Author Archives: odeboyz

The Importance of the Death of Oliver Cromwell, 1658

The transition of power in monarchies is brutally simple: The king is dead, Long live the king. After Charles the First’s execution, Charles his son, became king1. Power remained with parliament and the army as he was a fugitive in … Continue reading →

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Jeff Bezos and Charity

Jeff Bezos is a multi-billionaire1 and gives large amounts of money to various charities. The most recent of which is $123 million for fighting homelessness.2 This is an eye-catching amount. Some might regard it as stupendous. But is it? Bezos … Continue reading →

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The ultimate customer satisfaction survey

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A book for every decade: 1920 ~ 2020

This list obviously flawed and contentious but put it down to boyish ambition if you will. 1920s All Quiet on the Western Front: Erich Maria Remarque (1929) The carnage of WW1 left a bitter legacy for which Germany was blamed. … Continue reading →

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A lawyer meets Satan

A lawyer was working late when Satan walked into his office. “I have an offer. If you give me your soul and the soul of everyone in your family, I’ll give you a full partnership in the business.” The lawyer … Continue reading →

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Black Lives Matter: Nat ‘King’ Cole, 1956

Nat King Cole was an enormously popular crooner, earning $4,500 a week1 in Las Vegas in 1956. He headlined at the whites-only Thunderbird Hotel, where he wasn’t allowed to venture beyond the showroom and the cook’s resting area behind the … Continue reading →

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Aroma!

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Book Review: Aldous Huxley ~ Brave New World (1933)

“….only pleasure has worth or value…” J S Mill Hedonism (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)   Many years ago, a few friends and I wrote a list of five books, which must be read to satisfy the claim of being ‘well read’. … Continue reading →

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The magician and the parrot

A magician was working on a cruise ship with a different audience each week. He did the same tricks every cruise. There was only one problem: The captain’s parrot understood the tricks. He started shouting out at every show: “Look, … Continue reading →

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Warren Buffett’s Wealth Recipe is Flawed

“My wealth has come from a combination of living in America, some lucky genes, and compound interest.” Multi-billionaire Warren Buffett Geography Buffett claims being American was a necessary condition to his success. He’s wrong. In America racial identity helps define … Continue reading →

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