Number 5 in my "bard to the bone" project. Year written: 1608 Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): The theatres were closed (Plague) and there was a “colourful” guy who had written a novel on Pericles. Bill wrote Acts 3 to 5 Plot in a paragraph: Pericles, a pince,... Continue Reading →
Moorhens, habits, podcasts and King Lear
The moorhens continue to fascinate. Many of the "smudges" (what the wife and I call the babies, all black fluff and sphericality) seem not to have made it to adolescence - "nature red in tooth and claw" and all that). I am back in the habit of morning yomps (weighted jacket full of coins and... Continue Reading →
Incumbent tactics: copyright as news suppression, BBC editorial choices…
Sometimes a Bluesky feed (and yes, I am as at risk of falling into the scrolletariat as anyone else) offers up a bleak perspective on the way we live now, and what we are invited to see, and NOT to see. I had never thought of the way the police might play music not just... Continue Reading →
The Lay’Em Out Brigade
Just saw this footage of an Australian journalist reporting from Los Angeles getting shot in the calf by a rubber bullet. https://bsky.app/profile/luckytran.com/post/3lr5amqrwlc2j It puts me in mind of various things, including Jack London's novel The Iron Heel. ALSO, this poem below, which I learned about via Shakers and Movers, an astonishing song by Midnight Oil.... Continue Reading →
Cymbeline = imbecile-y (Bard to the Bone #04)
Yes, Cymbeline is an anagram of Imbecile-y. You can call it anagrammatical determinism if you like…. The play: Cymbeline Year written: 1609 or so Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): srsly, who cares? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbeline Plot in a paragraph: I’d need more than a paragraph. It’s a mess. Cymbeline is... Continue Reading →
Timon of Athens: Bard to the Bone #03
Third of the plays in my “Bard to the Bone” effort at familiarising myself with the rest of the 38 plays (I have good familiarity with three or four, so-so with some others, little with some and, er, zilch, with about half). Year written: 1606 Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was... Continue Reading →
Dead-checking
Just found this, a photocopied page from the Australian magazine Arena 77 (June-July 2005), about dead-checking, which you don't see portrayed in too many war movies... Evan Wright (RIP), wrote Generation Kill, which was made into a very good miniseries. To be crystal clear - If I were a soldier deployed to a war zone... Continue Reading →
Troilus and Cressida – wtaf? (Bard to the Bone #02)
Bard to the Bone explained here. The play: Troilus and Cressida Year written: 1602 Context of the writing (Shakespeare’s career, political events it was responding to): the forever war against the Irish was dragging on, and this is an “anti-war” play about the futility and banality of it all (causes, characters etc). Apparently you can... Continue Reading →
Pankaj Mishra’s “The World After Gaza” – indexed!!
Pankaj Mishra is an Indian public intellectual. His new book "The World after Gaza" is most definitely worth your time. I will write about its argument, its gaps and its reception (predictably tedious and tediously predictable as that has been in some quarters) at a later date. For now, this. One SERIOUS flaw with the... Continue Reading →
Juggling: reverse salients and being honest
If I want to juggle four clubs (and I do) then I need to tackle the weakest point in my current skills - left handed throws with double-spins - a kind of reverse salient. I also need to be honest that I am not yet good enough doing three club cascade double spins. Although I... Continue Reading →
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