Monthly Archives: November 2018

The wisdom of mountaineers

“The next time you curse the fact that it’s Monday, just think of it as proof that you made it through another weekend without killing yourself by doing something stupid.” Chris

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The bombing of Laos: Obama and an American War Crime

The Ho Chi Minh Trail America became a full partner in the Vietnamese civil war in 1963 and north Vietnam took the strategic decision to supply the south through Laos. The CIA, without congressional approval, unilaterally decided to bomb this … Continue reading

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An inquisitive five year old

Russell: How old are you grandad? Grandad: I’m 83 years old. Russell: (After a long pause) Did you start at one? Chris

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Book Review: David Eagleman ~ The Brain: the story of you

I bought this as a make weight on the infamous ‘Buy one get one half price’ desk in Waterstones book shop. Unwanted, unloved and abandoned it was on my shelf for quite a few months before I picked it up … Continue reading

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The Nags Head, Covent Garden

In early November 2018 my wife’s uncle came over from Canada. He’d emigrated 54 years ago and obviously was very much ‘Canadian’. He wanted a family day out with Jan, my wife, me and Jan’s sister and her husband. He … Continue reading

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I’d never considered this downside

  Richard M

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Italian peasants in the 1920s

Iris Origo and her husband bought an estate in Val d’Orcia, which was 3500 of parched eroded acres with 25 poverty-stricken farms: In a dark airless little room they found an old man dying and a woman giving birth in … Continue reading

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Donald Trump asks for advice from Abraham Lincoln

Trump: How can I make Democrats love me? Lincoln: Go to the theatre. Chris

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The Nasty Party

The Tories don’t care Pile on the misery, some more Universal credit, payment delays Well that’s just – how it is. They can force you into work Doesn’t matter if its zero hours Doesn’t matter if it’s at the minimum … Continue reading

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Overland by Stagecoach: Wyoming, circa 1900

  Nine people squeezed inside the stagecoach. Any additional passengers sometimes travelled on the roof. Passengers remained sandwiched together for about 22 days, with only brief stops for meals and changes of stock or equipment.

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