julianworker

[julianworker]

Isle of Lewis - Dun Carloway Broch - 2

Today Dun Carloway is approached from the car park past the Doune Broch Centre, built largely underground, and containing an exhibition giving a sense of what life in the broch might well have been like. This is run by Urras nan Tursachan, The Standing Stones Trust (as is the nearby Calanais Visitor Centre), and the broch itself is in the care of Historic Environment Scotland.. A path leads up…

[julianworker]

Dragon Lawyer 2 - Part 3

“But as a spirit, she couldn’t have pushed him, as she has nothing to push with, does she?” Wendy smiled and sipped her lovely, frothy drink, licking off the foam from her upper lip. She creased her brow trying to think of a way a ghost could harm a large egg sitting on a wall in a way that the egg in question would remember. If Humpty had been scared by a spirit, surely he would have said…

[julianworker]

Isle of Lewis - Dun Carloway Broch - 1

Dun Carloway, or Dun Charlabhaigh, is a remarkably well preserved broch in a stunning location overlooking Loch Roag on the west coast of Lewis. Dun Carloway was probably built some time in the last century BC. It would have served as an occasionally defensible residence for an extended family complete with accommodation for animals at ground floor level. It would also have served as a visible…

[julianworker]

Dragon Lawyer 2 - Part 2

“That’s it? Well that narrows it down, doesn’t it? Rumpel denies it was him, the Little Mermaid is no longer with us. That just leaves The Tin Soldier.” “A rather mechanical entity who doesn’t move very quickly and would surely have been visible to a sharp-eyed cat.” Barbara couldn’t believe the Tin Soldier was capable of hurting anyone as he had a lovely nature.  “Indeed,” said Wendy, “indeed,…

[julianworker]

Book Review - The Little Black Book of Artificial Intelligence

This is one of a series of books published by Byline Books. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be a force for huge good in the world, but as this book suggests it can appear quite scary at times. It’s not so much how powerful AI can become, it’s how powerful AI already is, and there’s few regulations regarding its use on the statute books. Capitalists will not want to self-regulate as they want to…

[julianworker]

The Book - Travels through History: The Peloponnese on sale.

The travelogue ‘Travels through History’ for The Peloponnese in Greece is available here Discover the Wonders of the Peloponnese: A Journey Through Myth and History The Peloponnese, a captivating peninsula in southern Greece, is connected to mainland Greece by the Isthmus of Corinth, a narrow land bridge that separates the Gulf of Corinth from the Saronic Gulf. Rich in history and mythology,…

[julianworker]

The Conservative Nature of AI: Implications for Politics

The Byline Times is a wonderful news magazine and has informative articles that improve your understanding of their subject. One such article this month was about the use of Artificial Intelligence in Politics. Some items to consider: Is AI a tool for socio-economic and legal conservatism because its training data is in the past? If AI predicts that a political policy will face resistance…

[julianworker]

New Book

I’m looking forward to reading the book Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams  It’s available at The Guardian bookshop. I doubt we’ll see it advertised on Facebook.

[julianworker]

Dragon Lawyer 2 - Part 1

The cafe called The Wonky Donkey had been Wendy’s favourite since the time she’d met Little Ida’s mother and brother in there to discuss Ida’s sad demise. She had never felt their conversation was being overheard and that the humans, goblins, trolls, dwarfs, and witches were minding their own business. Wendy had a sense that Barbara Rapunzel liked the place too and so wasn’t too surprised when…

[julianworker]

New Book - Travels through History: Armenia and Georgia

The latest travelogue in the ‘Travels through History’ series for Armenia and Georgia is available here. Nestled between Turkey to the west and Russia to the east, Armenia and Georgia are two captivating countries in the Caucasus region, each offering a unique blend of history, culture, and stunning landscapes. Armenia , the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion in 301 AD, is…

[julianworker]

Travels through History : Portugal

I’ve published a new book about Portugal in the Travels Through History series. Discover the Beauty and Diversity of Portugal From the vibrant city of Porto in the north to the serene charm of Tavira in the Algarve, this comprehensive guide takes you on an unforgettable journey through Portugal, including the enchanting islands of Madeira and Porto Santo. In Lisbon, a city of contrasts,…

[julianworker]

Book Review - A Brief History of Neoliberalism

The dominant political system of the last forty five years, this book outlines the origins of neoliberalism and traces its unstoppable proliferation around the world. The book also exposes the effects of neoliberalism on the majority of working people around the world.

[julianworker]

Callanish on the Isle of Lewis

After I visit places such as Callanish I am always bewildered, as I am sure that I can’t satisfactorily answer any of the obvious questions – why was it built, how was it built, who built it, what was the reason for building it here rather than on any other hillock in the area? Even the question as to when the site was constructed is open to discussion. Callanish comprises a number of different…

[julianworker]

Tbilisi

Tbilisi is the capital of Georgia, known as Tiflis in Russian. Tbilisi has a lively dining, nightlife, and social scene, a far cry from the days of the Soviet era. The capital’s beauty lies in the melting pot of architectural styles spanning from Persian to mediaeval. Brutal constructivist buildings sit next to shiny skyscrapers and western-inspired neighbourhoods. Tbilisi is both an ancient and…

[julianworker]

Book Review - The Ghost Road by Pat Barker

This novel is set in the last few months of World War I and you can imagine that some of the imagery is harrowing. William Rivers is the main character in the novel. He was a real person – an English anthropologist, neurologist, ethnologist and psychiatrist known for treatment of First World War officers suffering shell shock, so they could be returned to combat. This returning to combat gives…

[julianworker]

Travels through History : Lincoln and Loughborough

Discover Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, and Loughborough in this book Lincoln is renowned for its impressive cathedral and iconic castle, home to original copies of the Magna Carta and The Charter of the Forest, powerful symbols of freedom and justice. Loughborough preserves industrial heritage with: Britain’s last remaining Bellfoundry, The Carillon Tower, a unique musical war…

[julianworker]

Travels through History : Leicester and Lichfield

Discover Leicester, Lichfield, Lincoln, and Loughborough in this book Leicester made headlines for the extraordinary discovery of King Richard III’s remains, unearthed beneath a car park exactly where archaeologists predicted—a triumph of history and research. Lichfield celebrates Dr. Samuel Johnson, the creator of the first English dictionary. His birthplace is now a museum, and the city’s…