08 February 2018 Convictions For Rape Levelling the playing field. By John Watson Clang, the sound of an iron door closing. Clang, another rapist goes down for ten years. Did he do it? Well, maybe or maybe not. We can’t really be sure, because the defence may not have had access to all the evidence.… Continue reading Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Convictions For Rape
Article Category: Comment
Issue 140: 2018 02 08: The Maldives Coup
08 February 2018 The Maldives Coup Yours, sir. No, yours… By Neil Tidmarsh The last seven days have seen some stiff competition for the Irony of the Week award. There was the duck-hunter in Maryland who found that the tables were turned when a 6kg duck decked him, sending him to hospital with concussion and… Continue reading Issue 140: 2018 02 08: The Maldives Coup
Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Reality Check
8 February 2018 Reality Check Bear market or buying opportunity? by Frank O’Nomics No one likes a clever dick. Don’t worry – this is not one of those “I told you so” kind of articles, where a smug Cassandra finally has their day in the sun, when a market does what they said it… Continue reading Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Reality Check
Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Healthy Cynicism
o8 February 2018 Healthy Cynicism Springing leaks by J.R. Thomas Donald has really gone and done it now. Russian influence in your electoral campaign? Who cares… Misbehaviour with ladies at the golf club? Yes, indeed, but so what? Unfunded tax cuts? Hey, it worked OK for Ronnie, didn’t it? (Didn’t it?) But insult the British… Continue reading Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Healthy Cynicism
Issue 139:2018 02 01:French Health Care
01 February 2018 “You Value What You Pay For.” The NHS – what can the Brits learn from the French? By Richard Pooley “Nous prendrons notre retraite à la fin de l’année,” Dr Risso told my wife and me with evident glee in October. “Nous” because his wife was my wife’s doctor. Not that my… Continue reading Issue 139:2018 02 01:French Health Care
Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Diary of a Corbynista
08 February 2018 Diary of a Corbynista Eagerly anticipating the sweetness and light of Brexit Clarity by Don Urquhart 1 February Today it is reported that an Iranian-American married couple, Karan Vafadari and Afarin Neyssar have been sentenced to 27 and 16 years respectively for hosting parties attended by foreign diplomats and Iranian associates during which… Continue reading Issue 140: 2018 02 08: Diary of a Corbynista
Issue 139:2018 02 01:Politics and Comedy
01 February 2018 Politics and Comedy Don’t mix. By Neil Tidmarsh Jimmy Morales was a famous comedian and comic actor before he was elected president of Guatemala two years ago. His campaign slogan was ‘neither corrupt nor a crook’, and he promised to fight corruption if he was victorious. So sardonic laughter echoed around his… Continue reading Issue 139:2018 02 01:Politics and Comedy
Issue 139:2018 02 01:The Tories’ Choice
01 February 2018 The Conservatives’ Choice Be radical! By John Watson Richard Flanagan’s Booker Prize winner The Narrow Road to the Deep North not only gives a horrifying picture of the Burma railway, but also takes a very humane look at why those involved on all sides did what they did. In one particularly affecting… Continue reading Issue 139:2018 02 01:The Tories’ Choice
Issue 139:2018 02 01:Diary of a Corbynista
01 February 2018 Diary of a Corbynista Davos and other fantasies by Don Urquhart 25 January Last night I watched the Arsenal beat Chelsea. We’re going to Wembley we chanted. It was shorthand for saying we are in the Carabao Cup Final. The World Economic Forum is currently taking place in Davos, but we… Continue reading Issue 139:2018 02 01:Diary of a Corbynista
Issue 139:2018 02 01:Any colour you like
01 February 2018 Any Colour You Like Mr Musk’s bet by J.R. Thomas Well, any colour you like, so long as it’s black. So Henry Ford is rumoured to have said about his mass produced cars. Henry was a man of quotable sayings; another that might appeal is “I’ve been rich and I’ve been poor. … Continue reading Issue 139:2018 02 01:Any colour you like
Issue 138: 2018 01 25: The North Korean Nukes
25 January 2018 The North Korean Nukes Too early to relax. By John Watson Phew! And I mean phew! North Korea is sending athletes to the winter Olympics. Well, that’s a relief. Maybe there is still a row or two to go about whether they can sing political songs, maybe the propaganda war with the… Continue reading Issue 138: 2018 01 25: The North Korean Nukes
Issue 138: 2018 01 25: Bridge Madness
25 January 2018 Bridge Madness It’s catching. By Neil Tidmarsh Any more suggestions, anyone? How about a bridge to the stars? Or a bridge between the Present and the Past, perhaps? Or a bridge from the Realm of the Mortals to the Realm of the Gods? Right then, come on, let’s get cracking. Would our… Continue reading Issue 138: 2018 01 25: Bridge Madness
Issue 138: 2018 01 25: Diary of a Corbynista
25 January 2018 Diary of a Corbynista PFI, Outsourcing, Boris and Fake News by Don Urquhart 18 January The National Audit Office (NAO) reports that financing projects such as schools and hospitals privately costs taxpayers billions of pounds more than public sector alternatives. At the height of Gordon Brown’s creative accounting, I worked for a… Continue reading Issue 138: 2018 01 25: Diary of a Corbynista
