This year we’re beginning each month with a (potentially logical) oddity to think about, and to keep the brain cells active. This month:
If you replace “W” with “T” in “What”, “Where”, “When”, you get the answer to each of them.
Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
It’s again time for our monthly round up of links to items you may have missed. And there’s a lot in this month’s offering, so let’s get in …
Science, Technology, Natural World
Matter is complex, but that complexity has given rise to the good and the bad of nuclear physics. [LONG READ}
The secret of a rat’s sense of touch is all to do with the whiskers.
It seems a surprising number of sea monster sightings are actually whale boners.
Health, Medicine
A new understanding of how our ancient immune system works could help fight future pandemics. [£££]
On the strange cases of healthy children who won’t wake up.
Why are so many women ill-prepared for perimenopause? And how they needn’t be. [LONG READ]
Sexuality
As a special treat this month we have a collection of articles on medieval sex (and how it relates to our modern ideas) from our favourite medieval historian, Dr Eleanor Janega of Going Medieval …
On women having sex with themselves
Back in the day cuckolding wasn’t just a thing, it was a thing thast was bound to happen (for the rich, at least). [LONG READ]
On sexualising the “other”, ie. anything except cis white men!
On the medieval acceptance of sex work and the fallacy of “rescuing” sex workers.
Environment
The cherry blossom in Kyoto is earlier this year than ever previously recorded, and the trend over the last 100 years is for earlier and earlier dates.
Without the asteroid which wiped out the dinosaurs, we likely wouldn’t have the Amazon rainforest.
History, Archaeology, Anthropology
A slab of rock, engraved in the Bronze Age, is thought to be the oldest 3D map in Europe.
On the Ancient Egyptians and belief in the after-life.
Archaeologists have uncovered an important Roman site in Scarborough.
We’re going back to Going Medieval for the next two items …
On the commemoration of royal death.
Medlars were popular fruit in medieval times, but have fallen out of fashion.
John Spilsbury, the engraver behind the first jigsaw puzzle, a “dissected” map, died on 3 April 1769.
Anti-Vaxxers are nothing new: they’ve been around since Edward Jenner invented the first smallpox vaccine.
Dhaka muslin is an ancient Indian fabric which no-one knows how to make, but which a few weavers are trying to resurrect. [LONG READ]
London
The short stretch of the Hertford Union Canal in east London has been drained for repairs and is giving up its secrets.
When is a river actually a canal? When it’s the New River.
Lifestyle, Personal Development, Beliefs
Nudity at home has become much more common during lockdown, so can naturism become the new trend?
Lockdown has changed quite a few women’s views on bras – both for and against what seems to this mere male to be nothing but a garment of torture.
Going Medieval (yes, again!) considers Jezebel, makeup, and other apocalyptic signs.
How to declutter your home as lockdown eases. Hint: you’ll need the biggest cardboard box you can find.
How the pandemic changed our hygiene habits: we bathe less, but are no more smelly.
Shock, Horror, Humour, Wow!
The mystery of the man who fell from the sky. [LONG READ]
And finally, it seems that big boat that got stuck in the Suez Canal is partly to blame for the UK’s shortage of garden gnomes.
V. The Sun Inn
Amber’s the Ale, the brewery’s best,
Poured by the Barmaid, a magnificent chest.
The Cider’s refreshing; the girls drink in sips;
While Tom’s Dog goes begging for peanuts and chips.
‘Ere is young Emma who always wears clogs,
And sits by the Fire, made up with good logs.
All the fine Glass is so sparkling and clear,
And still we’ve the Hat, which was left here last year.
Ice is in cubes – no, not in my beer!
There’s a jang-e-ly jukebox we wish wasn’t here.
Cute is yon Katy whose hair is dyed pink,
Thus deceiving the Lager that only poofs drink.
There’s food on the Menu, good pies do abound,
While Nuts is the cat who’s always around.
There is Old Arthur, still sucking his pipe,
And Polly, Stan’s Parrot, who’s language is ripe.
Lend me a Quid, I need five for a beer,
And top up Miss Rosie, who’s everyone’s dear.
The Snug at the back’s where the old ‘uns hold court,
Draining the Tankards which each of them brought.
There’s yeuchy Urinals where water we pass,
After drinking the Vino, that’s sold by the glass.
Wee is the Widow, still hearty and hale,
Sipping her 5X, a lovely strong ale.
The Young and the Yoof, so noisy and loud,
Still treasure Zog, our mascot, so proud.
Piece VI will appear on Tuesday 4 May.
IV. The Village Stores
A-2-Z Stores serves every and each,
Selling Bananas and Butter and Bleach.
Cheese just so special; Charcoal for the grill;
Detergent’s essential; Daffs for the thrill.
Ed sells no cake, nor bread, meat or fish
Frozen excepted, and Fruit for the dish.
The Fruit Gums are tasty; the kiddies they please,
And so is the Honey, from Freddie’s good bees.
There’s flavoursome Ice Cream, local and good,
With extra pink Jelly for trifle or pud.
The Kale it is rough, only good for the sheep;
Loo paper’s essential, and Ed sells it cheap.
