Althouse: "Guys, when women don't get you and your explanation has 'Star Wars' in it..."

August 19, 2010

"Guys, when women don't get you and your explanation has 'Star Wars' in it..."

"... you probably should think again about making wisecracks about women not being sexy enough."

211 comments:

1 – 200 of 211 Newer› Newest»

kent said...: Not even so much as a grudging "Oh, well, okay then; my bad, at barest minimum, for kneejerking convulsively (and hilariously) sans a clear understanding of all the particulars of the original joke itself?"

I mean... seriously?; 8/19/10, 7:47 AM
Scott M said...: Besides...more women get Star Trek references.; 8/19/10, 7:50 AM
Ann Althouse said...: I stand by my original criticism. Whether a fictional character is used to say it or not, it was wrong to look at a series of women and say only one was worth ejaculating on. Comedians have used puppets to say their nastiest things for a long time, and this is what that was. It gets some distance, but it doesn't get immunity.; 8/19/10, 7:51 AM
HKatz said...: Watch Tina Fey's character on 30 Rock, dressing up as Princess Leia and acting like a sci-fi geek in order to try to get out of jury duty:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MrpyHZI1b8; 8/19/10, 7:53 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Guys, making Star Trek and Star Wars references is about as sexy as dressing in shorts, big sneakers, and a tight T-shirt displaying a pot belly. It's the image of an overgrown child. Please, for the love of God, help us! We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult.; 8/19/10, 7:53 AM
AllenS said...: Please give this up, Professor, you're not acting rational. Emotional, yes. It was a fucking joke. Sometimes, jokes aren't that funny, but so what. Should people quit trying to be funny? Clean up your house first. Put the entrenching tool away.; 8/19/10, 7:58 AM
Scott M said...: I am definitely coming around to the whole "men dressing as boys" thing that's been building up since, I guess Mad Men hit the small screen.

My first-grader's open house was Tuesday night, so we were there with all her classmates and their parents. Of the other dads in the room, only two looked like they worked for a living. By this, I don't mean shirt/tie/slacks, although that describes one of the two. The other was in the work clothes of a mechanic or some such, but obviously a working man. The rest of us, sad to say, were wearing shorts, tshirts, untucked short-sleeve collared shirts, etc. Very unimpressive and, seen through the lens of the men dressing like boys thing, disturbing.

As far as references, my wife can't stand South Park (though she laughs in spite of herself if she catches an odd joke), but she does enjoy the guilty pleasures of Family Guy/American Dad, Futurama, and, one of my personal favorites, Harvey Birdman.

Our inside jokes are replete with such references.; 8/19/10, 8:01 AM
Automatic_Wing said...: Um, yeah, everyone knows Star Wars references are unsexy. Ace's whole schtick is that he's this super-nerd who's into Star Wars, Dungeons and Dragons, etc, and never gets laid.

It's a beta-male thing, you wouldn't understand.; 8/19/10, 8:03 AM
kent said...: My wife -- like me, a daily visitor to Ace's site -- interjects that "stubbornly insisting upon taking offense at the notion of imaginary ejaculate, from a make-believe character, is crazier than a soup sandwich."

Ummmmm... endquote. ;); 8/19/10, 8:05 AM
Geoff Matthews said...: Venus and Mars, that's what it boils down to.
Yes, I agree that the joke was crass. But Ace wasn't trying to attract women (we straight guys do have other motivations). So move on already.; 8/19/10, 8:08 AM
kjbe said...: I totally back you up on the ST/SW points, A, and will close with another fav movie quote of mine - "...and we're supposed to swoon?"

BTW, my guy likes shorts, has not gut and always (ALWAYS) tucks in his shirt and wears a belt. He attributes his mom for that, "You're not fully dressed until you've but on a belt."; 8/19/10, 8:12 AM
X said...: We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult.

I think that's what ace was saying; 8/19/10, 8:15 AM
Known Unknown said...: Ann, throwing a hissy fit over a joke one doesn't understand and the continuing to harp on it because certain pop culture references are not a part of your vast lexicon is about a sexy as wearing long flowing skirts, white socks and tennis shoes. It's the image of an peevish prude. Please, for the love of God, help us! We would like to be able to have sex with women like you, but it is so difficult.

WV: Stexed, or sexted for the dyslexic.; 8/19/10, 8:16 AM
KCFleming said...: The 'bear burka' thing was funny as hell, though.; 8/19/10, 8:19 AM
Sofa King said...: What the hell?

Law Professor misses popular culture reference, looks silly. Knowing self manifestly incapable of error, concludes Popular Culture is incorrect. Demands Popular Culture apologize immediately.; 8/19/10, 8:23 AM
bailesworth said...: This is NOT a gender issue. Several women commentators chided Althouse yesterday about her reaction to ace's post. I'll add my ovaries to that list.
Frankly, it's offensive to me as a woman when you refer to "we" when you're talking about "our" attractions to men who are up on Science Fiction and pop culture references. Some of us dig those guys.; 8/19/10, 8:25 AM
Beta Rube said...: Please give it a rest professor. You're on the path from funny, erudite, and playful to aging cat lady who stands in the doorway and yells at the neighbor kids.

It's becoming painful for the true believers.; 8/19/10, 8:26 AM
KCFleming said...: Bear sex is clumsy.

Ewok sex is just plain icky. Ewok onanism more so. I was hoping spores or sumpin'.; 8/19/10, 8:27 AM
aronamos said...: Uh, I got the joke, and I'm a woman.

Ann Althouse does not speak for me!; 8/19/10, 8:28 AM
GMay said...: Wow, so you're going to double down on pathetic eh professor? I had no idea you were such a humor-deprived prig.

You're standing by your criticism that referencing a make-believe teddy bear from the imagination of George Lucas ejaculating on make-believe mama grizzlies is pearl-clutchingly horrific. This would be sad if it weren't so damn funny.

Ace was trying to get laid making a silly top ten list about a silly political ad?? So you feel men's actions are all based on trying to get sex from your frigid ass?

I guess I'd be offended if I were the type.; 8/19/10, 8:28 AM
kent said...: Please, for the love of God, help us! We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult.

Actually, all things being equal, many of us very much prefer a woman with a sharp, culturally aware sense of humor as our partner, rather than one without one... so: we're all good here, thanks.; 8/19/10, 8:31 AM
X said...: Fonzie was from Wisconsin too; 8/19/10, 8:32 AM
aronamos said...: Oh, and I did appreciate Ace cowboying up, coming to comments here and trying to offer an explanation.

