Monthly Archives: July 2020

On a Summer day

Posted on July 20, 2020 by odeboyz

Almost forgotten pleasures of feeling Sand squelching, between my toes The sound of sea rolling, to its Ebb and flow, of ceaseless time. That one moment, to remember A holiday of happiness, with family Bright sunshine, the beach hut On … Continue reading →

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A Labrador applies for a job at the FBI

Posted on July 16, 2020 by odeboyz

A Labrador responded to an FBI advert. “Well,” said the personnel director, “you’ll have to meet some strict requirements. First, you must type at least 60 words per minute.” “No problem.” “Also, you must pass a physical and complete the … Continue reading →

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The Importance of the Incheon Landings: Korea 15th September- 15th October, 1950

Posted on July 16, 2020 by odeboyz

“I predict,” said general of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley, “that large scale amphibious operations will never occur again.”* Background Amphibious landings were critical in the Second World War. In the Pacific war, they were the strategically brilliant ‘Leapfrogging’ technique … Continue reading →

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Alfred Hitchcock phones Georges Simenon*

Posted on July 13, 2020 by odeboyz

John Lanchester’s observation about Simenon’s amazing work rate reminds me of Deirdre Bair’s story of Hitchcock telephoning Simenon at his home in Switzerland, only to be told by his secretary that the writer couldn’t be disturbed because he had just … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Michael Dobbs ~ Goodfellowe MP (1998)

Posted on July 13, 2020 by odeboyz

If you like politics nasty, sinister, corrupt and Machiavellian then a Michael Dobbs novel is just for you. He learned his trade as an advisor to Margaret Thatcher before realising that that cesspit could be monetised. From that insight was … Continue reading →

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My Enemy

Posted on July 13, 2020 by odeboyz

I tried to love my enemy I invited him into my house Offered a glass of chilled juice Talked about holidays and family (But I didn’t bore him with photos) Encouraged him to chat about himself I’d hoped that it … Continue reading →

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Karl Marx studied in this room

Posted on July 9, 2020 by odeboyz
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The man with spare false teeth

Posted on July 9, 2020 by odeboyz

A dinner speaker was in such a hurry to get to his speaking engagement he realized that he’d forgotten his false teeth. In a panic he said to the man next to him, “I forgot my teeth.” Amazingly his fellow … Continue reading →

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Why the west is stagnant

Posted on July 6, 2020 by odeboyz

Thomas Piketty, the French economist, calculates that more than half of total wealth in Germany today is inherited — an estimate confirmed by German economists. In the 1960s and 1970s, the share was just a little over 20 per cent. … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Tim Harford ~ Messy: How to be creative and resilient in a tidy-minded world (2016)

Posted on July 6, 2020 by odeboyz

Britain had a TV show whose catch phrase was, ‘The computer says no’ and it reflected a stifled uncreative world. It satirises the mechanistic attempt at deleting risk from everyday life looking for monochrome ‘perfection’. A hideous uncreative world doomed … Continue reading →

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