Crikey! We're Hooked on Downton Abbey
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It's one of the best series I've seen in a long time. The characters are so interesting and
they carefully selected just the right actors to portray them. I wish the series had lasted
longer, it passed way too fast.
I think the next installment will feature the younger generation, and hopefully solve the
Bates murder so that we can move on. He's far too valuable a character to dismiss. The series could actually last for a long time to come, there are so many plots they could explore & hopefully they will.
I'll miss the show terribly, hurry back...
Read the article CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR/Downton Abbey season 2 ends: What's next for season 3?
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Hereinafter, whenever in doubt, I shall always ask myself: what would Lord Grantham do?
Right, chaps?
Read the article TIME/Downton Abbey Watch: Life Is a Game
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I really love this show, but the trial of Bates in the finale was completely ridiculous.
It was if the show's producers said, "look, we have 45 seconds to convict Bates. We have no time to show the defense's case and we'll have to overlook the fact that the prosecution had no actual evidence whatsoever against him....and then we'll have his death sentence commuted because the court has doubts about the whole thing..."
Possibly the most unconvincing and absurd trial sequence I've ever seen. In fact, the whole show seemed completely rushed.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Julian Fellowes Overcomes His Scruples and Looks Back at Season 2 of ‘Downton Abbey’
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I have to reply to Deborah's complaint about anachronistic language. Several of my friends brought up expressions that made them wonder in the show, and a quick look at the Oxford English Dictionary showed that they are all older than the 10s and 20s.
"Suck up," as it happens, dates back to 1860. "Get the hang of it" goes back to the 1840s, and "Put that in your pipe and smoke it" is as old as 1800.
So make whatever comments you want about issues with the show, and there certainly are some, but you might want to do your homework about "anachronisms," especially of the linguistic kind, before you make a big, and erroneous, deal about them.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Julian Fellowes Overcomes His Scruples and Looks Back at Season 2 of ‘Downton Abbey’
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Your question about whether Mr. Fellowes sees an ending at some point was not appreciated! Rather it should have been, "How many more seasons can you promise the fans of Downton Abbey, who refuse to accept or entertain the idea this show will ever end?"
I mean END? Why end? Who among us wouldn't love to see Mary and Matthew in their 30's, 40's, 50's and so on? There are more rich stories to be mined here and future generations to enjoy. So let's not be talking about endings, thank you very much! Plant no seeds in his head.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/Julian Fellowes Overcomes His Scruples and Looks Back at Season 2 of ‘Downton Abbey’
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He may have been taking a shovel to a souffle, but Simon Schama was right. Unless Cora had a title to a working gold mine, the next decade or two will be hell on the estate. They won't be able to live at their present standard; they'll be retrenching from then to now, selling or renting property to make ends meet. (Good bye, London House.)
Which is in fact good drama. Torquil in "I Know Where I'm Going!" faces the same challenge with courage and grace. But it does cut down on the interior decor porn.
As for social reality, I suggest finding a copy of Andrew Barrow's "Gossip: A History of High Society, 1920-1970". It's a subtly edited deadpan collation of material from gossip columns, diaries and letters, and news items.
On one page, an item discusses the unfortunate tendency of the daughters of noble families marrying commoners. A page or two later, the meme is supported by the distressing news that none of the daughters of the Duke of Devonshire will be married to her social equal, with the announcement of the engagement of Lady Dorothy Cavendish to a commoner, Captain Harold Macmillan.
Yes, THAT Harold Macmillan.
And there's the sad report of the death of a young baronet, caused by drinking too much yellow chartreuse--but that's another story.
Read the article SLATE/Downton Abbey, Season 2
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Fave bits and lines:
The Dowager Countess to Sir Richard:
"Life is a game in which the player must appear ridiculous," in response to his put down of The Game.