And yes, "bear burkas" is one for the ages.

wv: chindun. That noise on "Law and Order."; 8/19/10, 8:33 AM
narciso said...: It was a joke, occasioned by Tammy Bruce, one of the Governor's strongest supporters, observations
about how ridiculous that Emily's
list ad looked, which Ace who is known as the Ewok riffed upon,; 8/19/10, 8:33 AM
bailesworth said...: "many of us very much prefer a woman with a sharp, culturally aware sense of humor as our partner, rather than one without one... "

How you doing?; 8/19/10, 8:35 AM
Salamandyr said...: Althouse, you're right; fictional characters should never express incorrect opinions.

I will inform Mr. Clemens immediately.; 8/19/10, 8:36 AM
kent said...: How you doing?

Deliriously happy with Beloved Wife, the Lifelong Trekkie/Trekker/Whatever They're Caling Themselves This Week! ;); 8/19/10, 8:38 AM
Leland said...: Well now I'm convinced. Ace of Spades gets more hits than Althouse. So she's tweaking Ace's readers to get more hits. She thinks it will work for Dr. Laura, then it would have to work for her. How much longer before Dr. Ann announces retirement?

it was wrong to look at a series of women

It is wrong for a series of women to dress in children bear costumes and expect to be taken seriously. When people do stupid things, other people will mock them. Nothing spectacular about that, so again, I conclude that this is just tweaking a larger audience base to get you more hits.; 8/19/10, 8:46 AM
X said...: Wicket just emailed me to say only one was worth 'nutting on.

dressing in shorts, big sneakers, and a tight T-shirt displaying a pot belly.... We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult.

these statements aren't that different except for crudity and ace leaving the door more open for the possibilty of sex, which was the correct comedic choice.; 8/19/10, 8:59 AM
Big Mike said...: It was a stupid ad, with a stupid script and performed by stupid people.

And I since a woman's personality does count with many of us men, I can see why a man would be turned off by the overdone sanctimony of the performers.

As to Ace, he should learn that when he's dug himself a hole, step one is to stop digging.; 8/19/10, 9:00 AM
AllenS said...: Sorry, Mike, but I see only one person who is still digging a hole. And it ain't Ace.; 8/19/10, 9:02 AM
chickelit said...: Leland wrote: I conclude that this is just tweaking a larger audience base to get you more hits.

Disagree. We'll know that when she descends to "tits for hits".

Again.; 8/19/10, 9:03 AM
GMay said...: I guess June Cleaver here would have found it acceptable if it were Titus who wanted to leave a Cleveland Steamer on one of them in the video.

Because scat humor is so much more dignified here at Althouse.; 8/19/10, 9:14 AM
garage mahal said...: Cans for fans.

I still don't quite get the controversy on this one, or why Ace should stop "digging". I've never read Ace, and all this has done is make me want to. Any libs comment over there?; 8/19/10, 9:20 AM
Leland said...: Disagree. We'll know that when she descends to "tits for hits".

Well, she did put a clip of a series of boobs dressed up as bears, so not far removed from "tits for hits".; 8/19/10, 9:25 AM
Laika said...: I don't get why you're doubling down on this, Professor. You called the joke "despicable" which is not synonymous with "unfunny".

Besides, what's this "women" thing in this post title? Are you Speaking For Me? Because I don't want to have to rent a law professor costume and film a video where me and my friends say variations of, "I am a marketing manager. And I am a Law Professor" just to point out how much we disagree with you.; 8/19/10, 9:25 AM
Phil 314 said...: Guys, making Star Trek and Star Wars references is about as sexy as dressing in shorts, big sneakers, and a tight T-shirt displaying a pot belly

They're not trying to be sexy.

I have to admit the whole "its a woman-thing" vibe demonstrated by the Mama Grizzlies, the rebuttal ad, and the series of "women-oriented" posts is getting a little old.

Men aren't trying to "out-cool" women, they're just different.

As far as the gender-politics I'm getting dizzy with all of this pendulum swinging:

vagina ok; masturbation off limits. Breasts ok; penises not?

I blame Bush (or is that Obama for this blog)?; 8/19/10, 9:27 AM
Awesome said...: Two of my most favorite bloggers in a funny spat, featuring sex and Star Wars - sooo, soooo rich :) I call a precise, to-the-nanometer draw.; 8/19/10, 9:31 AM
chickelit said...: Leland wrote: Well, she did put a clip of a series of boobs dressed up as bears, so not far removed from "tits for hits".

Yes, but only the squirrels on Althouse are nut-worthy.; 8/19/10, 9:31 AM
Jim said...: This is ludicrous.

Titus - and any number of other commenters - have commented more than once on a post about one female celebrity or another with something to the effect of "I'd hit that."

That wasn't, and hasn't ever, been OFFENSIVE to our hostess.

But because she found somewhere that "nuttin' on" ONLY MEANS EJACULATE, then she has worked herself into high dudgeon.

NEWS FLASH!!NEWS FLASH!!NEWS FLASH!!

"Nuttin' on" is NO DIFFERENT than "I'd hit that." It's a little more urbanized, but depending on the Urban Dictionary for a narrow definition of a term you don't understand yourself, is akin to using your pocket dictionary to translate a foreign idiom.

IT'S NOT LITERAL. And BIG NEWS FLASH: "I'd hit that" IMPLIES EJACULATION TOO!!!

So does "I'd like to sleep with her/him" and any other number of variations.

This is SAD. And, quite frankly, amounts to doubling down on stupid.; 8/19/10, 9:32 AM
Unknown said...: Anytime a guy uses the word 'star' in a conversation with a woman, the subject better be astronomy or sexual ecstasy ("Just being with you, and I'm amongst the stars".)

Ann Althouse said...

I stand by my original criticism. Whether a fictional character is used to say it or not, it was wrong to look at a series of women and say only one was worth ejaculating on.

Any guy who really would do such a thing ought to be horsewhipped on general principles.

...

Please, for the love of God, help us! We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult.

You may have given a lot of men new hope.; 8/19/10, 9:36 AM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: There are certain things that dedicated feminists should take a stand on......this isn't one of them.

Don Quixote is a principled but also pathetic figure.; 8/19/10, 9:37 AM
Jim said...: Just to further point out the ridiculousness of it all:

"I'd hit that" DOES NOT mean that you want to inflict physical violence on someone DESPITE the literal translation of the phrase.

"I want to sleep with you" DOES NOT mean that you are sleepy DESPITE the literal translation of the phrase.

Is the stupidity of this OUTRAGE (!!!) becoming more clear yet?; 8/19/10, 9:38 AM
KCFleming said...: We need a blogginheads with Althouse and Ace both wearing bear costumes.

They don't even need to say a word.

Or maybe just read the comments from each site aloud if they must.; 8/19/10, 9:38 AM
Trooper York said...: "E.M.Davis said......
continuing to harp on it because certain pop culture references are not a part of your vast lexicon is about a sexy as wearing long flowing skirts, white socks and tennis shoes."

