Xander: Hello! Excuse me, but have you ever heard of knocking?
Jonathan: We’re supposed to get some books. On Stalin.
Xander: Does this look like a Barnes & Noble?
Giles: This is a school library, Xander.
Xander: Since when?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 2, Episode 17 – “Passion”
He was in a high state of nervous excitement — any sailor waiting to see the First Lord must be in a high state of nervous excitement — yet the surface of his mind was taken up less with his coming interview than with getting the utmost possible service from a single handkerchief and with vague darting reflections upon poverty — an old acquaintance, almost a friend — a more natural state for sea-officers than wealth — wealth very charming — should love to be rich again; but there was the loss of all those little satisfactions of contriving — the triumph of a guinea found in an old waistcoat pocket — the breathless tension over the turn of a card.
Post Captain – Patrick O’Brian
I can’t remember the first time I watched The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. I don’t know exactly at which point it became an obsession. I couldn’t tell you when I stopped watching it on a regular basis, or why. And I can’t exactly articulate my feelings now that Jon Stewart is leaving the show. But I can’t let this day pass without saying something about a man who had such an impact on me in some of the most important years of my life.
I think I was extremely blessed by the timing with which Jon Stewart took over The Daily Show. I’m 31 years old now, but when Jon aired his first episode I was 15, and just starting to look at the world around me. Continue reading
Mal: It’s been a long time since Patience shot me, and that was due to a perfectly legitimate conflict of interest. I got no grudge.
Firefly – Episode 1 – “Serenity”
They ran down the next staircase and found themselves in a corridor full of duelers. The portraits on either side of the fighters were crammed with figures screaming advice and encouragement, while Death Eaters, both masked and unmasked, dueled students and teachers. Dean had won himself a wand, for he was face-to-face with Dolohov, Parvati with Travers. Harry, Ron, and Hermione raised their wands at once, ready to strike, but the duelers were weaving and darting around so much that there was a strong likelihood of hurting one of their own side if they cast curses. Even as they stood braced, looking for the opportunity to act, there came a great “Wheeeeeeeeeeee!” and, looking up, Harry saw Peeves zooming over them, dropping Snargaluff pods down onto the Death Eaters, whose heads were suddenly engulfed in wriggling green tubers like fat worms.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – J.K. Rowling
The 2016 US Presidential race has already devolved into something of a circus, and while I generally stay out of politics on this blog a recent article about one of the potential candidates caught my eye. Republican Senator Ted Cruz, a conservative, recently did an interview with New York Times magazine where he talked about his preference for Han Solo and Spider-man, but what really stood out was what he had to say about Star Trek. Cruz has mentioned being a Star Trek fan before, and it wasn’t a surprise to hear him say he prefers Kirk to Picard, but he went on to make some very incorrect claims about Star Trek that came to the attention of none other than Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner. But before we get to Shatner’s response, here’s what Cruz had to say:
You’re also a fan of ‘‘Star Trek.’’ Do you prefer Captain Kirk or Captain Picard? Absolutely James Tiberius Kirk.
Well, that goes with being a Kirk person. It does indeed. Let me do a little psychoanalysis. If you look at ‘‘Star Trek: The Next Generation,’’ it basically split James T. Kirk into two people. Picard was Kirk’s rational side, and William Riker was his passionate side. I prefer a complete captain. To be effective, you need both heart and mind.
I thought your critique might go in a different direction, because ‘‘Next Generation’’ is more touchy-feely in its politics than the original. No doubt. The original ‘‘Star Trek’’ was grittier. Kirk is working class; Picard is an aristocrat. Kirk is a passionate fighter for justice; Picard is a cerebral philosopher. The original ‘‘Star Trek’’ pressed for racial equality, which was one of its best characteristics, but it did so without sermonizing.
Do you have a suspicion about whether Kirk would be a Democrat or a Republican? I think it is quite likely that Kirk is a Republican and Picard is a Democrat.
Although Cruz is certainly welcome to prefer Kirk to Picard, there are several things very wrong with his assessment of Star Trek. Continue reading
Cordelia: Wait, I thought vampires couldn’t come in unless you invited them in.
Giles: Yes, but, uh, once you’ve invited them in, thereafter they’re, they’re always welcome.
Xander: Y’know, I think there may be a valuable lesson for you gals here about inviting strange men into your bedrooms.
Cordelia: Oh, God! I invited him in my car once. That means he can come into my car whenever he wants.
Xander: Yep, you’re doomed to havin’ to give him and his vamp pals a lift whenever they feel like it. And those guys never chip in for gas.
Buffy: Giles, there has to be some sort of spell to reverse the invitation, right? Like a barrier, a no shoes, no pulse, no service kind of thing?
Cordelia: Yeah, that works for a car, too?
Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Season 2, Episode 17 – “Passion”
‘Did they carry powder?’ cried Jack. ‘Dr Maturin said trousers, or something of that kind, but I — ‘
‘Oh, you horrid two-faced thing!’ cried Miss Susan. ‘You saw her! You shouted out the most dreadful things to Lucy, the most dreadful things I ever heard in my life. You swore at my sister, sir; you know you did. Oh, Captain Aubrey, fie!’
‘Captain Aubrey?’ observed Azéma, adding the head-money for an English officer to his share of the prize — a very handsome sum.
‘She’s blow the gaff — I’m brought by the lee,’ thought Jack.
Post Captain – Patrick O’Brian
Zoe: So, do like Badger said, the border planets?
Mal: I’m thinking Whitefall, maybe talk to Patience.
Zoe: Sir, we don’t want to deal with Patience again.
Mal: Why not?
Zoe: She shot you.
Mal: Well, yeah, she did, a bit…
Firefly – Episode 1 – “Serenity”
The Love Pirate 