Recently updated blogs

All is frozen. I already had a full day planned, but had a request dropped on me late last night, so I’m offline until tomorrow except for friends.

Hello everyone and happy New Year! I am still working very hard on my novel and making progress on it, although progress in recent months has been slower than I had hoped. Despite being focused on writing my novel, I have also been working on a few drafts of posts for this blog, which I will hopefully post in the not-too-distant future. I am also now waiting to hear back …

This feature first appeared in February 2024 on Londonist: Time Machine, our much-praised history newsletter. To be the first to read new history features like this, sign up for free here. I am a chasmophile; a lover of nooks and crannies. If I’m walking along a street and I spot an unexplored alleyway, then I explore it. The older parts of London are a chasmophile’s paradise. Alluringly named shortcuts like …

The post fOKOS Magazine Wordmark appeared first on Smitho.graphics℠ All Original Content © 1996 – 2025 Smitho.graphics | Logo & Icon Designer fOKOS Photography Magazine Banner Logo & Masthead Photography Magazine Logo & Masthead: Project for a limited print run bi-monthly photography magazine, called: fOKOS. A subtly styled lowercase ‘f‘ precedes the uppercase OKOS, just adding enough visual interest to keep it from being too ‘normal’. The right-side of the …

Day seven of the Madvent calendar countdown to 17th January release date: first track on side two of the vinyl album Sixties GuyAlso available as a download/CD on Tiny Global Listen here: https://helenmcc.bandcamp.com/track/sixties-guy

Well, that’s it, right? Digital photography won! The Phoblographer realizes that, as a publication, we don’t always have to be so serious. So, each weekend, we work to bring you a bit of fun in our Humor section. Inspired by some of the classic political cartoons of other publications, we’re tapping into some of the …

Today I'm sharing the last five scans from Silver Dollar City, near Branson, MO. Be sure to see the first part - I'd link to it, but as I am composing this second part, the first part has not published yet. Time is a flat circle, whatever that means. Below is another photo of the Flooded Mine attraction, which looks like something they put extra effort into. Notice the train …

A whimsical wonderland for kids has sprung to life in the heart of a stadium foyer, transforming it into a vibrant early education hub. Located in Shenzhen, the project is aptly entitled POLES in Shenzhen. This 16-meter-high (52 feet) atrium is a burst of color, featuring 436 playful, pencil-like poles that form five bright cylinders. Inside these towers are three levels packed with a range of activities: a theater, a …

Facebook and its sister companies have announced a strong relaxing of content moderation in the US (except for illegal activities). I have mixed feelings about it, but the feeling that wins out slightly is that I don’t like leaving it up to big tech companies to decide what we can talk about. David Heinemeier Hansson calls it a straight up victory. Read The social media censorship era is over (for …

This photograph by Duncan Rawlinson captures dramatic storm clouds sweeping over the St. Lawrence River in the Thousand Islands region. The dark, churning clouds form a striking contrast against the vibrant greenery of the tree-lined shore and the tranquil surface of the river. This evocative scene highlights the natural beauty and dynamic weather patterns of this iconic Canadian landscape. Duncan.co/storm-clouds-over-the-st-lawrence-river-in-the-thousand-islands Buy a print The post Storm Clouds Over the St. …

The 1921 Census of England and Wales is now available on Ancestry. Subscribers can search that Census directly from this page.You will soon be able to see 1921 Census hints show up under the category of "new collections" on the hints page. Above is a photo of my husband's Ancestry family tree hints page. So far, only 4 "new collections" hints have appeared but there's a reason.Remember, to stimulate the …

Several articles in medical journals have proposed the idea of using esophageal exercises to treat GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). But how exactly does one exercise the esophagus? Here's one way, as described in the article "A Simple Exercise to Strengthen the Lower Esophageal Sphincter and Eliminate Gastroesophageal Reflux: An Autobiographical Case Report" by Eric Karrfalt: Eventually, I devised the following regimen with the intent of providing the LES [lower esophageal …

If you’ve spent any time in conversations about autism online, you’ve probably come across debates about self-diagnosis. Let’s cut to the chase: self-diagnosed autistic people are valid — full stop. This post dives into why that is and why we need to stop gatekeeping autism. Barriers to formal diagnosis First, let’s talk about why formal diagnosis isn’t accessible to everyone. Getting a diagnosis can be expensive, especially in countries where …

“Review and Evaluation—Tulsa Race Massacre,” by the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, January 10, 2025. In 1921, white Tulsans murdered hundreds of residents of Greenwood, burned their homes and churches, looted their belongings, and locked the survivors in internment camps. Until this day, the Justice Department has not spoken publicly about this race massacre or officially accounted for the horrific events that transpired in Tulsa. This report breaks …

Saturday 11th January 2025 Welcome to a new blog series featuring towns and cities around Britain which, by a quirk of history, are blessed with having two railway stations on different lines serving completely different destinations. To kick things off I’ve been to Hertford and had a look at that town’s contrasting pair of stations: Hertford East and Hertford North. As you can see from the map, Hertford East is …