But you do get some occasionally, right, in good times?

WHITEHOUSE: Fourchon Beach, Louisiana

Not long ago the category of Best Picture was expanded to a whopping ten movies (every selected film also qualifies for the NHL playoffs.) There are fashion misfires and tributes to legends and occasionally some emotional payoffs, but the Oscars can't escape feeling predictable and dutiful, especially since a calendar stuffed with awards shows has already established a reliable pattern of winners.

WSJ: Oscar Night vs. Sports

So far, only a fraction of patients have responded to the treatments, but the benefits have occasionally been dramatic, with some melanoma patients on Yervoy, for instance, surviving several years after one course of treatment.

WSJ: New Cancer Drugs Harness Power of Immune System

But this does not excuse the level of arrogance occasionally spouting from some scientists who complain their words have been changed.

FORBES: Why Scientists and Journalists Don't Always Play Well Together

Some of the messages sent to the screens are remarkably banal, but things occasionally get spicy.

ECONOMIST: Monitor

But the top 10 is almost enough to make the cynical think that some firms are occasionally setting out to provoke controversy.

BBC: Are these the most offensive ads of all time?

It may still be useful occasionally, but let's look for alternatives and try to give it some rest.

FORBES

There is war and crime, and occasionally chaos, but there is also hope like there has not been, said some Afghans, in 23 years.

CNN: Afghan capital optimistic 6 months later

For example, I occasionally do some basic handyman work around the house. (Very occasionally, says my wife.) But I have no feel for it.

FORBES: Digital Rules

But occasionally I'll reprogram it on the go, when I need to add a destination or change some detail.

CNN: Judge rules using smartphone maps while driving illegal