Ouch. That one is gonna leave a mark.; 8/19/10, 9:44 AM
chickelit said...: Pogo wrote: We need a blogginheads with Althouse and Ace both wearing bear costumes.

Or a Bloggingheads with Althouse and Sullivan discussing Palin.; 8/19/10, 9:44 AM
kent said...: We need a blogginheads with Althouse and Ace both wearing bear costumes.

Somewhere out there, a furry just clutched his/her chest and crashed face-first onto the floor, stone dead.; 8/19/10, 9:45 AM
Trooper York said...: Face it. Women are just not funny. So they don't get the joke.

With rare exceptions.; 8/19/10, 9:45 AM
chickelit said...: Hey Trooper!

Good to see you. Your cousin and I were worried about you.; 8/19/10, 9:46 AM
KCFleming said...: "Somewhere out there, a furry just clutched his/her chest and crashed face-first onto the floor, stone dead."

I laughed.
Is that wrong?; 8/19/10, 9:47 AM
Sofa King said...: If Mort was here, he'd tell you that preferring "hitting that" to "nutting on" is racist.; 8/19/10, 9:53 AM
GMay said...: Garage,

You wouldn't like Ace's site. Libs don't last long. They have professional troll stompers over there.; 8/19/10, 10:05 AM
GMay said...: "Or a Bloggingheads with Althouse and Sullivan discussing Palin."

Ace vs. Sully about Palin would be a hell of a lot funnier.; 8/19/10, 10:07 AM
Trooper York said...: Thanks El Pollo. I was out of commission for a while.

The one thing that is common about women in comedy, nobody in their right mind would bust a nut over them.; 8/19/10, 10:10 AM
Joe said...: "Somewhere out there, a furry just clutched his/her chest and crashed face-first onto the floor, stone dead."

I laughed.
Is that wrong?
I hope not, because I snorted out loud as well....; 8/19/10, 10:11 AM
Trooper York said...: I love Ace's site but it does have so many in jokes that you need a road map. So I understand how some of the duller members of our congregation don't get it.

That is why I have explain my jokes all the time.; 8/19/10, 10:12 AM
KCFleming said...: Glad to see you back, Troop.; 8/19/10, 10:15 AM
chickelit said...: Garage Mahal said: cans for fans

Boobs for rubes.; 8/19/10, 10:17 AM
Unknown said...: They have professional troll stompers over there.

WHOA.
No, they do not get paid. They do it for the love of the kill.; 8/19/10, 10:22 AM
AllenS said...: garage,

Go over to Ace's blog and find out what they're wearing. They have a good sense of humor.; 8/19/10, 10:23 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: Liberals don't apologize. It's just the way it is. Probably that wrong-headed "Love means never having to say your sorry" meme, or something. It allows them (in their own minds) to get away with all kinds of horrors without guilt. And we all know how much they hate to be the guilty party - when "the guilty party" should actually be their name.

The funny part (kinda) is thinking no one else notices - even after they've called you on it.

This is some super-crazy cognitive dissonance here.; 8/19/10, 10:34 AM
garage mahal said...: Boobs for rubes.

Jugs for hugs.; 8/19/10, 10:47 AM
Pastafarian said...: garage said: "Any libs comment over there?"

Sadly, no. It's a bit of an echo chamber. That's one of the nice things about Althouse -- there's some balance in the comments section, and some of the liberal commenters are very good, including you, of course.

But it's worth reading, even if you disagree with the political tenor, for the humor. Ace linked back to an old post in his archives last night in his post about this little dust-up, and it was funny enough to actually bring tears, real tears, to my eyes.; 8/19/10, 10:50 AM
Darcy said...: Hahaha. Ace has a very sexy brain.; 8/19/10, 10:58 AM
Pastafarian said...: You know, Althouse, this post shows that you still don't get the joke.

Part of the joke is the notion that an ewok would behave with this sort of profane swagger. You'll see nerdy Star Wars geeks act like this too -- pimple-faced pencil-necked geeks that are routinely rejected by their own hand will look at a picture of a model who wouldn't look twice at them and say "Meh, I'd hit it, I suppose."

That an actual 3-foot tall fur-covered ewok would overcompensate like that too -- that's part of the funny here. Now, when you pick it apart, it certainly loses something, but your continued bludgeoning of yourself about this makes me want to wrestle the shovel from your hand before you actually hurt yourself.

And Ace plays the role of a short, furry, ewok-like dork self-deprecatingly in much of his humor.

The fact that you have to point out that such people have trouble getting laid...no shit, that's part of the point of the joke. He's mocking men that have this sort of over-compensating swagger. He does this continuously.; 8/19/10, 11:01 AM
Andrea said...: I thought it was funny. The whole Ewok-furry thing is just Ace taking the piss out of himself. See, once there briefly was a photo of someone who was supposed to be Ace up on the internet, and word got around that he sort of looked like an Ewok -- he had that funny little beard thing, was kind of pudgy -- anyway, whether that was him or not, the "Ewok" label stuck. Some people would have a hissy fit and run crying to their basements, but not Ace -- he made it part of his shtick.

Lighten up. Liberals can be such prudes. (Heh. See what I did there.); 8/19/10, 11:11 AM
Trooper York said...: Relax Pastafarian.

She's just not that into humor.; 8/19/10, 11:13 AM
GMay said...: "It's a bit of an echo chamber. That's one of the nice things about Althouse..."

The thing I like about Althouse is one of the things I like about AoSHQ - it's almost no holds barred. AA may come across here as an easily offended prude, but she allows people to speak their mind.

And I'll agree about the echo chamber at AoSHQ. Though when people actually do disagree over there, it's epic.

But like someone said yesterday, he's one of the funniest political bloggers out there and he's got the funniest commenters by far. And yeah, you do need a roadmap to get a lot of the humor.; 8/19/10, 11:14 AM
Trooper York said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/19/10, 11:18 AM
Trooper York said...: Besides Ace is ok but there is no way that he is the funniest blogger out there.

Everybody knows that would be
Theo Boehm!; 8/19/10, 11:20 AM
Ace said...: >>>"Nuttin' on" is NO DIFFERENT than "I'd hit that."

In fairness, it is. It creates a more graphic image, and that was by design in both the original expression and my use of it; that is, I wanted Wicket to say something out-of-character crude and rude, and "I'd hit that" wasn't crude and rude enough.

Beyond that, though, I'm not really going to defend any further because I find this manifestly silly and I really don't think I'm debating a position here.

I think this has moved off any kind of dispassionate rational analysis of a position and wholly into the realm of personal vindication.

As Althouse makes clear, she has now backed into the (I think indefensible) position that it is wrong, categorically, to remark upon the sexual desirability of women.

She does so by noting traits in men that make them sexually undesirable.

The system, as they say, in its contradictions, contains the seeds of its own destruction.

