I received this lovely postcard today from a German Postcrosser named Ulrike, who lives in Munich. It shows a striking image of Cadolzburg Castle, a medieval castle in the Bavarian district of Fürth. Documentation of the castle goes back as early as 1157; it was an important site for hundreds of years.
Category Archives: Popular Culture
Quiz Quackery
Is anyone else annoyed by those online tests with the intentionally misleading or blatantly false titles? I see these all the time as links on Facebook. I used to click on them occasionally, but I don’t anymore; they’re just too aggravating. The quizzes tend to follow a common format. The headline will say something like,Continue reading “Quiz Quackery”
Postcards From the World: Draco
Here is another cool Postcrossing card! This atmospheric shot of Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince came recently from Corey, a U.S. Postcrosser in Denver, Colorado. Corey seems like as big a Harry Potter fan as I am; she put stickers of two of my favorite characters, Hermione Granger and Professor McGonagall.Continue reading “Postcards From the World: Draco”
O Say Can You See the Truth About Key?
There is talk of changing our National Anthem because Francis Scott Key, who wrote the lyrics to the “Star-Spangled Banner,” was a slave owner, and because the song contains pro-slavery lyrics. My initial reaction was negative: I can’t see that it’s useful to erase the other achievements of anyone who owned slaves. What’s next? GiveContinue reading “O Say Can You See the Truth About Key?”
I ❤ British TV…Despite the Murder Rate
I love British TV. In particular, the cozy mysteries crack me up. The U.K. has a low rate of violent crime. But if you believe these television shows, Brits are murdering each other on a Westerosi scale. Let’s look at the idyllic fictional English town of Midsomer. At least, it looks idyllic– until you startContinue reading “I ❤ British TV…Despite the Murder Rate”
Frankly My Dear… A Response to GWTW
A friend recently read Gone With the Wind for the first time and was shocked by the racism. While I totally agree with everything she said about GWTW, I admit that I’ve always liked the book despite the fact that it’s racist propaganda. Of course it is. But I think of it as an interestingContinue reading “Frankly My Dear… A Response to GWTW”
TV Tyrant
If I turn on the television in a room that contains other people, I generally ask, “What should we watch?” or, “So-and-so is coming on now; do you want to watch it?” or, at least, “Do you mind if I watch —“ That’s just common courtesy, right? So why is it that my husband andContinue reading “TV Tyrant”
Photo Friday: The Force Runs Strong in Our Family
Monday was Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You). In response to a request in an online group, I dug out this photo of my husband, son, and me in costume for the Del Ray Halloween Parade in 2011. So I’ve decided to re-post it here. Nine years ago, we still lived inContinue reading “Photo Friday: The Force Runs Strong in Our Family”
Update From the Land of Social Distancing
It’s the end of the first week of The End of Life as We Know It, as we all try to adjust to our new, Coronavirus-induced reality. Everything is weird and tense and depressing, but you already know that. Virginia does not yet have a statewide order to close businesses, but many have closed anyway;Continue reading “Update From the Land of Social Distancing”
Photo Friday: The Doctor Is In
I was driving my rental car in Homer, Alaska, and suddenly came upon the Tardis. It was standing on the side of the road, by the edge of a strip of woods. I’ve never heard of Homer as a hotbed of space alien activity, and there wasn’t a Dalek or a Cyberman in sight. ButContinue reading “Photo Friday: The Doctor Is In”
