While no one is thrilled about being taxed, most people will agree that there are a few areas of responsibility that cost governments money. Defense of the realm is one that’s always been a given. Sure, we all think no one should have to spend money on armaments but, with the world situation continuing to …
THE COLLECTING BUG
You may recall an earlier blog I did on the odd-ball British television series called the ‘Detectorists’. It’s about a pair of hapless goofs with metal detectors that spend their spare time searching for buried treasure across the green pastures of England. In one of the episodes, the two main characters somehow got talking about …
THIS IS A FINE MESS WE’VE GOTTEN INTO
And what a mess it is, Ollie! As the world churns, it makes me wonder if the militant imperialist nationalism of Russia is really worse than the religious fanaticism that fuels the conflict between Israeli Jews vs. Muslim Palestinians. What is it about religions that preach peace and kill those who ‘blaspheme’ - or hang …
AS THE WORLD CHURNS
Despite more felony charges against him than a porcupine has quills, Ronald Rump (former Grand High Imperial Twitterbug [GHIT], former Prez of ‘Murica and constant contender for the title of ‘World’s Greatest Comedian) is still the darling of the Publican Party. At an all candidates meeting for those vying to hold the banner for the …
WHY IS IT
WHY IS IT… - that when a political party is the opposition, their leader has the perfect answer for every problem in the country, but the moment they get elected, they’re just as stupid as the nincompoops they replaced? - that the closer we get to an election, the more you hear politicians tell you …
TOM JONES – PBS
Tom Jones - PBS Masterpiece 2023 four part mini-series - Bridgerton and Sanditon share the distinction, with this latest production of Henry Fielding’s novel, of placing black actors into non-traditional roles when producing English period dramas. It seems there are two approaches to this foray into racial equity. Bridgerton almost ignores the question of race and …
TRUE RECONCILIATION BY JODI WILSON-RAYBOULD
True Reconciliation by Jody Wilson-Raybould, McCelland & Stewart, 2022 - Jody Wilson-Raybould, a First Nations’ woman and Former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, is perhaps best known for her very public run-in with Justin Trudeau over his interference in the SNC-Lavalin case (a subsequent review by Canada’s Ethics Commissioner found substance to …
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OFFICIAL SECRETS – BBC DRAMA
Official Secrets: 2019 British drama currently available on Netflix - Based on a true story, ‘Official Secrets’ is set immediately prior to the 2003 invasion of Iraq that overthrew Saddam Hussein. Keira Knightly plays Katharine Gun, a woman employed by British intelligence who discovers that her government is colluding with the Bush Administration to promote …
DEMON COPPERHEAD BY BARBARA KINSOLVER
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Harper/Collins 2022 (Pulitzer prize winner) - I’ve been a fan of Barbara Kingsolver since the first time I read her 1988 debut novel ‘The Bean Trees’. Her work, whether fiction or nonfiction, has always knocked on the sharp edges of social injustice. Works like ‘The Bean Trees’, ‘Holding the Line’ …
THE PARIS LIBRARY BY JANET CHARLES
The Paris Library by Janet Charles, Simon & Schuster, 2021 - It may seem strange to think of an American library, not to mention an American hospital, both in Paris, France, but the institutions do indeed exist. The hospital was founded in 1906 and the library in 1920 and they came into existence with financial …
Richard's Left Bank 