Art · Observations · Society · Pop Culture · Humour

Charming stories with an adventurous sheen reminded me of the Simpsons episode in which Lisa's guinea pig ruined their painting of a primitive little ship above the sofa, and they decided to replace it with something and, by luck, found at the Van Houtens

Charming stories with an adventurous sheen reminded me of the episode of The Simpsons in which Lisa's guinea pig ruined their painting of a primitive little ship above the sofa, and they decided to replace it with something and, by luck, found at the Van Houtens' garage

Art · Cinema · Observations · Pop Culture

Finished watching Hunter's episodes about the auction and the flea market, and a little wave of nostalgia came over me for the days when I had a pop-up stall and was a happy seller of old junk, though in my case the splendid things usually went for far be

Finished watching Hunter's episodes about the auction and the flea market, and a little wave of nostalgia came over me for the days when I had a pop-up stall and was a happy seller of old junk, though in my case the splendid things usually went for

Observations · Society · People

Novaya Gazeta investigation into Ponasenkov published on 9 October 2019

To say that I was taken aback on reading the investigation into Ponasenkov would be an understatement. Hold on to your monocles, gentlemen: a gripping descent into the chthonic murk awaits you. https://www.novayagazeta.ru/articles/2019/10/09/82288-ponasenkov

Architecture · Museums · Observations · People · Humour

The legend of a Kremlin messenger at Pasternak's dacha in Peredelkino

Pasternak's house in Peredelkino, of course, comes wreathed in an entire body of legend. As a child I was very fond of this dacha and gave little thought to how real many of the stories told about it might be. Who could think of criticism when people such

Faith · Observations · Society

Is Pope Francis Preparing to Abolish the Vow of Celibacy for Priests?

Is Pope Francis preparing to abolish the vow of celibacy for priests? Can a norm that took hold in the Church after the twelfth century really be done away with? On Sunday Francis I declared that he was prepared to permit the ordination of married men. He explains his decision

Archive · Monarchies · Observations · Mores · People

Catherine de' Medici left 400,000 écus to her servants, from doctors to maids of honour

Catherine de' Medici, hated by many and regarded as a spiteful, heartless schemer and a royal mischief-maker, spent her last minutes drawing up her will. It is even said that the will took so long that her son had to finish dictating his mother's last wishes

NB! · Observations

And what shape are you in today?

NB! · Observations

And a Word About the Weather

Moscow · Museums · Observations · Heritage · Humour

Graffiti on the Museum of Contemporary Russian History facade and damage of 126,000 roubles

I hear on the Kultura news that vandals have defiled the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Russian History. I think: well, blimey! I watch the report, and what they show is a tiny bit of graffiti beside a mascaron of a disgruntled lion. Good heavens, what a desecration! The

Archaeology · Museums · Observations · Heritage · Society

Debate over the sale of Caligula's ring and private ownership of artefacts

Meanwhile, I observe a debate flaring up over the sale of Caligula's ring, to the effect that such objects ought to belong to museums rather than to private persons. I simply cannot see what the quarrel is about, given that the piece at present belongs to a private

London · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

Two Victorian dolls in the London Underground and a comparison with Moscow's metro

Victorian twin dolls take a ride on the London Underground. This is precisely the moment when one wants not only to cross oneself like an old crone with the words "Thank God it's not Moscow", but simply to scream: they are dreadful, frankly ghastly. Then again,

Art · Books · Monarchies · Observations

The 1852 Icelandic “Snow White”, Catherine II and Russian-Danish Relations

In an Icelandic retelling of "Snow White" published in 1852, with illustrations by Theodor Hosemann, the queen bears a striking resemblance to Catherine II. Well, a fine touch for Russo-Danish relations. Iceland at that time, as a result of the Danish-Norwegian union, formed part of Denmark.