Among the things I had sent for was a box of arrack, and I was now of course besieged with requests for a little drop. I gave them a flask (about two bottles, which was very soon finished, and I was assured that there were many present who had not had a taste. As I feared my box would very soon be emptied if I supplied all their demands, I told them I had...
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A few years ago I missed two gigs that I really wanted to see. One was Jack Rose playing solo (ex-Pelt) and the other was Jason Molina (of Songs:Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. fame). Jack Rose died just a few months later, and despite my careful monitoring of his touring schedule, Jason Molina never played in the UK again. Last week Jason Molina also died...
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When questions are especially interesting and difficult at the same time, as yours is, they tend to have several answers. We live because one day in early childhood we realise that we are alive and already have lots of reasons to go on living. These include the fact that there are many things about life that give us pleasure and happiness – even if...
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The Dyaks all declare that the Mias [Orangutan] is never attacked by any animal in the forest, with two rare exceptions; and the accounts I received of them are so curious that I give them nearly in the words of my informants, old Dyak chiefs, who had lived all their lives in the places where the animal is most abundant. The first of whom I enquired said,...
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I got a glimpse of two men in dusty robes, their faces hidden by bands of cloth, standing in the road, with rifles held upright, firing into the air. Two things happened then. First, and startlingly, the man crouched beside me – a soldier – lifted his rifle and began firing directly at the men, both of whom ducked behind boulders. Second, the...
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The RSA Animate series is one of the best series of introductions to modern thought leaders, be it in philosophy, economics, sociology, psychology and other fields. In 2009 Slavoj Zizek published First As Tragedy, Then As Farce, the title refers to a phrase attached to communism in the 20th century, and is used reflexively to apply to the current state of...
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