Reviews, Blog, and the occasional Rant
The small settlement of Villa Las Estrellas is one of the few settlements in Antarctica where people live for more than a couple of months. However, to live there long-term, … Read More
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 … Read More
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. … Read More
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, … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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. … Read More
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. … Read More
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. … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
