TBT #11: Books 5-13 and a Reading Challenge

For anyone keeping up with the math, I have hit 30.I woke up, found some grey hairs, and internally wept for my youth. Clearly, I didn't finish my TBT list, and decided to go for a different TBT - Thirty-five before Thirty-Five. While some revision of the list will be done, I am keeping the book goal and realized I have not only been terrible at keeping track of what I have read but also haven't done a review in AGES. Since book 4. I have tracked up to 13 but know I missed some along the way. #yolo

And, yes, I do count re-reads. Rereading a book is often as amazing as the first read, if not better. There is so much more detail you become open to because you aren't necessarily lost in plot.

Looking for some suggestions or some books to stay the eff away from? Check out the list below for some options.

But that can't be all, right? We certainly can't have a post without me pulling out a soapbox, can we? Well, we can. Today just isn't that day. Feel free to scroll right to the reviews if you would prefer. :)

Looking at the 13 books I have reviewed, I noticed approx. half were by women. White, cisgender women. The other half? White, cisgender men. Huzzah for the split of gender but where is the rest of the representation?

Schools often teach books by a lot of dead white men. I have decided to challenge myself, for the rest of the year to not read another book by a white, cisgender male author. There are so many authors out there that are not getting the credit they so richly deserve because they are women or non-white or non-binary in terms of gender or because they are trans. I am taking a stand to devote my time and resources to finding authors that break that mold. The only exceptions I will make are when the book club I am in votes for a white, cisgender male.Naturally, I will post reviews along the way. Please feel free to comment with suggestions.

Anyone feeling adventurous in reading? I challenge you to do the same. Maybe not for the rest of the year, but even just for your next book. Expand your horizons. Enrich your soul with words you may have never thought to read before.

For anyone who is confused by the term cisgender, it is most easily described as identifying with the sex you were assigned at birth. An example is someone who's sex is assigned male at birth and who's gender identity matches that, they are cisgender. Don't worry, I am sure this will be a topic of discussion at some point here.

-MPA

5. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

 

I have been known to love some truly terrible books. Especially those about the supernatural. I bought this hardcover in the clearance section of Barnes and Nobel. I understood why it was there after reading it. While there were nice scenes and moments of well crafted writing, the book overall was fairly sophomoric. At times, I found it hilariously bad. Conceptually interesting, my hope is for anyone who reads on that they following books in the trilogy are better written. 2.5 out of 5. Would probably read the second book, providing I got it for free or heavily discounted.

 

 

6. A Lion Among Men (Book 3 of The Wicked Years) by Gregory Maguire

 





Can I start this off by saying I love Gregory Maguire? Because I do. Literally everything this man touches is fucking magic. Except this. I have 2 copies of this book. It took me approximately 6 years to read this book. 6 YEARS. Most of Maguire's books grab me from the beginning and hook me immediately. Lion did not do that. It seemed to drag forever. While I am sure it is a necessary step to the final Wicked book, Out of Oz, my experience with this book has actually stymied my progress with OoO. I fear reading it because Wicked and Son of a Witch have always been so important to me. Lion is a lot of exposition with little reward. Yackle steals the show but that is pretty normal for Yackle. 2.5 out of 5. Would not read again, but am happy I own it to complete the series.


7. Lost on Planet China by J. Maarten Troost

Like Maguire, I can't get enough of Troost. This is his third book, all of which are travel writing but this is his first time straying from writing about the South Pacific. He captures your attention immediately and holds it until the very end. Troost's prose is inviting, hilarious, and leads to fantastic imagery in your head while reading. Lost is Troost's solo trip through China, and not just areas we Americans are familiar with. He is fearless with his honesty, never shying away from the political conditions or the conditions of the air/streets/common public places. Troost may point out how different the Chinese are from Americans and he certainly points out the pollution issues, but he never fails to treat the people and China with respect. 5 out of 5. Would read again.



8. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (re-read?)



I am not sure if this was a reread for me or if I just watched the movie adaptation so much I felt like it was. My first few chapters in, I was not happy. I kept wondering why the language used was so... basic. I completely forgot this wasn't a just a classic, it was a children's classic. Duh. Once I got past my own stupidity, the book was beautiful. Mary's growth from petulant, spoiled child to someone who can be compassionate is touching and a wonderful lesson to those reading it. 5 out of 5. Would read again, preferably aloud to a little one.

