Wordpress

I now have a (more technical) blog at samdutton.wordpress.com.

Imaginary animals

One of the most likeable genres of art and illustration: pictures of animals by people who have never seen them.

The three lithographs below are from illustrations by Charles Alexander Lesueur, naturalist and artist on Baudin's expedition to Australia in 1801.

Lesueur collected thousands of specimens and no doubt saw plenty of Australian animals in the flesh -- but evidently the maker of these prints had something else in mind.

The kangaroo is magnificent and the wombats are cute, but neither is quite like the real thing. I don't think the long-tailed rabbit-mouse exists at all.

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tfl.gov.uk: great site, shame about the double negatives

Emotive subjects

1. Dogs
2. Cars

Big stories today

1. Hebrides hedgehog cull postponed.
2. Ronnie Biggs to marry.
3. Rod Steiger dies.

Hi

In emails in English 'Hi' is now the greeting of choice.

How come? What is the equivalent in Italian or Urdu?

My name is Sam Dutton.

I work as a computer developer at ITN in London.

I used to work as a typesetter, and before that I was a temp.

Before that I lived in Australia.

Before that I was a Victorian chamber maid.

Reasons to write a blog

Good

1. It's not for profit.
   
2. It's better than working.
   

Bad

1. I want people to read what I write.

Good beats bad, so that's OK.