While I understand where you're coming from (some authors are mind-numbing when they get going… Melville comes to mind), I (generally*) try to avoid abridged versions of classic literature.

I've read any number of FoCs on this site — this was exceptionally well-written and supremely reasonable. Just wanted to say thanks and congrats to Mr. Alston.

I think all the "hills" and "dying" are overblown, frankly. It's cool to have opinions and to argue them. But yeah, when someone says something like, "Sweet foods are for people under the age of ten. I'm so sorry for your inability to grow up," on a public forum… it'll be questioned. Right?

Liking sweet foods isn't like hatred? Not all desire is bad and eating sweet foods in moderation isn't bad either — it's one of the cool and enjoyable things about life, actually.

Or maybe other people find sweet foods enjoyable and want that pleasure from time to time, so (even after the age of ten) they buy and sell those foods…?

Holy hell, really? So all of the bakers of the world, etc., just haven't grown up yet? The people who eat Swiss chocolate, or NY cheesecake, or Haagen Daas? You're judging all these people — their "inability to grow up" — based on the fact that you don't like sweet foods?

Courtney B. Vance was wonderful, too. But he's always been a favorite of mine since at least The Last Supper.

I'm not sure I agree with that. Given what we know of his present, I don't think it's surprising that there should be tough moments in his past. It had the quality of being a powerful reveal, but also felt in-line with his character, to me.

Does there exist any category for O.J.: Made in America? Because that was one of the best things I've seen on television in a long while.

God bless Nintendo.

You wedge the cartridge against the upper edge of the console so that you hear a scraping sound when you press the game down.

Not everyone who disagrees with me — or you — is a "pinhead." I'd rather we discuss these kinds of things with a little mutual respect, if possible.

Who says Sulu was straight to begin with?

Is there even a link to his actual comments here? (Maybe so… maybe I missed it?) I just find a link to another site reporting on the same thing, still missing Stallone's actual words.

So… from what I've heard — and maybe this is wrong / maybe I'm misinformed — but Stallone's characteristic speech is apparently largely due to medical/physical conditions he picked up at birth.

I think his "I'm just a comedian" line was usually in response to those who accused him of some bias in (or deficiency of) "reporting the news." His point was that it wasn't his job to deliver objective or comprehensive news coverage — that's the role (or ought to be the role) of our news media.

God I wish I had more upvotes to give.

But I don't think that's the standard. Comedians often have a satirical or social purpose apart from simply making people laugh. I don't think that makes them not comedians, or makes them disingenuous when they claim to be one.

But then the Official Fact-Checking gets co-opted by the same corrupting influences, and then we're back where we started. Only worse, because there's this "fact-check" stamp of approval on garbage which reinforces its perceived legitimacy.

At the same time, Stewart's comedy was undoubtedly informed by a very sharp political perspective. If you've never seen it before, I highly recommend his appearance on Crossfire. All comedians make jokes (or they try), but I really miss Stewart's vision.