The Dowager Countess to Rosamund re. Lord Hepworth:
"He's hardly the consummation devoutly to be wished". What an application of Hamlet's most famous speech. (And then later we have Sir Richard quoting the same play to Matthew with the line, 'one may smile, and smile, and be a villain'.)
The Dowager Countess to Lord G re. what Daisy's doing in the room:
"Mending the fire, and suffering." This was one of my favorite scenes, the Dowager Countess taking the time to listen to the lowliest person in the house.
Daisy: "I were only ever special to William." Heartbreaking, but a revelation to her.
Isobel to Matthew:
"And please don't invoke the name of that sweet dead girl again." Her urging her son to fight for Mary won me back to this character.
Matthew to Lord G after learning his first partner should be O'Brien: "Crikey."
As has been noted already, the Dowager Countess to Thomas:
"Just keep me upright." I imagine Maggie Smith felt no effort reciting that line, no disrespect meant ha ha.
And I must state it was utter fun seeing Thomas dancing with everyone and enjoying himself. Recall his dancing with Daisy in season one? He's the best hoofer in the house. Given this character's history so far, it was a pleasure to see his amazingly beautiful smile more than once. I'm torn re. Thomas thoroughly reforming, but I'll take him either good or bad. Just let him dance more, ha ha ha.
Read the article SLATE/Downton Abbey, Season 2
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Seems a long wait till Sept. when season 3 begins. Having no firsthand
knowledge of how people of this era and status actually lived, I cannot judge
how accurately this series portrays the interconnections between the upstairs
and downstairs folks. But it does surprise me to see the residents of Downton
Abbey so familiar with one another. One might suppose that in great houses such
as this one that the servants would be less well treated and their welfare not
so valued as is depicted in the series. But I’m glad of it and I suspect it is
this very thing that makes the series so enjoyable for us commoners.
Read the article WALL STREET JOURNAL/SPEAKEASY: Downton Abbey, Season Finale
Whitney Houston: So Many Songs to Remember
Whitney Houston performing on Good Morning America (Central Park, New York City) on September 1, 2009
Photo: Asterio Tecson/Wikipedia
.. blessings to all her loved ones.
I am a classical music lover. pop holds no appeal for me. none at all.
and yet-
once in a while.. here it is. a voice/instrument so extraordinarily beautiful- and a singer so gifted with the ability to move- no, stun- that it truly does not matter what song, what arrangement, what costume, what stage--
it is pure joy to listen to Whitney Houston. spellbinding.
all of her audience will miss her. sad sad news---
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48
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What a great gift it would be if everyone would think twice before opining on what Ms. Houston "should have" done or lamenting that she could have "done more". She shared her glorious voice with us and we should be grateful. Those of us who did not know her well lack the insight into her heart that would give us the ability to judge the decisions that she made. To judge in ignorance is disrespectful and unkind.
Rest in Peace, Whitney.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48
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Blame anyone, blame everyone...but please don't blame Whitney because how could she be
responsible. After all, she only had the best voice, best representation and a great Mother!
She only had the world at her feet, and the love of everyone who knew, saw or heard her sing.
As sad as I am about her passing, I think that if she had to leave us, the timing could'nt have
been more memorable because the entire Grammy Awards program would have gone on
and she would not have been in the thoughts of everyone who attended or saw it on TV.
As for Clive Davis? He preumably did everything he could have for Whitney. When he heard
her sing, he made a star out of her and supported her throughout her turbulent career. He stood
by her when she attempted a comback and constantly disappointing him. I personally
don't feel that Clive Davis was disrepectful for going ahead with an annual affair planned
a year ago. Also, he should be applauded for never haviing made a negative remark about
Whitney in public or in the media.
