Archive for the tag "Elizabeth Pisani"

Of COVID and condoms (08/04/20)

OK, it’s been ten thousand years since I’ve posted on The Wisdom site; I apologise for the long silence, which is explained by my being AWOL doing other things. For a while, I went totally off topic, spent a year on tramp steamers, and wrote a book about Indonesia. For the last four or five […]

Elizabeth Pisani’s next project – “Indonesia Etc. – Exploring the Improbable Nation” (16/01/14)

                                        In late 2011, epidemiologist, writer and adventurer Elizabeth Pisani granted herself a sabbatical from the day job and set off to rediscover Indonesia, a country she has wandered, loved and been baffled by for decades. […]

Indonesia: a miracle despite itself (19/06/12)

I’m nearing the end of the first (nine-month long) leg of my Indonesian Odyssey and I don’t feel much closer to understanding the heart of this torturously complicated but endlessly fascinating nation. I’ve done my best to try and sum up some of my thoughts in the June issue of Prospect, one of UK’s more […]

Spanish wisdom, from hookers (and me) (27/03/12)

Spain. With the possible exception of the one I’m trailing around now, it’s my favourite country on earth. For many reasons, including a sense of social solidarity and the fantastic pragmatism of Spanish women. Madrid’s sex workers have been displaying both, refusing to sell sex to bankers until those blood-suckers start lending money to the […]

Silliness in the snow (with my trans father?) (29/12/10)

Seasonal silliness from my family. I’d like to claim to be the stylish one on the ski-bob, that odd bike thing with skis where the wheels should be, but I’m afraid that accolade goes to my father. He’s on the bike in the final video clip (I precede him on the sled). But for the […]

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