Grammar

The Dark Side

Whatever long grandiose name Iran uses for itself v. Google, Inc.

Iran has announced yesterday that it is considering legal action against Google for not labeling the gulf that forms its southern boundary "the Persian Gulf" in Google Maps. Google, though silent as to whether the decision involves the longstanding regional feud as to whether the body is the Arabian Gulf or the Persian Gulf, has not provided any label for the water. Anyone who has looked for names of bodies of water on Maps can sympathize with not seeing a geographic feature denominated, but I am a little curious as to which judicial body Iran intends to turn to for justice and why a sovereign country will subject itself to that body's jurisdiction. Not to mention the source of legal duty to provide names for things. And why they would pursue Google without also filing the international equivalent to a quiet title action regarding the name, so as to actually establish some right as against more than just one American corporation. Perhaps we should split the baby by using a more functional description, and call the gulf the Great U.S. Aircraft Carrier Holding Tank.

Downton Playlist

With the recent close of Season 2 of Downton Abbey on PBS, while eagerly awaiting Season 3, some of us have to fill our withdrawal with something. With some help from Spotify, I present my solution, the Downton Contemporary (more or less) Music Playlist.  Some of these are so on point you have to wonder if Julian Fellows was just listening to the radio and wrote down whatever he heard.  Sorry for any spoilers, but if you haven't seen it at this point, you are likely either categorically against it and shouldn't care or are being talked into it by friends who have probably already given away all the major plot points already.

1. Violet Hill - by Coldplay
2. Mr. Crowley - by Ozzy Osbourne
3. Mary, Mary - by Chumbawamba
4. Edith - by Rachael Yamagata
5. Sybil - by State Radio
6. Lavinia - by The Veils
7. Saint Anthony - by Senses Fail
8. Come Downstairs and Say Hello - by Guster
9. Carson City - by Chet Baker
10. Thomas - by A Perfect Circle
11. Anna Sun - by Walk the Moon
12. Daisy - by Switchfoot
13. Mosley - by Wayne Krantz et al.
14. Typrwriter Girl - by The Lisps
15. If I Had a Son - by Bad Astronaut
16. Young Lawyer - by French Kicks 
17. Lady Turk - by Tritonus
18. Take Me to the Riot - by Stars
19. A Little Bit of Soap - by The Jarmels
20. I'm Too Old for You - by Jack Oblivian
21. Hotel Hospital - by Damian Jurado
22. A Single Shot in One Hand - by Blue Tales
23. Behind Enemy Lines - by Saving Grace
24. Driver, Suprise Me - by The National
25. How Stupid Mr. Bates - by The Police
26. Carlisle Wheeling - by The Monkees
27. William, It Was Really Nothing - by The Smiths
28. Walk Like a Man - by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons
29. Missing Dogs - by Saintseneca
30. The Convict And The Rose - by Willie Nelson
31. Goodbye Earl - by Dixie Chicks
32. The House that Built Me - by Miranda Lambert

 

UPDATE: Thanks to The Heart for discovering that Rachael Yamagata has, in fact written a song to an Edith. And with lyrics like "Oh Edith / you murder me / you murder me," the song could almost be sung by Mary. Well, not really. But we'll stick with it anyway.