Arts
The Pillow Book of Sei Shōnagon
I was musing on the small pleasures in life this morning: hot, clean water on a cold day; the scent of flowers that catches you unawares when walking through a dormant winter’s garden; the taste [more…]
History
19th Century
Milestones in Nineteenth Century Firearms Development, Part One
Some weeks ago, and quite by chance, a friend offered to sell me a rare mid-19th century rifle, the design of which I had long found to be of interest. Although I was not at [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 4
September 19th, 1808, Lisbon. We are in port at last, and I am glad to have my paws on the ground. It was a difficult passage out of the Channel, and we had to tack [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – 1967
Featured song: The Monkees – I’m a Believer This is a series of articles looking at pop music from 1955 when in my opinion proper pop music began up to 1999 when they stopped making [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 3
June 12th, 1808. I take up my pen again in London, where Jem and I have arrived after our hasty departure from Cambridge. It is quite understandable that Jem, unpaid by his lordship for more [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – 1966
Featured song: The beach Boys – Good Vibrations This is a series of articles looking at pop music from 1955 when in my opinion proper pop music began up to 1999 when they stopped making [more…]
19th Century
A Bear’s Diary – Part 2
March 6th, 1807. George is off to Italy, where I am sure he will have a capital time ogling churches and whores, and buying paintings that might be by Salvator Rosa but are probably not. [more…]
20th Century
A History of Pop Music – 1965
Featured song: Gerry & The Pacemakers – Ferry Cross The Mersey This is a series of articles looking at pop music from 1955 when in my opinion proper pop music began up to 1999 when [more…]
20th Century
Yon taile of Anthony Bliar: an Bayeux chronickle
Anthony Charles Lynton Bliar wast borne in thon yeare of our Lorde, Nyneteen Hundrede and Fiftie Thrie, in yon burgh of Edin in yon lande of Jock. Thiss younge ladde greweth – in an mannere [more…]