Read the article THE ROOT/Whitney Houston's Death: Some Respect, Please
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When Don Cornelius committed suicide everybody on Facebook put their heads in the sand instead of saying let's talk about the fact that the black community is being devastated by suicide, especially black males. Now one of our most beloved songstresses dies an untimely death and we do the same thing. We don't know that drugs killed her. But we do know that drugs killed her reputation, killed her character, killed her stage presence, killed her angelic voice, and killed her potential. Whitney Houston was our crown jewel! Who can watch her sing the Star Spangled Banner and not shed a tear. How many more of God's gifts to our people must we watch be aborted? Showing respect would be talking about the scourge of drugs in Hollywood and in the black community.
Read the article THE ROOT/Whitney Houston's Death: Some Respect, Please
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I saw Whitney Houston when she was 19 singing with her mother and brother at Sweetwaters on the west side. I can tell you the obvious - from 12 feet away, her voice was enormous, and she was gorgeous. My wife and her grandfather were with me, and we were all enthralled, certain that by pure accident we had just seen someone who would be remarkable. But, it was her innocence, singing with her mom and brother, looking 19, that made us all think of Whitney as someone who would be grounded, happy and pure. We were right that she would become famous, but I am so sorry thinking back on her performance that Whitney didn't keep the rest of what we saw that night, and somehow lost her way. My deepest condolences to her mother and family who lost a gem far too early.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48
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Why was her talent "squandered"? ? ?
She had more of an impact and made more people happy than 99.99% of human beings that live.
I just don't get why somebody dying early has to have always 'squandered' their talent... i'd have thought Whitney did the exact opposite. Its an insult to her memory to suggest that she 'squandered' her talent.
This must be a lazy media meme that keeps on getting trotted out because that's the way you learn things in journalism school. I heard the same thing about Amy Winehouse and thought it was wrong then and its wrong now.
RIP Whitney.
Read the article GUARDIAN/Whitney Houston: squandered talent of a record-breaking singer who had it all
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For all the haters who have the nerve to doubt that she had the greatest voice of at least one generation, watch this live performance of the US national anthem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wupsPg5H6aE
I dare you to find a better live performance of the anthem.
It's very sad that she made choices in her life that led to her premature career decline but unfortunately it happens that way all too often in the world of music.
Whitney's legend will live on forever, her gift for song interpretation and full-voiced expression was simply unrivaled when she was at her peak. I would have loved to hear her sing a classic jazz album or the American songbook (God only knows she would have done a better job than Rod Stewart et al) or even interpret a Country album.
She was one of those exceptionally rare singers that come along once in a very blue moon, talent of that magnitude is almost unearthly.
Read the article GUARDIAN/Whitney Houston: squandered talent of a record-breaking singer who had it all
There be Giants in New York!
Logo for Superbowl XLVI/Wikipedia
As a fan of the Patriots - I'll always be. Always! The outcome of this game proved to me...that the Patriots were not ready. Look, several big name players on this team could not preform to that next level of getting their team on top. To h*ll with the blame game. We all got to except defeat and that's it.
As for the Giants.....my hats off to the whole team. Especially Eli. That man came to play. Came to win. He burnt us twice now in the big game. This quarterbck last night proved to me that he is elite.
Congratulations to all the Giants!
Read the article YAHOO NEWS/Giants top Pats for 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years
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I am a Giant fan and could not be more thrilled, psyched or stoked (as some say) over the Giant Superbowl victory. Even so Tom Brady's post game interview was inspiring because of his composure, dignity, and analysis. He said you win as steam and you lose as a team.
That brings me to my point. These dummy head sports announcers and controversy creators whom call themselves journalists are now harping and will continue to harp for decades on the dropped pass by Wes Welker. It wasn't that one play. It was not Eli manning beating Tom Brady. Manning didn't play against Brady he played against the the patriots defense and beat them. Brady didn't play against Manning he played against the Giant defense and they beat him.
All in al it was a Super Bowl to remember for the 60 minute clash of a well and hard fought game. The full 60 minutes is to be remembered not one ten second play by a passer and receiver that didn't work. Put hat in your twit and type it (I said that.)
