Put on your corsets and calm those nerves

My hubby just before we watched Lark Rise to Candleford: "I find these BBC period dramas so calming." Which is pretty amazing, considering how he primarily enjoys the History Channel, news shows and guy movies. And any TV shows that mix violence with good dialogue. Now I can add to his favorites list shows that focus on propriety, village life and love that cannot be due to one's station in life.

Happy B-day, John Belushi

This is a few days late (his birthday was Jan. 24 according to IMDB), but here it is. Happy birthday John; we miss ya, man.

Do you like freebies?

I love freebies! I know this isn't my normal topic here, but I've found several freebies that others in the UK can take advantage of, too. Here goes:

Free eye test at D&A

Free flight if you sign up with BMI's Diamond Club (but you do pay fees and taxes, so it remains to be seen how much of a deal this is)

Get a coupon for half price entrees at Zizzi restaurant in the Telegraph next week (I think it comes in Sunday's too, but the week editions are cheaper)

These finds all came from Moneysavingexpert.com. These seem to be the most usable bargains I've ever found there, and they don't involve signing up for a credit card or some such to get them!

Takes off bargain-finder cap.

Where does the Times find these goobers?

The Times will apparently print any uninformative, ill-researched and plain wrong article that grabs attention. Case in point: a travel article advising people to stay away from the U.S. because gaining entry is too tough. Really? Turns out the writer means that it's not really tough to get in, but rather going through security and immigration is a pain in the ass. He then fails to really explain any of these new difficulties in detail or list anything that sounds significantly different from what it's like getting into the UK, and the only things that sound bad are the things that he imagines are the thoughts going on in some official's head, or things that could maybe sorta happen.

He mentions "A preflight e-interrogation," which he fails to explain and, based on his attitude, probably is an out-of-proportion way of describing answering a couple of questions online. He also dreams up "an outside chance of a rubber-gloved rectal rummage." Believe me, the guards don't want to give a booty check anymore than you want to get one, and that kind of thing isn't done randomly like a bag check. Then the writer suggests other places people can go instead, which he presumably thinks have more lax security. Because you'd rather get through the airport fast than feel safe? Good luck with that.

I personally don't have a stake in where the lamo travel writer or anywhere else chooses to go on holiday. Go where it seems fun; go where you can afford; go where you can indulge in the things that relax you, be it shopping or skiing. I'm not saying you should go to America, though I think a weekend shopping in New York when you're getting 2-for-1 on your pounds sounds divine. But wherever you go, it's going to be a hassle getting through the airport. If it's not, that's the time to worry.

Who gets drunk and goes to the zoo?!

Seriously, who does that? On Christmas Day, no less? And then taunts a tiger until it attacks you and kills a friend? These guys had marijuana and vodka in the car. At the zoo. 'Cause you need to be loaded before you go look at a panda. Time to reevaluate your life, dude.

Harold and Kumar (and NPH) return

The follow-up to Harold and Kumar go to White Castle (known as Harold and Kumar Get The Munchies in the UK) is coming out April 25 in the U.S. It's called Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay. Yes, really. I loved the first one so I'll have to check this out, but it looks like it could offend some people on about 20 different levels. At the same time, in a world gone Politically-Correct mad, the fact they aren't afraid to offend might make it appealing to some. Check out the preview and decide for yourself.

The most important factor is that it has Neil Patrick Harris, so I'm sure it will be Legen ... wait for it ... dary (You'll have to watch How I Met Your Mother to get that joke). Or you can just watch the awesome NPH in his role as Barney in the clip below.

TV reviews, England style

Hang on to your hats, because this next idea seems to shake up the sensible order of things: Newspapers in England review TV shows after they air. That's right, after it's too late for you to tune in, you can read all about it.

You can find short reviews of some shows before they air in some magazines. However, the newspapers do longer, meatier reviews after the show is gone and won't be back; if it sounds good, tough luck, you missed it. Can't we get preview copies of shows for the folks at the papers, too? Newspapers can't get no respect, man. But wait, do these reviewers really watch the show at 9 p.m. and then write their review after 10 p.m.? Sure, you can get something in quick under deadline at that point (depending on the paper and its late deadline), but would you push it for a TV show? I'm guessing reviewers often do get a preview copy and write their articles before a show airs, but the papers wait to print it until after. Just for funzies.

However, I do see the point of reviews printed after the fact a little better after reading reviews for a couple of shows I watched last night. I still think it's doing things backwards, but it was interesting to read someone else's take on shows for which I had a context because I'd seen them.