Why must it be dreary? Rain today. Rain yesterday. Rain Sunday. Rain, rain, rain. And no thundrous drumming from Ringo Starr, either. Rain. Doctor Who‘s fourth season has begun. Thankfully, it began with something light and fluffy. After wrecking on the emotional shoals from Torchwood‘s “Exit Wounds,” the screwball comedy nature of Who‘s “Partners inContinue reading “On Mid-Week Reflections”
Author Archives: Allyn
On Another Imaginary Beatles Album
Stephen Baxter created “God.” Maximum Bob created “Imaginary.” I created “Hot As Sun.” Imaginary Beatles albums. Had the band not broken up in 1969/1970, what would their next album after Abbey Road have been? Saturday, while looking for any sort of complete list of the solo #1 hits of the Beatles, I came across thisContinue reading “On Another Imaginary Beatles Album”
On Tartan Day
Three weeks ago we celebrated St. Patrick’s Day — the one day a year when everyone is Irish. 😉 Today we celebrate Tartan Day — a day where we look back upon the great things that the Scots have done for civilization. If that means hitting the back nine of a golf course, then rockContinue reading “On Tartan Day”
On the Taxman’s Bite
I can think of no more appropriate song for today than the Beatles’ “Taxman.” Last weekend I did my federal income taxes. No real surprises there. I had extra money withheld from each paycheck each pay period to account for tax liabilities on writing income. And I calculated it pretty close to right. Still gettingContinue reading “On the Taxman’s Bite”
On Fun Lines I’ve Written
No, I’m not going to give you the context: “I am told that Attorney General Mukasey has a lucrative side career as a professional Hellboy impersonator.” I realize it’s not half as funny as I think it is. Doesn’t matter. It amuses me, and that‘s what matters. 😆
On Enemy Ace
At the bookstore a few weeks ago I saw something on the graphic novel rack that made me stop and do a double take. Showcase Presents: Enemy Ace. I pulled it off the shelf. Glanced at the cover — a red Fokker triplane. Flipped through it. Five hundred pages of World War I aerial dogfightingContinue reading “On Enemy Ace”
On John Yoo and the Legality of Torture
I don’t like John Yoo. Yoo served in President Bush’s Office of Legal Counsel during the early years of his administration. Yoo was known to have penned two memos outlining the legal basis for detainee confinement at Guantanamo Bay and for coercive interrogation tactics — torture, let’s just say it — that led to prisonContinue reading “On John Yoo and the Legality of Torture”
On Being a Cubs Fan
I have never seen the Chicago Cubs in person. Oh, I’ve watched them many times on television. But to sit in the stands at a stadium somewhere and watch the Northside Nine take the field? Never. The Cubs are coming to Washington at the end of the month, for a three game series against theContinue reading “On Being a Cubs Fan”
On March’s Greatest Hits
I haven’t done a search phrase round-up in a while. Let’s take a look at the top 20 of March. 🙂 20. “Jason Gronberg.” A friend of mine. He passed away in November. One of my favorite memories of Jason. 19. “Napoleon.” One of my favorite sparring partners in Age of Empires III. Except forContinue reading “On March’s Greatest Hits”
On the Two-Week Round-Up
I think a biweekly recap makes more sense than a weekly recap. At least, until I change my mind again. 😆 Let’s step back two weeks, to the day before St. Patrick’s Day. There, I mused on The Return of the King, which I watched the night previous. Specifically, I talked about the original endingContinue reading “On the Two-Week Round-Up”