The Radio Times had a curious article this morning. As we know, Matt Smith is leaving Doctor Who at Christmas, to be replaced by Peter Capaldi (The Thick of It). It turns out that Smith had a plan to continue with the series, and it turns out Steven Moffat said no. Matt Smith had workedContinue reading “The Year of Two Doctors”
Plotting with a Forecast of Zombies
I have to be honest — I don’t get the whole zombie zeitgeist. I’d have thought — no, wait, did think — five years ago that we had reached the peak, that zombies were a fad and their day was done. Millions of viewers of The Walking Dead would beg to differ. Despite my firmContinue reading “Plotting with a Forecast of Zombies”
Untold Tales of the Beatles in Hamburg
Later this month, Tune In, the first volume of Mark Lewisohn’s three volume biography of the Beatles, The Beatles: All These Years, comes out. I’ve been awaiting this book for five or six years. Lewisohn, the writer behind The Beatles Recording Sessions and The Complete Beatles Chronicle, the the world’s foremost expert on the Beatles,Continue reading “Untold Tales of the Beatles in Hamburg”
The CW’s Reign: Initial Thoughts
I loved Showtime’s The Tudors. When it debuted I didn’t have Showtime (indeed, I never had Showtime during the run of the series), and when I saw the first season box set at Wal-Mart one evening I bought it on a whim and blitzed through the first season in a weekend. Utterly ahistorical, but slicklyContinue reading “The CW’s Reign: Initial Thoughts”
Steven Moffat and the Difficult Second Album Theory
A band will come out with a kick-ass debut album. Acclaimed, inventive, groundbreaking. Then they come out with a second album, and it’s… well, it’s disappointing. Some of it feels like a retread of what worked before. Some of it is unique, but it’s not as well thought out as the original album was. (MumfordContinue reading “Steven Moffat and the Difficult Second Album Theory”
The Coming Debt Ceiling Debacle
There’s a storm brewing in Washington these days. Funding for the government expires on Monday, and two weeks after that the nation’s debt ceiling needs to be raised. Republicans are willing to fund the government if the Affordable Care Act is defunded and/or repealed. Democrats aren’t about to eliminate the signature achievement of President Obama’sContinue reading “The Coming Debt Ceiling Debacle”
Thunder Strikes in Harrisburg, and a Season Comes to a Close
Tonight was the third game of the Eastern League Championship Series. The Trenton Thunder, the AA affiliate of the New York Yankees, took a 2-0 lead over the Harrisburg Senators, the AA affiliate of the Nationals, in the best of five series in the two games in Trenton, and tonight’s game in Harrisburg would beContinue reading “Thunder Strikes in Harrisburg, and a Season Comes to a Close”
Playoff Baseball in Harrisburg
This morning I have no voice. Yesterday afternoon I drove up to Harrisburg for game four of the Eastern League Western Division semi-finals between the Senators and the Erie SeaWolves, with Harrisburg holding a 2-1 lead in the best of five series. Three weeks ago, I said I’d gone to my last Senators game thisContinue reading “Playoff Baseball in Harrisburg”
The Philosopher’s Arms
A few days ago I discovered a new BBC podcast, The Philosopher’s Arms. “Podcast” is, I should say, a misnomer. The Philosopher’s Arms is a BBC Radio 4 series, just finished with its third run of episodes, that the BBC has made available as a podcast download. And just what is The Philosopher’s Arms? ThisContinue reading “The Philosopher’s Arms”
Bleacher Creatures
“I can’t believe you wore that,” Peri said. “How was I to know?” the Doctor said indignantly, raising his voice to shout above those jeering at him. Peri frowned. “You could have asked.” “Did you not say, ‘Let’s go to a baseball game.’ Is this not the proper attire?” He gestured at the cap andContinue reading “Bleacher Creatures”