"It's okay to be James T. Kirk or James Bond; that's totally realistic character development. But a female character who's skilled and intelligent and attractive and adored by nearly everyone? That's just women's wish fulfillment!"

I didn't care that much for Home Alone when I saw it as a kid and it had just come out in theaters. It wasn't a great Christmas movie, and it just seemed kinda all-around mean-spirited and cruel. I think if I tried watching it as a horror movie as an adult I might find another layer to appreciate, but I kiiiiinda…

Seconding this. I often recommend to people that they DON'T start with the first few books, and that they read those at a later time, once they've experienced the "real Pratchett." My first was Eric, which is not the greatest jumping-off point since it's a bit different from other Discworld books. But after going back…

Your comment is not only full of good advice that's making me take another look at how I'm approaching things, it may quite possibly be the best thing I've received on Christmas Day! Thank you.

Yes, talking about my friend/your brother definitely helps! you should definitely not stop talking about him, and anyone who's uncomfortable with it obviously has something they need to unpack in their own life.

Thank you! I'm not actually that hopeful that we'll reconcile (it seems only one us in the conversation may have done any growing up), but it's important to keep an open mind, and a few reminders to do so don't hurt.

My introversion and social anxiety even leach into virtual worlds, it seems.

A lot of my mom's family is from Minnesota, and having spent a ridiculous amount of time there growing up, I always have to roll my eyes when people not familiar with MN culture talk about how "friendly" Minnesotans are. They act shocked when I try to explain that "Minnesota nice" isn't actually a good thing—it's just…

My oldest friend died in a hit-and-run in 2003, and I still can't dwell on her longer than a few minutes without crying. You just can't plan for how long it takes to "recover" from these things. All you can do is keep on going and look for the memories that make you smile.

My main hope is that I make a positive breakthrough on fixing my mental health issues that have plagued me my entire life and which I didn't even know were a treatable thing till recently, thanks to the shitty upbringing and life I've had till now. I list this one because it's very likely to happen despite being such…

I already wrote my own quick sum-up in reply to AJ Via, but I just wanted to repeat that comments like yours give me hope for my own sticky former-best-friend situation. I hope you never lose that happiness you've rediscovered.

Stories like this give me hope that the email talks I'm having with the former best friend I fell out with twelve years ago might actually have a happy ending. It's painful to know there's someone you still love so much (yes, platonically) but not have them actually in your life, even though they're still out there in…

Some years back, Anthony Bourdain wrote a terrific black-humor Krampus short that was animated in stop-motion. It was supposed to be in a Christmas episode of No Reservations, but Travel Channel refused to air it after screening it…said it was too dark and violent for TV (it totally is not). So Bourdain said "Fuck…

Yeah, it's better! *Hears rimshot, calls cops because there's not supposed to be anyone else in the house right now*

Yeah, it was pretty telling that the writing makes it clear that the Night's Watch is full of Very Bad Men who are there because they steal, rape, and kill…and it's mentioned on multiple occasions about them sneaking out for some forbidden love with the ladies outside….But somehow none of them are into raping their…

I really enjoy the first three books (four and five are a bit of a slog for me). But I do not enjoy Martin's views on women and rape, and I do not enjoy his defending his rape scenes as "historically accurate" when A*: I'm pretty sure ASoIaF is not historical fiction despite all the sly references to real-world events…

Nothing against these guys, but I'll stick with the Savage Garden version. Darren Hayes obviously made a deal with the devil to steal the voice of an angel. I'm so glad his solo career has been very kind to him after Savage Garden parted ways. (And nice Wham! reference with "guilty feet have got no rhythm", according…

Oh. *Ahem* Is there a burn ward within 10 feet of here?

*Watches A Muppet Family Christmas for the two hundredth time this month (with Colbert's special waiting in the wings)*

I was very disappointed in the lack of a radiator woman from the radiator planet, myself. :( Luckily, I was able to "console" a radiator woman from the radiator planet.