Apparently we finally are actually having a discussion over whether men may take notice of women's attractiveness, with Althouse on the "con" side; yet even in her own argument for this position she acknowledges that men and women are bound by a sexual interest in each other and then lists some things (in a joking manner, I note) that makes men sexually undesirable to her.

Wicket just emailed me to say "Must be that time of the day." *

* Wicket lives on a moon not a planet so lunar cycles are actually his daily cycles.; 8/19/10, 11:30 AM
kent said...: I'd nut on Salacious Crumb. Twice.; 8/19/10, 11:36 AM
GMay said...: Blogger fight!; 8/19/10, 11:40 AM
blake said...: I'm not into Star Wars at all, but I know what an Ewok is.

And it's always been the women in my life who were into "Star Trek".

wv: cursedsy

Ooh! So close..."cursedsw" or "cursedst" would have been on the nose.; 8/19/10, 11:40 AM
Ace said...: Oh to disagree with myself and agree somewhat with the guy I just disagreed with--

It is the nature of sexual slang to at first have a great deal of visceral power and graphicness in its imagery.

When I first started to hear "bust nut" and its variations, it stuck in my head precisely because it was visceral, graphic, and dirty. Obscene.

But this slang is now 10 years old (or older?) and has, for anyone that's been hearing it for that long, lost almost all of that initial sting of unexpected graphicness.

Just as "f***" over the years has largely been drained of its immediate, direct sexual meaning to typically mean... well, almost nothing, so too has "bust nut" become almost silly and inoffensive, almost an "I'd hit that."

Almost.

And since Althouse was apparently unaware of the term, and just looked it up, I can imagine her being shocked at the crudity of it, as I was (but I think probably to a lesser extent) when I first heard it. Ten years ago.

So part of this is the difference in the immediacy of the slang: For me and a lot of the guys here, it has now lapsed into meaning... not really all that much. For anyone just coming upon this term, on the other hand, it has its original slightly-shocking sting.

I'm in the strange position of not even liking the joke very much, feeling I... nutted it, to use a different use of "nut," and yet still thinking it is certainly not "despicable" for Wicket, Ewok of Endor, to use crude slang in expressing his sexual interest in other Ewoks.

The "right" version of the joke, whatever that was (I don't know, haven't bothered to think about it too much) still would have contained the elements Althouse doesn't like: An Ewok making a crude sexual observation about women dressed up as Ewoks.; 8/19/10, 11:42 AM
GMay said...: Wow, both of you are killing a perfectly good joke.; 8/19/10, 11:45 AM
blake said...: "We would like to be able to have sex with you, but it is so difficult."

You heard her, Meade! Take off those Vulcan ears in the bedroom!; 8/19/10, 11:45 AM
D.D. Driver said...: See here's something that I have never quite understood: is Endor the name moon or is Endor the name of the planet that it orbits around.

In either case you could refer to it as "the forest moon of Endor."; 8/19/10, 11:46 AM
blake said...: Althouse, you're such a Herbert.

(Hey, if she's gonna double-down, so am I.); 8/19/10, 11:46 AM
blake said...: DD--

What I don't get is how Chewbacca, a Wookie, comes from Endor. That does not make sense.

(OK, every lawyer needs to get that joke.); 8/19/10, 11:52 AM
kent said...: You just can't find top quality Ewok slash fiction anywhere online, nowadays. Not like the old days.; 8/19/10, 11:52 AM
D.D. Driver said...: "As Althouse makes clear, she has now backed into the (I think indefensible) position that it is wrong, categorically, to remark upon the sexual desirability of women."

I think this goes too far. If you read back over the posts, Ann says it's despicable that Wicket would only nut on one of the furries."

Maybe Althouse just thinks its despicable that Ewoks have unrealistically high standards?; 8/19/10, 11:55 AM
blake said...: DD--

Yeah, you should hear the way Ewoks talk on those "Game" sites. All about picking up the hottie Ewok chicks for a quick "nut and forgut".

Despicable.; 8/19/10, 11:59 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Guys, making ... Star Wars references is about as sexy as dressing in shorts, big sneakers, and a tight T-shirt displaying a pot belly.

So when women say they like men in uniform, they weren't thinking of my Storm Trooper outfit?

That explains so much.; 8/19/10, 11:59 AM
Ace said...: >>>Ann says it's despicable that Wicket would only nut on one of the furries." Maybe Althouse just thinks its despicable that Ewoks have unrealistically high standards?

Wicket just emailed me to say "I'm a player, I take care of business. I'm in demand and I make bank, son. To hell with you calling my standards 'unrealistically high.'"; 8/19/10, 12:02 PM
Darcy said...: So when women say they like men in uniform, they weren't thinking of my Storm Trooper outfit?

No. But Boba Fett's get up?

Yeah.; 8/19/10, 12:03 PM
blake said...: Your revolution is over, Ms. Althouse. Condolences. The squares lost. My advice is to do what your children did; get a clue, ma'am. The squares will always lose. Do you hear me, Althouse?

(No, the chicks don't dig the Star Wars references but they loooooooooooove The Big Lebowski!); 8/19/10, 12:04 PM
blake said...: See, Darcy knows!

Stormtroopers? Beta.

Boba Fett? Alpha.

Jedis? Alpha. Except Luke, he was such a whiny beta.

Darth Vader? Mega-hot Alpha! He doesn't actually have force powers, he's just great at "kino".; 8/19/10, 12:08 PM
blake said...: I totally back you up on the ST/SW points, A, and will close with another fav movie quote of mine - "...and we're supposed to swoon?"

Clueless!

Great update of Emma, starring America's Sweetheart, Paul Rudd.; 8/19/10, 12:10 PM
kent said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/19/10, 12:11 PM
kent said...: Wicket just emailed me to say "I'm a player, I take care of business. I'm in demand and I make bank, son."

So you're saying he rides the Bantha? Slams the womp rat? Mounts the Tauntaun?; 8/19/10, 12:12 PM
Scott M said...: If you want a good example of how cross-gender Star Wars and Star Trek humor is, watch an Eddie Izzard concert. His bit with Darth Vader going down to the Death Star cafeteria is hysterical...and the women are laughing right along with the guys.

Likewise his bit about Star Trek and the many different settings between stun and kill...like "limp" and "sudden interest in botany".; 8/19/10, 12:12 PM
Clyde said...: Garage, you'd probably feel as welcome there as Tila Tequila at the Gathering of the Juggalos!; 8/19/10, 12:16 PM
blake said...: garage,

You wouldn't necessarily know if there were libs there because if they're out, they're probably trolling, and the comments section is vicious, if also often hilarious.

