Guilty with an Explanation

Excuses, excuses. The The Metaverse Excuse-O-Mat generates 3.6 million different ready-made excuses designed to fit almost any type of personal foul-up. The justifications and explanations come in six categories: distraction, medical, insulting, moral failure and self-loathing. Most of them seem to include an element of apology as well. Here's an example of a self-loathing plea for those with a literary bent:

I am completely pathetic. You've reminded me -- oh, it gnaws at me in every waking moment -- that I have behaved once more like the brute I am. It would be more than just for you to never speak to me again. Say the word, and I will write an epic poem in apology.

I kind of like this "distraction" excuse, which sounds like it could cover a multitude of sins:

I got so caught up in tracking down the sinister forces that control our lives that I could hardly think -- and then my bank statement got screwed up. I am so ditzy sometimes! Anyway, I hope the weather cooperates this week.

~~~

Meanwhile....

Click! (Clack)

Download this free (and scary) audio short story by Neil Gaiman as part of your Halloween revelry. When you do, my employer will donate $1 to the education charity DonorsChoose.org, through October 31.