Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today

The beautiful burgh of Linlithgow charmed the pants off me when I went there in 2012. The town sits astride the Forth and Clyde Canal (which I’ve written on extensively) which is around half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. There’s a train link on Scotrail which goes between cities that takes you there, and there’s aContinue reading “Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today”

Book Review: Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings by Natalie Lawrence

A deep-dive into the cavernous human imagination where monsters and others reside in our collective subconscious and what they tell us about ourselves.

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #174

Scottish vocabulary illustrated by Stooryduster I found an extensive and massive online compendium of Scottish words along with compelling and funny illustrations by Stooryduster…an incredible achievement! See more here! A funky neo deep house mix for your aural enjoyment Archangel Michael fighting the dragon (1500) Archangel Michael fighting the dragon . Prayer book of HenriContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #174”

Book Review: The Origins of Creativity by Edward O. Wilson

In his latest book The Origins of Creativity, Wilson singles out creativity as humanity’s most important legacy which has allowed us to evolve and dominate other organisms on the planet, as well as being the seed from which humanities and the sciences have flourished.

Knitting with Dog’s Wool (1966)

Instead of allowing your pesky pooch to malt all over your sofa, put your pet to work in a novel way. The most luxuriant of dog breeds can be put to practical use as producers of dog wool for your next knitting expedition. Some of the best breeds for yarn include the Collie, Old EnglishContinue reading “Knitting with Dog’s Wool (1966)”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #173

10 rules for life from Fontaines D.C. Fontaines D.C. are a Dublin post-punk band made up of Grian Chatten, Carlos O’Connell, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan III and Tom Coll. In April 2019 they released their debut album Dogrel, to huge critical acclaim and have recently released their follow-up, A Hero’s Death. With eagerness, fervour and sincerity their politically-minded,Continue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #173”

The medieval artisans of Poland

On a visit to the Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu in the Polish city of Wrocław I discovered fascinating medieval shop signs and merchant guild coats of arms that illustrated the professions of artisans, traders and merchants of medieval times. Here are some images I took without the flash on in the Wrocław museum. The remarkable artistry of theseContinue reading “The medieval artisans of Poland”

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #172

Lee Scratch Perry’s rules for life Here are 10 life rules from a man who lives in a truly extraordinary way. Jamaican artist Lee Scratch Perry is a wildly creative musician and producer who has sprinkled his inimitable magic on to projects in collaboration with the likes of Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Clash, The BeastieContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #172”

Mysterious Rongorongo Glyphs from Easter Island

A collection of 24 sacred wooden objects from Easter Island bear Rongorongo inscriptions, a system of glyphs that was discovered in the 19th Century and is still a mystery to historians. Numerous attempts at decyphering the proto-writing have been unsuccessful. These pieces of wood (a lot of it driftwood) are weathered, burned and damaged andContinue reading “Mysterious Rongorongo Glyphs from Easter Island”

Comforting Thought: Your Mind Is Part of the Ecosystem

Our mental and ecological health are linked writes Timothy Morton for the MIT Press Reader. Recognising this interdependence can change how we relate to the world and to ourselves.