*Ticks! Yuck. Slate.com explains to us their terrible ways, and asks the question on everyone’s minds: “Why did god make ticks?” Silly writer! Scientists don’t believe in god. (Actual response: “I don’t have the answer,” Dr. Burgdorfer said. “There are a lot of things we assign to the good Lord and we ask the question, why? All I can advise is to check yourself for ticks and remove them fast.”)

*Recently, there have been several articles about how online writing is changing how we read and take in information. Atlantic Monthly published one. As did Slate.com. But Jack Shafer zeros in on the most unforgettable one.

*You can run, but you can’t hide, D.C. landlords. Mayor Adrian Fenty vows to overhaul the rental building review system.

*In this period of sunburns and bug bites, let’s take a moment to learn about the itch from the New Yorker‘s Atul Gawande.

*Yeah, it’s summer. Wish you were doing this right now too?