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: Advertisements

Posted in Politics and current affairs, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Art, music and beauty, