The Jar with a Face in It

The Jar with a Face in It

On Homunculi, Algorithms, and the Small Souls We Make Jonathan Bennett follows a thread from alchemy to algorithmic avatars in a reflection on our age-old desire to imitate creation—and the uncanny reflections we’ve unleashed. 19th century engraving of Homunculus from...
Unique Places #2 – The Olive Tree and the Oracle

Unique Places #2 – The Olive Tree and the Oracle

The writer recently returned from Greece sunburnt, overfed, and spiritually re-aligned by the hum of ancient stones and overly affectionate cats. Photo by Nikolay on Unsplash I stood beneath an olive tree outside the ruins of Delphi, not far from where Pythia, the...
Northern Lights and Low Expectations

Northern Lights and Low Expectations

A humorous reflection on life’s lowered expectations, fine dining dreams gone cold, and existential musings from an Arctic kitchen. There comes a point in every man’s life when he realizes that all the years of carefully curated knowledge, refined tastes, and grand...
Rules and Unwritten Rules

Rules and Unwritten Rules

Indifference is not a response in unsettled times   Love, not indifference, protects. Here is a Downy woodpecker by Maria Corcacas. This morning, as the ‘dim temple of the Dawn1’ paled the sky, our red-headed male downy woodpecker announced his return with his...
The Joy of Welding #1 – Repairing a Shiva Nataraja

The Joy of Welding #1 – Repairing a Shiva Nataraja

Neolithic Man’s discovery, Rodin’s insight, and William of Occam’s wisdom   Imagine Mankind’s awe, when, for the first time, he watched a rock melt in a fire, and out ran a liquid. When it cooled, he saw it was different, and he called it metal....