In 1972 the American meteorologist Edward Lorenz was to give a talk at the 139th meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. As Lorenz had failed to provide a title for his talk, one of the organisers of the meeting concocted this attention grabbing headline: Does the flap of a butterfly’s wings…Read more Mathematics
La Vita
This week I'm inviting you to listen to another song I've chosen for my funeral (which, I trust, is still a long way off but it makes sense to plan well ahead for that particular commemoration service). If you cast your mind back to November 2016 you may remember the Archipelago post in which Flight, an instrumental…Read more La Vita
Bested Bones
Crotchety Man is operating in low power mode today. He picked up a nasty infection earlier in the week and his biochemical batteries are now completely drained. So, while this husk of a man soothes his shattered spirit and rests his weary bones, he invites you to watch this bleak but fascinating video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3bSgz8EXaI Bested…Read more Bested Bones
Parnassius Apollo
Annie Lennox is a singer, right? She's also a songwriter, political activist and philanthropist, but to music fans it's her voice that stirs the emotions and captivates the heart. So an EP by Annie Lennox without her distinctive contralto singing, surely, has to be a disappointment. But she must have known she would be defying…Read more Parnassius Apollo
Nothing Arrived
"What would you like for your birthday, Poppy?", they asked. I knew immediately what I wanted. "A puppy like Jane's", I said, excitedly. Mummy smiled sadly at me and said that she didn't think that would be possible. But she turned to Daddy and he said we'd have to see. He had said that when…Read more Nothing Arrived
Sharig (and some)
What, you may ask, is 'Sharig'? And it's a perfectly good question. Not even the mighty Google can give a sensible answer to that. Unless it's a spelling mistake. ("Did you mean 'sharing', O seeker of truth?", it offers in reply. But there's no way to answer 'No'.) So don't look for deep meaning in…Read more Sharig (and some)
Diving Duck Blues
Today I'm playing the race card. Today your colour is the most important thing in the world to me. If you are black, white, red or yellow you are my enemy. 'Cos today I got the blues. You see, I picked the duck with the blue ribbon in the annual duck race and no yellow-bellied…Read more Diving Duck Blues
Hidden Orchestra – Live
Sometimes the Fates deal us a difficult hand. Just recently it has not been enough for Crotchety Man to paddle his own canoe; he has been asked to paddle other people's canoes as well. That, of course, is flattering but this naturally nervous gentleman was never cut out to lead the paddlers' flotilla. Do I…Read more Hidden Orchestra – Live
Beyond Illumination
Spotify was in a contemplative mood this week. My favourite streaming service served up track after track of melodious keyboards and laid-back beats. It was all very pleasant but Spring is a time of vitality and vigour and the Crotchety sinews were in longbow tension, as if waiting for Diana to release her hunting arrow.…Read more Beyond Illumination
End VII
Can the ends ever justify the means? Take lying, for example. Are little white lies sometimes the morally correct thing to do or is it always wrong to be untruthful? Should you tell a seriously injured woman that her new-born baby was killed in the car crash that put her broken body in a hospital…Read more End VII
Crotchety Man 