 

 

9. Revenge Wears Prada: The Devil Returns by Lauren Weisberger

 

This is one of those books that I HAD to read. I read the first one and loved it for everything (and please excuse my use of this phrase as it bothers the shit out of me but I have no other way to describe it) "chick lit" about it. Weisberger's characters are always easy to relate to and are easy to read. Her books are fast paced and Revenge follows that pattern. In this book, we return 10 years after we left The Devil Wears Prada and reunite with Andy and get to see where life after Miranda brought her. The ending was, for me, a little predictable but I would genuinely endorse this as a good read if you are looking for something a little less serious or a good beach read. It was interesting to see where the characters were at after a decade as well as how they have grown and the connections they made. Be warned: You won't be able to stop picture Meryl Streep as Miranda, no matter how hard you try. #StreepisQueen 3.5 out of 5. Would read again on a flight or the beach.

 

 

10. The Pearl by John Steinbeck (re-read)

TBH - I hated this book in 7th grade. Now? Pretty much the same. That being said, this novel is rich with imagery and symbolism. I find the story to move slowly as well as not very engaging. Being able to read it as an adult did provide a different experience, one where I could analyze it better and get a deeper meaning. 2 out of 5. Would prefer not to read again.

 

 

11. The Skull Throne (Book 4 of the Demon Cycle) by Peter V. Brett

 

The Demon Cycle series is fucking fantastic (ba dum tsssss. That is punny). It is a fantasy series that is written superbly. It has strong characters that are men, women, of multiple races, and gay. Brett has created a world based off of our own, that is in the future but is in so many ways both less and more advanced. He even created a second language for one of the races *swoon*. In this installment, there is a lot of exposition but the last 150 pages are jam packed with action. As always, Brett leaves you on the edge of your seat, staring over the cliff he so devilishly enjoys leaving you hanging on. My only complaint? The US cover features a character named Renna, one of the most bad-assiest bad asses in the books but she is not featured NEARLY enough to warrant being the cover. I was a tad bit let down over that. 5 out of 5. Will definitely read again.

 

 

12. Tough Sh*t by Kevin Smith

 

The cat is out of the bag. I LIVE for dick and fart jokes. Just as my co-workers. Whether it is old Sandler movies or anything Kevin Smith puts his paws on, I am there. Tough Sh*t is an interesting read. The writing is decent and the story engaging. You are taken through Smith's start at Miramax to where he is now, which is pretty fascinating stuff, especially when he gets into his run-ins with the Westboro Baptist Church. I found the time line while reading to be a bit skewed and the chapters skewed in terms of chronological order. This is a small detail but one the gets under my skin when reading. 3 out of 5. Would probably not read again.

 

 

13. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium Series, book 1) by Steig Larsson (re-read)

 

 

I have read this book about 4 times. It never ceases to capture my attention and bombard my senses. It is exquisite. Larsson brings to life beautifully flawed characters in a way that makes you love them more for their imperfections. This novel, is so feminist it hurts (in a good way). Yes, there are rape scenes and no, they are not comfortable to read. However, they work as a driving force in the novel instead of being gratuitous. The original title's translation to English is not the book's title. Instead, it is called "Men Who Hate Women." THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Each section of the book lists facts and statistics about crimes against women. These were left in the translation but the title was changed, I assume for marketability. The original title makes a million times more sense as you work your way through the novel. Larsson, unfortunately, died before finishing his series (he had a partial book 4, and outlines for up to 10 books) but there is a new book coming out picking the characters up again but not using the original author's outlines. I assume it will be trash, but will probably read it at some point. 10 out of 5. Will always re-read if the opportunity presents itself. 























#effyastandahds B-I-N-G-O

The Husband was enlisted to help me name this game. Fat Freedom bingo was what he came up with. And I love it. But I hemmed and hawed about it being too exclusionary. My main issue was that so many people have issues with their bodies and many of the items on the list are "trouble areas" to them. My goal here is to give a large middle finger to society here. So I changed it. Effyastandahds (can you tell where I am from?) seemed to sum up my feelings on this completely bananas idea that we should police each other's bodies and clothing and actions.

Rules, ways to get extra points, prize info, and bingo card are below. I hope those of you participating have fun and those who aren't enjoy the photos as they are posted! Here's to a happy summer spent breaking barriers and smashing the patriarchy.

