From etymonline.com: tad (n.) 1877, “young or small child,” probably a shortened form of tadpole, which is said to be the source of Tad as the nickname of U.S. President Lincoln’s son Thomas (1853–1871). The extended meaning “small amount” is first recorded 1915. Since … Read More »
The Guardian yesterday, February 17 2023: A group of amateur balloon enthusiasts in Illinois might have solved the mystery of one of the unknown flying objects shot down by the US military last week, a saga that had captivated the nation. … Read More »
Whether we associate the song with Carole King or Aretha Franklin, the catchily named Trans Cultural Mindfulness Alliance is offended by it. This Norwegian outfit demands that it be taken down from Spotify and Apple Music. Alerted by a BTL … Read More »
“In some quarters it is considered ‘transphobic’ to even note that Isla Bryson was once Adam Graham.” – Alex Massie in The Spectator The Guardian today, January 25th 2023: Politicians, campaigners and a UN special rapporteur have all expressed grave concerns … Read More »
Andrew was sentenced to life imprisonment for rape in 2004. After 17 years he was released on licence. He could have walked free after just six-and-a-half years had he admitted the offence – Manchester Evening News, Jan 24 2023 Abridged … Read More »
The hippies, like the spiritual seekers who followed, weren’t entirely wrong. Just missing half the picture. When, after serving twenty months of what was meant to be a life sentence, I staged a break-out from my spiritual community, those dutiful … Read More »
Too much to ask, even of a best mate? Tony Curran and Martin Compston in Mayflies I should declare a personal interest. As one taken into care early in life – which is to say, as one who knows what it is … Read More »
… body without mind is brutish; mind without body… is a running away from our double being … Richard Hoggart, Introduction to the 2nd Edition, 1961 Lady Chatterley’s Lover is the last novel by English author D. H. Lawrence, first … Read More »
The text and image below are taken from the website of a Health Centre in the USA. Similar can be found in the UK’s NHS literature and, I’ve no doubt, across the Western World at large. Yes, language does matter … Read More »
In a Guardian piece yesterday, on a resurgent far right, Jonathan Freedland referred deridingly to “the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones”. I seldom agree with either man but do have an opinion on the way “conspiracy theorist” has become a stock … Read More »