Read the article YAHOO NEWS/Giants top Pats for 2nd Super Bowl in 4 years
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Congrats to the Giants on a great victory in one of the best Super Bowls ever. My one complaint is the repellent corporatism of the NFL as reflected by the presentation of the Vince Lombardi Trophy to the team owners, perched on a pedestal while the players who sweated and fought to win the title must wait below on the turf for their turn to touch the trophy they won.
The Giant owners were gracious enough but every true fan knows the trophy should be awarded directly to the captain of the winning team, as the NHL awards the Stanley Cup. Seeing the Cup presented directly to Mark Messier, in New York and Edmonton, provided incredible moments and iconic images of unrehearsed bliss. The staged coldness of the NFL presentation pales beside the joyous, spontaneous celebrations of the athletic warriors. The NFL does almost everything right, but this is one thing they do wrong. It is time for fans and the media to demand they put the athletes first, where they belong.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Giants Beat Patriots in Final Rally
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Living just outside of Indy as I do, I'd like to say it was a pleasure for all of us Hoosiers to have hosted the Super Bowl this year. In many ways, the game, an occasion that most of us non-corporate types were not able to attend, was the least important part of the last two weeks. The festival in downtown Indy was wonderful. The Super Bowl Village, the NFL Experience, Jimmy Fallon, the concerts, and Indy's eating places were just exceptional. Walking the streets and seeing celebrities doing the same was quite an experience. I'd like to thank the NFL for giving Indy the chance to do what is does best, and that is host big events. The compact downtown where everything is within walking distance, and mostly connected by tunnels and covered walkways, makes for a great place for events.
By the way, all hail the Giants!!! Since the game was played in the house that Peyton built, it was bound to be a love-fest for the Manning family anyway, and it is no secret that, no matter what Peyton's future holds, the Mannings are special in Indiana, and so are the Giants (at least as long as Eli is the QB)! Most folks I know around here were rooting for Eli and the Giants. It would have been hard to take if the Patties had won in Indy, that's for sure, so tonight's game went down well with most Hoosiers.
Best wishes to Giant fans, and best of luck when you host the game in a couple of years. Hope you get a break on the weather, like we did this year.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Giants Beat Patriots in Final Rally
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The conventional wisdom of the pundits before the game was that, for the Giants to win, their defense had to put pressure on Brady. Well guess what. The Giants defense got very little pressure on Brady, the Patriots scored only 17 points, and the Giants won! Brady was good, but in the Patriots final drive, he and his receivers faltered. In the Giants final drive, Manning and his receivers were magnificent, as they have been time and again this season. The best team won, and Manning deserved the MVP.
Read the article NEW YORK TIMES/
Giants Beat Patriots in Final Rally
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Gutted. Watched the game live from UK to its bitter end. Too many calculated decisions went wrong. The safety on our first play. Should Gronk have played? The Brady interception - having broke free did he need to gamble?Allowing the last score to give Brady more time. Then too many missed catches when the Giant's one big gamble throw paid off. Not to mention the missed opportunities when the Giants coughed out a loose ball only to regain possession. United we fall and I think there will be lots of transition and reflection on the whole season now. Lots of changes to come. I hope Tom gets another shot, it has been a beautiful ten years.
Read the article BOSTON GLOBE/History repeats
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As the score reflected, The Giants were just a little bit better than The Pats yesterday. The team with the fewest mistakes won, just as it should be when the two best teams in any sport square off. Good football on both sides. And I am also going to focus on the last 10 years which have been a great addition to my life, and has made me proud of being a New Englander, and growing up in the Boston area. I consider myself to have been very lucky, and I thank The Patriots (and the other teams) for that. It REALLY has been a HELL of a lot of fun!!!
Read the article BOSTON GLOBE/History repeats
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A few regurgitated postgame observations:
1. Tom Brady's skills are deteriorating before our eyes. He's no longer a clutch QB like he used to be. He's getting old.