-MPA

#effyastandahdsbingo

Rules:
-You don't have to be fat or identify as female to play! Join your fat friends in standing up to some truly stupid ideals and take some really cute selfies in the process.
-Take a photo of yourself doing or wearing some of the "Forbidden" things listed on the bingo card.
-Traditional bingo rules apply. To achieve bingo, you need all 5 items in a horizontal line, vertical line, or diagonal line.
-Multiple entries are allowed.
-When posting photos: if you have an app of collaging, it will totally make your life easier. If not, post all pictures that apply. They can be posted here in the comments, on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, or Facebook. Please post once all five at once.
-Photos should be tagged with your name as well having me tagged in the comments (so I can easily find them): Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/cupcakesandcrossbows /Tumblr- tfdmelissa / Twitter- cupcakesnxbows / and Insta- whofavorsfire. Please also use the following tags: #ccacb #effyastandahdsbingo
-Winners will be selected at my discretion with no preference given to those I know personally. If the decision gets tough, I may rope The Husband in to help.
-All submissions must be posted by Labor Day (The last real summer weekend! September 7.)

Extra Credit
Extra points will be awarded for:
-Incorporating donuts into a picture for the free space (No picture necessary as it is the free space).
-Wearing the Target trophy t-shirt OR making a #takingbackTROPHY shirt (please tag these with #takingbackTROPHY as well!).
-Following me on Facebook or subscribing to the blog.

Prizes:
-There will be 5 prizes awarded, one of which will be the Grand Prize.
-What they are, or monetary value, is currently TBA. But I promise it will be fun and not expensive.
-Winners will be notified by private message as well as announced on the blog. I will not use photos without the permission of those that submit them.



Things Fat People Shouldn't Do

I have been giving a lot of thought to the idea that there are things people should and shouldn't do based on the feelings of others. This excludes things that are harmful, mean, break the golden rule we all learned in elementary school...things like that. What I am talking about are things that are merely part of existing, like eating in public or being seen grocery shopping. Exercising in public. Dancing. Being on an airplane. Simply being happy. I am a live and let live kinda gal. Your life is your business, enjoy as you please as long as it doesn't bring me harm. #hippiefeels I mean...I wish I could bake a cake filled with rainbows and smiles and everyone would eat and be happy...

While perusing The Militant Baker's blog http://www.themilitantbaker.com/ , I came across her list of 25 things fat people "aren't supposed to do." Naturally, I then googled things fat people shouldn't do and ended up on Reddit. Reddit can be a beautiful place but more often than not, it is the playground of people with nothing better to do then put down literally everyone else on the planet. Between these two, I compiled a list of things fat people aren't supposed to do or aren't supposed to wear.

The List of clothing we "can't/shouldn't" wear:
Shorts
Crop tops
Skinny jeans
Bathing suits (all of 'em, -kini or otherwise)
Short sleeves
Tanks/no sleeves
Mumus
High-waisted pants
Anything that draws attention to the belly area or has a VBO (Visible Belly Outline)
Bold Colors
Bold Prints (including geometric, animal, and ya know, everything else)
Short skirts and dresses
Anything tight
Leggings
Horizontal stripes

Now that I own nothing suitable for a fat person to wear, let's look at what we aren't supposed to do:
Eat. Especially in public. (FOR SHAME!)
Swim
Sun bathe
Ride a bike
Trampoline
Cosplay
Sit on plastic things - What if it breaks?!?!?!?! Oh noooooooooooooooooooo.
Ride on an airplane - the horror.
Dance
Run
Do yoga
Grocery shop
Cook or bake
Purchase/consume fast food, and Dunks/Starbucks counts. (If it has to do with food, consider it on this list fo' reals.)
Sit at a booth - Too snug a fit, yo!
Swing on a swing set
PDA of any kind
Be happy.


What are we going to do with this list? BINGO. We are going to play bingo while smashing misconceptions and, if we are lucky, the patriarchy.

Tomorrow I will post the card here, on Instagram, Twitter, and Tumblr. Rules to be announced then. And, yes, there will be prizes.

Target's Trophy T-Shirt and Why it is a Problem

I don't know about you folks, but my Facebook feed has had quite a few posts about the Trophy women's t-shirt Target is selling. Mostly, the posts have been about people overreacting in regards to the shirt and its sale.

This is a situation where I think the majority of people, including Target's reps,  don't understand fully why this is offensive or problematic. I want to highlight some of the reasons this is an ongoing issue that we all (men included here) should be kind of annoyed with.

You ready? Let's do this.

