Writer's Words (page 3)

Turn now to Frances Kiernan's Mary McCarthy biography, called “Seeing Mary Plain” (Norton, $35, 939 pages), an overlong but riveting portrait of a brilliant literary celebrity and minor writer two or three generations back. McCarthy was a beautiful woman of tart tongue and astringent mind who made her ambitious way amid a splendid cast of literary characters during decades when reading and writing still meant something.

As a practical matter, it occurs to me that Ms. Lopez's strategy in wearing such a costume, exposing almost her entire front, was to redirect attention from her rear, which had been the subject of so much obstreperous commentary.

when i think of requiem, i think of Mozart's requiem.

Accusing someone of having a “dysfunctional brain” isn't belittling them? Unless the person has a clinical mental deficiency (a fact that I don't think any of us are privy to about most other posters), this is clearly intended as an insult

“Titus Andronicus” was no doubt Lecter's favorite Shakespeare play, opening as it does with Titus returning to Rome with the corpses of 21 of his sons and their four surviving brothers, and pausing in his victory speech only long enough to condemn the eldest son of Tamora, vanquished queen of the Goths, to be hacked limb from limb, and the pieces thrown on a fire.

A quick note to our readers: As you've undoubtedly noticed, here at TIME.com we've taken the liberty of using the word “asshole” in its entirety (except in headlines). First, we figure that reporting the news means telling the whole story, and, second, it strikes us as a bit prissy to ignore the actual wording of a quote in favor of a milquetoast replica.

American media are filled with sick sex and violence innuendos, while the righteous cry out of web censorship for the protection of children.

The men up there don't like a lot of blabber
They think a girl who gossips is a bore
Yes, on land it's much preferred
For ladies not to say a word
And after all, dear, what is idle prattle for?
Come on, they're not all that impressed with conversation
True gentlemen avoid it when they can
But they dote and swoon and fawn
On a lady who's withdrawn
It's she who holds her tongue who gets her man

adjective of stupor. Like torpor, one of the gifts of drugs

all impotent, like Paramount Pictures

Microsoft is a juggernaut, so is unix. (Unix morons, get that!)

when i winked, she looked quizzical, and when i raised my eyebrow, she winked. The whole incident is quite quizzical to those blind.

reddish, of checks

personal baggage

modern love in S&M circles are galvanized, literally.

sexual acts are most natural without pronouncements

cats are equipped with protractile claws

i have not an iota of schooling, nevertheless i have a lot to say, and my babbling irradiates nescience

a note of promise

church stuff. ecclesiastical...