Monthly Archives: September 2010

Milibands and media

Posted on 29/09/2010 by

The media aspects of the election of Ed Miliband as Leader of the British Labour Party are already depressing. Three quick observations:

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Two Israelis encountered

Posted on 25/09/2010 by

Twice, on a business trip to Israel many years ago, I met women who seemed to personify certain characteristics of that country. Both were in uniform, both were strikingly beautiful, but each one could not have been more different from … Continue reading →

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Political realism

Posted on 20/09/2010 by

Are British politicians cynical enough? I ask because it sometimes doesn’t look as if they are.  Two items in the Sunday papers yesterday are relevant to this discussion about realism and ethics in politics.

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Gibbon at Oxford

Posted on 19/09/2010 by

The Gutenberg Project is opening a treasure store of obscure old books locked away, until now, in ancient libraries.  I like to dip into it and come up with tiny gems like this topical one: the great 18th century historian … Continue reading →

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The serene light

Posted on 18/09/2010 by

Conscious that much of what I write here is about a preoccupation of mine – spirituality, belief and faith – I have decided to set up a third blog website (the second one is for my business) to cover those … Continue reading →

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Who invited him?

Posted on 17/09/2010 by

As a freethinking Anglican I hold no brief for the Pope, nor do I think he should not have come to the UK.  For a pastoral visit, that is.  But a State visit?  As a citizen, and noting all the … Continue reading →

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Think about it 7

Posted on 12/09/2010 by

Chateaubriand uses a book review to remind Napoleon that when the history of a period, however bad, comes to be written, truth will always slay tyranny: Lorsque dans le silence de l’abjection, l’on n’entend plus retentir que la chaîne de … Continue reading →

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Lord, it’s time

Posted on 10/09/2010 by

A favourite Rilke poem for September, with a free translation by Rimboval: Autumn day Herr: es ist Zeit. Der Sommer war sehr groß. Leg deinen Schatten auf die Sonnenuhren, und auf den Fluren laß die Winde los. Befiehl den letzten … Continue reading →

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You British!

Posted on 06/09/2010 by

No country has a thorough understanding of how other countries regard it.  However frequent and wide-ranging the links and transactions between the UK and even its closest trading partners, Britons don’t have the perspective to enable them to see ourselves … Continue reading →

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Warnock on God

Posted on 05/09/2010 by

It is uplifting and also exasperating when a newspaper columnist comes up with a point which one is trying hard to get across oneself: uplifting because you see that a personaggio is, were they to know it, agreeing with you; … Continue reading →

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