Category Archives: History

The Nobel Peace Prize as Satire

Posted on May 26, 2015 by odeboyz

1973: Henry Kissinger for realising he’d lost the war South East Asia, especially Viet Nam. 2009: Barack Obama for not starting a war in his first nine months in office. (Chris)

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The 1908 Old-Age Pension Act

Posted on May 15, 2015 by odeboyz

The 1908 Old-Age Pension Act was revolutionary legislation embodying the very best of British politics. For the first time there was to be state intervention in the living standards of the people. Assistance was given through non-contributory pensions recognising that … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, History, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Just Moments in Time

Posted on May 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Well over sixty years ago my best friend was a boy named Paul Brewster. Paul was a big lad even at the age of nine or ten where I was comparatively small. Paul and his Mum and Dad lived on … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, History, housing | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Joys of negotiating coalitions: Belgium style

Posted on May 5, 2015 by odeboyz

2007 Forming a government took 197 days 2010/11 Forming a government took 541 days Very few citizens of Belgium noticed that they didn’t have an elected government in place.

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9/11, George W Bush and Dirty Harry

Posted on April 24, 2015 by odeboyz

“Go ahead, make my day.” Harry Callan (Clint Eastwood) in Sudden Impact (1985)  Harry Callan, (‘Dirty Harry),’ made a coercive threat to a ‘punk’. The threat is effective because he understands the punks fear self-preservation and risk-aversion. George W Bush … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Politics, Religion, War | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Absolute Importance of Luck

Posted on April 14, 2015 by odeboyz

It must have been late 1941 or early 1942. Jews were required to wear the Star of David and to obey a 6 p.m. curfew. I had gone to play with a Christian friend and had stayed too late. I … Continue reading →

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Adolf Eichmann, Train Drivers and Crimes Against Humanity: Auschwitz 1944

Posted on April 13, 2015 by odeboyz

Murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation, and other inhuman acts committed against civilian populations, before or during the war; or persecutions on political, racial or religious grounds in execution of or in connection with any crime within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal, … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Philosophy, War | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Raise The Flag

Posted on March 31, 2015 by odeboyz

My words to a familiar tune. Lets raise our banner way up high, the working man will never die As labour is a might of force, we are the hope, the fighting cause. Then raise again – our standard true, … Continue reading →

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Lord Kitchener: his impact on 20th Century Warfare

Posted on March 27, 2015 by odeboyz

Britain was in its zenith in the Edwardian period. The British controlled the world’s greatest empire. Both the army and navy were enormous. British grandeur and greatness were universally acknowledged. The Scramble for Africa was ‘won’ by Britain with other … Continue reading →

Posted in History, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Existentialism and Hiroshima (6th August 1945)

Posted on March 24, 2015 by odeboyz

You’re you and nothing but you You do what you do and you do it You’re a person who does knows what to do And you’re the man who dropped the bomb on Hiroshima You dropped that bomb no- one … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Poetry, War | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment