Articles by Nick Martens

The Other Bobby Drapers

In three seasons of Mad Men, three different actors have played the Drapers’ second child. What happened to the first two? Nick Martens has their stories.

Familiar Horror Movie Scenes Ruined by the New iPhone

Nick Martens’s horror film screenplay was going so well until Apple paid for product placement.

Pavement’s Music Video Catalog: A Grim Retrospective

Nick Martens reviews every single Pavement video. (Spoiler alert: they all suck.)

Player One, Patient Zero

Having come into possession of a psychiatrist’s journal, Nick Martens reveals one of the doctor’s digital dilemmas.

I Really Think the Goat Skull is Worth at Least Seven Dollars

Nick Martens eavesdrops on a tough negotiation at a pawn shop.

Explaining My Obsession with Cover Songs on YouTube

Nick Martens has watched hundreds — maybe even thousands — of cover songs on YouTube. Here’s what he learned.

Scenes from Our Pre-Apocalyptic Future

Everyone knows the world will end soon; we’re just waiting to see how it happens. Nick Martens peers into his crystal ball and sees some close calls.

The Secret History of Typography in the Oxford English Dictionary

Nick Martens digs into the pages of the great dictionary that chronicles the history and development of the English language, and unearths some typographic gems.

Other Notable Balloons

Inspired by the recent Heene Family Balloon Hoax, Nick Martens delves into the rich history of balloons.

Turn It into Music: An Interview with Robert Ashley

Nick Martens chats up Robert Ashley, creator of A Life Well Wasted, the web’s best audio programming about videogame players and culture.

Post-Monsterism

Nick Martens chats up a spokesperson for the country’s most overlooked, marginalized population: monsters.

Playing Together Alone

Nick Martens doesn’t like online videogames because he’s not the center of attention. But with DICE’s new multiplayer WWII shooter Battlefield 1943, he still feels like a virtual VIP.