So, I think there may be some libs on there enjoying the humor and not commenting on the political stuff. I'm not a lib, but I mostly keep it apolitical there.; 8/19/10, 12:21 PM
William said...: When I finally got the joke, I thought it was funny. The Wicket reference was too subtle, although it does give new meaning to sticky Wickets. Anyway, as I understood it, the joke was not directed at Ewok sexuality so much as towards liberal women who try to roar like mama grizzlies but end up mewing like slutty Ewoks....I find the idea of a horny Ewok ambassador humping on Hillary Clinton's leg during an intergalactic peace conference amusing.; 8/19/10, 12:25 PM
kent said...: "First, ladies, it’s hard to take a critic seriously when they lecture you wearing a bear suit. So, it’s difficult for me to drum up much outrage at this latest ad. But, really, lying about a sister while wearing an Ewok outfit is no way to honor our foremothers on the eve of the 90th anniversary of their victory. But, that aside, I’d love to know where you got those get-ups. Halloween is just around the corner, and Piper and Trig would look adorable as little grizzly bears."

-- Sarah Palin, applying industrial strength smackdown, re: the original idiotic Emily ad responsible for initiating this entire discussion,

Game, set and match.; 8/19/10, 12:25 PM
garage mahal said...: So I hit the googles. "Tila Tequila"

Results:

"Tequila was pelted with rocks, bottles, sex toys, human waste, and other objects when she performed at the four-day festival -- which has a history of rowdy crowd behavior that has kept other performers away -- on Saturday, resulting in facial cuts which required stitches and bruises all over her body, according to the singer, model and former A Shot at Love with Tila Tequila star."

Lawlz. That bad? I think I'm going in.; 8/19/10, 12:26 PM
D.D. Driver said...: "So you're saying he rides the Bantha? Slams the womp rat? Mounts the Tauntaun?"

I think what he is trying to say is that Wicket's ride could make the Kessel run in only 5 parsecs.; 8/19/10, 12:36 PM
Clyde said...: Thanks for that link, Kent. Note that Sarah recognized them as being Ewoks! I wonder if she's been reading Ace's blog... Or the Althouse kerfuffle?; 8/19/10, 12:44 PM
Unknown said...: Of course Sarah reads the AoSHQ on a daily basis. You ever wonder why there are so few hobos in Alaska?

Now you know why.; 8/19/10, 12:46 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I think what he is trying to say is that Wicket's ride could make the Kessel run in only 5 parsecs

If I were a female Ewok a 5 parsec ride wouldn't be all that attractive or exciting.

Just sayin'; 8/19/10, 12:50 PM
Trooper York said...: I think you should stop picking on the blogger lady Ace.

Star Wars skews too young for her.

You need more Howdy Doody referances dude. Just sayn'; 8/19/10, 12:55 PM
Salamandyr said...: No. But Boba Fett's get up?

Yeah.

My wife has an unnatural infatuation with Boba Fett.

And Master Chief.

Apparently there is something about guys clad entirely in futuristic body armor that really turns her on.

I don't even play Halo.; 8/19/10, 12:59 PM
Trooper York said...: If Mortimer Snerd were awake he would have bust a nut on that.; 8/19/10, 1:00 PM
Christy said...: Dang! I am a prude and I'm learning way too much vulgar slang by reading Althouse.

Am I the only one who tears up at the opening credits to "Enterprise?"; 8/19/10, 1:01 PM
blake said...: No, but no one else will admit it.

I think Wil Wheaton wrote to the singer saying "Thank you for making me the second least hated person in "Star Trek" history!"; 8/19/10, 1:03 PM
kent said...: If Mortimer Snerd were awake he would have bust a nut on that.

Shari Lewis was Mortimer Snerd's reg'lar Saturday Night Thang. True story.; 8/19/10, 1:04 PM
blake said...: "TV Funhouse" had a regular "puppet fact" segment where they would showcase things about hand puppets. I only remember one:

"70% of all puppets say they've done it with Shari Lewis."

And the image was a couple of puppets at a cocktail party nodding knowingly at a pair of woman's legs.; 8/19/10, 1:06 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Sarah Palin, applying industrial strength smackdown, re: the original idiotic Emily ad responsible for initiating this entire discussion,

Game. Set. Match

I just felt a great disturbance in the Force. As if millions of libtard feminists cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced....; 8/19/10, 1:08 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: Apparently there is something about guys clad entirely in futuristic body armor that really turns her on

Its the ubiquitous codpiece every one of them have.

Think about it.; 8/19/10, 1:11 PM
Trooper York said...: You see this all ties together. I recently started a series on the first image on TV that you nutted on. For Crack Emcee it was Star Trek and cult related. Theo Boehn had an thing for opera singers.

And of course Ricpic had a thing for Lamb Chop!

If you have a remembrance just let me know and I will post a thread just for you.; 8/19/10, 1:12 PM
Trooper York said...: Garage already emailed me that he wants one with Ray Nitsche.; 8/19/10, 1:14 PM
kent said...: If you have a remembrance just let me know and I will post a thread just for you.

My first: Barbara Feldon as "Agent 99," on Get Smart. rrrrrRAWWWRRRRRRR. ;); 8/19/10, 1:16 PM
Anonymous said...: >> WHOA.
No, they do not get paid. They do it for the love of the kill.

Well, that and the dental plan.; 8/19/10, 1:24 PM
LordSomber said...: "Guys, making Star Trek and Star Wars references is about as sexy as dressing in shorts..."

Can we add Monty Python to that list? Ladies, honestly, do you find it as annoying as I do when grown men quote Monty Python?; 8/19/10, 1:38 PM
blake said...: Ni! Ni! Ni!; 8/19/10, 1:39 PM
garage mahal said...: Garage already emailed me that he wants one with Ray Nitsche.

I had a thing forJulie Newmar. The original Catwoman. Maybe the original nut-on.; 8/19/10, 1:39 PM
Scott M said...: Can we add Monty Python to that list? Ladies, honestly, do you find it as annoying as I do when grown men quote Monty Python?

MP is far more esoteric than Star Wars or Star Trek. As huge a fan as I am (there are four Bruce's in my family, after all), I admit it's just a large cult following that will diminish with the years...sad to say.

Monty Python quotes only work with other people that know what you're talking about. And it's one thing to shout "NE NE NE", but quite another to respond "the aqueduct" whenever someone says, "what have they ever done for us?".

After his tenth birthday and first viewing of a Monty Python sketch, I gave my son a wall plaque which has his name and MOSQUITO HUNTER under it. There's a pith helmet, a saber, a grenade, and a mock M-1 Garand on it.

My wife couldn't understand why I spent around $100 on it. He took it to college.; 8/19/10, 1:44 PM
Salamandyr said...: Julie Newmar was all about the hotness.

And Diana Rigg. There's just something about ironed hair and a leather catsuit.; 8/19/10, 1:45 PM
chickelit said...: garage wrote: I had a thing forJulie Newmar. The original Catwoman. Maybe the original nut-on.

