Cover Page, 3 August 2023, Issue 358 Welcome to our August issue. This month we consider: humans are animals too, but hopefully better-behaved than penguins; Nigel Farage and Coutts: turnout numbers are the key to understanding the recent bye-election results; big tech, big data and regulation; mainstream sexism; Corbynista rides again; could hegemony save the… Continue reading Issue 358: 2023 08 03: Cover page
Issue: 358: Natural Disasters
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
Water, water everywhere
3 August 2023 Water, water everywhere By Paul Branch In the news again for various reasons is water. Life’s great supporter along with oxygen. Nature’s gift to lush British gardens. A treat for foreigners visiting our damp shores as they try to escape the worst excesses of global warming. We are truly blessed to have… Continue reading Water, water everywhere
China
3 August 2023 China Could you rule it? By Robert Kilconner Imagine, for the moment, that you ruled China. No, not the Victorian China of the emperors, but the modern China we read about in our daily newspapers. Of course, if you happen to be President Xi reading this you will not have to do… Continue reading China
Crossword
3 August 2023 Crossword Number 358 By Boffles Click for this month’s online crossword Click for a printable version of this month’s crossword Click for solution to crossword 357 Boffles 2 now available from Amazon at £6.99.Just the thing for summer afternoons. Share this using… Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Whatsapp
Cartoons
3 August 2023 Cartoons By AGGro Share this using… Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Whatsapp
