Russian literature

Here's another thing I don't really get... why great Russian literature is so great. Granted, I only have limited experience -- Anna Karenina and now The Brothers Karamazov -- but they are leaving me a little cold. Maybe it's the translations; they can be off-putting. Very stilted, using words and phrases in ways that seem unnatural for English language speakers. I don't get why they aren't translated more naturally, but then I don't know the first thing about Russian so maybe the translations are spot-on. I have to say I'm enjoying Dostoevsky more than Tolstoy; at least he has a sense of humor! And lest anyone think I'm a complete Philistine, let me say that I like the books overall and I think parts of them are brilliant. I'm just a little underwhelmed.

Can you guess, gentle reader, which is which?

Maybe it's the beards that make them cranky. Maybe a long beard catching random things in it that you have to comb out makes you stop and think about the big picture, the big questions in life. Does God get food caught in his beard? No, God doesn't eat. Does He? Does He get stars caught in his beard? No, He's not corporeal. Is He? Does He exist? Do I exist? Is there life after death or just bleak black nothingness? Do I look hot in a beard or what?

I don't get it

What is this fascination that the American public has with Paris Hilton? Is it the whole trainwreck thing? I can't think of any other reason why anyone would care about this absolute waste of space. Unless it's that deal she made with Satan. To give the American public a break, maybe they can't help it -- they have to pay attention to someone so desperate for it. And maybe the überskank is trying to fill the gaping hole left by her parents' lack of attention and affection. Even so, she's stupid, selfish, spoiled, skanky, and self-important. (I just realized those all begin with s -- unintentional alliteration, yeah, I did it.) When will we all stop pretending that she has any talent or does anything worthwhile? South Park got it right when they lampooned her. I just hate that she's famous enough for them to lampoon. And for me to go on a rant about. So, let's just say I hate that anyone gives attention to someone who has all that money and then not only doesn't do anything good or useful with it, she blows it (literally and figuratively). Can't she even wear nice clothes?!

Initializing output...

Let me just begin by saying how disappointed I've become in The Gilmore Girls. I used to really enjoy it - clever writing, good acting, zany situations... But now it's sort of turned into the Rory Show, and frankly, I don't like her. Why does every other character on that show like her?! I can't stand it anymore.