(courtesy BBC) SNAPSHOTAfter a life spent travelling the globe, the world’s most famous naturalist turns his attention closer to home to explore the wildlife of England’s iconic capital. Having lived in London for 75 years, Sir David has an intimate knowledge of the city’s natural history, and there’s no better Continue Reading
TV
Stream, stream my televisual dream: Top 25 TV-streaming shows of 2025
(via Shutterstock) It may amuse you to learn, and it certainly amuses many of my friends, that I maintain a very long list of TV shows possibilities, which I either tick off if I manage to see them, or cross of as reviews come in and they are deemed not Continue Reading
Merry Christmas in books and movies and on streaming platforms and in song … may all your pop culture festive dreams come true
(courtesy Pinterest (c) Disney) In honour of Winnie the Pooh’s first appearance in a story by A. A. Milne and the 75th anniversary of Peanuts first cartoon, this year’s Christmas greeting centres on these two groups of characters. I have loved both of them ever since I was a child Continue Reading
On 12th day of Christmas … I added another 10 new pop culture ornaments to my tree incl. Scooby-Doo, Peanuts’ Spike, Miffy + more
(via Shutterstock) Forget decking the halls … at least for right now! With Christmas almost upon us, adding more pop culture ornaments to my tree is the order of the day, and yes, while I buy far too many new ones every year – is there such a thing? I Continue Reading
On 9th day of Christmas … I watched Home for Christmas (Hjem til jul) S3
(courtesy Netflix) One of the most enduring of recent festive viewing traditions has been the Home for Christmas (Hjem til jul) series, now in its third season, which offers up gently soap operatic storytelling with an almost tangible sense of what we think Christmas should look and feel like. Unlike Continue Reading
Happy festive 75th anniversary Peanuts! Review of Charlie Brown’s Christmas Tales
(courtesy Amazon) SNAPSHOTThe special consists of a series of vignettes, each one starring a different member of the Peanuts gang in various Christmas time situations. (courtesy Peanuts wiki) You have to feel a little sorry for any of the Peanuts’ Christmas specials that followed in the wake of the classic A Charlie Continue Reading
On 1st day of Christmas … I decorated my tree with 10 new pop culture ornaments incl. Elio, Up, The Muppet Christmas Carol … and more!
(via Shutterstock) When I bought my first Christmas tree as an adult way back in 1992, I bought some pop culture ornaments but I mostly stuck to the sorts of ornaments and baubles I remembered from childhood. But as time went on, I increasingly bought more and more pop culture Continue Reading
More than a single snowflake … Thoughts on The First Snow of Fraggle Rock
(courtesy IMP Awards) SNAPSHOTThe Fraggles eagerly await the first snow of the season and all the traditions it brings, but when only a single snowflake arrives and Gobo can’t write the yearly holiday song everyone is expecting, the season is thrown off course. For the first time ever, Gobo journeys Continue Reading
It’s beginning to look a lot like the festive season … Christmas ads 2025 round-up
(via Shutterstock) I know there is a significant school of thought that rails against the materialism and rampant consumerism of Christmas. And yes, while I can see it, and it’s valid point as far as it goes, it leaves aside the fact that much of that drives this need to Continue Reading
Why ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ almost didn’t air − and why it endures (curated article)
(courtesy IMDb) In 2024, the beloved special is streaming on Apple TV+. Stephen Lind, University of Southern California It’s hard to imagine a holiday season without “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” The 1965 broadcast has become a staple – etched into traditions across generations like decorating the tree or sipping hot Continue Reading