Author Archives: odeboyz

Joseph Heller* on War

Posted on October 10, 2022 by odeboyz

“What is a country? A country is a piece of land surrounded on all sides by boundaries, usually unnatural. Englishmen are dying for England, Americans are dying for America, Germans are dying for Germany, Russians are dying for Russia. There … Continue reading →

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Black History Month, 2022: Lyrics of ‘I wish’

Posted on October 6, 2022 by odeboyz

I wish I knew howIt would feel to be freeI wish I could breakAll the chains holding meI wish I could sayAll the things that I should saySay ’em loud say ’em clearFor the whole round world to hear I … Continue reading →

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Britain’s new Health Secretary: Theresa Coffey

Posted on October 3, 2022 by odeboyz

She said that she isn’t a ‘role model’ and the NHS breathed a sigh of relief

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Book Review: George MacDonald Fraser ~ Flashman at the Charge (Flashman 4) (1973)

Posted on October 3, 2022 by odeboyz

 I made the mistake of thinking about the direction of travel that Britain is on. The Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, believes Britain is a global military power. He’s a True Believer not allowing trivialities like evidence to interrupt his beliefs. … Continue reading →

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Sunday Lunch

Posted on September 29, 2022 by odeboyz

Ben disliked his brothers’ wife but occasionally he would go for Sunday lunch. He always brought two decent bottles of wine which smoothed things over. One Sunday he saw his niece, Sarah, staring at him every time he drank his … Continue reading →

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The Purchase of Commissions in the British Army, 1683-1871

Posted on September 29, 2022 by odeboyz

The 17th century was transformative. It began with the attempted assassination of James I and ended with a successful invasion and three quasi-legitimate monarchs. The century included three civil wars, the execution of a king, a warrior class seizing power, … Continue reading →

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Godfather Wisdom for everyone

Posted on September 26, 2022 by odeboyz
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Miles Davis on racism in classical music, 1940s

Posted on September 26, 2022 by odeboyz

“…I knew that no white symphony orchestra was going to hire a little black motherfucker like me, no matter how good I was.” Note Miles attended the Julliard School of Music, which is world renowned and for a black student … Continue reading →

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Slacker philosophy!

Posted on September 19, 2022 by odeboyz
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Book Review: Mike Davis ~ Planet of Slums (2006)

Posted on September 19, 2022 by odeboyz

For a smug Westerner like me this book is a punch in the face. Britain is currently, September 2022, obsessed by massive increases in energy bills. I too whine and demand support from the government to maintain my entitlements. Clearly, … Continue reading →

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