Author Archives: odeboyz

Gradgrind and the problem of legless horses

Posted on November 4, 2016 by odeboyz

Gradgrind came to epitomise Victorian school teachers. Victorian school teachers were sharply focused on facts. Facts appeared to offer certainty and, even better, they could be tested. A pupil repeating the facts that they’d learned was a good pupil. There’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature, Philosophy, School | Tagged , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Why Donald Trump is popular: he spends his own money!

Posted on November 1, 2016 by odeboyz

Former Florida governor Jeb Bush is our great teacher in this: He and his allies vastly outspent Donald Trump in the Republican primaries, but he won only three delegates to Trump’s 1725. As The Post pointed out, Bush could have … Continue reading →

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The UK’s Brexit strategy

Posted on November 1, 2016 by odeboyz

Buy British or die, Johnny Foreigner (© Liam Fox) Chris

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The Dust of Life.

Posted on October 31, 2016 by odeboyz

Like dust that gathers in the cracks between old house floor boards Each particle Languish, forgotten, ignored Seldom, acknowledged, never though, completely forgotten Those dust ghost’s, forlornly, waiting to be recognised. Years, even lifetimes, decades, ebb away Never to know … Continue reading →

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Woodstock part 2

Posted on October 28, 2016 by odeboyz

  Chris

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William Tyndale Junior School toilets

Posted on October 28, 2016 by odeboyz

Our junior school, behind the Islington Town Hall in Upper Street, was once called Sebbon Street School but was ‘rebranded’ as William Tyndale just before I went there. The school toilets were austere as were the 1950s teaching methods. Most of the teachers responded … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, School | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Two Brexit maps of the world

Posted on October 25, 2016 by odeboyz

© Nigel Farage: MEP; Donald Trump’s acolyte; suffers from Cecil Rhodes Syndrome.   © Boris Johnson: Foreign Secretary; adulterer; suffers from Winston Churchill Syndrome Chris

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The Bottom Shelf

Posted on October 24, 2016 by odeboyz

For more than half a lifetime Mostly ignored over the years Dads old sheet music Had been lost to my ears. There it languished, paper slowly rotting Forgotten, those lovely words and melodies Piano music, difficult for me I would … Continue reading →

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The ‘Cat and Mouse’ Act 1913

Posted on October 21, 2016 by odeboyz

The 1913 Prisoners (Temporary Discharge for Ill-Health) Act was an elegant way of nullifying the women prisoners who were using hunger strikes for publicity. The government was irritated by the suffragette movement (the lesser of two constitutional crises* they faced), … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Core Philosophy of Brexiteers

Posted on October 18, 2016 by odeboyz

Boris Johnson                                          Liam Fox                                                 David Davis Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life. (Cecil Rhodes: 19th Century Imperialist) Chris

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