Douglas G. Pearce

“Macdonald spoke on April 27, 1885. He noted that the definition of ‘persons’ should be broadened to include women, this being a half century before the deed would finally be done by the famous Person’s case of 1929.

Alice’s True Adventure “There was never a March Hare, a Cheshire Cat, or a hookah-smoking caterpillar. The mushroom upon which the caterpillar sat, however, is real. The iconic Amanita muscaria,…

Only 16 per cent of watermelons now have seeds, down from 42 per cent in 2003. Alas, it is unlikely that the world record for spitting a watermelon seed will be broken.

Nearly 60 per cent of Americans 18 to 24 live with their parents – a higher proportion of adult children are living with their parents now than at any time since the 1930s.

A battery consisting of a slice of boiled potato between two electrodes can power a small light for 20 hours, after which a new potato slice is inserted.

Hot rocks, put it off, a passing thought, war flags and Holy typo! Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

In a move reminiscent of the infamous family-planning measures introduced in 1976, residents of Shanghai are only allowed one dog per household.

History traditionally has ranked alchemists with counterfeit artists, huckster quacks, snake oil salesmen, and witches. Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

“He that looketh on a plate of ham and eggs to lust after it hath already committed breakfast with it in his heart.”
C.S. Lewis

A review of recent studies suggests many amoebae have sex! Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

Meaningful Mouthful “‘Eating is an agricultural act,’ as Wendell Berry famously said.

Highland Security The fashion of wearing nothing beneath a kilt has been condemned by the Scottish Tartans Authority, which has called the practice “childish and unhygienic,” The Times of London…

Unfortunately, Bentley’s love of snow was not reciprocated: He died of pneumonia in 1931 after walking home in a blizzard.

Spotty Apples, Sleepy Bees and Mad Economists. Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

An American town in the Brazilian jungle, J. Paul Getty and Mark Twain. Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

Beer diets, beans diets, Icelandic banks (on a crash diet?), pets, paws and small farm producers. Miscellany from Douglas G. Pearce’s Countryside Digest.

Border Thaw “Climate change has led to the introduction of one of the world’s first ‘mobile borders,’ between Switzerland and Italy. The border was originally defined according to where the…

How One Man’s Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science.