7 September 2023 Elitism Let’s have more. By John Watson You don’t have to immerse yourself in Clausewitz to understand the point. When the enemy is on the run you need to pursue them until they are utterly defeated; if instead you let up, they will reform, come back at a later date, and bite… Continue reading Elitism
Article Category: Comment
Listing vs Climate Change
7 September 2023 Listing vs Climate Change A historic burden. By Lynda Goetz The heading should of course be ‘Listing and Climate Change’, but for whatever reason the authorities seem determined to ensure that the two are in conflict. If you own a listed property you must not install double-glazed windows. If you own a… Continue reading Listing vs Climate Change
Not Them Again
7 September 2023 Not Them Again by J.R. Thomas Last time around there was a rather mean satirical joke which went basically: “Well, which do you want; the Old Crook or the Old Fool?”. Well folks, the joke is still running and increasingly it looks as though that will be the choice again. Only this… Continue reading Not Them Again
Over-Sweating
7 September 2023 Over-Sweating The air traffic control disaster. By Robert Kilconner Why were we not surprised? No, not at the fact that the air traffic control system went wrong – it is in the nature of high tech systems to do that from time to time – but at there being no plan B,… Continue reading Over-Sweating
Stalin Jnr and the New Puritans
7 September 2023 Stalin Jnr and the New Puritans Silencing Prokofiev and Shakespeare. By Neil Tidmarsh In the sixteenth century, the Puritans tried to close down the Elizabethan theatres and drive Shakespeare off the stage. But I was more than four hundred years too late to witness it, of course. In the twentieth century, Stalin… Continue reading Stalin Jnr and the New Puritans
Corbynista Rides Again
7 September 2023 Corbynista Rides Again Corruption and Stupidity by Don Urquhart 10 August 2023 Gary lives in Cheshunt close to Windmill Road which runs between the station and Cheshunt Pond. For some it is a splendid stretch for checking out Formula One skills. Gary has asked the police on several occasions over many months… Continue reading Corbynista Rides Again
Friends in high places
7 September 2023 Friends in high places By Paul Branch Old mates of Vlad Putin must be getting increasingly worried. A quick check of past behaviour towards the great man would be in order, not to say a run through of any recent conversations and whether anything untoward might have been said. Did I give… Continue reading Friends in high places
Sex, Obesity & Violence
3 August 2023 Sex, Obesity and Violence The struggle with the inner penguin. By John Watson It is the penguins that give it away. No, I’m not talking about some double agent penguins living off Scotland who feed information about our fleet movements to the Russians and whose coats are the colour of a tuxedo.… Continue reading Sex, Obesity & Violence
Swing High
3 August 2023 Swing High by J.R. Thomas Sometimes you have to laugh at the national press. There they were, all ready with articles about the imminent demise of Toryism, the certain ousting of Rishi, and the rise and rise of Starmer’s Labour, when on Friday 21st July the roof fell in. Well, maybe sagged… Continue reading Swing High
Farage, Facts & Free Speech
3 August 2023 Farage, Facts, and Free Speech Populist victim or freedom fighter? By Lynda Goetz ‘I don’t agree with Nigel Farage on most things, but…’ has been the opening sentence of a number of media pundits and high-profile personalities, before asserting that in spite of his apparently unfashionable or even ‘appalling’ views he should… Continue reading Farage, Facts & Free Speech
Big tech
3 August 2023 Big Tech Missing the target by John Comai Another week, and yet another butting of heads between US tech titans and European competition regulators. This time, it concerns Microsoft’s practice of bundling products for purchase (known as “tying” in antitrust lingo) and the subsequent objections raised by Salesforce-owned Slack. The drama has… Continue reading Big tech
Barbie, Maaate, No!
3 August 2023 Barbie, Maaate, No! Mainstream sexism kicks Ken where it hurts. By Neil Tidmarsh Barbie, maaate, no! Your film’s a toxic sexist rant against men! Greta Gerwig, maaate, no! The movie’s a mean-spirited slander on the male sex! Mattel, maaate, no! It might surprise us that the Barbie movie has become a critical… Continue reading Barbie, Maaate, No!
Corbynista Rides Again
3 August 2023 Corbynista Rides Again Corruption? We shall see. by Don Urquhart 7 July 2023 There is a place called Teesside Freeport. Last month the Guardian reported that Michael Gove was initiating an investigation into alleged corruption there. Because he is picking the members of the review panel some have questioned its neutrality. Andy… Continue reading Corbynista Rides Again