Category Archives: Politics

 Book Review: David McCloskey ~ Damascus Station (2021)

This thrilling thriller reads like a CIA promo novel. It’s consistently on message presenting a compelling and unambiguous world view. The Syrians are portrayed as barbaric, merciless killers who’ll do anything for their nefarious ends. This includes torturing a CIA … Continue reading

Posted in Literature, Politics, Review | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in History, Philosophy, Politics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in History, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

Posted in Economics, Finance, History, Politics | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Boris Johnson in Downing Street

Posted in History, Literature, Politics, quips | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Rishi Sunak’s Poisoned Chalice

The Chalice The CDO’s [Conservative Democratic Organisation] chairman, David Campbell-Bannerman, said the party faces a “turning point” as it risked the possibility of losing office to Labour, and claimed that Mr Sunak still had questions over his legitimacy as he … Continue reading

Posted in Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald

In 1955, Marilyn Monroe learned the Mocambo, a popular Hollywood nightclub, would not book Ella Fitzgerald because she was black. Monroe phoned the manager and told him she would reserve a front row table every night Ella performed there, knowing … Continue reading

Posted in Film, History, Politics | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Are Whole Life Sentences Inhumane?

…..when a judge passes a ‘whole life order’. This sentence means that the offender must spend the rest of their life in prison.1 Malcolm Green received a whole life order in 1989 because, it was decided that he would likely … Continue reading

Posted in Health, Philosophy, Politics, Prison, Prison reform | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Percival Everett ~ The Trees (2022)

Background The 1955 depraved murder of Emmett Till, aged 14, by racists in Mississippi was shocking but not freakishly so.1 What was unique was his mother allowing mourners to see his mutilated body in an open casket. The outrage became … Continue reading

Posted in History, Literature, local politics, Politics, Review | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Criminal Bankers and Their Keep-Out-Of-Jail Card

“….more than 17,600 other record[s]… allegedly show how senior banking officials allowed fraudsters to move money [£1.5 trillion] between accounts in the knowledge that the funds were being generated or used criminally. Five global banks were named in the investigation: … Continue reading

Posted in Finance, Politics, Prison, statistics | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment