Also, never heard of Boondock Saints. I gather this is OK.

I second your hate. The whole lot of them.

NEVER APOLOGIZE for a long comment. I’m going to go in reverse order: First up, believe me, nobody could be more critical than I am of the way The Culture handles sportsball players and their transgressions. It’s trash at every level. These kids, many of whom come from poverty, are feted and protected from every consequence their actions might have; and then on the other side, they’re asked to play this deeply damaging sport FOR FREE while a bunch of already-wealthy white folks benefit massively from the fruits of their labors. I have a complex relationship to football. I love it and I am maddened by it.

I have heard great things about History of Violence! And I tend to be willing to watch most anything Viggo Mortensen is in, both because I think he’s a good actor, and because he seems more intentional than most actors about what projects he signs on for.

How far into Black Sails are you? I would say that the first season has some problems and is very “Find the McGuffin”-driven, and then the plot keeps tightening up as the show goes on. So Season 2 is a lot tighter and more emotional and all-around better than Season 1, and Season 3 so far is proving to be tighter plotwise than Season 2. For whatever that’s worth!

You’re welcome, I’m glad you enjoyed! I am glad this is being talked about more now because it is troubling as hell, the shit Nazis will launch onto.

I do not think so, Michelle. Realistically, I am pretty sure we are going to lose. To the stupid Partytots. Oh how I hate them.

Yes, exactly! It’s good because the many things I’m learning from the different books all complement each other, like I’m building a whole network of knowledge relating to pirates. But I guess we’ll see how much I retain as time goes by. :p

Okay, men recommending stuff. Why “The Boondock Saints,” I wonder? I’d never heard of it, so had to go watch the trailer, and YE GODS. Although I am also weirdly addicted to Willem Dafoe, so I probably should not watch The BS (I find that abbreviation hilarious, personally), in case I love it. I think men have only made me watch two movies, if memory serves: Annie Hall and Joe Vs. The Volcano. I have no idea what that says about the men I used to date. I will say this: if you are looking for an interesting (albeit violent, I’ll grant you that) movie about violence and the mob, I’d suggest “The History of Violence” starring Viggo Mortensen. You will never look at William Hurt again in the same way.

Because I am a PARTY POOPER, and because it is that time of year, I must suggest you read the book “Scoreboard, Baby,” about the Univ. of Washington football team and all the felony shit they got away with (rape, attempted murder, assault) just BECAUSE they were football players. Christ. I suppose I always will be a Packers fan but I just can’t get myself to care about the sport anymore.

Sorry for the long long comment!