About a month ago, my sister asked me if I could take today off so I could drive down to northern Virginia and see my niece’s gynmastics class. It was a special family day, and she thought I’d enjoy it and that my niece would enjoy having me there. I’d get to see my nieceContinue reading “On My Niece’s Gynmastics Coach”
Author Archives: Allyn
On Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury, one of the most celebrated authors of the last century and the writer of such classic works of science fiction as Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles, died on June 5, 2012 after a lingering illness. He was 91. A voracious reader when he was growing up in Waukegan, Illinois, the young BradburyContinue reading “On Ray Bradbury”
On Talking Politics on Facebook
This is going to be a disjointed post, because it comes from something I wrote on Facebook. And obviously I don’t want it to fall down the memory hole that is Facebook. 🙂 First, some background. I linked to this — Steve Benen of MaddowBlog pointed to an appearance of Thomas Mann and Norman OrnsteinContinue reading “On Talking Politics on Facebook”
On Excitement for the LEGO Lord of the Rings Video Game
Though its existence has been known for weeks, today it became official with a press release and a trailer — later this year, Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and TT Games will be releasing LEGO Lord of the Rings, a video game that transports J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic story of good’s struggle against the forces of evilContinue reading “On Excitement for the LEGO Lord of the Rings Video Game”
On an American Equivalent to the Eurovision Contest
Saturday afternoon, my Twitter stream was filled with tweets on the Eurovision contest. My only direct experience with the Eurovision contest is Father Ted‘s “A Song for Europe,” in which Ted and Dougal write an abominable song, “My Lovely Horse.” The idea of the Eurovision contest, as I understand it, is that the various countriesContinue reading “On an American Equivalent to the Eurovision Contest”
On Rereading The Great Gatsby
Last week I reread The Great Gatsby. In writing a few days ago about the trailer for Baz Luhrmann’s upcoming 3-D film adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, and Carey Mulligan, I wrote that “it’s inspired me to reread Gatsby for the first time in a few years.” This also prompted me to check myContinue reading “On Rereading The Great Gatsby”
On Towel Day
If you want to be a hoopy frood today, know where you towel is. Yes, it’s Towel Day, a day chosen by Douglas Adams’ fans to celebrate the life and worlds of the man. A few years ago at work, I had to put together the annual calendar we produce for retailers. My instructions wereContinue reading “On Towel Day”
On the Great Gatsby Trailer — and Mutant Healing Factors
Come Christmas time, there’s a new adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby coming to theaters, directed by Moulin Rouge‘s Baz Luhrmann and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as the mysterious Gatsby, Tobey Maguire as Nick Carraway, and Carey Mulligan as Daisy Buchanan. I’ve read Gatsby a half-dozen times over the years, drawn as much toContinue reading “On the Great Gatsby Trailer — and Mutant Healing Factors”
On Iran as a Nuclear Power
At work, my coworkers and I tend to discuss virtually any subject under the sun. Just yesterday we had a discussion about the death warrant of Mary, Queen of Scots — and yes, there was a work-related reason for the conversation, albeit one that would take too long to explain. 🙂 A few weeks ago,Continue reading “On Iran as a Nuclear Power”
On the House Finale
I didn’t watch the final season of House; I decided that House putting his car through Cuddy’s living room window at the end of the seventh season was an action that couldn’t really be walked back. But I did watch the finale last night (and the retrospective that preceded it — I’d forgotten how poshContinue reading “On the House Finale”