The better apartments were already occupied.

skimming over the ice[…]It was a good long slide, and there was something in the motion which Mr. Pickwick, who was very cold with standing still, could not help envying.

That pocket protector makes you look like a douchebag.

McLaren is a dozy Pinkerton, an uptight Don José (Carmen is an animal/uncontrollable stuff...), and his American-accented voices ride perfect over the beat. Popera, someone said. The parts may be better than the whole, though.