“I told you she was soft on full frontal nudity.” – Maude Flanders

Since we’re very lazy around here we have Google Alerts do most of our web research for us.  Unfortunately when something like, oh, say, Marge being drawn into Playboy happens, it means that all of a sudden 95% of the on-line mentions of the Simpsons are about the exact same thing.  What’s worse, and I’ll admit I didn’t notice until about the tenth time I saw it, is that everyone uses the word “posing”, as though a cartoon character can “pose” for anything.

Anyway, out of the whirling internet maelstrom of “Marge in Playboy” stuff this week, I’ve found only two items that are actually worth posting.  In addition to that we’ve got some excellent usage, a little bit more stuff about Ortved’s book, and the most bad ass video game room of all time just got a little more bad ass.

Marge Simpson In Playboy Two Franchises On The Way Down – Pete Vonder Haar of the Houston Press finds this whole thing as stupid and ridiculous as I do, also he points out that the show sucks now with this delicious phrase:

Meanwhile, ratings for The Simpsons continue to decline, and a few years back the show passed the point where the number of mediocre/bad seasons officially outnumbered good ones (a subjective call, but one I’m comfortable making).

Very comfortable, pajamas with the feet comfortable.  That was going to be the only Marge/Playboy link but then I found . . .

AFA TO 7-Eleven: DON’T STOCK SIMPSON PORN – . . . this.  In what may be the only good thing to come out of the whole Marge/Playboy stunt, unctuous conservative groups are mad.  Granted, they’re always mad.  But now it’s (kinda) because of the Simpsons and I enjoy that (via Twitter).

Hugging Instructions? Yep. – Irrational panic of children has now reached the point where churches are distributing training documents on hugging.  The ludicrousness of this reminded one commenter of Flanders.  It’s perfectly quoted and plenty apt, excellent usage.

New Neighbor Moving Into Springfield – Apparently you can go to the official website and submit a character design, name and catchphrase and the winner will be in an upcoming episode of Zombie Simpsons.  That’s right, they’re outsourcing.

That Timmy O’Toole Is a Real Hero! – Yeah this was caused because of that stupid balloon thing which I don’t care about, but it’s got a great YouTube video and eloquently praises “Radio Bart” and so I say bravo.

The Wolfman Cometh – If you’re going to complain about something, complain in Simpsons.  Excellent usage.

Welcome to MattyBohlog! – Introducing a blog isn’t easy.  Why not just pack it with Simpsons references?

New Game Room Addition (Rad Arcade Content) – This guy has one of the most kick ass video game rooms I’ve ever seen and now he’s added an old Simpsons arcade machine!  If I had a room like that I would have a toilet installed and then never leave it.  That is fucking sweet and, get this, he’s married!  Sorry, ladies.

“Simpsons” Creator Will Curate ATP Festival Weekend – Groening will “curate” the ATP music festival in Britain in May. (via Twitter)

Word Wednesday: tmesis – Many words have come from The Simpsons.  Tmesis is not one of them.

Funny thing about Michael Jackson’s episode – Jackson was already weird in the early 90s, who knew?

Will an anonymous clan of slack-jawed troglodytes cost him the election? – This is just some basic information about the Burns for Mayor campaign that gets linked because I love that line and that is an excellent way to deploy it.  Also, we’ll be issuing our endorsement editorial on Sunday, will we back Bloomberg?

Simmering Away – This has almost nothing to do with the Simpsons, though there is a screen grab of Lisa shilling for Al Gore’s book.  I’m linking it because it links to our friends at Eye on Springfield, which everyone should click on from time to time for a chuckle.

Think The Worst Is Over? Think Again, VCs Say At Tech Showcase – The quote isn’t quite dead on, but it’s very close so I’m gonna call it excellent usage.

Voices – I am, quite obviously, the last person on earth who should get uppity about people stealing content, but if you’re going to start a new blog why – why – would you just copy and paste stuff from Wiki-fucking-pedia?  The footnotes are still in it!

Simpsons MMA – And I get to end with a blogger who agrees with us.  He’s complaining about how unimaginative “The Great Wife Hope” was and writes:

The Simpsons is past it’s prime and has grown preachy and up its own arse over the last five years or so. Though it’s still kicking fairly strong and immortalizing pop legends, the Simpsons needs that climactic final episode, maybe an hour long, to say it’s goodbyes.

Obviously we’d go farther back than five years, but other than that . . . yeah.