Target is selling a T-shirt that literally just has the word trophy screened across it. This is a shirt that is sold in women's apparel only but they were... nice(?) enough to make it in plus size as well. This shirt is part of a new BRIDAL collection that includes shirts with far less offensive wording like "Bride", "Mrs.", and "Team Bride." With the exception of some cufflinks and a hat, they do not sell anything labeling a man's wedded status. Neither are gender neutral, which opens a second can of worms. We are expected to define out marriage roles as clearly as we are expected to define our gender roles and appearance.

What these shirts are doing, and Lord knows Target is far from the only retailer that is guilty of this, is furthering the expected social constructs of being a woman and marriage. They are shirts marketed to women who are either getting married, helping plan or are in a wedding, as well as those that want to get married. Sure, they are just garments but when you emblazon them with trigger words like this a lot of different issues come up. Not only are they focusing on the traditionally female role, they focus on the need for a partner/significant other. The words focus on what many women feel is the epitome of their life (other than motherhood): becoming someone's wife - defining themselves and assigning worth based on the validation of others.

Now, let us get to the trophy part, because THAT is the meat of the issue.

What is a trophy bride?
A trophy bride is a truly shitty term for a woman that is often much younger than her rich husband and is considered very attractive. Trophy wives are seen as vapid gold diggers much of the time; women that do little to nothing except look good for their spouses. Not to mention they are sometimes pitted against previous wives (if the husband has any), especially if the previous spouses are older than them. This is a term used to perpetuate the idea that women hate each other and will do anything to cut others down. It also carries the connotation that being a certain level of physically attractive means that you are seen as little more than a pretty object for a man to covet and eventually acquire. Your own accomplishments, intelligence, and needs mean nothing.

But women alone shouldn't be outraged at this term. It also holds awful ideas of the men attached to the term. Having a "trophy wife" often mars the nature in which people look at a man. Many men are seen as narcissistic and driven by a need to impress others with trophy marriages. The idea that these men are only with these women because they have money is also a blow to men - such as you could not possibly be with a person this attractive unless there was some kind of alternative benefit to them. And what if the man in question left is previous marriage for this younger, more attractive woman? SCUM OF THE EARTH, am I right? It doesn't matter if the reasons for their break up, the assumption will always be that he grew too big for his britches and traded up for a newer (hotter) model.

So why the hubbub?
Not only are we selling women shirts that help perpetuate the idea that the pinnacle of their lives is to be defined by their relationship status, we are also marketing them shirts that take this concept and multiply it by a thousand. Simple math:

Society's idea of gender roles + Society's idea of what a woman should be and want * terms that rob women of their value/12.99 for a "regular/straight" sized shirt or 14.99 for plus (sorry, fatties) = DUMB IDEA.

That is the issue. Women shouldn't strive to be someone else's idea of a trophy, especially when that idea is meant to rob them of their own value and hell, life. Women (and men and non-binary folks) should rally around the concept that if you are lucky enough to find someone that gets you, that you can be weird AF (as fuck for you non-internet abbreviation readers) with, and talk about everything or nothing with... The person that lights all of your fires, you have won. They have won. Everyone around you has won because you have unlocked the achievement so many long for: supreme coupledom and epic happiness. You are your own trophy. You are each other's trophies. And if that isn't what you want? Congrats on know what you want in life when so many others are pushed by society into loveless marriages. You are your own trophy too, boo.

Maybe we should all buy them and modify them to say #takingbackTROPHY. Let's start an Insta fire with this. To the tumblr and twitter with this.

Holy Shit, Views! News!

Wow. I posted the last blog on Facebook and my Tumblr (waiting to hear back on a community Tumblr as well). My views have skyrocketed. I mean, I average like... 5 views maybe if I don't post it and with this round, it was almost 200. Which, truth be told, makes me feel like a Z-List celebrity (it is far more exhilarating than it sounds).


THIS also happened:

If it had been reblogged, I would have gone into cardiac arrest.

 

So, what have I been doing since posting - ya know, other than checking page hits? I have contacted xojane, an online magazine regarding reworking the post as well as another post into articles for their site.

 

The Husband has also suggested I reformat the now deceased (and sadly so) mini course I taught for the volunteer program I work with into posts. My course dealt with how women are viewed in media, whether it be the focus on their body and what is on it, or the size, or even the way a face is made up. It also covered how toys and cartoon characters are being marketed in a more adult manner.

