Merry Christmas MashUp

I have just read Jonathon Green's fascinating post from earlier in the week, having been out very late at a party. What I write may not make too much sense, so I'm sticking mainly to photographs today. My suggestion is that guns should never be used for shooting again, but ... Read More...

My Gun Is Quick

Freud is credited with being the first to state what now seems so obvious: gun = penis. Especially if the animate appendage is in some way inadequate... This is my rifle, this is my gun. One is for fighting, one is for fun. US Military Parade-ground chant (trad.) Slang lacks the empathy gene. And ... Read More...

In Defence of Fat Sportsmen

Mark Cosgrove (pictured above) has the talent to be a great Australian cricketer, but he can't get in the side because he refuses to lose weight. But are we missing the upsides of being a fat sportsman, asks Jon Hotten... One of the marks of cricket's ineffable genius is its scale. ... Read More...

Dabbler Diary – Democracy Doesn’t Work

To Bristol Zoo again, this time for bangless fireworks. Quick visit to the monkeys to say nighty-night first. The fireworks were bangless because animals don’t like bangs. Nor do tiny infants so we thought this would be a good opportunity to introduce the youngest daughter to Guy Fawkes night. What ... Read More...

Creepy and Freaky: Alcatraz

Alcatraz Island emerged from a bank of fog and I suddenly realized why it’s known as The Rock. Stories of ancient curses, military fortresses and its designation as a National Park are not why visitors flock by the ferry-load to this tourist attraction in the Bay of San Francisco. The ... Read More...

Dabbler Diary – Rhymes for Orange

The British class system seems to be all the rage at the moment. I like good period dramas about toffs, which is why I can't bring myself to watch Downton Abbey. I did enjoy Parade's End, primarily for the performance of Rebecca Hall, who managed to be alluring yet repulsive, ... Read More...

A Brief History of Teeth

In this bulletin from Norbiton, Toby examines the place of teeth in the art of fifteenth century Italy and Northern Europe... I have come to realise that if I am to make any real progress on my much anticipated, much delayed History of Whistling, I will first have to address the ... Read More...