2. Beginning in 2007 the Patriots got themselves addicted to the pass-happy, front-running stuff when Moss came aboard, and totally eschewed any semblance of balance. They're still hooked on it. Addiction kills.
3. Belichick has placed too much on Brady's shoulders at this late stage in his career. They need a real clock-eating, power running game and not all these sneaky little smurfs who can't get them tough yards when they need them. When it's all on Tom's arms in these tough, close, big games, he's simply not up to the task to win it on his own.
4. The defense, all told, didn't play poorly. They have nothing to be ashamed of. The Tyree II throw-and-catch to Manningham wouldn't have been so significant had Brady gotten the ball where Welker and Branch needed it during the preceding series. When that drive stalled every Pats fan knew we were in trouble.
5. The Patriots overachieved this year. They were lucky just to be there yesterday. Smoke and mirrors can cover lack of fundamental balance only so much.
6. The Giants are now getting all the lucky breaks, rolls and bounces that Brady and Company used to get. Looks like all of Brady's successes (see championships) came early in his career, and the latter portion is destined to be marked by excruciating paybacks. The sports gods can be cruel that way.
7. The regular NFL season is starting to count for less and less now. It's how you're playing in December and January that count. Gawdy records and stats mean nothing. Time for the Patriots to become a tough, fundamentally-sound team instead of a gang of frontrunners. Time to get Brady some help in the offensive backfield like Denver did late in Elway's career.
Read the article BOSTON GLOBE/History repeats
Finishing Line: No Charges Against Lance Armstrong
Lance Armstrong at the team presentation of the
2010 Tour de France in Rotterdam Photo: Haggisni/Wikipedia
Lance submitted to every single drug test in the book, all at random, and people could not stand he was clean. They couldn't bear it, they couldn't handle truth, they could only handle false information, like people that watch Faux News. HE IS CLEAN,and he has taken more drug test that a convicted Meth addict on Probation, some people will never accept the truth, they only accept lies. Look up the facts on how many , and what kind of drug test he has been through, it will blow your mind. Those who do not accept the result don't believe in science and have no right to comment on things they know nothing about anyways. Sad
Read the article . CNN/Prosecutors drop Lance Armstrong doping investigation
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There isn't enough evidence to bring charges. That in itself does not mean that he did not dope. Tour winner Bjarn Riis never failed a drug test and admitted that he used EPO during his Tour win. Other pros such as David Millar and Jan Ullrich have also never failed a drug test.
You Lance lovers are so naive. Cycling is rife with doping. Part of being a top professional in cycling is knowing how far to cheat without getting caught.
Read the article . CNN/Prosecutors drop Lance Armstrong doping investigation
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Armstrong was drug tested about 500 times in 20 years. That's an average of one test every two weeks. France couldn't believe that he could win seven Tours and purposely went out of their way to catch him doping. The result? Nothing. All of Armstrong's accusers have been caught doping. I read an article once that went into great detail to explain how Armstrong was able to achieve this feat. Essentially his heart is able to pump blood at a greater volume that the average athlete. That's it. The guy was naturally born to ride a bike. He's the most drug tested athlete in history, still nothing. It's time to leave him alone.
Read the article . CNN/Prosecutors drop Lance Armstrong doping investigation
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What he did was criminal and nothing less. Having personally raced at a high enough level to have knowingly competed against (and lost to) dopers, I am theoretically the one who should be screaming loudest for his head. But this is about the big picture. If his takedown would have resulted in exposing the corruption in the UCI, I'd be all for it, but that was probably never a reality. And Lance has done more good in this world than he has done harm, at least by my metrics.
There are cheaters in every professional sport on this earth. How many of them spend their spare time fighting for the sick and less fortunate? This is just one of those situations in life where I'm not sure what the right outcome really is, only that a lot of people depend on him for support and inspiration in their darkest hour. I also can't forget that our country has some rather large issues that need money and focus, and the prosecution of dishonest athletes ranks nowhere near the top of that list.
