A discussion of the word “careen”, and its differing usage in American and British English—also “career” and “carom”, for which it is sometimes used as a synonym
CCCP 2025: Ullapool
An illustrated series of walk reports from a trip to Ullapool.
Em Dash
If the em dash is an indicator of text generated by AI, then Shakespeare, Swift, Ruskin and Joyce were AIs. (Hint: they almost certainly weren’t.)
Here’s the story of the em dash and its uses.
Galileo, Disappearing Rings, And The Seasons Of Saturn
In 2025, Saturn’s rings have disappeared from view. But they’ll come back. Galileo had the same problem in 1612.
This is the story of why that keeps happening.
Easter Sunday
The Western and Orthodox Christian traditions usually celebrate the same festivals on different dates. But in 2025, their Easter dates align. Here’s why.
Natural Earth Data In QGIS: Part 4
By way of tidying up a thread that was left dangling when I took my little blog sabbatical last year, this is the concluding instalment of my development of a map of Alaska in QGIS. By the end of my last post on this topic, I’d added roads, railways and settlements to my map. To … Continue reading Natural Earth Data In QGIS: Part 4
Ardgour: Coire Dubh circuit
Here’s one I prepared earlier. I walked this route last summer, during my little blogging hiatus, but it’s one of several hill visits that are worth sharing here.
In a well-ordered world, Sgurr na h-Eanchainne would be the highest point on this circuit. It’s the lovely shapely cone that’s visible from the Fort William waterfront, as you look down Loch Linnhe.
The Sun Sets On The British Empire
A while ago I treated you to a dissertation entitled “Does The Sun Set On The British Empire?”, and concluded that it doesn’t. The UK’s widely scattered overseas territories, sparse though they are, mean that the sun is still always shining, somewhere in the world, over British territory.
Tidings
ˈtaɪdɪŋz tidings: reports, news, information “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.” Luke 2:20, (King James Version) Luke’s is the only gospel that mentions the Annunciation to the Shepherds, by an unnamed angel bringing news of the birth … Continue reading Tidings
Opus 500: And Time For A Break
This post is the 500th I’ve made since I fired up this blog back in 2015, during which time there hasn’t been a single week without a post of one kind or another. It’s been great fun, and if anything I have more ideas for posts now than I’ve ever had, but this seems like … Continue reading Opus 500: And Time For A Break