Category Archives: Politics

Countries get the leaders they deserve

Posted on November 11, 2023 by odeboyz

Boris Johnson the UK’s worst prime minister and born-again media superstar

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Book Review: Michael Dobbs ~ The Final Cut (1994)

Posted on October 18, 2023 by odeboyz

Dobbs is the greatest political novelist since Anthony Trollope in the Victorian era. His political ‘insider’ status and dialogue is outstanding. This re-read was an unmitigated joy from start to finish. What I’d forgotten was that this novel – the … Continue reading →

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Education, Education, Education

Posted on October 9, 2023 by odeboyz

Ask me my three main priorities for Government, and I tell you: education, education and education. Tony Blair’s speech at the Labour Party Conference, 1 October 1996 “[Gove] apologised, however, when the list of terminated school-building projects he had released … Continue reading →

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One for Suella Braverman

Posted on September 28, 2023 by odeboyz
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The Tragedy of the West Bank Conflict

Posted on September 7, 2023 by odeboyz

It’s internationally accepted that Israeli sponsored settlements in the West Bank are illegal. Israel have, nonetheless, made them a central policy for their coalition government. Settler townships only exist because of this political commitment. The full panoply of surveillance drones … Continue reading →

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Miles Davis on *White Music*

Posted on August 24, 2023 by odeboyz

“…I’m quitting Julliard1 because what they’re teaching me is white and I’m not interested in that….before I quit Juilliard…I took some lessons in symphonic trumpet playing…Trumpet players from the New York Philharmonic orchestra gave me lessons, so I learned some … Continue reading →

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Film Review: Oppenheimer (2023) (Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey jr)

Posted on August 7, 2023 by odeboyz

At three hours long I nearly avoided this film. A grave error of judgement. Three hours flew past leaving me with a warm sense of privilege. Why? I felt that I’d been part of something, which was out of the … Continue reading →

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Israel’s Medieval Defence System

Posted on July 27, 2023 by odeboyz

The Normans conquered England in 1066 and built castles to protect themselves. Their sophisticated castles were a brilliant, functional response to threats from a hostile population. Castles were successful until the civil wars of the 17th century.1 Cromwell’s New Model … Continue reading →

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American Mass Shootings: Entertainment for Psychopaths?

Posted on July 17, 2023 by odeboyz

“Mass Shooting Tracker: four or more persons shot in one incident, at one location, at roughly the same time.”1 The invasion of Ukraine began on February 24th 2022. In the USA, on that day, there were two mass shootings with … Continue reading →

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 Book Review: David McCloskey ~ Damascus Station (2021)

Posted on July 13, 2023 by odeboyz

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 →

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