Category Archives: Politics

Trump meets the Pope

Posted on August 10, 2020 by odeboyz

“I met with Pope Francis today. He’s a really great pope — great, great pope. You know he’s the leader of the Catholic Church — big church. “I couldn’t believe it when he told me how many Catholics there are. … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Politics | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

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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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

The Real Theresa May

Posted on July 30, 2020 by odeboyz
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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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Three Countries: One Story

Posted on July 20, 2020 by odeboyz

Apartheid – South Africa Naziism – Germany Segregation – USA

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The Importance of the Incheon Landings: Korea 15th September- 15th October, 1950

Posted on July 16, 2020 by odeboyz

“I predict,” said general of the Army Omar Nelson Bradley, “that large scale amphibious operations will never occur again.”* Background Amphibious landings were critical in the Second World War. In the Pacific war, they were the strategically brilliant ‘Leapfrogging’ technique … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Michael Dobbs ~ Goodfellowe MP (1998)

Posted on July 13, 2020 by odeboyz

If you like politics nasty, sinister, corrupt and Machiavellian then a Michael Dobbs novel is just for you. He learned his trade as an advisor to Margaret Thatcher before realising that that cesspit could be monetised. From that insight was … Continue reading →

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Using Torture properly (?) a lesson for the USA

Posted on July 2, 2020 by odeboyz

Empirical evidence on contemporary torture is sparse. The archives of the Spanish Inquisition* provide a detailed historical source of quantitative and qualitative information about interrogational torture. The inquisition tortured brutally and systematically, willing to torment all who it deemed as … Continue reading →

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Havering’s ‘Streets in the Sky’

Posted on June 25, 2020 by odeboyz

Tower Block Residents High rise tenants and leaseholders pay for communal lighting as a separate charge. This additional to Council tax. Apart from Tower Block Residents Council tax covers street lighting, which is part of the service embedded within the … Continue reading →

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