A fruiting fungi at one with the forest. ~ fungi in fall bloom vast networks of connection feeding the forest ~ This week Sofia invited us to explore what ancient means in the Lens Artists challeng…| writing to freedom
I thought about the term “ancient” before I went searching for images for the challenge. I decided it was more than just the dictionary definition which is based on the phases of the Greco-Roman empires. Strangely, I settled on ancient crops first cultivated in the Americas which now help power the diets of the world. … More Ancient Edibles from the Americas| The New 3 Rs: Retire, Recharge, Reconnect
Do you hear the music of Fall?| Second Wind Leisure Perspectives
This is the fifth and final part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, IVd, IVe) looking at the structures of life for pre-modern peasant farmers and showing how historical modeling can help us explore the experiences of people who rarely leave much evidence of their day-to-day personal lives. I’ve been stressing … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part V: Life In Cycles→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the fifth dish of the fourth course of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc, IVd) looking at the lives of pre-modern peasant farmers, who made up a majority of all of the humans who have ever lived. We are trying to grapple here with what has thus been the most … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVe: The No-Rest Of It→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
Once again, take a moment to consider the words recommended this time every year, the words of Mr. J.Keats first posted to blog twenty-two years ago:| A Good Beer Blog
This is the fourth thread of the fourth part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb, IVc) looking at the lives of pre-modern peasant farmers, who make up a majority of all of the humans who have ever lived. We’re thus probing here was has been, in effect, the modal human experience. Over … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVd: Spinning Plates→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the third piece of the fourth part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb, IVa, IVb) looking at the lives of pre-modern peasant farmers – a majority of all of the humans who have ever lived. Last time, we started looking at the subsistence of peasant agriculture by considering the productivity of our … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVc: Rent and Extraction→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the continuation – the first of several – of the fourth part of our series looking at the lives of pre-modern peasant farmers – a majority of all of the humans who have ever lived. Last time we discussed the survival requirements (in food and textiles) of a peasant household as well as … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVb: Working Days→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
In which I find free art| Walking Away
A rare clay cinerary urn shaped like a house discovered in 2023 was presented to the public last month for the first time. The rare artifact is only the fourth house urn discovered in Poland since World War II, and this one is unique in design. It is a rectangular model house on nine legs with a round door on one of the long sides. It dates to the Early Iron Age (780-640 B.C.).| The History Blog
A copper alloy ingot from the from the Scandinavian pre-Roman Iron Age that emerged from Särdal on the west coast of Sweden, in 2022 is the first of its kind ever found in Sweden. An analysis of its composition has found it is also a metallurgic twin to metal hoards from the same period found in Poland.| The History Blog
Yup. Big news this week? I am trying to nap in as many spots in the house or out in the yard as I can. I’ve yet to try that awkward chair in the back rec room but I still have my eye on it. It’s all so pleasant. The evening air is now cool … Continue reading "The “But… He’s Just Mailing It In From Vacation!!!” Edition Of The Thursday Beery News Notes"| A Good Beer Blog
The remains of a wooden bridge built over 2,000 years ago have been discovered in Aegerten, Switzerland. More than 300 oak piles from the bridge spans over the Zihl river were unearthed, preserved in the waterlogged soil of the silted-over riverbed.| The History Blog
The grave of a young woman from the La Tène era adorned with a rich collection of bronze jewelry has been discovered 25 miles northwest of Prague. The style of the jewelry dates the grave to the 4th century B.C.| The History Blog
Μηterra Full of amphorae from Troy Aeneas brings olive oil Odysseus, Aeolus’ wineskins. Pythagoras, your God, With Delphi’s secrets, Shapes Great Greece. Plato…| Mediterranean Poetry
This is the start of the fourth part of our series (I, II, IIIa, IIIb) discussing the structures of life for pre-modern peasants, who made up the majority of all humans who have ever lived. In the last few sections, we’ve looked broadly at how mortality, marriage and childbearing patterns shape the households these folks … Continue reading Collections: Life, Work, Death and the Peasant, Part IVa: Subsistence and a Little More→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
