Sep 24, 2022What Happened to the War Dead of Middle Earth?The three major battles in J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings consist of Helm’s Deep, the Pelennor Fields, and Morannon at the Black Gate. In addition, there are a multitude of smaller battles and skirmishes. Although Tolkien never specifies the number of dead, tens, if not hundreds…Lord Of The Rings9 min readLord Of The Rings9 min read
Sep 4, 2022How the Humble Dandelion Saved Norway During World War IIn 1918, Norway was in trouble. World War I was raging across Europe, and although this Scandinavian backwater zealously guarded its neutrality, the conflict could not be kept entirely at bay. …WWI6 min readWWI6 min read
Jul 7, 2022Would you drive a car with paper tires?In the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the pneumatic tire was all the rage. Described by its inventor Robert William Thomson as “a hollow belt composed of some air- and water-tight material such as sulphurized caoutchouc or gutta percha, and inflated it with air, ” this wheel eventually came…History10 min readHistory10 min read
Jun 14, 2022Review: Le Baron Rouge by Carlos Puerta and Pierre Veys (Zephyr BD, 2012)This review contains spoilers. — Le Baron Rouge: Bal des Mitrailleuses (available in English as Machine Gunners’ Ball) by Carlos Puerta and Pierre Veys was inspired by the life of Manfred von Richthofen, the German air ace from World War I. …Manfred Von Richthofen3 min readManfred Von Richthofen3 min read
Jun 1, 2022The Adventure of the German PrisonerIn this Sherlock Holmes parody/pastiche, Holmes reveals to Watson how he discovered the true identity of a German POW in Norway. The story is based on real events. — It was the summer of 1931 and at the invitation of my friend Sherlock Holmes, I had gone to Sussex to stay with him for a fortnight. …WWI11 min readWWI11 min read
May 1, 2022Review: The Stretcher Bearers by Reid Beaman (Dead Reckoning, 2022)I discovered this graphic novel a few weeks after listening to Dr Emily Mayhew’s talk about stretcher bearers on the Western Front. This serendipity convinced me to read it, and I was not disappointed. Author and illustrator Reid Beaman’s first book is an artistically strong effort with a focus…WWI4 min readWWI4 min read
Apr 15, 2022Can a middle-aged man make a million dollars from knitting?At the end of February 2022, two techbros — let’s call them Dave and Mike — decided that their next million-dollar venture would take place within the realm of knitting. …Knitting5 min readKnitting5 min read
Mar 27, 2022Review: La Dernière Ombre by Filippi and Yvan (Vents d’Ouest, 2021)This review contains spoilers. La Dernière Ombre (The Final Shadow) by Denis-Pierre Filippi and Gaspard Yvan is set in Russia. Although neither the month nor the year are specified, I think it may be spring 1917. …Graphic Novels4 min readGraphic Novels4 min read
Mar 24, 2022It’s Time to Revolt Against Our Machine OverlordsYes, I’m a Luddite, why do you ask? — I first read Frank Herbert’s novel Dune in the spring of 2003. At the time, the United States was in the process of invading Iraq. Of course, with that kind of context, the book seemed first and foremost a commentary on colonialism, oil dependency, and realpolitik. In recent years, however…Dune2 min readDune2 min read
Mar 23, 2022An Alternative Caribbean Tour for the Duke and Duchess of CambridgeIn March 2022, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — aka Prince William and his wife Kate — visited Belize, Jamaica, and the Bahamas as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s jubilee celebrations. Among other things, William and Kate faced criticism as representatives of these countries’ former colonial overlord; their decision…Royals7 min readRoyals7 min read
