What this project is about. This one is from Book 8. How long it took to read this (aloud): 7 mins 50s What it’s “about”: Sons not listening to their dads (an ongoing theme - young men, young and dumb and full of come. It’s the human condition). Words I didn’t know: xx Quotable quotes:... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #047/111: “Minos, Nisus and Scylla”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 8. How long it took to read this (aloud): 10 mins 25 What it’s “about”: King Nisus could have spared everyone a lot of trouble if he’d just given his daughter a vibrator… I mean, a LOT of trouble. Words I didn’t know: xx Quotable... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #046/111: “Cephalus and Procris”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 7. How long it took to read this (aloud): 14 mins 6s What it’s “about”: The gift of a javelin that cannot miss is, in fact, a dangerous gift! Also, she should have kicked his ass to the kerb first time round. “When someone shows... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #045/111: “The Myrmidons” (soldier ants!!)
What this project is about. This one is from Book 7. How long it took to read this (aloud): 3 mins 28s What it’s “about”: The king dreams of having ants as soldiers and, well,careful what you wish for!! Words I didn’t know: none Quotable quotes: And there we noted that a trail of ants, ... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #044/111: “Minos Wars against Aegeus”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 7. How long it took to read this (aloud): 10 mins 46s What it’s “about”: Minos is looking for allies in his war. He convinces a king to side with him. There is a plague. An astonishing plague. ‘Beautiful’ stuff Words I didn’t know: xx... Continue Reading →
Thirsty hedgehogs and heartbreak in the Anthropocene/Fafocene
I am in the library. There is someone from a wildlife charity doing a presentation - with live creatures - to a bunch of young boys and girls their mothers, in attendance. We have, over the last few generations, of course, rendered it harder and harder for young people to have any connection with "Nature".... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #043/111: “Jason and Medea”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 7. How long it took to read this (aloud):33 mins 7s What it’s “about”: Medea gets the horn for Jason in the worst possible way, helps him nick the Golden Fleece. Then tries to revive his dad from old age. It’s all pretty thankless -... Continue Reading →
Metaphors we live (and die) by
A friend wrote the following on Bluesky All the metaphors we use to describe heedlessly pursuing one's own destruction - lemmings, cargo cults, Easter island, etc. - are actually colonial myths based on mistakes or lies. The real analogy for heedlessly pursuing one's own destruction is the colonial society itself. Some responses Yes, yes about lemmings... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #042/111: “Boreas and Orithyia”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 3 mins 22s What it’s “about”: Boreas tries to play it nice, but reverts to steel and ice…And steals and rapes his southern wife Two kids are had, no wings, but life. Words I didn’t know:... Continue Reading →
Ovid’s Metamorphoses #041/111: “Tereus, Procne, and Philomela”
What this project is about. This one is from Book 6. How long it took to read this (aloud): 18 mins 56s What it’s “about”: Tereus wins a war and this, well - explanation would add up to excuses for astonishing behaviour. His wife, Procne wants either to visit her sister (Philomela) or have her... Continue Reading →