Author Archives: odeboyz

Book Review: William Ryan ~ The Holy Thief (2010)

Posted on May 30, 2022 by odeboyz

The death of Phillip Kerr left a hole in my reading of historical novels. His principal character, Bernie Gunther,1 a Berlin policeman becomes embedded in the Nazi regime whilst maintaining his integrity (sort of). Ryan’s Moscow Noir novels are set … Continue reading →

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Evangelicals from the church of Dionysus

Posted on May 26, 2022 by odeboyz
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A vicious review of a Bob Dylan concert: Scotland 1991

Posted on May 26, 2022 by odeboyz

Dylan now resembles nothing so much as an alcoholic lumberjack on a Saturday night out in some Saskatchewan backwater, staggering around the stage here in a huge plaid jacket and odd little hat. The band, meanwhile, have all the charisma … Continue reading →

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A Gangsters Son

Posted on May 23, 2022 by odeboyz

Dad: How did the exam go son? Son: You’re gonna be proud of me. Dad: Why? Son: They questioned me but I just said, ‘No comment’.

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Asymmetric Warfare: Take that, big boy

Posted on May 23, 2022 by odeboyz

The Attempted Assassination of Margaret Thatcher, 1984 Moscow apartment buildings bombing by Chechens, 1999 The suicide bombing of USS Cole, Yemen 2000

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The Sports Mechanic

Posted on May 19, 2022 by odeboyz

Three middle-aged women were bragging about their sons. Sarah said “My son William studied Architecture at Cambridge. He makes £70,000 a year and has been promised a partnership.” Her friend, Anthea, smirked, “Charlie read Law at Oxford and he’s only … Continue reading →

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Royal Navy Punishments in the 18th Century

Posted on May 19, 2022 by odeboyz

“…naval authorities sought to attain social control by normalizing flogging as a form of deterrent punishment….[captains] were permitted to flog at their own discretion.”1 Shipboard punishments were inflicted by captains who had absolute authority. Only a sentence of capital punishment … Continue reading →

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The American Dust Bowl: It gave birth to Woody Guthrie

Posted on May 16, 2022 by odeboyz
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Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie

Posted on May 16, 2022 by odeboyz

People have told me that they’ve heard a song of mine and it’s changed their lives. Now I can only believe that or disbelieve it, but I know what it is to feel that, because I’ve felt that way myself … Continue reading →

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The Sycophant

Posted on May 15, 2022 by odeboyz

I lay panting on the altarOf his ego, waiting forHis lacerating wit to disembowel meSo, his hangers-on can laughThey lurk around the great manHoping they’ll be the one that’sGoing to be his museBut they don’t know him. The four o’clock … Continue reading →

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