Over and over I think back to that scene in The Matrix where Agent Smith said they designed The Matrix to look like the late 1990s because that was the height of human civilization and it seems more true every day.

the original .hack series, easy

To pull up by the root means to pull in such as way as to have the roots come out as well. Have you ever pulled a weed out of your garden? You can remove the roots without literally clawing your hand into the soil. This visual metaphor works perfectly fine.

the mason dixon line would be better termed the “is macaroni and cheese a core thanksgiving side or not” line