Before I dive into last night’s episode of the Crawley Chronicles, we now live in a world where there’s a Muppet Dowager Countess: Muppet Carson resembles, at least to my eyes, former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown far more than he resembles Jim Carter. Don’t try to take it seriously. You can’t. Otherwise you’ll wonderContinue reading “On the Gullibility of Cora Grantham”
Author Archives: Allyn
On the New Volkswagen Super Bowl Commercial
At work last week, one of my coworkers asked me why I drive a Volkswagen Beetle. Frankly, it makes me happy. While I have one of the older Beetles — the flat dashboard, the in-dash flower vase — this year’s VW Super Bowl commercial captures exactly the feeling I get from driving a Beetle: AndContinue reading “On the New Volkswagen Super Bowl Commercial”
On Complaints Over Typefaces
The media can be stupid. While that can be a general complaint, in this case, there’s a specific reason I say that. Hillary Clinton has come under fire because she wrote her resignation letter using the Poor Richard font. Really? Seriously? She goes in for criticism because of the font? I’ve used Poor Richard. IContinue reading “On Complaints Over Typefaces”
On Things I’ve Been Reading
Doctor who: Prisoners of Time #1 IDW Publishing Written by Scott & David Tipton Artwork by Simon Fraser A month after the triumphant conclusion to Star Trek: The Next Generation/Doctor Who: Assimilation2, the brothers Tipton return to the world of Doctor Who for the first chapter of IDW’s Doctor Who golden anniversary project, Prisoners ofContinue reading “On Things I’ve Been Reading”
The House of Silk
Last weekend I picked up The House of Silk. I finished it Sunday night after Downton Abbey. Silk, for those unaware of it, is a Sherlock Holmes pastiche novel written by Foyle’s War‘s Anthony Horowitz that was published in late 2011 and was authorized by the Doyle estate. The latter point — the estate authorizationContinue reading “The House of Silk”
On Downton Abbey’s Shocking Episode
At work, I’ve been discussing Downton Abbey with two of my coworkers. Monday morning, we all send out e-mails to each other so we can gossip and vent and discuss the previous night’s episode. Last night, of course, was a shocking episode. Perhaps the most shocking the series has done. Because of that, I’ve decidedContinue reading “On Downton Abbey’s Shocking Episode”
On the Revolutionary Time Lord
Today was Inauguration Day. Barack Obama, whose second term as President began yesterday, was administered a ceremonial oath of office this afternoon for a public inauguration ceremony. Obama’s inaugural speech was strongly progressive in its outlook, but some of the speech’s invocations of god irked me. I tweeted my irksomeness, and Stuart Ian Burns repliedContinue reading “On the Revolutionary Time Lord”
On Downton Abbey’s Boring Hour
Last night’s episode was a bit dull, wasn’t it? Or maybe it was that I wasn’t that engaged by the storylines. Ethel. Can she go away, please? It’s not Ethel and her situation that irks me. It’s Isobel and her reaction to Ethel’s situation that irks me. I know that Isobel feels like she needsContinue reading “On Downton Abbey’s Boring Hour”
On Electoral College “Reform”
Electoral College reform is in the air. But rather than abolish the Electoral College to ensure that the national popular vote winner takes the presidency (or using the National Popular Vote compact to do the same without the laborious process of a Constitutional amendment), the reform that’s in the air would all but guarantee thatContinue reading “On Electoral College “Reform””
On Momentousness
Oh, look at that. A new year’s begun, I’ve barely noted it, and the first month is already half gone. Hopefully the rest of the year won’t pass by in such a whirl. 🙂 This year will be momentous. I can feel it, and I’m already making plans. I intend to write more. I’ve alreadyContinue reading “On Momentousness”