OOTS #1194 - The Discussion Thread

[hroþila]

What I'm hearing here is that tueur and tuteur are pretty much the same word.

Hmm...what about "exhumation"?

That one does derive from humus and refers to burial. Unlike hummus.

[Fyraltari]

What I'm hearing here is that tueur and tuteur are pretty much the same word.

I both hate and love this.

That one does derive from humus and refers to burial. Unlike hummus.

Which of course refers to deliciousness.

[The_Weirdo]

True, true.

And in Portuguese, "kill" is "matar", yes? from latin macto "I reward"!

I never said we were nice either.

[Sniccups]

Rome and Star Wars have Emperors after being republics. They always fit together, even in absentia. (wait, did I use Latin correctly there?)

Looks fine to me.

[bunsen_h]

Preach it, sister!
I already am, because I'm a cleric!

Mods/admins: may we please have an OOTS Smilie to represent Minrah?

[Fyraltari]

Mods/admins: may we please have an OOTS Smilie to represent Minrah?

I believe anyone is free to make smilies and to propose them to be added into the thread that exists for that exact purpose.

[Anarion]

Love Belkar being confronted that way. He would never want to be a loser!

[LadyEowyn]

Rome and Star Wars have Emperors after being republics. They always fit together, even in absentia. (wait, did I use Latin correctly there?)

So did France, on no less than two occasions.

[Emanick]

That said, I'm still focused on "tuer". I mean, really, what is more awesome than going "In my native language, we substituted "take care of" for "kill"?

I feel it would be remiss not to point out that "take care of" can mean "kill" in English, too. Granted, it's more of a mob boss-style euphemism than a literal statement, but it's surprisingly common nonetheless.

[The_Weirdo]

I feel it would be remiss not to point out that "take care of" can mean "kill" in English, too. Granted, it's more of a mob boss-style euphemism than a literal statement, but it's surprisingly common nonetheless.

Sure, the curious thing is it didn't literally become the main word for it in English. Of course, in Portuguese, it comes from reward, so... I don't know, Romance languages have something deeply awesome and unique about how they discuss death, maybe?

Oh, and by the way, the Sphinx Pox got settled. You lost the bet. Pilgrim won. I will proceed to hire myself out as a quatloo repo man for a cut.

[Emanick]

Sure, the curious thing is it didn't literally become the main word for it in English. Of course, in Portuguese, it comes from reward, so... I don't know, Romance languages have something deeply awesome and unique about how they discuss death, maybe?

Oh, and by the way, the Sphinx Pox got settled. You lost the bet. Pilgrim won. I will proceed to hire myself out as a quatloo repo man for a cut.

See, we disagree about that. I made the bet because I couldn't imagine the sphinx pox not being deliberately dealt with on-panel. "Directly addressing it" counts as a story role in my book; it's certainly a step or two up from "passing commentary." I didn't necessarily expect it to be important - I just didn't expect it to be ignored going forward. Which it wasn't.

That said, I admit that I did a bad job wording the bet. I should have anticipated the need for a more specific articulation of what I was talking about. Now I must deal with the shame of being pelted with jibes from passing forumites, forumites who are contemptuous of me for holding an attitude that fails to match any I ever held - all because I failed to be sufficiently precise in an idle gamble! Such is my tragic, all-too-well-deserved fate.

Ah well. With any luck, I'll be the next curator of the Number of Character Appearances thread, and I'll have something else to put in my signature instead.

[danielxcutter]

Re: exhumation - I believe this is why the Discworld Assassin's Guild refers to their assassinations as "inhuming".

[Peelee]

See, we disagree about that. I made the bet because I couldn't imagine the sphinx pox not being deliberately dealt with on-panel. "Directly addressing it" counts as a story role in my book; it's certainly a step or two up from "passing commentary." I didn't necessarily expect it to be important - I just didn't expect it to be ignored going forward. Which it wasn't.

