Author Archives: odeboyz

P G Wodehouse: Jill the Reckless

Posted on November 10, 2017 by odeboyz

“She had never yet been frightened of any man, but there was something reptilian about this fat, yellow- headed individual which, disgusted her, much as cockroaches had done in her childhood.” Chris

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David Cameron, the Franchise and Human Rights

Posted on November 10, 2017 by odeboyz

“…the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the current ban on all serving prisoners from voting, as defined in the 1983 Act, contravenes Article 3 of Protocol No 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which provides that … Continue reading →

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Hollywood films in China

Posted on November 7, 2017 by odeboyz

Hollywood executives can rattle off the rules for getting a movie approved by Chinese censors: no sex (too unseemly); no ghosts (too spiritual). Among 10 prohibited plot elements are “disrupts the social order” and “jeopardizes social morality.” Time travel is … Continue reading →

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Film Review ~ The Graduate (Anne Bancroft and Dustin Hoffman)

Posted on November 7, 2017 by odeboyz

The Graduate was re-released in Summer 2017, which is a tremendous accolade. But was that an act of homage or is it a great film? Anne Bancroft as Mrs Robinson is wonderful. From the very first scene when Benjamin (Hoffman) … Continue reading →

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North Korea: a wordless poem

Posted on November 3, 2017 by odeboyz

Chris

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The White Horse aka The Pig and Butcher

Posted on November 3, 2017 by odeboyz

The White Horse was on the corner of Theberton Street and Liverpool Road. As a sixteen year old it was illegal for me to drink alcohol. My older brother aged twenty-one used to sneak me in the pub on a … Continue reading →

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The Stone set

Posted on October 31, 2017 by odeboyz

Eventually, my name on a cold grave stone Tells that I once walked this way Please, don’t call me back to say goodbye I’m silently, happy to be alone. Regrets, I seldom have, now old The journey was, as if, … Continue reading →

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Book Review: John le Carre ~ A Legacy of Spies

Posted on October 31, 2017 by odeboyz

With unhappy memories of dinosaur rock bands trading on their illustrious past, I wondered if this was a literary version. ‘Is it possible that Smiley et al can be successfully mined?’ was a nagging thought before I opened the book. … Continue reading →

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Why Can’t Babies Vote? Insights from the Sorites Paradox

Posted on October 27, 2017 by odeboyz

The 1918 Representation of the People Act swept away gender and property as qualifications for the franchise, leaving age as the sole criterion. Although there’s been tinkering with the actual age at which British citizens can vote, the principle remains … Continue reading →

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Casting problems for the school play

Posted on October 27, 2017 by odeboyz

A Jewish boy comes home from school and tells his mother he has a part in the play. She asks, “What part is it?” The boy says, “I play the part of the Jewish husband.” The mother scowls and says, … Continue reading →

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