Let’s talk The da Vinci Code for a moment. I’m really tired of hearing about it. Movie, book, what have you. No, I haven’t read the book. No, I’m not particularly interested in seeing the film. But it’s been inescapable for the past few months–television specials on the secrets the story reveals, huge freaking displaysContinue reading “On an Uninformed Rant”
Tag Archives: History
On a New Necktie
Yesterday I bought a new necktie, one with images taken from the Bayeux Tapestry. The Bayeux Tapestry depicts William the Conqueror’s invasion of England in October 1066 and his overthrow of King Harold II. William began the line of Norman kings of England, from whom the present royal family descends. The images on the tieContinue reading “On a New Necktie”
On Recent Reading
What have I been reading? I’ve been on a Revolutionary War kick of late. Or at least, of that era. Currently atop the desk–Redcoats and Rebels, by Christopher Hibbert, which offers a British perspective on the conflict. Also recently read, General Howe’s Dog, by Caroline Tiger, about, besides General Howe’s Dog (obviously), the battle ofContinue reading “On Recent Reading”
On Temeraire
I ordered from Amazon’s UK division recently Naomi Novik‘s debut novel, Temeraire, the first book in an alternate history series that posits that alongside Nelson’s Navy and Wellingon’s Army Britain fought the Napoleonic Wars with a dragon Aerial Corps. I was impatient. I could have waited and bought the novel’s American paperback, entitled His Majesty’sContinue reading “On Temeraire”
On Veteran's Day
Today is Veteran’s Day, commemorating the armistace that ended the fighting in World War I nearly ninety years ago. In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead.Continue reading “On Veteran's Day”
More on Civilization Anonymous
I mentioned CivAnon, an organization devoted to helping persons addicted to the computer game Civilization about a month ago. It’s a spoof organization, a really good marketing ploy, if you ask me. Poking around their website I found their public service announcement which features some of the funniest characters I’ve seen in a long time.Continue reading “More on Civilization Anonymous”
On the Real President Bush
I had to share this: Bush is in fact fidgety, cold and snappish in private. He yells at those who dare give him bad news and is therefore not surprisingly surrounded by an echo chamber of terrified sycophants. He is slow to comprehend concepts that don’t emerge from his gut. He is uncomprehending of theContinue reading “On the Real President Bush”
On Bush, the Emperor Nero, and the Historical Perspective
Nero fiddled as Rome burned. Bush strummed as New Orleans sank. Nothing more to say, really. Except that someone in the Bush White House has lost all sense of historical perspective.
On Tartan Day
March 17th is St. Patrick’s Day, when Americans of every stripe celebrate the nation’s Irish heritage. Today, April 6th, is Tartan Day, when Americans of every stripe celebrate the nation’s Scottish heritage. Wait, you haven’t heard of Tartan Day? Truth to tell, neither had I, until last year when buying Guinness for St. Patrick’s DayContinue reading “On Tartan Day”
On the USS Constellation
For Christmas my partents gave me a LEGO set, the USS Constellation, a recreation of one of the United States Navy’s oldest and most famous wooden ships. For a variety of reasons I hadn’t the opportunity to assemble the set until today. After working on the set for most of the afternoon, I’m finished, allContinue reading “On the USS Constellation”