Medium and Substack are great in their own ways, but after months of earning almost nothing on Medium while my ‘weird history’ Substack grew, I changed my posting routine and suddenly everything shifted. I have oscillated between various writing platforms over the last five years or so. Since deciding to write entirely freelance and online,…
Raccoons are undeniably cute, with a reputation for rascal-like behaviour. And it was precisely these qualities that led to their huge popularity in Japan, prompted by a 1970s TV show. Unfortunately, Japan now has a serious raccoon problem that is spreading. The critters have already become naturalised in 44 of Japan’s 47 prefectures. And they’re proving…
Fewer cats resulted in more plague-bearing rats, or so the story goes People have different attitudes toward cats. Some people love them while others – not so much. But historically, the pendulum has swung much further toward each extreme. Cats were revered in ancient Egypt and closely associated with Bastet, whose worship increasingly took on…
The true story of a robot vacuum hack that was more successful than planned Controlling a robot vacuum cleaner with a PlayStation 5 controller sounds like the sort of thing somebody would try after a few beers and a YouTube binge. In this case, however, the experiment reportedly ended with access to around 7,000 robot…
The mountain range stretched across the continent and was on maps for over a century. The Scottish explorer Mungo Park first mentioned the magnificently named ‘Mountains of Kong’ in his book, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa. On seeing the distant range, he wrote: “[P]eople informed me, that these mountains were situated in a…
It is not about flash photography In 1512, Pope Julius II held a special vespers service. It was an evening event that was held to inaugurate the Sistine Chapel after Michelangelo had finished four years of toil painting frescoes on the ceiling. It is now the most visited room in the world. If you have…
Maple syrup is worth a lot of money – and Canada has a lot of it The aptly named Great Maple Syrup Heist was the greatest theft in Canada’s history. Over a 10-month period, from 2011 to 2012, a group of thieves managed to steal an impressive 2,700 tons of maple syrup – Canadian liquid…
Apparently, interviews with an AI recruiter are becoming more common. I just had one, and the experience was a bit weird, but actually more normal than I would have thought. The irony was that it was for a job teaching an AI. The job application I don’t really need a job, but I am always…
It is April Fool’s Day, so I thought it apt to share one of the greatest April Fool’s pranks ever. This is from my Intriguing Times Substack. It really happened. Enjoy. On the 1st of April 1974 (aka April Fools’ Day), residents of Sitka, Alaska, saw smoke rising from Mount Edgecumbe, the supposedly dormant volcano…
The forgotten true story of Alfonso Graña, the outsider who entered one of the most dangerous regions on Earth and emerged as a ruler In the early twentieth century, a well-dressed Spaniard walked into one of the most feared regions of the Amazon rainforest, was captured by the headhunting Jibaros tribe and did something almost…
There is a noticeable trend in modern publishing. Many of today’s most popular novels are getting longer Over the past few decades, data suggests that novels (particularly bestsellers and literary fiction) have gradually increased in length. One widely cited analysis of more than 2,500 notable titles found that average book length rose from around 320…
Ann Hodges was planning on a nap when a meteorite came through the roof I don’t want to be an alarmist, but meteorites hit the planet with terrifying regularity. For example, a five-meter-sized rock hits the Earth, on average, about once a year. However, the damage caused isn’t as bad as you’d think. Other types…
Cute Tourism Built on a Chemical Weapons Secret Okunoshima looks like the setting for a children’s story. A small island in Japan’s Inland Sea where hundreds of tame rabbits wander freely, nudging tourists for food and posing for endless photographs. It is known simply as “Rabbit Island”. What most visitors do not realise is that…
From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast is a must-listen for all Partridge fans. Of which I count myself a huge member. (I’m not sure I want to refer to myself as a ‘huge member’, but I’ll let the statement stand.) In case you didn’t know, Alan Partridge started on the radio in 1991 in…
Bangkok is a city of glass towers, traffic jams, rooftop bars, shining malls, mad backstreets, and endless construction. I should know, as I’ve lived there for 12 years. I also happen to live in an area called Phra Khanong, which is coincidentally home to one of the most feared and beloved ghosts in Southeast Asia….
Some surnames mean ‘born nude’, ‘nobody’, and ‘big butt’. By why? Surnames are ubiquitous now, but that wasn’t always the case. Sometimes people made them up on the spot and got incredibly inventive. Even a few hundred years ago, surnames weren’t as common as you might think. The idea of having a surname was a…
Broken rides, 15000 gatecrashers, plumbing issues, and a tiger getting loose made for a memorable start When Disneyland opened on July 17, 1955, it was broadcast live on the ABC network (a one-third investor) to 70 million people in the US—about half the population at the time. The star-studded event was hosted by the actor…
Getting older is universal, but how people celebrate the inevitable joys of ageing and birthdays varies widely from culture to culture. Some traditions are purely fun, while others reveal deeper insights into the values and beliefs of different cultures. This article came about when I was travelling in Asia and saw some of these first-hand….
Happy New Year, everyone! Lots of people I know seemed to have had a pretty crap 2025 – I hope you aren’t one of them – but I think we can all agree that 2026 currently has unlimited potential for greatness. At least I hope so. This year, I am shifting focus slightly. I am…
Happy whatever you celebrate this winter period – here is a free book called: “Haunted Thailand: Ghosts and spirits in the Land of Smiles”. You can get it here free until Boxing Day (aka 26th of December if you don’t know what that is). I know it doesn’t sound very festive – except for Halloween…