Thursday, 29 March 2012

Votaries initiated in the orgies of Dionysus ran about in goat-skins, mangling hounds in Bacchic frenzy

›
Accordingly during the whole period of his [Valens'] reign the altar fire was lit, libations and sacrifices were offered to idols, publi...
Wednesday, 28 March 2012

If Keith Richards is running your intervention, you're in trouble

›
Keith sincerely feared Gram [Parsons] was doing an unhealthy amount of heroin. It hardly needs saying that if Keith Richards is running your...
Tuesday, 28 February 2012

As objective as a panel of butchers telling us we should eat more meat

›
Everyone wants to live what they would see as the good life. Philosophers have had plenty to say about what this comprises, but their answe...
Friday, 17 February 2012

Pounded to death by the thunder of its own prosperity

›
The once ancient, free, and Hanseatic city of Hamburg, now almost pounded to death by the thunder of its own prosperity J. Le Carré, Smiley...
Monday, 6 February 2012

For fifty years the world has talked of, condemned, and executed Robespierre

›
For fifty years the world has talked of, condemned, and executed Robespierre. Men and women, who have barely heard the names of Pitt and Fox...
Friday, 3 February 2012

But rebellion and hell-fire are synonomous

›
"But rebellion and hell-fire are synonomous," said the priest, "and loyalty is the road to Paradise A. Trollope, The Vendee ...
Wednesday, 1 February 2012

Only the whore of Babylon rises rather splendid

›
Only the whore of Babylon rises rather splendid, sitting in her purple and scarlet upon her scarlet beast. She is the Magna Mater in malefic...