What would you accept as "passing commentary"? It was an incredibly brief mention, a small step up from a throwaway joke, solely in place to address the previous throwaway joke. I would call that resolution practically the definition of passing commentary.

Ah well. With any luck, I'll be the next curator of the Number of Character Appearances thread, and I'll have something else to put in my signature instead.

You could also always curate my brilliance and wit, if you wish.

P.S. I am incredibly amused that the wikipedia entry on throwaway jokes references the best non-Futurama show there is, Better Call Saul.

[The_Weirdo]

See, we disagree about that. I made the bet because I couldn't imagine the sphinx pox not being deliberately dealt with on-panel. "Directly addressing it" counts as a story role in my book; it's certainly a step or two up from "passing commentary." I didn't necessarily expect it to be important - I just didn't expect it to be ignored going forward. Which it wasn't.

That said, I admit that I did a bad job wording the bet. I should have anticipated the need for a more specific articulation of what I was talking about. Now I must deal with the shame of being pelted with jibes from passing forumites, forumites who are contemptuous of me for holding an attitude that fails to match any I ever held - all because I failed to be sufficiently precise in an idle gamble! Such is my tragic, all-too-well-deserved fate.

Ah well. With any luck, I'll be the next curator of the Number of Character Appearances thread, and I'll have something else to put in my signature instead.

So THAT'S why your clothes have a red SP on them?

[The Aboleth]

Aren't we all? If anything, I'm surprised hroþila (should I be capitalizing that, btw? I can never tell) is not pushing for more etymology talk (which I'd be completely down for), rather than being nice to me by suggesting my regurgitation of The History of Rome podcast content constitutes a fantastic topic of conversation (thanks for that, though, much appreciated).

Grey (parenthetical asides) Wolf

Talking about The History of Rome podcast is always fantastic, it's just we never manage to shove the topic off of Star Wars to do it (I mean, that's what happens when we are on a Star Wars forum, we always talk about Star Wars).

Oh, great to see other fans of The History of Rome podcast!

OOTS-related: I'm glad that Minrah is already contributing to the Party in her own, unique way. Can't help but think of that old quote from The Giant about regretting not adding another woman to the group originally and see a line from that to Minrah here. I wonder if Minrah was always a planned character or if the concept for her only came along partway through the story?

[Schroeswald]

Oh, great to see other fans of The History of Rome podcast!

OOTS-related: I'm glad that Minrah is already contributing to the Party in her own, unique way. Can't help but think of that old quote from The Giant about regretting not adding another woman to the group originally and see a line from that to Minrah here. I wonder if Minrah was always a planned character or if the concept for her only came along partway through the story?

The History of Rome podcast rules, the only people who aren’t fans are those who haven’t heard it.

On Minrah’s planning, Rich (I hate autocorrect so much, why did that need to be all-caps?) has said that he had no plans until about strip 100, and that he didn’t have the whole thing planned out until the end of Book 2, so that’s what from the beginning would mean, from strip 100-301. However based on Rich, I imagine he didn’t have anything for her except maybe thinking that they meet Hilgya and maybe low-level dwarf clerics in Book 6 at that point, at the earliest he probably started developing a seventh party member in Book 4, but I’d bet he didn’t come up with Minrah until somewhere in BRitF (remember I’m completely making this up, except for the first part this is complete speculation).

[The Aboleth]

The History of Rome podcast rules, the only people who aren’t fans are those who haven’t heard it.

On Minrah’s planning, Rich (I hate autocorrect so much, why did that need to be all-caps?) has said that he had no plans until about strip 100, and that he didn’t have the whole thing planned out until the end of Book 2, so that’s what from the beginning would mean, from strip 100-301. However based on Rich, I imagine he didn’t have anything for her except maybe thinking that they meet Hilgya and maybe low-level dwarf clerics in Book 6 at that point, at the earliest he probably started developing a seventh party member in Book 4, but I’d bet he didn’t come up with Minrah until somewhere in BRitF (remember I’m completely making this up, except for the first part this is complete speculation).

