The episode also opens with an inspired bit of business for Homer, who blithely refuses to acquiesce to an elderly neighbor’s utterly reasonable request that he help make the process of selling her house easier by wearing pants when he gallivants about in front of windows, throw out his impressive collection of rotting Jack-O-Lanterns from previous Halloweens and take out his garbage, as it’s attracting wildlife (cue moose and Northern Exposure theme song).

we will leave to thy sagacity to apply all this to the Boeotian writers, and to those authors who are their opposites.

'He means the other Lennon,' Slowey's voice said. ' John Lennon from the Beatles.' And Farley saw him then, on the bend of the counter smoking a cigar. Slowey then turned to the barman, '... and he means the other Lenin, you know, the Russian revolutionary?'

I headed from my apartment over to a corner diner for a late break fast, and I don't recall the normal crush of people packing the New York streets or the usual hectivity.