All Articles
The Incredible Typewriter
The typewriter today is falling into disuse but not so long ago this incredible machine was the mainstay of business. It legacy is with us today in modern computers.
Magna Carta – The Beginning of our Modern Law System
A big deal is made out of Magna Carta. But could a document that is over 800 years old really be that influential in our modern society ?. In this article we take a very brief look at what it is and why it IS actually a big deal.
Guernsey and the English Civil War
A brief look at what happend in Guernsey during this pivotal moment in British History
You’ve got (Extraordinary) Mail – Posting yourself to Freedom
We’ve all heard stories of refugees stowing away to get to freedom but here is a truly inspirational story published over 150 years ago in the London Times : A fugitive slave who sent himself to freedom in the post !
Lost in Translation II – Misadventures in English
English is the global language of communication which means that when it collides with local languages it can have hilarious results. Here we’ve gathered together the results of some of the planets finest misadventures in English.
The Day the Universe Changed – Copernicus and a New World View
Up until the mid 16th century the predominant view was that the Sun revolved around the Earth. It wasn’t until Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) and later Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) came along that a heliocentric model of the Solar System was able to triumph. In this article we look at the seminal moment our understanding of the Universe changed!
Wordsmith – Bizarre English Words
Improve and test your wordpower against some of the rather more bizarre words that have found their way into the English language.
Are you the same person you were 10 years ago ?
Are you the same person you were 10 years ago ? … a not unreasonable question when you consider that the cells in your body are constantly being replaced and regenerated. For example during a typical lifetime, humans get through around 900 skins and about half a dozen skeletons.
Guernsey Patois – A Language Apart
Guernsey Patois is a very ancient tongue indeed. A descecdant of old Norman French and developed in splendid isolation within the island it has become a true ‘language apart’.
Where Did Some of the World’s Currency Symbols Come From, Like the $ and £ ?
The key currency symbols of the World’s biggest currencies are instantly recognizable. In the this article we look at the etymology of some of these symbols.
What is the Memory Capacity of the Human Brain ?
The human brain is a truly remarkable organ, so too is the human memory. As humans we posses a marvel of nature. An organic system capable of storing and recalling facts, figures and past events with ease and in split seconds. So, What could the memory capacity of the human brain be?
Stamppot – Yummy, Stodgy, Dutch Winter Fayre
It’s true that Dutch cuisine doesn’t rank highly in the list of popular or well-known international fare. But they have produced some surprisingly good old stodgy winter fayre. In this article we look at “class” of dishes simply called Stamppot (literally ‘Mash Pot’).
Why is there something rather than nothing?
Why is there something rather than nothing ? Or to put it another way why do we and for that matter the Universe exist ? These kinds of questions along with their proposed answers form a ‘set’ of philosophical conundrums known as The Cosmological arguments. The Cosmological Arguement Question : Why is there something rather than nothing? Answer : God Such are the beginning and end of the cosmological argument, and there...
“Punctuation Marks Save Lives” – When Was Punctuation First Used in Language?
Punctuation really does add more meaning to the written word than we often give these little characters credit for. But when was punctuation first used in any language ?
Castel Cornet’s most famous prisoner – General Lambert
Choosing sides in the English Civil War was never easy. Guernsey sided with Parliament whilst Guernsey’s Governor, Sir Peter Osbourne, chose the King. He fled to Castle Cornet and thus began a 9 year siege between Castle and island. Even after the war was over and the Monarchy restored Castle Cornet’s part in this great upheaval was not over as we see in this article.