That makes sense. I'm also reminded of how he had a much more prominent role for Kilkil originally in mind for BRitF but the narrative ended up not having room for him...wonder if maybe the reverse happened here with Minrah (originally didn't think she'd have a big role until she really got fleshed out in the planning stage of UD)?

A question for the Patreon post, perhaps.

[Emanick]

What would you accept as "passing commentary"? It was an incredibly brief mention, a small step up from a throwaway joke, solely in place to address the previous throwaway joke. I would call that resolution practically the definition of passing commentary.

Basically, a joke that didn't directly solve the problem but merely referenced it. My hangup was less "this is serious and must be an ongoing storyline" and more "Rich doesn't just introduce obvious threats without following up anymore." I was defining "commentary" in opposition to "direct resolution/serious consequences."

Of course, it ended up being directly addressed without receiving any more panel space than "passing commentary" would, so I suppose I can't blame anyone for interpreting it differently than I did.

You could also always curate my brilliance and wit, if you wish.

I would love to.

So THAT'S why your clothes have a red SP on them?

You got me. I wear a badge of shame around my neck every day as a reminder to myself that I must be Sufficiently Precise. At least it beats the scarlet "B+" I wore around my neck during our classroom discussions of The Scarlet Letter in eleventh grade.

[Jaxzan Proditor]

You could also always curate my brilliance and wit, if you wish.:smallwink

Seems like a job that wouldn’t require much work.

(I am, of course, just kidding. We here are all in awe of your wit. And I am not contractually obligated to say this as your lotsey.)

[Ruck]

P.S. I am incredibly amused that the wikipedia entry on throwaway jokes references the best non-Futurama show there is, Better Call Saul.

I'm working on my big article about my favorite TV shows of the 2010s. Better Call Saul is in the top 30!

[The_Weirdo]

I'm working on my big article about my favorite TV shows of the 2010s. Better Call Saul is in the top 30!

I mean, isn't 30 a rather high number for this kind of thing?

Mind you, I love Better Call Saul.

[Ruck]

I mean, isn't 30 a rather high number for this kind of thing?

Mind you, I love Better Call Saul.

For the list overall? I have 85 shows on it, so 30 isn't a bad position.

Or is it a high number in relation to Peelee's sentiment? Because that's definitely true. I like the show, but I'm razzing him a little.

[The_Weirdo]

For the list overall? I have 85 shows on it, so 30 isn't a bad position.

Or is it a high number in relation to Peelee's sentiment? Because that's definitely true. I like the show, but I'm razzing him a little.

I mean for a "Top number of recent X"... Sounds like 5 or 10 might be a better number? I don't know.

[Peelee]

Seems like a job that wouldn’t require much work.

Ya know, I really did set myself up for that one.

I'm working on my big article about my favorite TV shows of the 2010s. Better Call Saul is in the top 30!

I assume numbers 1-29 are Futurama.

The Office is also acceptable.

[Rogar Demonblud]

I mean for a "Top number of recent X"... Sounds like 5 or 10 might be a better number? I don't know.

To Be Serious: There were a lot of shows in the 2010s, especially once all the streaming services followed Netflix and started making their own content.

To Be Frivolous, maybe Ruck just isn't decisive enough to cut the list down?

[OneSpartan]

New comic is up.

This one is awesome. Thanks, Rich.

"Every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around"


.

[Quizatzhaderac]

And in Portuguese, "kill" is "matar", yes? from latin macto "I reward"!

That's very evil overlord-ish. In, fact.... yep, Rich has done it.

[Ruck]

Ya know, I really did set myself up for that one.

I assume numbers 1-29 are Futurama.

The Office is also acceptable.

If we're talking solely the 2010s? I'm afraid not.

Same with The Office. Now, if The Office ended after season 3, it'd be near the top of my entire list of shows of the 21st century. But the second half of season 6 to the end? That leaves out nearly all of the good parts of the show.

