In one of their most (and only) offensively sexist habits, an ex-girlfriend and her roommate — both bulk consumers of less scientific kinds of SF — used to refer to what Schmidt is talking about as "boys' science fiction."

Since we're nitpicking, you'll need to offer some citations before I believe that "the original term was 'hard core.'" I've been reading discussions of "hard" sf versus other kinds since the 70s, and don't recall ever seeing "core" used that way. Not saying it didn't happen, just saying that I'd like to know when…

The Flash? Feh. For my money, it won't be a real Justice League movie without the Elongated Man. And maybe G'nort.

"Oh, that's from my bracelet. I lost it when John was saving me from the banth that time." —Dejah Thoris

Actually, yes, there's "The City on the Edge of Forever," fifth from the top. (And, as somebody else said, these are only the first eight shirts.)

Is this a coded reference to the presidential candidates and their economic proposals?

Great choices, but I'm holding out for Madeleine Albright. Seriously.

So that Nixon mask I bought in '73 is finally legit?

Fascinating bit of trivia, there: Dreiser's American Tragedy was banned by the Nazis because it "deals with low love affairs." First, doesn't that eliminate something like half of all literature? And second ... well, I guess they were bothered by the love affairs more than the murder? Oh, right: they were the…

No, no. She got her nickname because she always wakes up cross. Thank you, I'll be here through Sunday.

Yeah, but only a few of them, right? And yet, after the war, everybody will claim to have been part of the Ant Resistance.

Wait. The secret empire is based in Waco, Texas? I can't wait to tell my family in Waco about this.

I don't really get this. You seem to be saying "Look, I just discovered all these books with sex in them," at the same time you're saying "I admit, there were a lot of them in the old days too, but I didn't read them." Not really sure this is worth a post.

If I recall correctly, one of the crimes that witches were accused of committing (per the Malleus Maleficarum) was turning a man's business into glass, or otherwise making it disappear. I know that Europe and Africa have a variety of witch-traditions; does anybody know whether any East Asian cultures do? If not, the…

Many years ago, I lost (read: "boneheadedly left") my favorite rucksack on an LIRR rack. Great bag, tough as nails, had seen me through endless miles of travel in India and South America. Never showed in lost and found; I like to imagine somebody is still using the thing. It was that tough.

Take it back! I want you to take your hunch back.

Had the same thought; usually, people call the 16th century Renaissance in England. But there's no clear dividing line; depending on the context, scholars will say "medieval" or "early Modern," too. (And of course, people like Francis Bacon called themselves "the Moderns.")

I spent the last three years in Romania, where everybody pirates everything. Except me: I don't know how, and no matter how many times my friends "taught" me, I couldn't quite learn. I'm old, simple and comparatively honest.

I read it, and it rocks. Moody, atmospheric, credible. I had no idea it was based on any real British involvement. Kudos to you both.

I can't help thinking that "TDK Rises" sounds as if it were already a Knightfall/Dark Knight Returns mashup.