Author Archives: odeboyz

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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Komodo Dragon

Posted on July 2, 2020 by odeboyz

If you want to know more about them see Komodo dragon https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_dragon  

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Using Torture properly (?) a lesson for the USA

Posted on July 2, 2020 by odeboyz

Empirical evidence on contemporary torture is sparse. The archives of the Spanish Inquisition* provide a detailed historical source of quantitative and qualitative information about interrogational torture. The inquisition tortured brutally and systematically, willing to torment all who it deemed as … Continue reading →

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The Mozart Problem: Educating Exceptional Children

Posted on July 2, 2020 by odeboyz

He was playing the harpsichord and the violin at the age of five, and writing little pieces of music.* Introduction Mozart’s father was a musician and realised Wolfgang was exceptional. Leopold home schooled his son, constantly expanding his musical frontiers. … Continue reading →

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Solving a Marital Problem

Posted on June 29, 2020 by odeboyz

A woman went into a pharmacy and looking straight into the pharmacist’s eyes said, “I’d like to buy some cyanide.” “Why do you need cyanide?” “I going to poison my husband.” The pharmacist exclaimed, “I can’t sell you cyanide to commit … Continue reading →

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Book Review: E M Delafield ~ The Diary of a Provincial Lady (1930)

Posted on June 29, 2020 by odeboyz

Through the magic of Amazon’s pricing policy this costs 99p on Kindle. On the other hand if you wish to buy all five of the ‘Provincial Lady’ series you pay only 49p! Obviously it’s your decision but I risked 49p … Continue reading →

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A very brisk Mother Superior in a French convent

Posted on June 25, 2020 by odeboyz

[Her] account includes being told by the [Mother] Superior that if a doctor advised a surgical operation, “your Superiors will decide whether your life is of sufficient value to the community to justify the expense. If it is not, you … Continue reading →

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Havering’s ‘Streets in the Sky’

Posted on June 25, 2020 by odeboyz

Tower Block Residents High rise tenants and leaseholders pay for communal lighting as a separate charge. This additional to Council tax. Apart from Tower Block Residents Council tax covers street lighting, which is part of the service embedded within the … Continue reading →

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An old blue song book

Posted on June 22, 2020 by odeboyz

In a pile of old papers Just tossed aside Not even considered Bereft now, of any pride. Bought, after the war Cut price at threepence Words to one-hundred songs Lost to its world of credence. Some remembered song of yesterday … Continue reading →

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Lock Down Blues

Posted on June 22, 2020 by odeboyz
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