And if we are talking about this show and murder directions, this is an episode where Vernon says "I've killed so many people, Paul, I'm not afraid of it." Sure it was probably on the operating table, and we don't know those people, but…well, when it comes to murdering, a little nonhandwashing goes a long way.

I really want to circle back around to Jimmy's sisters. That scene where one of them simultaneously realized that she was wasting her narrowing her own life through snapsecond judgements and condemnations and that American grocery stores water their produce was just the best.

That was my problem with Oscar Wao too; I found Diaz's This is How You Lose Her collection less troubling in that regard.

Academic: Race and Popular Fantasy Literature: Habits of Whiteness by Helen Young. Essentially, Young argues that when it comes to race, fantasy as a genre (or genre-culture, as she puts it) defaults to the subtitular habits of whiteness, as seen through the pseudo-European medieval settings and other trappings.…

The idea of a scene where Vernon explains that to Paul is enough to sell me on a Paul/Vernon episode.

He caught a fish with his hand! And he was just sitting there!

I think part of it too is that Connie relates so strongly to the concept of the knight, at least in terms of protecting those weaker than her. Her first non-Gem-related uses of her training to be causing harm to someone who couldn't defend themselves would be especially shameful to her.

The Herb episode was the clincher, but it was definitely the Princess Carolyn episode that made me go, oh, this show can operate on *this* level too.

It's very similar to his character in Veep, albeit somewhat less ruthless.

Absolutely—Modern Family, which is about as traditional a weekly sitcom as you can get, did an episode that was entirely from the perspective of Clare's Mac Screen (because even when being innovative, you can still do massive amounts of product placing), and those who didn't like it hated it with a passion far greater…

I loved his line when Kevin was speeding away without paying, that for a moment he got very chagrined, then immediately switched gears into a dismissive, "What do I care, I'm rich." The actor's delivery is what makes it funny, but it's also a great reflection on Greg as a character—the money doesn't stop him from…

I'm ok with that. In fact, I insist on it.

That really works, doesn't it? He's the male gifted progeny of a powerful matriarchy. Now I want Patrick Stewart or Kyle MacLachlan to voice someone high up on th Diamond hierarchy.

I'm going to requote my tweet about the episode, because I liked Pearl in a tuxedo that much: "Pardon the profanity, but Pearl is queer as fuck and amazing. Bless this show."

Absolutely. I'm finding it so much easier to go with the flow this time. Additionally, I'm finding that it's a book that actually benefits from reading as an ebook; when it's 100+ pages between a character's appearances, a find function is a godsend.

I loved A God in Ruins. Its ending really worked for me.

One the biggest arguments I can think of for switching entirely to Image from superhero comics (I'm thinking mostly of Marvel; I don't read enough DC to know their GN prices) is that I can frequently buy two Image trades for the price of one Marvel, and often they'll be longer too.

I can't speak for the American case, but in Canada, it frequently functions the same way. Some profs and institutions put out calls for postdocs with a particular set of skills for a specific project, and it becomes much like applying for a regular academic position. Best case is when you can approach universities…

My reading of Under Heaven went similarly; good book, but very slow, especially when compared to his other books (which are frequently somewhat slow themselves). River of Stars has a bit more brisk of a pace, which I appreciate.

I'm in a summer reading group that's going through Infinite Jest (shameless plug: google "Alas Poor Summer" if you want to follow other members' experience). The book nearly killed me when I read it through the first time, and I was expecting to drop out fairly quickly, but damned if I haven't hit a groove reading…