Et tu Garagecum? linkage; 8/19/10, 1:52 PM
garage mahal said...: I pulled that pic from yahoo images

linkage.

wv gladspot; 8/19/10, 2:07 PM
jamboree said...: @annalthouse Agree. This is the reverse of what I see with Palin coming from the left where it's either "that's all she's good for" (usually in some overtly aggressive reference to butt fucking.) Ann Coulter gets that a lot too.

But that's what guys do when it gets ugly - they go aggressively misogynistic. It's just like someone who suddenly pulls a 'nigger' out of their back pocket when the fights on. Only unlike the racial example, it's so omnipresent that people rarely bother to even acknowledge it, much less call it out. Sandra Bernhard managed to get both gender and racial low blows in her rape reference to Palin.; 8/19/10, 2:08 PM
chickelit said...: I pulled that pic from yahoo images

Garage did you miss season 1 of "Catwoman" at Trooper York's? linkage

Oh yeah. That might have been before you went over to the dark side.; 8/19/10, 2:15 PM
The Scythian said...: Althouse,

You're still missing it.

The joke wasn't that the women weren't sexy enough.

The joke was that the Ewoks weren't sexy enough. And that a cute beloved children's character used the term "nuttin' on".; 8/19/10, 2:17 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Ladies, honestly, do you find it as annoying as I do when grown men quote Monty Python?

Nope. I fart in your general direction.; 8/19/10, 2:18 PM
Trooper York said...: Sorry Garage.

The Catwoman was Trey's girl.

One of the few series that had a begining, a middle and an end on Trooper York.

I miss Trey.; 8/19/10, 2:23 PM
chickelit said...: Sandra Bernhard--so not worthy; 8/19/10, 2:24 PM
chickelit said...: One of the few series that had a begining, a middle and an end on Trooper York.

Did you invent serial blogposting Blogfather?; 8/19/10, 2:25 PM
Trooper York said...: No young Luke. I copied. Much like everyone else with the force.

Look at the blogger lady. She has copied her style from Queen Victoria.; 8/19/10, 2:27 PM
Trooper York said...: Look at young Ace.

He is the demon spawn of an unholey union of Charle Bukowski and Elmer Fudd.; 8/19/10, 2:29 PM
Anonymous said...: (Bursts into tears) How do I know you're not a Sith?; 8/19/10, 2:32 PM
Trooper York said...: Or at least a piece of one?; 8/19/10, 2:33 PM
The Scythian said...: As a side note, my mother (who is probably a few years younger than Althouse) is an avid sci-fi and horror buff. To this day, she will still speak in glowing terms about the first time she saw Star Wars in the theater.

She would actually make me watch movies like Psycho and King Kong as a child. Recently, she was all buzzed up about Iron Man and Zombieland.

My dad, on the other hand, has a secret passion for musicals.

Go figure.; 8/19/10, 2:35 PM
blake said...: Scott M,

I routinely call out "the aqueduct".

I also like "Are there any women here today?"

And "Blessed are the cheesemakers."

"Romans they go like a house?"; 8/19/10, 2:44 PM
Trooper York said...: That's cool Youngblood.

But why did they name you after a character in Coffy?

One of them had to be a big Pam Grier fan?; 8/19/10, 2:44 PM
blake said...: Let me speak for all men when I say I hate it when a woman pretends to speak for all women.; 8/19/10, 2:47 PM
Scott M said...: @blake

...priceless.; 8/19/10, 2:51 PM
The Scythian said...: Trooper,

Unfortunately, my parents didn't give me such this exciting name!

I just happened to be listening to a lot of Thee Headcoats when I came up with my Blogger handle.; 8/19/10, 3:19 PM
chickelit said...: Did somebody put a fork inna this thread?

I wanna fork ona table!; 8/19/10, 3:19 PM
chickelit said...: Youngblood wrote I just happened to be listening to a lot of Thee Headcoats when I came up with my Blogger handle.

Good on you. I was thing more 60's style Get Together; 8/19/10, 3:23 PM
chickelit said...: wv: "whino"; 8/19/10, 3:25 PM
Sharc 65 said...: edutcher: "You may have given a lot of men new hope."

Please don't hijack the post. That was Episode IV. We're talking about Episode VI.; 8/19/10, 3:27 PM
garage mahal said...: Had no idea Troop you were into Catwoman as such. Great minds think alike; 8/19/10, 3:29 PM
The Scythian said...: By the way, if you're going to mix identity politics and Star Wars, this is how it's done.; 8/19/10, 3:40 PM
Anonymous said...: Nurse Ratched is gonna be pissed if she ever gains control of this place again.

FWIW, Althouse has long since jumped the shark. Nailing her feet to the floor on this thing is pathetic. Typical liberal hypocrisy, though.; 8/19/10, 3:42 PM
Beth said...: This is consistent with Althouse's critique of leftist hipster males who make misogynist jokes and claim cover via ironic distance, and I don't recall much resistance to that analysis from her conservative male commenters.; 8/19/10, 3:47 PM
holdfast said...: For an Ewok, anything over 4 feet tall is "unrealistically high expectations."; 8/19/10, 3:55 PM
Sofa King said...: Beth -

I'm not sure what you are referring to. Do you have a link?; 8/19/10, 4:13 PM
Trooper York said...: You just want to keep all the cute babes for yourself Beth.; 8/19/10, 4:22 PM
Trooper York said...: By the way, what would be the equivalent of busting a nut for our lady friends when they are checking out someone on TV.

Tickling the guppie.

Fingering the flounder.

Tippicanoe your Steve Tyler Too.; 8/19/10, 4:24 PM
Trooper York said...: Groping the grouper?; 8/19/10, 4:27 PM
The Scythian said...: "Tippicanoe your Steve Tyler Too."

Oh, wow. That's brilliant!; 8/19/10, 4:29 PM
chickelit said...: Rocking the boat?; 8/19/10, 4:34 PM
garage mahal said...: Trolling for cocksuckers.; 8/19/10, 4:35 PM
Trooper York said...: Well I always thought Stever Tyler sort of look like...well you know.; 8/19/10, 4:35 PM
chickelit said...: I just noticed that kayaks have both spraydecks and cockpits linkage

I never knew that.; 8/19/10, 4:38 PM
Trooper York said...: "garage mahal said...
Trolling for cocksuckers."

Garage, how does that work as an euphemism for what Beth was doing while she was watching Nancy McKeon on the "Facts of Life."

Sharpen up dude.

wv:flymo....what you call that stewardess guy who flipped out on Jet Blue the other day.; 8/19/10, 4:39 PM
chickelit said...: Trolling for cocksuckers.

Wash your mouth out with soap!; 8/19/10, 4:41 PM
Trooper York said...: "Trolling for cocksuckers."