 

 

I don't want the entire blog to be me ranting about issues. I would like to keep it as diverse as it has been, however I think I will focus a bit more on social issues as it seems to get the best response.

Tess Holliday, Fat Backlash, and Why I am Afraid

For those of you who do not know: Tess Holliday is a beautiful, majestic creature that we mere mortals are not worthy of.



 
For those of you who still do not know: Tess Holliday is a size 22 model who recently was on the cover of people magazine. THE COVER. She has also done Vogue Italia. And did a look book for Torrid. This is a big (ba dum tssss) (see what I did there?) deal.

               

    People on the left, Vogue Italia on the right. MAJECTIC CREATURE AMIRITE?!?!?!

This lady has brought plus-size to the plus-size modeling game. Traditionally, plus-size models were in the size 10-12 range. In my brain, anything over a 16 is plus-size as that is where you typically stop finding availability in stores. A lot of plus-sized retailers are pushing their size brackets further down - Torrid now starting at 12 and Lane Bryant at 14 for example. While I would love to argue what actually *is* plus, that is not for today.

With Tess' media visibility, we have a new plus-size icon. One that models plus-size cloths on a plus-size body. I truly mean no offense to the models in the 10-12 range that model the smaller end of plus-size clothes. Keep on, keepin' on. Y'all are beautiful.  It is just nice to see what an item would look like on a body similar to mine. It's humbling, inspiring, refreshing, and a little bit revolutionary. Something that had myself and many of my fat peers had access to growing up could have helped with body dysmorphia, self esteem, and a lot of other issues in a major way.

Unfortunately, we live in a society where making fun of or criticizing fat people (and yes, it is ok to say fat. I promise.) is still considered funny, valid, and completely acceptable. It is one of the last bastions assholes can hold on to and not get called out for when expressing their opinions. A sub-cockle of the internet where perceived anonymity and distance fuels self-righteous indignation that someone dare to be different than their perceived norm.

I understand fat people are not the only ones attacked online or in real life for their appearance. What I am saying is that it is still considered acceptable to do it. THAT is the problem.

Having someone like Tess, who is fearlessly and unapologetically herself, is something we (please understand this we as the fat folks of the universe) desperately need. People need to see those that mirror themselves in a positive light from an early age. We need role models of all shapes, sizes, races, religions, sexualities, genders - You name it, we (this time, I mean all of us, not just my fat folks) need it. But more than anything, we need role models that look like us. Strong people, trail blazing for those to follow.

Recently, the crop top has been a heated debate. Fearless fat babe and feminist Virgie Tovar wrote a Buzzfeed article about fat people in crop tops. Regardless of size, we shouldn't police women's bodies. Clothing is an expression of self and should not be mocked or ridiculed. Tess posted a totally adorable photo set of her in a crop top. The backlash on both Virgie's article and Tess' photo as well as anything that is close to fat-positive is met with so much vitriol it is nauseating to read. And I always read the comments. Because I am a glutton for punishment and terrific at making myself feel bad. Here is a tame example of the shit slinging people do:

Tess in all her adorable glory.

                      



Sadly, this truly is tame when it comes to the backlash fat people get for posting pictures on the internet. Especially if they look like they are enjoying themselves or consuming food/beverage. Even if as a fat person you live a healthy lifestyle, eat well/balanced, exercise, and/or have a great bill of health from your doctor people assume the worst and lecture you for your choices. And health is always the reason they do it. Looking out for your health, because you are promoting an unhealthy lifestyle, possible health issues in the future, etc. No one looks at the socio-economic ties. Or that some medications and conditions make you gain weight rapidly and make it almost impossible to lose said weight (look! a health reason that is legit!). While they may only be words, when younger people read these comments the linger effect can be devastating. Shit, it can be devastating to anyone...myself included.

Reading the comments, for me, is always a terrible idea. The negativity is consuming and crushing. Growing up fat without role models in the media was tough. I didn't feel right or normal or that I had worth. As an adult I still grapple with that daily. I may understand they are only words and opinions of people I will most likely never meet, the knowledge that this is how people could potentially feel about me breaks my spirit. I used to like the beach. I spent almost every day of the summer there or quite a few years. Now? Twice a year tops: the Fourth of July and our nephews' family birthday party. Why? Because I am fat. People don't want to see fat people at the beach.