There’s Milk and there’s Mops and even some Macs,
While the Nails and the Screws are in little packs.
There’s Olives and Oils, mostly pressed out of seeds,
And the little Post Office will serve all your needs.
There’s seldom a Queue, it never tops four,
There’s Rice as a staple for puddings and more.
Sandpaper, Sugar, and Seeds for our patch,
Plus trays of the Toffee Jill makes by the batch.
Greasy an Unction for toenails ingrown,
And varietal Veggies, most locally grown.
You need a new permit to fish by the Weir,
And Xmas is coming, no glitter this year.
Live are the Yoghurt, and Yeast, but more yet,
Zee are the last things we mustn’t forget.
Piece V will appear on Monday 26 April.
It was fear that first made gods in this world.
[Publius Popinius Stotius]
III. The Church of St George
Green is the Altar, a table, today,
And Ben is our Bishop, who’ll visit one day.
Blessed is the Candle, with book and with bell,
Helping the Dean, send demons to Hell.
Eddie’s an Eagle, he’s made out of brass,
Admiring the Flowers, arranged by Miss Glass.
Stained is the Glass in the windows so bright,
Which with our Hymns, sends joy to the height.
Heavenly Incense, clouds flying like geese,
Blessing the Jurats, for keeping the peace.
Stout are the Kingposts supporting the roof,
Above the brass Lectern – that Eagle’ aloof!
We always hear Mass, we’re High Church round here,
Suiting the Nuns from the Convent quite near.
Ann is our Organist, ever adept,
While safe is the Pyx, where the Host it is kept.
The Quad is quite early, ’tis the cloister you see,
While the Rood was replaced in 1603.
Small is our Spire, barely reaching the sky,
On top of the Tower from which the bats fly.
You Unbelievers are certain for Hell,
And so is the Vandal, he’ll go there as well.
There’s Wilma the Witch who never comes near,
While X is we Christians, faithful and clear.
Uncaring the Yob, with hardly a nod,
Unlike the Zealot, ever speaking to God.
Piece IV will appear on Monday 19 April.
This year our Ten Things series – which surprisingly appears on the tenth of each month – continues concentrating on the amusing, both real and fictional. So this month we have …
Ten Ficticious Books from Anthony Powell’s A Dance to the Music of Time
II. Village People
Anthony, the Squire, lives up at “The Mares”,
While Bernard, our doctor, lives at “Three Bears”.
Cathy is new here, she teaches our school,
With pretty Denise, our champion at boule.
Ed is a twin, he runs the small store,
Bro’ Fred’s been our postman for ever and more.
George is a farmer, with sheep by the score,
Which Harry the butcher will bring to your door.
Grumpy old Ivy, is ever so prim,
While John, who’s retired, keeps our gardens in trim.
Ken and his trumpet, play jazz on the beach,
In duo with Lisa, a lovely young peach.
There’s Father O’Michael, our vicar for years,
And Nick, the bookseller, who likes a few beers.
Oh, here is Oscar, he’s just three years old,
And Poppy, just sixteen, already so bold.
Quarrelsome Quentin’s, the Squire’s youngest son,
While Roger’s our baker, always up with the sun.
Big Sergeant Stan, is mine host at The Sun,
With tiny Theresa, his wife with a bun.
An enigma is Uncle, we don’t know his name,
Who lives next to Vi, a feisty old dame.
Willowy Wendy, see how she can dance!
Partnering Xavier, an import from France.
Yvonne the alto sings a good song,
And Zeb is the Blacksmith, all brawny and strong.
Piece III will appear on Tuesday 13 April.
This year we’re beginning each month with a (potentially logical) oddity to think about, and to keep the brain cells active. This month:
Do twins ever realise that one of them is unplanned?
Please leave your thoughts in the comments.
I. Introduction and Allegro
Our Village is Ancient, it’s in Domesday you see,
We’ve Butcher and Baker and Blacksmith all three.
In summer there’s Cricket played on the Green,
A mile from the Deer Park, once owned by the Queen.
“End Cottage” is famous, it’s covered in bloom,
When Furrily Fair is held every June.
Our Church of St George dates from 1053,
While the Hall was brand new for Queen Vic’s Jubilee.
The “Ink Wells” they date from age of the quill,
But after “Jack’s Mill”, on the top of Fog Hill.
King George gave the Oak Tree in 1802,
It’s nearby the Library – managed by Lou.
“The Mares” is the Manor, the Squire’s big hutch,
There’s also the Nudists – they don’t bother us much.
Old Ozzy Gee brings fresh fish from the sea,
To sell at the Pump, where the gossip is free.
Noisy’s the Quarry that’s over by Krigg:
Stone for the “Rectory”, sprawling and big.
The Sea and the Beach are five miles away,
But here is our Teashop run by fair May.
Spooky the “Under Caves”, it’s said there are nine,
They’re under the “The Vaults” where Matilda sells wine.
We think there’s some Wiccans, but no-one’s quite sure,
Though X marks the Crossroads, with gibbet of yore.
“The Yews” are alms houses, 200 years old,
But new is the Zodiac Maze by “The Fold”.
Piece II will appear on Tuesday 6 April.