Books · Observations · Science · Humour

On citing Foucault as absolute truth and on the humanities as interpretation

First of all, my regards to all those who so love to cite Foucault, apropos of anything and nothing, as the last word in truth. It is curious that it is mostly people acquainted with just one of his books, "Discipline and Punish", who do so. Secondly, it

Archive · Books · Observations · Society

Could Europeans, Englishmen or Americans of the nineteenth century ever have thought of banning Russian culture, which was precisely then acquiring worldwide significance and influence?

I doubt it. Especially when I read, for instance, in a letter from Charles Dickens to Edward Bulwer-Lytton, whether he knows of the new Russian authors, such as Nikolai Gogol and his "Taras Bulba".

NB! · Geography · Maps

World Trade Routes in 1490

A page with a passage from Plutarch's “Caesar” about the soothsayer who warned Caesar of danger on the Ides of March.

People · Rome · Humour

The murder of Caesar on the Ides of March 44 BC and the soothsayer's warning in Plutarch

Beware the Ides of March! Caesar was murdered on the Ides of March, that is, on 15 March 44 BC.

NB! · Art · Humour

When You Have Lived a Whole Day Without Stories

When you have lived a whole day without Stories. Marguerite Gérard, 1804

NB! · Aristocracy · Books · London · Mores

A Few Words on the Correct Pronunciation of English Aristocratic Surnames and Proper Names, According to a Reference Work on the British Aristocracy

NB! · Archive · Cinema · People

Michael Caine on the set of “Get Carter”, 1970

Aristocracy · Paris · People · Humour

Lady Diana Cooper, silent film actress and one of the celebrated society ladies of her day, hostess of legendary balls in Paris, wife of the British ambassador to France Duff Cooper, when he was granted the title of Viscount Norwich, expressed the utmost…

Lady Diana Cooper, silent film actress and one of the celebrated society ladies of her day, hostess of legendary balls in Paris, wife of the British ambassador to France Duff Cooper, when he was granted the title of Viscount Norwich, expressed the utmost displeasure, for "Norwich" sounds like

NB!

A Reminder

Observations · Science · People

Life Is Like Riding a Bicycle

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving. Einstein is 143 today

NB! · Monarchies · Society · Saint Petersburg

On 13 March 1881, Alexander II was killed

Detail of a painting: a woman in a white cap and light blouse drinks beer from a tall glass before a brick wall and a wooden door.

Art · Humour

Pieter de Hooch, the painting “A Dutch Courtyard”, painted in 1658–1660

Mm, a light unfiltered! Pieter de Hooch, 1658-1660. A Dutch Courtyard

Alexandr Radayev