My sleep was somewhat restless last night. I thought I was getting over a cold, not catching a cold. Today I feel worse than I did yesterday. The nasal passages feel phlegmy, the head swims. Cold medicine I won’t touch–it makes me wired, jittery, and vaguely loopy. Fortunately, I scheduled myself for a late shiftContinue reading “On Dreams”
Tag Archives: Blackadder
More Wisdom from the Elizabethan Age
Let’s turn back the clock, shall we, to 1661. Lord Edmund Blackadder, favorite of Queen Elizabeth I said famously: If you play straight with me you’ll find me a considerate employer. But cross me, and you’ll soon discover that under this playful, boyish exterior beats the heart of a ruthless, sadistic maniac. Brings a tearContinue reading “More Wisdom from the Elizabethan Age”
Wisdom from the Elizabethean Age
Let us today recall the famous pronouncement of Queen Elizabeth I’s religious advisor, Lord Melchett–“As private parts to the gods are we! They play with us for their sport!” Fitting, really. Sums up life nicely.
On Johnny English
I went to see Johnny English this afternoon, having nothing else better to do. It’s goofy fun. It’s a spy spoof, without being so self-indulgent as the Austin Powers films. John Malkovich makes for a good “Bond villain,” and Natalie Imbruglia was solid as the platonic “Bond girl.” The relationship between English and his assistantContinue reading “On Johnny English”
Comic Literary Footnotes
Thursday, March 6th, marked the anniversary of the death of English playwright Francis Beaumont, died in 1616. From the Forgotten English calendar of that day: One evening in a tavern, Mr. Beaumont and his writing partner, John Fletcher, were hammering out the details of either The Maid’s Tragedy or another of their tragic plays whenContinue reading “Comic Literary Footnotes”