Archaeology · Architecture · Observations

Ruins of the Temple of Apollo at Delphi and its earlier temples according to Pausanias

This is what part of the ruins looks like at the historic site in Greece known as Delphi. The very homeland of the oracle, at the temple of Apollo. Situated on another part of the slopes and very similar to these ruins, the temple remains belong to a structure of

Archive · Observations · Humour

1993: Sailors Find a Child from the Titanic!

1993: Sailors find a child from the Titanic! The little girl, dressed in the fashion of 1912, was calling for her mother! Child from the Titanic found alive! On the whole, these are the only newspapers I see any point in reading.

Faith · Observations · Society

To the Pope's ruling that any baptised lay Catholic, women included, may head the departments of the Vatican: the new apostolic constitution has a preamble stating that the Pope, bishops and other ordained…

This truly overturns the millennial foundations of the Catholic Church. The new constitution maintains that the presence of lay Catholics in leading roles in the Curia is necessary because of their familiarity with family life and social reality. As though priests lived in some other reality; and if they do,

Faith · Observations · Society · Rome

Pope Francis opens senior Church posts to women in new constitution Praedicate Evangelium

The Desacralisation of Church Institutions and Pope Francis: on Saturday 19 March Pope Francis Allowed Any Baptised Lay Catholic, Even a Woman, to Head Departments in the Vatican Administration. For centuries these posts could be held only by high-ranking clergymen, men naturally. It turned out that this could be

NB! · Observations · Mores · Humour

It Turns Out That Dreadful Corner Sofas Existed in Russia Two Hundred Years Ago

A nude young woman reclines on a bed holding a book, a cat sleeps beside her, and an image of the Madonna and Child hangs on the wall.

Art · Observations · Humour

Philippe-Jacques van Bree’s painting “Nude” of 1868

She might at least have been ashamed before the icons. Philippe-Jacques van Bree, Nude, 1868

NB! · Observations · Science · Humour

What people imagine when you say "I do science"

NB! · In the Press · Observations

Thank you to everyone who quotes me in Porto Alegre; do invite me to visit!

NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

I want clothes for dogs to look like this

Art · Observations · Society

It Has Emerged That Sotheby's and Christie's Have Cancelled Their Russian Art Auctions, Which Are Usually Held on a Grand Scale and Accompanied by Sensational Sales

Well, these shears cut both ways: today several European auction houses wrote to inform me that my right to take part in their sales as a Russian has been suspended.

Observations · Science · People

In the field of observation, chance favours only the prepared mind

Louis Pasteur

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