The mysteries of the shipping forecast
An unusual obsession for many residents of the British Isles is the shipping forecast. Broadcast by the BBC, four times a day, this is a weather forecast of sea conditions around Britain. It is ‘issued by the Met office on behalf of the…
Understanding piano sheet music
Learning the piano as an adult is difficult. It often seems to be about learning not one thing (the piano, because what does that even mean?) but a combination of many things – language, theory, technique, and discipline. As an adult when time…
The invisible artist
When viewing art for the first time, distractions present themselves, affecting your perception of it. Disregarding the price, popularity, presentation, there are three things that change one’s perception. The title, translated from a different language and sometimes unrelated to the work. The artist, with a context and intention,…
The transformation of Russia in the 20th century
Over a century of history in a book is no feat. In ‘A History of Modern Russia : From Nicholas II to Putin’ by Robert Service, we learn about the Russian Empire, the revolution, the fall of the provisional government, civil war, the…
The flaws of documenting travel
In the 21st century, travel can be distilled down to tangible memories that can be referenced on will. These references, a photograph or a journal entry, are essential bookmarks in documenting journeys, providing hacks that may be used upon returning. This is healthy – enriching…
Sailing for a whale
When Moby Dick came out in 1851, the reviews were mixed, some considering the book to be filled with ‘high philosophy, liberal feeling, abstruse metaphysics popularly phrased’ and others lamenting that ‘Melville seems not so much unable to learn as disdainful of learning…
xitadakimasu 