Conversation reported by a friend:

Ursula Le Guin was dismissive of me once. For Oregon celebs, that’s probably as good as it gets.

I recommend the Hobbit family trees in the appendix of Lord of the Rings.

After reading yesterday’s post, I texted my husband. The exchange went as follows:

IRL, I definitely prefer beta males. In fiction... it depends on why I’m reading. If I’m reading seriously, then I’m interested in male romantic-lead characters in the same way that I’m interested in any other character: are they interesting, well-drawn, etc. If I’m reading to scratch the itch of romantic fantasy, I…

That’s how it looks to me. It’s interesting to compare it to the guy in the left panel of the Becky McGraw cowboy triptych, who is less bulky and is also in a more self-effacing, relaxed “I have no idea how hot I am or even that I’m being looked at” pose. To me, that’s a lot more attractive. But like you, now I’m…

Yeah, let’s just promote misinformation because it’s easier for people to understand....

Lactose isn’t a protein. It’s a disaccharide composed of a glucose and a galactose.

How is that different from the way he’s always talked?

That’s exactly what my husband would do!

From one of the linked articles (emphasis mine):

Yup. When we sent out the news of my daughter’s birth, an acquaintance emailed back and said “Wow, I didn’t even realize you were pregnant.” My daughter was a full term baby, and we had seen this guy a week before she was born. Granted, it was dark and I was wearing baggy clothes; but my point is that I never had a…

People who say things like “Here’s a solution: don’t do anything that will get you put in prison” and “I don’t feel any sympathy for anybody in prison, they’re just getting what they deserve” are disgusting. I don’t want to respond directly to them because I know they are trying to get a rise out of me, but for fuck’s…

Gah! Prison rape is not justice!

Yes, I know people who make, or laugh at, prison rape jokes that would never tolerate any other kind of joke. It’s like they don’t even understand that what they’re joking about is rape.

Yeah, I think that was definitely a Chekhov’s gun fail. If there’s a pregnant wife in an action movie....

You call this flaming? Seriously?

This is also true for the middle-aged married woman.

Nope. After the original incident they were both called out here. Then Chris Evans made a very nice apology and most people very nicely accepted it. Renner made a “meh” apology and has been digging himself in deeper ever since.

I had a similar reaction. And Chris Evans then apologized with the gentlemanly humility one expects of Captain America. Renner (autocorrect says “Rennet”) has been kind of blowing it ever since, though.