Literary Yard

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Archaeology/History

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The plastic curse

By James Aitchison Once revered for its convenience, plastic is becoming a curse.  Certainly, it was a curse for its inventor.  He died a lonely eccentric, bitterly at war with his son.  His wealth then became a curse for his…

The humanities, wet and dry

By: James Aitchison Water: colourless, slippery, life-giving, eternal.  Deserts: dry, gritty, hostile, awesome.  Both the blue and desert humanities have diverse, textured relationships with humans.  Why are we so drawn to both? From vast, turbulent oceans to the local fountain…

The first Hollywood

By James Aitchison When Hollywood was simply a dusty backwater of fledgling studios and orchards, and Los Angeles an uncultured outpost, America’s film capital was New York City.  The great Broadway theatrical stars were simply a taxi ride away.  Even…