly advise it contains two servings :) -- keep the GIFs coming and tell us how to pronounce GIF