NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

Looking at Brigitte Bardot at the annual charity show for artists in need, the 1970 Gala of the Artistes' Union, and I cannot tell whether they simply look alike to me, or whether Angelina Jolie really does resemble the young Brigitte from this angle

Books · Observations

Alexander Blok on doves and the bygone times of Paolo and Francesca

What angered me most of all was. That it was not we who were kissing, but the doves, And that the days of Paolo and Francesca are gone. Alexander Blok

NB! · Observations

All I Have Strength Left For Is to Bid Everyone "Good Night!"

NB! · Art · Observations · Humour

The Mood for the Whole Day, If You Woke at 7 a.m.

The mood for the whole day, if you woke at 7 a.m. Sleep. Albert Moore

London · Monarchies · Observations · Mores · Humour

Dinners in honour of Elizabeth II in 2002 and 2012 and the table manners of guests

Every ten years a gala luncheon is given in honour of Elizabeth II for heads of state: in 2002 with the leaders of Europe, in 2012 with the rulers of the world. And in any company, of course, there will turn up certain characters who plant themselves with their shanks

NB! · Archaeology · Museums · Observations · Humour

Officially, this naked 2,500-year-old terracotta fellow from Boeotia is grating cheese, but as a man who has seen far too much contextual advertising, I am convinced that what he holds in his hands is a bar of Soviet household soap

NB! · Observations · Rome · Humour

Elephants in Rome

Elephants in Rome. Hannibal, is that you again?

NB! · Observations

DON'T CELEBRATE JUST YET, GENTLEMEN!

Observations · Society

Svyatoslav's druzhina, the first professional army of Rus, in Putin's address

In his address Putin recalled the druzhina of Sviatoslav and Vladimir Monomakh. What made Sviatoslav's druzhina famous? In essence, it was the first professionally organised military formation of Rus'. Moreover, Sviatoslav recruited his retainers on the Spartan principle: they joined the druzhina from their earliest years, grew

A man in a blue suit, seen from behind, shakes hands with a smiling man in a dark suit among guests gathered in a hall.

NB! · Observations · Society · Paris

At his inauguration ceremony, Macron personally greeted each of more than 400 guests

Macron is, after all, a very friendly and open man. During his inauguration ceremony he personally greets every single person in the hall, and more than 400 guests have gathered. He shakes hands, pats shoulders, embraces, says hello to adults and children alike, and even finds time for a few

NB! · Observations

The Mood as the Weekend Begins

NB! · Art · Observations · People · Humour

Looking at Brigitte Bardot at the annual charity show for artists in need, the 1970 Gala of the Artistes' Union, and I cannot tell whether they simply look alike to me, or whether Angelina Jolie really does resemble the young Brigitte from this angle

Alexander Blok on doves and the bygone times of Paolo and Francesca

All I Have Strength Left For Is to Bid Everyone "Good Night!"

The Mood for the Whole Day, If You Woke at 7 a.m.

Dinners in honour of Elizabeth II in 2002 and 2012 and the table manners of guests

Officially, this naked 2,500-year-old terracotta fellow from Boeotia is grating cheese, but as a man who has seen far too much contextual advertising, I am convinced that what he holds in his hands is a bar of Soviet household soap

Elephants in Rome

DON'T CELEBRATE JUST YET, GENTLEMEN!

Svyatoslav's druzhina, the first professional army of Rus, in Putin's address

At his inauguration ceremony, Macron personally greeted each of more than 400 guests

The Mood as the Weekend Begins

The Young Napoleon on the Bridge at Arcole Looks More Like the Musician Rod Stewart than Like Himself in the Later Portraits