Read the article . CNN/Prosecutors drop Lance Armstrong doping investigation
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Leave this guy alone for good this time. He is a great athlete and fights for very worthy causes. He made the yellow bracelet as recognizable as the pink ribbon. Face the facts, Lance doesn't need any substance to both out ride any federal prosecutor or do more meaningful work in a day than a federal prosecutor. Let's hope they can keep their eye on the ball...criminals and corporations.
Read the article SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/Armstrong 'gratified' by no charges in doping case
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And now, I'd like to pause and reflect on what Lance Armstrong did for this sport. The approach of his teams was really very different than what other teams were doing. It really all was very scientific, professional, and well thought-out.
His teams heavily influenced the way teams now prepare for bike racing -- and not just the Tour.
This has all trickled down to the very lowest levels of cycling, to riders like me. Bicycles now are so much more comfortable than they were 20 years ago. Look at the positions riders rode in 20 years ago, and look at them now. It's far more comfortable.
I have never doped, and it's been a long time since I've raced. And yet, at the age of 53, I'm a far better rider than I was at 33. It's not even close.
I don't credit Armstrong directly for that, but his teams sure influenced the way dedicated cyclists ride. I studied it, followed it, and adopted it, and as a result, love the sport more than ever.
You can take my opinion or not. Just know this: I mean what I say.
Read the article SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/Armstrong 'gratified' by no charges in doping case
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Eddy Mercks won it 5 times. If he hadn't been racing other tours, he might have won it more often. Sometimes an incredible athlete is - an incredible athlete (with a great team and support). How many times has Lance been drug-tested? yet never came back positive.
And totally agree with the comments re this is a waste of our taxpayer money. If cycling has a problem with Lance, let them deal with it. I don't care if it's baseball, cycling or football - it belongs in the sports federation, not in congress nor with the federal prosecution authorities (can't think what to call them...)
Read the article SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE/Armstrong 'gratified' by no charges in doping case
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No athlete has ever been under a more powerful microscope than Lance Armstrong. The Cycling establishment which is largely European, dominated by the French - have always despised Armstrong - they accepted Greg LeMond, who had a French name, spoke French and lived in France for most of the year, but couldn't stand the brash young American Lance. He couldn't flick a booger without the anti-doping regimes collecting it and running it through their CSI machinery. He ended every race as a pincushion from all the blood draws.
A big part of their problem with Armstrong is that he admitted to using banned drugs to rebuild his body. When he was fighting his way back to health during and after cancer treatment he was given EPO and other banned drugs, which were used for their proper purpose, and was perfectly legal.
Cancer ravaged his body, it stripped away his fitness, it stripped away all of his conditioning and muscle development. Before becoming a road cyclist, Armstrong was an elite Triathlete - this left him with a body that was overdeveloped in many areas, with muscle development suitable for a runner and swimmer, but not ideal for a cyclist. After cancer that was all gone, his body was reset to zero, primed - legally - with banned drugs for a short time, and then he rebuilt his body to be the ideal cyclist's physique. His attention to detail is legendary - he weighed every bit of food he put into his mouth, so that he perfectly controlled his diet. The result was that he recreated his body, after cancer stripped everything away, into the world's most perfect cycling machine.
The cycling establishment hated this. Many actually stated that cancer gave him an unfair advantage in setting him up for his physical rebuild. And they simply could not conceive that after using banned drugs - legally - he wouldn't have continued once he returned to competition.
No one other than Lance himself can absolutely swear there is no chance that Lance Armstrong did cheat with banned drugs. But it is without a doubt that there is no one in the cycling world who would have a harder time hiding it.
Read the article HUFFINGTON POST/Lance Armstrong Doping Investigation Dropped: Prosecutors Close Inquiry, No Charges Filed
READ MORE BEST COMMENTS: JANUARY 2012