What Jeremy puts on the occupation line of his tax return.; 8/19/10, 4:43 PM
The Scythian said...: Beth,

If I thought that the joke was misogynistic, I would happily join with Althouse in calling it despicable.

The problem is that I don't.

The joke, about the women in the commercial, is that their costumes make them look like Ewoks. The joke, about Wicket the Ewok, is that he is in fact a boorish jackass and not the sweet living teddy bear that he was presented as.

That's way different than someone dismissing a woman's political views by saying she's not attractive enough to humiliate sexually, which is what Althouse insists that Ace is saying.; 8/19/10, 5:01 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: This whole thing is absurd.

Everyone knows that Wicket is gay.; 8/19/10, 5:26 PM
chickelit said...: That's way different than someone dismissing a woman's political views by saying she's not attractive enough to humiliate sexually, which is what Althouse insists that Ace is saying.

Imagine that the women hadn't been wearing bear burqas. Isn't Althouse implying that Ace would have said the same thing?

Something's missing in this analysis.; 8/19/10, 5:27 PM
Anonymous said...: Since "despicable" turns out to mean "unsexy" or "boyish" or "interested in guy stuff" and nothing worse, not much point in worrying about it.; 8/19/10, 5:30 PM
Beth said...: That's way different than someone dismissing a woman's political views by saying she's not attractive enough to humiliate sexually, which is what Althouse insists that Ace is saying.

See the "ironic distance" explanation cited earlier.; 8/19/10, 5:33 PM
Beth said...: Trooper - I was more a Charlotte Rae fan. Nancy's got a sweet butch thing going on though; that's always appealing.; 8/19/10, 5:34 PM
Beth said...: My best pal down the hall just restarted his computer. It plays the The Imperial March theme. Ha.; 8/19/10, 5:36 PM
Beth said...: Sofa King, that's a repeated Althouse theme. You'd have to search her archives for liberal misogyny, I think. I've been reading the blog since 2004, so I am citing from familiarity.; 8/19/10, 5:38 PM
Trooper York said...: Beth, did I tell you that Mindy Cohn is a great customer of the store. I bet I can get Nancy's number for you. Just sayn'; 8/19/10, 5:39 PM
Beth said...: Trooper, thanks, but I have all the woman I can handle. And I'm lucky to have her. Besides, Nancy McKeown isn't on our list - you know the one: If by some odd twist of fate, Xena ever DOES try to seduce you, you have my permission to go for it." That list.; 8/19/10, 5:47 PM
Trooper York said...: No problem Beth. I am still working on Shirley Booth's number for ricpic.; 8/19/10, 5:57 PM
Trooper York said...: Oh and by the way, check your list again. Just sayn'; 8/19/10, 5:58 PM
Beth said...: Trooper, feel free to suggest additions to the list, but no deletions.

Lucy Lawless filmed a movie on my campus, and spent several days on set right outside my office. I stood by watching one day, for about an hour - me, and two 19-year-old college boys from one of my classes. I found that funny.; 8/19/10, 6:07 PM
Beth said...: ricpic says don't call him Shirley.; 8/19/10, 6:08 PM
bailesworth said...: Well, they say timing is everything. Check out this WEDDING CAKE picture at the Jawa Report: http://mypetjawa.mu.nu/archives/203598.php.; 8/19/10, 6:18 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "As Althouse makes clear, she has now backed into the (I think indefensible) position that it is wrong, categorically, to remark upon the sexual desirability of women."

No, I didn't. I objected to remarking upon the sexual desirability of women who are presenting themselves in a nonsexual context (like arguing politics) WHEN the remark comes in the form of saying which one you'd like to EJACULATE ON. Even if you say it via puppet.

***

As for "Star Wars"... I saw the original "Star Wars" in 1976 when it came out, in the theater, because friends raved about it, even though the opinion chez Cohenhouse had been to remain aloof from such popular entertainments. We saw "Empire" when it came out, in the theater because we'd enjoyed SW and it got good reviews. We were interested in "Jedi" when it came out, but it got terrible reviews. So I never saw that one -- because of the reviews and because I was incredibly busy that year. 1983.

I've avoided all the subsequent SW movies. They were all terrible, people.; 8/19/10, 6:55 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "Lucy Lawless filmed a movie on my campus, and spent several days on set right outside my office. I stood by watching one day, for about an hour - me, and two 19-year-old college boys from one of my classes. I found that funny."

Hey, that happened to me with Rodney Dangerfield. Sorta.; 8/19/10, 6:56 PM
Ann Althouse said...: This is interesting, about sex and "Star Wars":

"Lucas avoided sex (we are told that Carrie Fisher’s breasts were taped down in the first episode to minimize the erotic potential), there is no dirty language, there are honorable heroes and heroines with you-take-your-pick Biblical or mythological overtones, and the good guys win. Even the violence was strategically sanitized. Lucas waged wars and destroyed whole planets without a drop of blood. Star Wars was the safest cult your child could join. Its mysticism was a kind of New Age psychology."

New Age... paging Crack Emcee.; 8/19/10, 7:00 PM
exhelodrvr1 said...: There was a mixup before the video was made. The script actually called for bare liberal women.; 8/19/10, 7:01 PM
Ann Althouse said...: "... without a drop of blood..."

Or splooge.; 8/19/10, 7:02 PM
The Scythian said...: Beth wrote:

"See the 'ironic distance' explanation cited earlier."

El Pollo Real, who not only has good taste in music but is apparently a pretty sharp cat, got it.

Ace isn't distancing himself from a comment by putting it into the mouth of a fictional character to soften its offensiveness. The offensiveness is the whole point.

To get the joke, you have to (a) know who Wicket the Ewok is and (b) agree with Althouse that it's not right at all to "look at a series of women and say only one was worth ejaculating on".

It's like that old comedy sketch in which we discover that Donald Duck is a foul-mouthed pervert, or the tongue in cheek claims that the love songs "Come on Eileen" and "Nothin' on You" are really about ejacula...

Hey! Wait a minute!; 8/19/10, 7:14 PM
kent said...: Does the Professor's mulish insistence upon Simply Not Getting It, re: Ace's wholly innocuous little quip, remind anyone else here of the "fish sticks" episode of SOUTH PARK...?; 8/19/10, 7:18 PM
Trooper York said...: Youngblood, that cogent explaination earns you a "Pearl Necklace."; 8/19/10, 7:19 PM
Synova said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/19/10, 7:20 PM
Synova said...: "Frankly, it's offensive to me"

Well, I suppose. If we're going to do that "offense" thing.

"... as a woman when you refer to "we" when you're talking about "our" attractions to men who are up on Science Fiction and pop culture references."

Though it is right in line with the "you don't speak for me" message from the mamma grizzlies. ;-)

"Some of us dig those guys."