To fear being in public at a place that was once a source of joy is the worst kind of mindfuck you can ask for. When a place of atonement (and one that made me feel connected to my family and roots) becomes a place of fear and anxiety, you lose a sacred thing. You lose a part of yourself and with that a great deal of dignity. For me, it doesn't end at the beach. It has carried over into most aspects of my life. The idea of being considered repulsive does not motivate me to lose weight. It makes me retreat into the darkest corners of my mind where I point everything wrong with me and let the weight (I did it again! ba dum tsss) of other people's opinions crush me.

If you have followed this blog, you may say "hold up, MPA. Aren't you in Rocky Horror? Don't you run around in very little in front of an audience?" Yes, I do. I play two of the less dressed roles (Janet and Dr. Frank-N-Furter) as well as one of the most covered (Magenta). I freak out about it before every show, right up until I am on stage. And then sometimes for the whole show. But I do it. As weird as Rocky Horror is, the community is often welcoming and hold the core belief of "Don't Dream it, Be it." I am still paralyzed with fright that I am too fat or ugly or terrible or repulsive to go out there. I push myself to help reclaim parts of my dignity and pride.

 

                                                       

Me, doing the thing. Trying to be brave. Hilariously blocking out my cast mates' faces

So, why am I talking about this? I wanted to cosplay The Unbeatable Squirrel Girl for Boston Comic Con. I was so down for this. But I read the comments. I let people's issues and negativity get the best of me. I retreated, allowing myself to be swallowed up in the storm of my own darkness and decided maybe it isn't the best choice. Even though she has on leggings/tights, she is still wearing a bathing suit. I know I could pull it off - For Christ's sake, I prance around in a corset on stage for 2 hours after a small breakdown...I got this - but my infantile confidence falters when I realize there will be pictures. And not ones I have consented to. I may become a punching bag for the internet and I just don't know if I am strong enough to handle that. I shouldn't have to fear this. No one should, yet this is the reality of being fat (and a woman) in our world.

Perhaps we need to sit back and really think about why we feel we can comment so negatively on others when we know nothing about them. Perhaps we need to think about how our actions and words, written or spoken, effect those they are aimed at as well as those reading or listening.

Until then, I am going to continue trying to be (unapologetically) my authentic self. And try to live by some of Tess' words:



Cable is a Beautiful Thing

**Author's note: BAHAHAHAHAHA. I started this and never finished it. It has been sitting in my drafts since APRIL. So terribly sorry. I have spruced it up for you with some updated choices. -MPA**

The Husband and I have spent the majority of our relationship without cable. When we moved in November, we decided to take the plunge. it has been a beautiful, magical thing. I am a Food Network junkie and am so excited to be able to watch it again. But I have discovered some new shows as well as some old favorites.

If you are looking for a new show, I suggest:

If you like reality tv contests- RuPaul's Drag Race on Logo. We are about halfway through season 7 and it's fabulous. I started watching around season 2 and then stopped for a bit due to not having the channel. I have been glued to it since Season 5, watching online until now. It is funny, sometimes moving, and full of drag queens prettier than I could ever dream of being. It is now my goal to die and be reincarnated as a drag queen. **The season is over and it was beautiful. Katya is perfection. I highly suggest catching up on this. AND they are re-airing season 4 starting sometime this month. Season 4 is HILARIOUS.**  I am also partial to The Next Food Network Star, a show I hope to one day be on and CRUSH IT.

If you like comedy and/or crime shows- Backstrom on Fox. This series follows a special crimes unit in Portland that is lead by Lt. Backstrom. Based off a series of Swedish crime novels, the titular character is played by Rainn Wilson who marries the comedy with the dramatic so well. It is as if his character on The Office was raised by an asshole cop and became an ...slightly less asshole cop, but HILARIOUS. **This season is over and I am sorry to have to tell you all that it is not being renewed. If you can find it online to watch, DOOOO IT. Alternative? GET THE BOOKS.**

Prefer really AWFUL humor, I mean like walking the line of unacceptable in all social circles? Another Period on Comedy Central is for you. The first episode aired 6/23 and let's just say it included: Meredith from the office, Riki Lindhome, David Koechner, Christina Hendricks... Someone playing Helen Keller and copious amounts of cocaine wine. Not sold? it takes place in Newport, RI in 1902 and follows a wealthy family and all of the insanity that comes with climbing social ladders. The set and costumes are period specific but the music is hip hop. Give it a try. Be horrified, amused, and ashamed to have watched it... Not necessarily in that order.