Prostitution Among Animals

The world's oldest profession might be even older than we previously thought, according to this strange Wikipedia article unearthed by the Wikiworm... A few studies have been used to promote the idea that prostitution exists within certain animal groups. Prostitution in animals was first reported in 1998 by Fiona Hunter, a researcher at the University of ... Read More...

Toots

Today, horror fiction and groovy ska music combine in a tale about Toots and his missing Maytals... Toots clattered up to the post office counter, sore perplexed. “Hello Toots, what can I do for you today?” said the friendly postmaster. “I am sore perplexed,” said Toots, “I have lost my Maytals.” The postmaster was ... Read More...

Michaelmas Goose

This coming Monday is Michaelmas, so you've still got time to get yourself a goose. Just make sure you don't pick any blackberries afterwards. Professor Nick Groom explains.... September 29 is Michaelmas: the Feast of Michael and All Angels. It was also one of the four quarter days of the English business ... Read More...

Lemon Icebox Pie

A tasty, trashy treat for you today as American expat Misti Traya goes back to her country roots to show us how to make a lemon ice box pie. Misti's post recently won the 2014 Young British Foodies award for food writing... It’s no secret some of my family can be ... Read More...

Sandy the Scrapper attends a Seance

'Story Of My Life: The Trials and Triumphs of Sandy the Scrapper' was a tale penned for children by Edith Monro Armstrong in 1914, and revised again for publication in 1949. It gives a dog's eye view of Edwardian Canada. Bill Atkinson, who is working on a new edition of ... Read More...

Dabbler Diary – The Folly of Youth

Whenever the younger generations become resentful of our elders, with their lavish pensions, big houses and long, expensive retirements, and wonder what is the point of the blasted old codgers, we should take a look at this graphic and apologise for our ingratitude: 71% of 16-17 year olds voted in favour ... Read More...

London Scottish

Marking both last week's referendum result and the centenary of the Great War, here Gaw presents a poem about the war effort of the London Scottish rugby club... It's always the fellowship that seems most important to soldiers; ultimately, it's what persuades them to die. Doesn't that fit the definition of ... Read More...

The Antiqua–Fraktur Dispute

A serious ideological argument over fonts - what could be more German? Today's unusual article, trawled up from the depths of Wikipedia by the Wikiworm... The Antiqua–Fraktur dispute was a typographical dispute that took place in 19th- and early 20th-century Germany. In most European countries, typefaces like the German Fraktur were displaced with the creation of the Antiqua typefaces in the 15th and 16th centuries. ... Read More...

Two Trees – A Poem For Alex Salmond

And so the Union endures. As a special tribute to Alex Salmond, here's something by the excellent Scottish poet Don Paterson. I offer no commentary - interpret it as you wish... Two Trees, by Don Paterson One morning, Don Miguel got out of bed with one idea rooted in his head: to graft his ... Read More...