Jim Lawrence

Old bird painting, still think it turned out neat
#crow #raven #bird #birdskull #skeleton #art #digitalart

Coin used as Leeds bus fare was 2,000‑year‑old currency The coin was handed down to Peter Edwards from his grandfather in the 1950s.

This is the sort of thing a cashless society robs us of, the opportunity to try to get away with paying the bus fare in Carthaginian currency www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A black and white map showing a city plan for ancient Mycenae.

A black and white map showing downtown NY, with small drawings of city landmarks in small snowglobes around the outside of the map. Each drawing is labeled with a number, and the map has corresponding numbers to show where the landmarks are located.

A colored fantasy-style map of a land labeled "Examploria."

A black and white map of medieval Iberia, focused on the Christian kingdoms in the northern part of the peninsula.

I draw custom maps on commission. Maps for books, games, decoration, etc. Here are a couple of examples. There are more on my website, along with a contact form and info about cost, process, etc.

If you need a map, I'm happy to help!

surprisedeelmaps.com

An Edward Gorey drawing showing a morose looking black bird on a branch. He (and this feels very much like a he) is pointing downwards with one scraggly wing, and looking straight ahead with debt-filled eyes. His beak is long and sharp, like winter on the Great Plains. He is pointing with his right wing, but this means he is pointing to your left. Your wicked, sinister side. This is no accident. The Bird makes no such mistakes. But he is talking, and the text tells us that he is saying, "Beware of this and that." Honestly, you feel his message in your bones.

Some days I just feel like this Edward Gorey bird gets it.

Watching a classic film I've not seen every day in 2026.

58. The Lady Vanishes (Alfred Hitchcock 1938)

Takes 20 mins to get going. After that it's well constructed, if implausible.

It's about appeasement.

I'm not buying into the idea of early Hitchcock's greatness.

7/10

😂

Goodnight from Kit Ambler, finding the journey home from his Harrowhound PTSD support group even more difficult than usual. Goodnight from the abandoned armaments factory at Bishopbere, where the temporal shades of Canary Girls remain stained by TNT. Goodnight from Hookland.

The stocking tops and shoes are a nice touch btw.

Early stroll. The road wears a belt of lights. I’ll miss that red plastic square on the pavement when it’s no longer there. The Running Woman runs by. A man in a bright jacket waits at the bus stop. I pass through several micro time zones.

Watching a popular film I've not seen every day in 2026.

57. Weekend at Bernie's (Ted Kotcheff 1989)

Dark comedy about two corporate drones who get mixed up in their corrupt boss Bernie's mob hit. More laughs than I expected, some very good stunts.

7/10

Watching a famous film I've not seen every day in 2026.

56. Too Many Crooks (Mario Zampi 1959)

Daft comedy about a bungling gang of crims who cock up a kidnapping. Terry-Thomas is a terrific panto villain. Nice twist ending. More Carry On than Boulting Bros but good fun.

7/10

A quintet of young pearl oyster mushrooms grow like overlapping mollusks from the side of a moss speckled log. All photos by me

Here are some nice mushrooms

Watching a classic film I've not seen every day in 2026.

55. The Company of Wolves (Neil Jordan 1984)

Symbolist, feminist fantasy/horror about young female sexuality, sibling rivalry, the wolf as animus & shadow of the feminine psyche.
Based on AC's reworked folk tales.

10/10

" I believe there are many who forget all the tragedy women face in Afghanistan, that is why I use my paintings as a mean to remind the people"
- Shamsia Hassani
Afghan Artist #InternationalWomensDay

No War but the Class War: Iran and the Crisis of Empire

No War but the Class War: Iran and the Crisis of Empire

the price of oil surging means you can burn your shein clothes, extract the oil, and make more money than you paid

Watching a classic film I've not seen every day in 2026.

54. Black Narcissus (Powell & Pressburger 1947)

A largely boring story, stiff acting, 2 brownface actors, patronising colonialist tosh. It's beautifully shot but mostly fails as a tense psychological drama.

5/10

Watching a classic film I've not seen every day in 2026.

53. Breakfast at Tiffany's (Blake Edwards 1961)

If you don't fall in love with Holly Golightly you have no heart. Funny, poignant romcom featuring one of the best songs ever written.

Minus 0.5 for yellow face.

9.5/10

The idiot and impossible deliverance against autonomy

The idiot and impossible deliverance against autonomy

Stone Circle Replay Wednesday poem: "Rounds" by Josh Jacobs

stonecirclereview.com/rounds/

Flower watercolour drawing

Watercolour and ink drawing of alstroemerias
#flowerart #watercolour

My constituency came up on his tedious parliament feature. I didn't phone in.

Well hello!

Travel Advisory: Qatar March 3, 2026 - U.S. Embassy in Qatar

"You're on your own, babe" from the US government for citizens stuck in Qatar (and other places in the region):
"Americans who wish to depart should take advantage of commercial transportation options.
"Have a plan to depart in an emergency that does not depend on U.S. government help."

You could have a fake background of bookshelf plenitude.

Is there any way you can take time off? You evidently need it.

Hi!