Author Archives: Markham Shaw Pyle

Morons, murders, and manifestos

I believe in the presumption of innocence: and that we ought all to give it. Right now, the Mangione kid has that presumption (he may or not be a murderer; he is quite evidently an utter shit). All the same, a few things… Whoever is found guilty of the murder of Brian Thompson can citeContinue reading “Morons, murders, and manifestos”

Initial thoughts on an election.

Right. Well, here we are. I shall doubtless have much to say in the coming weeks—if I am spared, which is never certain. (I have, if I can afford it, a stress test later this month. The Constitution has four years of it come 20 JAN.) For now, I suggest soul-searching to the Criers ofContinue reading “Initial thoughts on an election.”

I have been remiss in not mentioning this here.

Come for the fireworks. Stay for the eviscerations. Follow the analysis. And join in the anathemata. My latest—which is to be an appendix to the forthcoming The Conscientious Conservative—, which disposes of the claims of Trump, Trumpism, and the followers of either, the Trumpshirts, to be either conservative, in the Anglo-American sense of that term,Continue reading “I have been remiss in not mentioning this here.”

Hymn for the End of Term

In the last days of the era BB—Before Beryl—, an old friendly acquaintance … wait. Let me explain. Some decades ago, during the Bubble, there was a website. Its gimmick was to provide reviews of consumer products—books and films, fatally, included—by actual consumers thereof. Royalties were based upon, ostensibly, the quality of the reviews asContinue reading “Hymn for the End of Term”

A Republic … if you can keep it.

Political violence, whatever its source or support, its affiliation or who are its apologists, is never acceptable in this Republic. We do not and cannot permit it, any more than we can and do permit politics to go about in uniform or in vestments. Nor does it matter to our purpose ‘cui bono?’, or ifContinue reading “A Republic … if you can keep it.”

Beryl-ing down the highway (and presumably flirtin’ with disaster)*…

Lost power MON 8 JUL. Got it back in fits and starts about 15 hours later. Which is more than a lot of town can say, including, critically, no few shops. Got Internet back only on FRI 12 JUL. (First site checked: MLB.com, of course.) Also on FRI, the family had to bid farewell toContinue reading “Beryl-ing down the highway (and presumably flirtin’ with disaster)*…”

The means of Grace and the hope of Glory: praying the Daily Offices

Today is the Sunday after Christmas Day. It is also, this year, New Year’s Eve, in the civil calendar; which means it is the Eve, the Vigil, of the Feast of the Circumcision. From that, it should be obvious that this is a post of limited interest—as regards, at least, its likely audience, if any.Continue reading “The means of Grace and the hope of Glory: praying the Daily Offices”

Remember, remember

Another Guy Fawkes Night: Bonfire Night. ‘The only man who ever went into Parliament with honest intentions.’ V-for-interminable-comic-book-and-cinema-preachiness. Fireworks. 1605 and All That. (Or, as I privately call it, that time when a bunch of my second through sixth cousins, against the urgings of various fifth cousins, tried to blow up my first cousin andContinue reading “Remember, remember”

For all the saints, who from their labours rest

Today is the Eve of All Hallows’ Day, Hallowe’en, the first day of the three days of Allhallowtide, the Fast before tomorrow’s Feast which begins with the Vigil this night, with the First Evensong of All Saints’ Day, Hallowmas. Allhallowtide shall then conclude, as ever it does in the eternal cycle of the Church Year,Continue reading “For all the saints, who from their labours rest”