Lord of the manor

Lord of the manor

The hit British TV series “Downton Abbey” has inspired a new line of housewares. The “Downton look” is based both on the palatial rooms of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and (more realistically, we’ll bet, for your home) the downstairs servants’ quarters.

For the true “Downton” effect, you’ll need a footman in a crisp black uniform to provide tableside dinner service. If only dogs had opposable thumbs.

OMG! Worst jail food evah! Users of the website Yelp.com have been offering their opinions on restaurants and hotels. Now, they’re posting reviews of state prisons and county jails.

It can be hard to gauge the reliability and accuracy of anonymous reviews, but if the subject’s a jail and the reviewer’s handle includes the word “thug,” consider it authoritative.

Back at ya: The chattering classes were abuzz Wednesday over a report in Politico that House Speaker John Boehner told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to “go f—- yourself” during a particularly tense moment of the fiscal cliff negotiations.

With Congress’ approval rating mired at 18 percent, we suspect Boehner’s hearing a lot of that kind of talk these days.

— Mark Carlson, Herald staff

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Opinion

toon
Editorial cartoons for Wednesday, Jan. 15

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Everett Mayor Ray Stephenson, center, talks with Alaska Airlines Inc. CEO Brad Tilden after the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Paine Field passenger terminal on Monday, June 5, 2017 in Everett, Wa. (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
Editorial: Alliance makes renewed pitch for economic efforts

Leading in the interim, former Everett mayor Ray Stephanson is back as a catalyst for growth.

Welch: Spreading ‘tax policy love around’ would come at a cost

A state tax on wealth might sound fair, but it could chase some from the state and lose crucial revenue.

Firefighters are silhouetted against an engulfed home while keeping the flames from jumping to an adjacent home on Glenrose Avenue during the Eaton fire on Jan. 8, in Altadena, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Comment: What Shakespeare’s plays reveal by wildfires’ light

‘All the world’s a stage,’ with our possessions and homes subject to the same theatrical impermanence.

Comment: Trump escaped penalty, but ‘felon’ tag sticks; for now

Even though a 5-4 majority allowed his sentencing to go forward, it could yet rule on appeal.

Goldberg: Hegseth did not impress; that’s fine with GOP

The nominee for Defense fails on character and the job’s basics. Yet, his confirmation seems assured.

Comment: With GOP senators cowed, Trump will get his Cabinet

Few Republicans, after drawing the line at Gaetz, seem willing to confront any of Trump’s nominees.

toon
Editorial cartoons for Tuesday, Jan. 14

A sketchy look at the news of the day.… Continue reading

Participants in Northwest WA Civic Circle's discussion among city council members and state lawmakers (clockwise from left) Mountlake Terrace City Council member Dr. Steve Woodard, Stanwood Mayor Sid Roberts, Edmonds City Council member Susan Paine, Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek; Herald Opinion editor Jon Bauer, Mountlake Terrace City Council member Erin Murray, Edmonds City Council member Neil Tibbott, Civic Circle founder Alica Crank, and Rep. Shelly Kolba, D-Kenmore.
Editorial: State, local leaders chew on budget, policy needs

Civic Circle, a new nonprofit, invites the public into a discussion of local government needs, taxes and tools.

Douthat: Merger of U.S., Canada may be in interests of both

With an unclear future ahead of it, it has more to gain as part of the U.S. than as its neighbor.

Friedman: Trump’s reckless Greenland comments no joke to Taiwan

The president-elect could be making things difficult for himself in discouraging China’s plans for Taiwan.

Comment: Trust and Carter receive their eulogies

Carter once promised he would never lie. Trump’s second term proves how little such declarations matter.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.