Author Archives: odeboyz

A veterinarian goes to see a doctor

Posted on May 23, 2019 by odeboyz

The doctor began his consultation by asking the veterinarian about the pain and its intensity. The veterinarian sarcastically replied: “When I treat animals I can’t ask questions. I have to use my skill and judgement.” The doctor said, “OK.” After … Continue reading →

Posted in Health, Humour | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The limits of personal responsibility: Auschwitz and Hiroshima

Posted on May 23, 2019 by odeboyz

Although subordinates in the military are expected to obey orders, they remain beneath the law. Obeying orders is a personal responsibility, which entails deciding whether they’re lawful or not. Unlawful orders should be challenged or disobeyed. Many Nazis were executed … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Philosophy, War | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

George Burns* on know-it-all people

Posted on May 20, 2019 by odeboyz

“Too bad that all the people who know how to run the country are busy driving taxicabs and cutting hair.” A long forgotten American comedian

Posted in Humour, Politics, quips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Attica Locke~ Bluebird, Bluebird (2017)

Posted on May 20, 2019 by odeboyz

The shocking thing about this book is that it’s a twenty-first century novel published exactly fifty years after ‘In The Heat Of The Night’ was released. The film and Attica Locke’s novel are set in the Deep South. In east … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Review | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Abraham Lincoln’s attitude towards Black-Americans in 1858

Posted on May 18, 2019 by odeboyz

While I was at the hotel to-day an elderly gentleman called upon me to know whether I was really in favor of producing a perfect equality between the negroes and white people. [Great laughter.] While I had not proposed to … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Prison | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The meaning of prejudice

Posted on May 16, 2019 by odeboyz

“Faced with the choice between changing one’s mind and proving there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof.” J K Galbraith, economist and all round genius Chris

Posted in education, Humour, Philosophy | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

He knew what he meant

Posted on May 16, 2019 by odeboyz

A doctor asks a pharmacist to prepare some tablets of acetylsalicylic acid. “Do you mean aspirin?” asks the pharmacist. The doctor slaps his forehead. “That’s it!” he says. “I can never 
remember the name.” Chris

Posted in Health, Humour | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Working on council estates

Posted on May 15, 2019 by odeboyz

I worked for fifty years in Hackney and Havering on Council estates as a plumber. Like everybody else Council tenants are of all kinds of people: loud, selfish, helpful, timid, stupid and clever and I nearly forgot the rich and … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Finance, Health, Politics, tenants rights | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Eat your heart out lottery winners: this is winning

Posted on May 13, 2019 by odeboyz

“Over the past 54 years, shares in his [Warren Buffet’s] company, Berkshire Hathaway, have outpaced the S&P 500—a broad index of American stocks—by almost 2.5 million percentage points. The degree to which Buffett has outwitted successive generations of Wall Street … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Nigel Slater ~ Toast: the story of a boy’s hunger (2003)

Posted on May 13, 2019 by odeboyz

Slater’s autobiography is unique. He doesn’t pamper readers with a chronology. Hints are offered. Hit records are mentioned. Primary school becomes secondary; a catering college; various jobs culminate in the Savoy Hotel. His sexuality develops. A randy gardener, a girl … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Review | Tagged , | Leave a comment