Grant Hutchison's Blog

Eleven Handy Words Meaning “Defeat Utterly”

English is remarkably well-endowed with words that imply utter defeat in a sporting contest. Here are eleven.

The World’s Shortest International Border

How a short stretch of water in the middle of the Zambezi River became a contender for the shortest international border in the world---and why a century passed before anyone knew which countries were involved.

Glen Clova: Braedownie to Loch Brandy

Cathelle Houses (NO 312763, 863m)Boustie Ley (NO 322759, 876m)Benty Roads (NO 330765, 842m)The Snub (NO 335757, 835m) 18 kilometres890m of ascent I’ve recently got into the habit of wandering along the plateau above Glen Clova—see my reports of traverses from Allan’s Hut to the Capel Mounth and my Brandy and Wharral circuit. This one partially … Continue reading Glen Clova: Braedownie to Loch Brandy →

Careen

A discussion of the word "careen", and its differing usage in American and British English---also "career" and "carom", for which it is sometimes used as a synonym

CCCP 2025: Ullapool

An illustrated series of walk reports from a trip to Ullapool.

Em Dash

If the em dash is an indicator of text generated by AI, then Shakespeare, Swift, Ruskin and Joyce were AIs. (Hint: they almost certainly weren't.)Here's the story of the em dash and its uses.

Galileo, Disappearing Rings, And The Seasons Of Saturn

In 2025, Saturn's rings have disappeared from view. But they'll come back. Galileo had the same problem in 1612. This is the story of why that keeps happening.

Easter Sunday

The Western and Orthodox Christian traditions usually celebrate the same festivals on different dates. But in 2025, their Easter dates align. Here's why.

Natural Earth Data In QGIS: Part 4

By way of tidying up a thread that was left dangling when I took my little blog sabbatical last year, this is the concluding installment of my development of a map of Alaska in QGIS. By the end of my last post on this topic, I’d added roads, railways and settlements to my map. To … Continue reading Natural Earth Data In QGIS: Part 4 →

Ardgour: Coire Dubh circuit

Here's one I prepared earlier. I walked this route last summer, during my little blogging hiatus, but it's one of several hill visits that are worth sharing here.In a well-ordered world, Sgurr na h-Eanchainne would be the highest point on this circuit. It's the lovely shapely cone that's visible from the Fort William waterfront, as you look down Loch Linnhe.