Black-and-white photograph of a man in a hat with a briefcase and a woman in a coat running hand in hand along a street with skyscrapers behind them.

NB! · Observations · Humour

A wish for the new day with a photograph of a man and woman running hand in hand

This is you bounding into a new day, certain that today you will keep every promise you made to yourself. Don't mention it

NB! · Observations · Humour

We fuss about, fixate on the weather forecast, dig ourselves out of the snowdrifts

We fuss about, fixate on the weather forecast, dig ourselves out of the snowdrifts. Meanwhile, in Palermo:

NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

At last I remember what that music show on Rossiya-1 reminds me of, the one where the judges for some reason start singing along with the contestants while Sergei Lazarev runs up and down the aisles pressing buttons

A banana fixed to a light wall with silver adhesive tape.

Art · Observations · Society · Pop Culture

A quotation on sculptor Wheeler Williams's view of the purpose of modern art

I had no wish to comment on the sale of a banana for over six million dollars, but then I came across a quotation from Pat Buchanan, senior adviser to three American presidents: Nixon, Gerald Ford and Reagan. The quotation runs as follows: “Wheeler Williams, one of America's

Observations · Humour

Ira Mops, Tikhon, Mr Darcy, Zarema

Ira Mops, Tikhon, Mr Darcy, Zarema. Which is the odd one out? But considering that the barista called my Mr Darcy an abuser who makes other people feel like nonentities, it is hardly surprising that Zarema in the end left without even collecting her order, though she did take Tikhon

Art · Observations · Humour

Limited edition prints by Mikhail Shemyakin in a dental clinic lobby

Rubric. I happened to notice that the waiting room of my dental clinic is hung with limited-edition prints by Mikhail Shemyakin. Yes, they are not cheap, and they show that money was put into the interior. But why Shemyakin, of all artists? To put it mildly, few people come

NB! · Observations

It is clear which side I am on, but what about you?

NB! · Observations

Have a good weekend, everyone

Archaeology · Cinema · Observations · Heritage

Italian police search for two thieves of Etruscan sarcophagi from a burial site in Umbria

Plunderers of Etruscan Tombs Wanted by Police. The Italian Minister of Culture, Alessandro Giuli, has announced that the Italian authorities have put a stop to illegal excavations of an Etruscan burial site in Umbria, and that the police are now searching for two Etruscan treasure hunters. The wanted men are

NB! · Observations · Pop Culture · Humour

I cannot decide whether this bulldog in a gentleman's suit wounds my feelings for Churchill or, on the contrary, gladdens the soul

Books · London · Monarchies · Observations · Education

Queen Camilla received an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of London

Queen Camilla of England has become a Doctor of Letters of the University of London. The doctoral robe was placed on her shoulders by the Princess Royal, Anne. True, Camilla is patron of several organisations that maintain and promote literacy, visits schools, libraries and businesses to popularise these programmes, is

NB! · Moscow · Observations · Humour