Then we must become enemies.

That riff on a Nicoise sounds really, really good. Maybe mostly because of the anchovy-stuffed olives, which, where have they been all my life?

The book is way, way better than the movie, but that book (and the whole LA Quartet) is just top notch crime fiction, and the movie did about as well as you could to bring it to screen.

How big is this peach?

"He Hit Me (and It Felt Like a Kiss)" was originally performed by The Crystals in the early 60s. (Phil Spector produced, natch.)

… I doubt it? I mean, the people to whom he's throwing this red meat aren't pissed off they couldn't go to Howard or Morehouse. The big state schools/systems are the likely targets.

He can do better.

Look, this all sounds interesting enough, but are there going to be artfully arranged murder tableaux? Because I'm really jonesing for some artfully arranged murder tableaux.

While the treetop fight is classic, it's this one that will always be my absolute favorite.

The midge stuff definitely feels like a red herring; file under "Never assume malice when incompetence* will suffice."

It's like people don't even remember John from Cincinnati any more.

Popes don't have to be Cardinals—-or even be ordained at all. Any Catholic (man) is eligible. It's been half a millennium since there's been a Pope who wasn't ordained prior to election, but the rules haven't changed.

[Rob Schneider sends Rabin a bouquet of flowers]

'Rediculous' is pretty bad. I've never seen 'Ridicilous' in the wild, but I think I'd be more bemused than aggravated if I did.

I probably won't put in the effort to confirm or disconfirm, but my strong suspicion is that Ford's plan is Joker-in-the-Dark-Knight-esque in its reliance on things he couldn't control or predict (especially when it comes to Maeve). I'm also not sure Ford's jailor-to-liberator turn was given any foundation whatsoever,…

As I advance in age, it's harder and harder to handle the more savage Diks. Can't I find a nice, calm Dik that just wants to have a conversation?

It's tough to say, as far as the writing goes. Having a little familiarity with Ken Liu's original writing, I'm inclined to say he was at least trying to be faithful to Liu Cixin's style, but I have no basis for an opinion about how well he managed that.

I read it recently (Tor offered it as their monthly free ebook a few months back), and—-well, shit, I can't say much without spoiling. Well worth the time, though. And certainly the money.

Yeah, I also thought suicide was the clear implication, but that may say more about me.

On the Way to Language is a weird choice, moral philosophy-wise.