@LaFabuliste: What a wonderful list! Thanks for taking the time to post this here. I'd also recommend Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenza's work (particularly In Memory of Her) as a fascinating, long-overdue revisit of women's roles in early Christianity. She certainly acknowledges all the problems (cf. Paul's B.S.), but also provides a lot of insight.
[www.amazon.com]
[www.amazon.com]
@PuffyTail: I had the same reaction -- Betty's response was heartless and sickening, yet (sadly) true to what many people thought at the time. It was interesting (though perhaps entirely coincidental) that this episode aired on National Coming Out Day and on the same weekend as the LGBT equality march in D.C. With Betty's civil-rights comments and Sal's ouster, that made for a fascinating -- if uncomfortable -- juxtaposition
@winner: EXCELLENT catch. Thanks for this.
@FroderickFronkensteen: Heart'd for the double-whammy of Mel Brooks love in your username and comment. :) You don't LOOK Druish, but whatever.
@Rosaxé: And lo, does it hever make a delicious margarita...
@ugadawg: Me too. I miss people carrying on civil dialogue from behind locker doors. :)
@Ailatan Hearts BabyJane: I was just going to mention Bimbo! Monsieur T.H. collapses into paroxysms of giggles when encountering it at our local Mexican market. There's something about the bear that makes it extra awesome. I like to imagine that the Snuggle Bear pines after the Bimbo Bear, in some sorta love-that-dare-not-speak-its-name situation.
I will add to the jealous chorus, particularly given your proximity to ALT. I am not a huge memoir fan, but his is a thing of beauty. He also introduced me to the term "bespoke," which I use in a somewhat profligate manner (I know it applies to clothes, but who can resist a bespoke pizza?). You do your thing, ALT, your crazy, crazy -- but also generous and kind and thoroughly charming -- thing.
@serreca: Nor do my two. Ever. Sure, sometimes they gaze longingly at the flowers/squirrels/what have you, but I also live smack-dab in the middle of a city and would never forgive myself if something happened to one of them. One of ours is a giant black cat, and our vet sends out letters every Halloween, reminding people to not let the black cats go outside that night. It makes me so angry that such a letter even needs to go out. But then I look at the CNN photo of Soulless McCruelster, there, and I am appreciative that the vet thinks of these things. I wish animal torture was a felony in EVERY state.
...a jealous. Oh, wait, it is I who haz a jealous, not the whole of Britain. That hat is 50 kinds of awesome, and if I could see it from all angles, I'd probably triple that to 150 kinds. I too wait (futilely) for the grand return of the hat. That hat is fetch. Yes, I am trying to make "fetch" happen. AND HATS.
@BeckySharper: I don't think that you would get all of the references. Plus, Electric Assaloo is the more avant-garde of the two. It's often compared to the work of Lars von Trier, thanks to the minimal dialogue and the rays of natural light illuminating the butts.
@Rob Hebert: Oh, totally. I get why it's effective. My ire was a little exaggerated; I just get tired of "pretty lady" ad campaigns (although this, as others mentioned, is far better than Paris Hilton burger-blowjobs). But I get tired of any ad campaign that uses boring ol' tropes, like "Cure for the common ______" or "_____ cranked up to eleven." Anyway, yes, the more Pap smears, the better. Could've saved some folks close to me.
@Ailatan Hearts BabyJane: I don't know if it's because Ron Jeremy was referenced (heh heh*) earlier today, but he's all I can see when I look at this painting.
*For some reason I feel the need to say "heh heh" after combining any verb with Ron Jeremy's name.
Oh sweet! So if I go get a Pap smear (whee!) RIGHT NOW, I can live up to my lady-duty of being an object for the male gaze! That's good, 'cause I was kind of like, "Enh... do I REALLY need a Pap smear? I mean, it only checks for the kinds of cancer that affected several of my relatives... but whatev..." Now, though, I have a reason! (Of course, today many male-gazers would call a Botticelli lady "fat.")
Head, I don't believe you've had the pleasure of meeting desk.
@BeckySharper: Exactly. Just how, I wonder, can you tell someone to quit doing something when... you aren't aware that they're doing it? Do you just have to go down a long list until you get to something applicable?
"I really wish you would stop selling pot to puppies."
"I don't do that!"
"I really wish you would stop performing All Sock-Puppet Revues when my boss is over for dinner."
"I don't!"
"I wish you would not be in be in Hot Ass 2: Electric Assaloo."
"I don-- whoops."
@pyrrhic: I made the very same comment to Mr. TH last night. WHEN is Pixar going to mess something up? When are they not going to have beautiful storylines, amazingly developed characters, and just-so-right-on social commentaries? I love these films so much. And! I haven't had a chance to see UP yet, so I am super-excited. And glad that I know to bring ample Kleenex.
@la.donna.pietra: That piece narrated by Madoff's secretary sealed the no-sympathy deal for me. Basically, it made the (quite convincing) point that if Ruth weren't totally in on it, she would have gone to her children FIRST, to make sure that they were okay. Instead, she put on a "brave face" (blegh), went to some fancy party with Bernie, and then holed up in his office with him the next day as the FBI began to arrive. If there's anyone in the family I feel for, it's the children, who seem genuinely destroyed by their parents' selfishness.
@AmericanSplendor: Imagine the word "empathy" floating, cloud-like, above your head, because that is what I have for you. I went to a Southern college, and it looked like pink (the color, not the rocker) threw up all over the freshman dorm. Some of girls' moms hired INTERIOR DECORATORS to commit this atrocity. I don't understand the whole pink thing, except maybe pink = femininity = gentility = class (Southern-style). Good. Luck.
@blueberrypancake: No kidding! I want to rent it AND find the soundtrack (given to me by my high school BFF, naturally). The CD dwells somewhere in my basement, all forlorn and Evan Dando-y.
Also, no kidding about The Legs. Liv is lovely as ever.
@TheFormerJuneBronson: Penguin Holding Yo-Yo miiiight have made my day. Okay, take out the "miiiight."
