Arts
A New Dark Age
I have been struggling for a reasonable historical analogy to illustrate where the western democracies are going today. As we have clearly entered a new dark age I do not intend to hypothesise when exactly [more…]
History
20th Century
The Desert War – November 1940
More of the same is the best description of November. The Italians got their butts kicked both in and finally out of Greece resulting in the Duce eventually having to grovel to the Führer and [more…]
20th Century
Illustrating the Apocalypse: Goodbye Old Man
With all the fuss surrounding the marking of the centenary of the End of War to end all Wars, one name was sadly missing from most reports. Step forward one Fortunio Matania. Who he? Draw [more…]
20th Century
Operation Teapot
In the current extremely uncertain days, I don’t know about you, but my thoughts have been regularly wandering off into ‘what if’ territory. I’ve been pondering what ‘might’ happen, what is important to me, and [more…]
20th Century
Just an Ordinary Jack Tar?
This November 11th at 11.00 am., as in past years, we take time to remember and honour those men and women who served in our armed forces, some of whom made the ultimate sacrifice protecting [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – Albums 1964
Featured Album: In Dreams This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in. I will select a featured album for each year and the link for [more…]
Arts
Ramble On!
I must go out for a walk again, just my walking boots and I. And all I ask is an OS map and one of those little plastic wallets to keep it dry. As [more…]
America
The United States is clearly not united, nor was it ever
One of the great historical myths is the American Civil War was fought to abolish slavery. Serious historians know it was neither a civil war, nor was it fought to emancipate slaves. A civil war [more…]
20th Century
Hunter S Thompson: Thou shouldst be living at this hour
Before he shot himself in 2005 after decades of cocaine & booze self abuse, HST produced some of the most remarkable commentary on the modern US political process. With insider access to the players involved, [more…]