Author Archives: odeboyz

Book Review: Walter Mosley ~ Fearless Jones (2001)

Posted on August 10, 2020 by odeboyz

The Black Lives Matter campaign changed my re-read of this book. Mosley writes about the period before mobile phones videos but in such a vivid way that his images last a long time. Videos however are easy to disseminate and … Continue reading →

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Social Distancing: Indian Style

Posted on August 6, 2020 by odeboyz
Posted in Health, Humour, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

A really difficult question

Posted on August 6, 2020 by odeboyz

A Kiwi* and an Aussie went fishing and after a couple of beers the Aussie said to the Kiwi, “If I sneaked into your house and made wild passionate love to your wife and she got pregnant would that make … Continue reading →

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Councillor Accountability in the 1990s

Posted on August 6, 2020 by odeboyz

Between 1990 and 1998 I was Chair of Havering’s Housing Committee, which I enjoyed hugely. Because so many council tenants exercised their ‘right to buy’* this led to a worrying fall in the Council’s housing stock. This especially effected people … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, housing, Politics | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

American children on a subsistence farm, 1919

Posted on August 3, 2020 by odeboyz

When not in school the Borlaug children did chores, rising before dawn and working until after sunset. Boys hoed weeds, dug potatoes, milked cows, stacked hay, hauled wood and water, fed chicken, cattle, and horses. Girls tended the vegetable garden, … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Philip Kerr ~ Hitler’s Peace (2005)(2020)*

Posted on August 3, 2020 by odeboyz

Sometimes an author strikes lucky and invents a character which is utterly compelling and becomes the motif of their entire career. Lee Child’s Reacher, Ian Rankin’s Rebus are excellent examples. The reader looks forward to the next Reacher novel almost … Continue reading →

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In Times Past

Posted on August 3, 2020 by odeboyz

The peoples of the land knew, their world Each plant, the uses they might be put to The elixir’s and the cautions inherent In the most benign and kindly plants.  For longer years than may be remembered Avoided nightshade’s, or … Continue reading →

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The Real Theresa May

Posted on July 30, 2020 by odeboyz
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A Golfing Joke

Posted on July 30, 2020 by odeboyz

Miguel and Wesley were playing golf, but were blocked by a two women. The women were great golfers, but playing very slowly. Finally Wesley decided he had to say something. “I’ll walk ahead and ask them if we can play … Continue reading →

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Climate Change and the Is/Ought Problem

Posted on July 30, 2020 by odeboyz

Introduction In the 18th century David Hume posited the Is/Ought problem. Hume said there’s no connexion between something being the case and an action. That someone is drowning isn’t a reason in itself for attempting a rescue. If a rescue … Continue reading →

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