The Orkney islands were the heart of Neolithic Britain. Active before Stonehenge and the Pyramids this exposed corner of Neolithic Orkney has a story to tell.| Meandering Wild
There are voices in history that never quite fade—only soften, like a song carried by the wind across centuries. Sappho is one of those voices. I recently came across a poem attributed to her, thou…| Rebecca's Reading Room
Hey folks, Fireside this week! The new semester is starting up next week, so things may be a little more fireside-y than usual over the next few weeks, but I do promise we will get to the end of “Life, Work, Death and the Peasant” eventually. That said, since I am teaching Latin rather than … Continue reading Fireside Friday, August 15, 2025 (On Latin Pronunciation)→| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the first part of the third part of our series (I, II) discussing the patterns of life of the pre-modern peasants who made up the great majority of all humans who lived in our agrarian past…| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the second part of our series (I) discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor, subsistence, death – of pre-modern peasants and their families. As we’ve …| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
This is the first post in a series discussing the basic contours of life – birth, marriage, labor, subsistence, death – of pre-modern peasants and their families. Prior to the industria…| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
Discover 30 underappreciated yet timeless quotes from the past that still resonate today—proof that old wisdom never truly goes out of style.| Oldest.org
Hatshepsut – the person and her legacy – came into my radar during a college class in Old Testament Bible Archaeology. A visit to her temple was high on my To Do list as we traveled to …| Charamana Consulting
This week we’re going to do something a bit silly, in part because I have to prepare for and travel to an invited workshop/talk event later this week and so don’t have quite the time fo…| A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry
There’s a moment—often quiet, often unnoticed—when the sound of your footsteps fades beneath the song of water emerging from the Earth. That moment, when your…| Find A Spring
Discover the 7 oldest photographs ever taken, from the first selfie to early war photography. Keep reading!| Oldest.org
Discover rare photos that reveal Dubai’s transformation from a modest desert town to a global metropolis over the past several decades.| Oldest.org
Abu Simbel is one of the most fascinating sites in Egypt. Filled with ancient history, its story has a phenomenal modern-day twist of deliverance from destruction. This blog shares this great story…| Charamana Consulting
We feed it, walk it, put it to sleep - but what do we really know about the magic of the human body? Explore the body as the ultimate symbol and find out.| Whats-Your-Sign.com
My King Tut Experience has been a Lifelong Quest. Experience the magnificence of Tut in this blog as I share my journey with our recent visit to Egypt including climbing into his tomb in the Valley of the Kings!| Charamana Consulting
The pyramids of Egypt, along with its colorful and mysterious history as seen in both art history and the Bible, have long fascinated me. This post on the Great Pyramids of Giza is the 1st of several highlighting our adventures in Egypt.| Charamana Consulting
The uncontested Claim to Fame for Xi'an is the Terra Cotta Warriors - and a worthy claim it is! But - as we discovered - the city has so much more to offer!| Charamana Consulting
Today, as we rediscover these pure water sources, we reconnect with ancient traditions and the Earth’s life-giving gift.| Find A Spring
The Carved Rock of Little Falls| weirdnj.com
A new study of how ancient climate changes led to the ocean running low on oxygen has alarming implications for today, experts say| Scienceline
Great. Stan took this week off. And probably next week too. He may hover in my mind like the absentee desk editor like I mentioned a few weeks ago. But he also has a nickname, too: cheat sheet. Stan “The Cheat Sheet” Hieronymus. Yup. See, come Monday when I can’t think of anything to go look for in the world of beer to think about, I can go see what Stan has been thinking about first. He’s a bit like that nice smart left handed kid in grade 11 math class with really good posture that ...| A Good Beer Blog
Explore the best-preserved prehistoric village in Europe at Skara Brae. Discover ancient Neolithic ruins and artefacts on the Orkney Islands of Scotland.| Meandering Wild
Well, well, well. I entered the first day of my 62nd year today. No trauma. No big plans. Not like when you hit 25 or 40. Those were panicky birthdays. Feeling like middle age is coming too fast. Now that it is here… who cares? All one has to do is consider the alternative and sliding that bit closer to two-thirds of a century is mighty fine by me. Change is everything. Even the bird feeders are put away now. Winter is not coming. Not quite yet. So have one for me if you are having any at a...| A Good Beer Blog
