Things like these are the reason I love ThinkGeek so very much. (via Laughing Squid)

Are you aware that human history is full of examples of sexist, patriarchal societies where women were discriminated against? I’m sure you are, as a reader of The Mary Sue. I’m pretty sure you are as a person alive in the 21^st Century, too. Yet so many of the historically inspired fantasy worlds we love are remarkably intent on reminding us of this.

When I raise this issue with someone, I often get some variation of this in reply. Sexism in (to pick the most obvious example) medieval fantasy is okay or even desirable, the thinking goes, because in the real European Middle Ages sexism was the status quo. There’s no denying that, but fantasy is called fantasy because it’s a fantasy. There were no dragons in the real Middle Ages either, but we don’t have a problem including them.

You know, the wait between seasons of our favorite shows are just getting longer and longer these days. I think we need to start a petition or maybe put the decision to some kind of vote. Wait, this isn’t the premiere of Season 8 of The West Wing but a clever political ad with a huge Hollywood assist? Still awesome. Allison Janney, Janel Moloney, Bradley Whitford, Martin Sheen, Richard Schiff, Melissa Fitzgerald, Joshua Malina, and Lily Tomlin help Mary McCormack’s sister, Bridget Mary McCormack (interesting names, McCormacks), in her political aspirations. Earlier in the year, some of the cast reunited for a Funny or Die video, but this is even better. I won’t ruin anything by listing my favorite parts, just please, let me present to you the best four minutes you’ll spend doing anything today.

(via Mashable)

“She’s spectacular. I got a chance to see Batman, and she was the best thing in it. That’s just my personal opinion.” – President Barack Obama stating for the record that Anne Hathaway was the best part of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises. He was speaking at a fundraiser hosted by Hathaway, Aaron Sorkin, and Joanne Woodward. 

Back in its 1990s heyday, NBC latched on to its sitcom hits and ran with them. Friends and Seinfeld were like the golden children who could do no wrong. And yes, those were good shows. You know what’s also a good show? Community. So why does NBC continue to treat it like its red-headed stepchild? That red-headed stepchild is hilarious, sweet, and has tons and tons of friends! Well, as one of those friends (and a fake redhead), I want to discuss how Community became the Rodney Dangerfield of television.

There was a rumor that this was going to happen, and now it is confirmed: screenwriter extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin will be the one adapting Walter Isaacson‘s biography of late Apple CEO Steve Jobs for the big screen. Sorkin, most famous for his work on The West Wing, has already won an Oscar for his last script about a tech giant (The Social Network), so this will be familiar territory for him. Not that Sorkin couldn’t handle unfamiliar territory … oh, wait, just remembered Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. Never mind. We’ll take familiar territory.

So, do either of those dashing 1990s heartthrobs look anything like Steve Jobs to you? It may interest you to know that while Noah Wyle (Dr. Carter) has actually played the late Apple CEO before — in 1999′s TNT movie Pirates of Silicon Valley — it’s George Clooney (Dr. Ross) whose name has been mentioned since Sony purchased the rights to Jobs’ biography. Isn’t George Clooney just the guy that every dude wishes would play him in the movie about his life? But okay, we’ll stay open-minded. Leonardo DiCaprio is playing J. Edgar Hoover, after all.

Aaron Sorkin did that to his face, guys. While writing. That is how intense he is — he breaks his freaking face. You might be wondering if this means that Aaron Sorkin actually walks and talks while he writes, but no. That is not the case. At least not this time. No, he was reading some of his own writing to himself in a mirror and then got too close. And like some scene out of Evil Dead 2, the reflection of Aaron Sorkin reached out of the mirror and punched the real Sorkin in the face. No, I’m kidding. But he did head-butt himself by accident. And then he went to the Emmys, where Getty Images got the picture from above (that is Brenda Strong to the left). Thank you, Getty Images. And thank you, Aaron Sorkin.

Every writer’s nightmare is the blank page. Aaron Sorkin has an excellent quote about it: “I love writing but hate starting.” Well, what if there was a thing that put your script in motion at the push of a button? Well, that’s what this is about: a Plot Device. Get it?

(Geeks Are Sexy)