I mean for a "Top number of recent X"... Sounds like 5 or 10 might be a better number? I don't know.

Ten years is a long time.

To Be Serious: There were a lot of shows in the 2010s, especially once all the streaming services followed Netflix and started making their own content.

To Be Frivolous, maybe Ruck just isn't decisive enough to cut the list down?

Well, I was at least decisive enough to put the list in order in the first place.

But there is a lot of TV out there, and I wanted to recognize, in particular, a lot of the shows I really liked but had short runs or were cancelled before their time. A whole lot of shows fall into this category, from Benched to Enlisted to Great News to Trial and Error to American Vandal to Terriers to Ben and Kate to Party Down to Detroiters to Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23... (and more!)

[Peelee]

If we're talking solely the 2010s? I'm afraid not.

Eh, you're allowed to be wrong.

Same with The Office. Now, if The Office ended after season 3, it'd be near the top of my entire list of shows of the 21st century. But the second half of season 6 to the end? That leaves out nearly all of the good parts of the show.

I rather like Andy, and thought he held his own as manager. Sure, he was no Michael, and he could never hold a plotline like Scott's Tots, but it was stills solidly good. Plus, the other characters came even more into the forefront. The culmination of Dwight and Jim's relationship is one of the best arcs in the series, and all of that was post-Michael Scott.

At least, until they completely changed his character and made him an unlikeable ass.

Ten years is a long time.

Indeed. Also, it's a top-30, which means it could still well be number 1! I say, ignoring that you could use a smaller number if that had any chance of being true.

But there is a lot of TV out there, and I wanted to recognize, in particular, a lot of the shows I really liked but had short runs or were cancelled before their time. A whole lot of shows fall into this category, from Benched to Enlisted to Great News to Trial and Error to American Vandal to Terriers to Ben and Kate to Party Down to Detroiters to Don't Trust the B---- in Apt. 23... (and more!)

No love for A. P. Bio or Barry? OK, Barry isn't cancelled, but I'm waiting too dang long for Season 3! I WANT MY NOHO HANK FIX, HBO!

For reals, though, any chance you can throw up the list? I'm interested!

[Ruck]

Eh, you're allowed to be wrong.

A handful of episodes aside, I didn't find the revival as good as the original. Still, it does deserve mention on the list.

I rather like Andy, and thought he held his own as manager. Sure, he was no Michael, and he could never hold a plotline like Scott's Tots, but it was stills solidly good. Plus, the other characters came even more into the forefront. The culmination of Dwight and Jim's relationship is one of the best arcs in the series, and all of that was post-Michael Scott.

At least, until they completely changed his character and made him an unlikeable ass.

I stopped watching the show regularly around the turn of the decade, and when I did check in, I found a couple of pretty-good episodes but some just awful ones as well. I don't think the show ever came close after that point to the highlights and consistency of seasons 2 and 3.

Indeed. Also, it's a top-30, which means it could still well be number 1! I say, ignoring that you could use a smaller number if that had any chance of being true.

You are technically correct, the best kind of correct! You are also more specifically correct.

No love for A. P. Bio or Barry? OK, Barry isn't cancelled, but I'm waiting too dang long for Season 3! I WANT MY NOHO HANK FIX, HBO!

For reals, though, any chance you can throw up the list? I'm interested!

A.P. Bio isn't cancelled either! Season 3 is going to air on Peacock, NBC's digital streaming service. (Apparently the show's 100-day streaming numbers massively outpace its actual live-TV ratings.) I'm surprised we haven't gotten a Barry season 3 premiere date announced yet; the last two seasons premiered at the end of March, so maybe it will premiere when Curb Your Enthusiasm and Avenue 5 finish their seasons.

Also, both A.P. Bio and Barry are also in my top 30!

I'm finishing up the capsule writeups for each show so I can publish the entire list on a site I write for next week, but I could post just the list here, no problem. (I mean, I don't know if the discussion thread for the latest comic strip is appropriate for that, but I'll just blame you if it's not. )