I figure it's an intelligence indicator... a gauge of the woman's intelligence, not the guy's, if she looks at the geek and sees outrageous, funny, clever and most likely significant earning potential or if she... doesn't.

One of my first conversations with my future husband was a discussion of how to create a laser sword that would *terminate*.

(Also, my lvl 80 ranger is hawt. Yes she is.)

(Reposted due to an unfortunate typo.); 8/19/10, 7:21 PM
The Scythian said...: "Star Wars was the safest cult your child could join. Its mysticism was a kind of New Age psychology."

This was intentional. A lot is made of Lucas patterning Star Wars on the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials he grew up with, but he intentionally inverted the sides in the conflict.

In Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon, rational moderns who use science and high technology are pitted up against irrational Far Eastern-flavored mystics and exotic weapons.

In Star Wars, the irrational Far Eastern-flavored mystics with exotic weapons are pitted up against the rational moderns who use science and high technology.

Lucas has said time and time again that this was intentional -- he was siding with the members of the counter-culture against their parents' generation. (Their parents, of course, grew up reading Buck and Flash, which were as big as Star Wars back in the day.); 8/19/10, 7:26 PM
Unknown said...: "Take your foot off the gas, Ann. You're just grinding metal."; 8/19/10, 7:26 PM
The Scythian said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 8/19/10, 7:32 PM
The Scythian said...: And, yeah, about the Lucas and sex thing, consider the following:

Flash Gordon was basically a carbon copy of Buck Rogers, and they both had basically the same core iconic characters. In Star Wars, Lucas is careful to present us with a counterpart of each except for the sexy and mysterious femme fatale.

Make of that what you will.; 8/19/10, 7:34 PM
Unknown said...: Youngblood, I think you could say that Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia was a strong, sexy woman. Sort of "Xena before Xena was Xena". Of course, by movie #3, the hero found out that the strong, sexy heroine was actually......his sister. AWKKKKK-WARD!; 8/19/10, 7:46 PM
AC245 said...: No, I didn't. I objected to remarking upon the sexual desirability of women who are presenting themselves in a nonsexual context (like arguing politics) WHEN the remark comes in the form of saying which one you'd like to EJACULATE ON. Even if you say it via puppet.

Althouse, you're coming across as one of those ignorant buffoons who insists that "black hole" and "niggardly" are racist terms, even after the real meaning has been explained to them.

Ace made a joke using an allusion that you didn't understand, and you went into shrieking hysterics.

People took pity on your ignorance, spelled the joke out for you, and urged you to apologize for the foolishness you were spouting based on your confusion.

Instead, you continue to lash out with cheap shots at Ace and anyone who did get the joke that flew over your head -- cheap shots which, as has been noted, are ironically focused on sexual desirability.

Pathetic.; 8/19/10, 7:51 PM
Synova said...: "One of my first conversations with my future husband was a discussion of how to create a laser sword that would *terminate*."

And one of the more enjoyable things we have done as a couple was get a tour of a nuclear collider (the one that used to be at Davis) from an internet friend of mine in the wee hours of the morning (since that's when his time slot to use the thing happened to be). And terminating lasers reminded me... they had managed to set the thing up (someone else's science, my friend was doing space stuff) so that an atomic particle could be made to annihilate at a precise point inside a person, having passed through the head/eye/whatever and into the brain in order to burn out a brain tumor without surgery or any damage on the "path" the particle took through flesh to get there.

Now, frankly, that is *very* sexy.; 8/19/10, 7:59 PM
blake said...: Russ-- Nice!

Synova-- I assume that lawyerly types get a similar sort of frisson from brilliant/clever lawcraft.; 8/19/10, 8:13 PM
BJM said...: @Beth

Oh, puleeze.

I'm a woman and I am far more offended by the self-righteous, condescending twits at Emily's List than Ace or the testosterone fueled side of the blogosphere.

I avoid sites that are predominately populated by women commenters other than my go-to gal Ree Drummond, who also loves men just as they are.

Although I thought the list itself was not up to Ace's usual comedic standards, but I got that it was an inside joke.

Althouse simply reached the wrong conclusion because she isn't familiar with Ace's Ewokiness.

However I am a Moron so my opinion may be unreliable as such.; 8/19/10, 8:21 PM
The Scythian said...: Russ,

Leia was presented as independent, strong, and sexy.

But so was Wilma Deering. She was a female soldier who was competent, intelligent, and physically capable. Dale Arden was a plucky intrepid "girl reporter" who didn't shy from adventure.

Star Wars still lacked a femme fatale and, of course, the hero doesn't end up with a romantic partner because the only woman of note in the entire trilogy turns out to be his sister (and is in love with the space pirate anyway).; 8/19/10, 8:30 PM
BJM said...: @AA

I've avoided all the subsequent SW movies. They were all terrible, people.

Really? How would you know if you've not seen them?

Ewan McGregor was sexy and his restrained performance as as Obi-Wan the Younger was brilliant and spot on with Guinness's work.

Ian McDiarmid's villianous performance alone make the movies worth watching.

Okay...I'll give you Hayden Christensen and Jar-Jar Binks...the entire Episode II was pretty much a stinker, except for Lee's Dooku. Any movie with a Lee sword fight scene can't be entirely worthless...he may be an old dude but he's still got it.; 8/19/10, 8:54 PM
Unknown said...: You make a good point, Youngblood. Let's agree that Leia didn't fit the mold of the traditional "Space Opera Femme Fatale"....but concede that she did fuel quite a bit of adolescent imagination in the early 80's. Lucas didn't present her as some sort of space porn queen, but much like the McGyver Stoners who can fashion a bong out of any three randomly selected household items, the male American teenager is skilled at deriving inspiration from darn near any source you can imagine.; 8/19/10, 8:59 PM
The Scythian said...: Oh, I concede that, sure. It would be hard not to given the whole slave girl Leia thing, y'know?

"like the McGyver Stoners who can fashion a bong out of any three randomly selected household items"

Ha! They really are resourceful.; 8/19/10, 9:25 PM
Beth said...: BJ,

I wrote that Althouse was being consistent with a position she's taken about liberal politicos, so what's "Oh, puleeze" about that? You're not addressing my comment at all.; 8/19/10, 11:41 PM
Beth said...: Althouse, I see the "sorta" similarity with Rodney Dangerfield, but I'm pretty sure you and I were appreciating our celebrities for different reasons.; 8/19/10, 11:44 PM
Christy said...: Blake, if you are still around, Wheaton totally redeems himself in Season 4 of Felicia Day's "The Guild". Link is to S1E1. Who'd a thunk Ensign Crusher would grow up to be sexy?

Can we sum up this thread with The Guild video of
"Do You Want to Date My Avatar"; 8/20/10, 12:38 AM