‘What is that?’ ‘That is the revolution, your highness.’ ‘Much too early! So inconsiderate.’ Here’s a peek inside the ping-pong balls that crash about in my brain: yesterday Mr B posted his Film for a Friday Get Cracking, a fine George Formby offering — I assume! You see I started watching it, thinking I could…
Category: British comedy
#RIP Jonathan Miller
I first knew him from Beyond the Fringe which I knew as an LP in my desperate searches for more of that comedy I had been alerted to by Monty Python, The Goodies and I’m Sorry I’ll Read That Again which were playing on my local public radio and television. Yes, of course, my adoration of Peter…
Bantz with the Foxes
New from Fox Spirit Books: the comedy stylings of Adele and Tom AKA Aunty Fox and Mr Fox offering a glimpse behind the scenes of an award-winning small press. Or something like that 😉 scripted by me but of course based on real conversations (perhaps exaggerated slightly).
Leeds: #IMC2016
I am off to Leeds today for the International Medieval Congress (not to be confused with its American cousin, the International Medieval Congress at Kalamazoo). I’ll be giving a paper ‘Chaucer & the Art of the Grift’ as well as taking part in a roundtable on using Twitter as an academic. Doubtless much to share…
A Sense of Humo(u)r
I know: I can’t spell anything ‘right’ anymore. With or without U, I can’t live… er, spell. And since I’ve been working on Old Norse again, everything looks quite possibly as if it might be right as long as it’s phonetically sound. I’m always stopping as I write something on the board in my classes,…
Re-Imagining the Olympics
The 2012 Olympics are over. If you weren’t in the UK you might not have been aware of just how transformative these two weeks were. That I’m even talking about it is evidence enough. Like many of my geek and writer friends I’ve often found myself in the position of fighting against the popular attention…
The How To Issue
[One of many responses to the How To Issue] How To Guide: World Domination Some people use the holidays to give gifts, bond with families and eat too much. These people will never control the globe. Lots of people have a good string of days off this time of year when they are free of…
London Bound
Tate Britain I’m writing this on Sunday to post Monday as I’ll likely be in transit about this time; if all goes according to plan I ought to be on the Piccadilly Line heading to Russell Square and my swanky hotel. Hurrah for internet deals! Plans include seeing as many friends as I can, visiting…
Flash Fiction Challenge: Zoo Story
Patti Abbott has challenged folks again on the topic of the zoo: here’s mine with apologies to Edward Albee and William Shakespeare and Bruce Robinson as well. So there. Zoo Story “So, this is the place.” “This? Why?” “I thought it would be dramatic.” “Dramatic? Why? Wolf howls make it dramatic?” “Not exactly. That scene…
Tuesday’s Overlooked A/V: The Royle Family
I know some of you will immediately say, “Overlooked, my arse!” since it’s on UK Gold regularly. But as the majority of my readers here are Americans, I feel justified in the choice — besides, when do I pass by a chance to share this terrific show? The Royle Family was created by writer/director Caroline…
K. A. Laity 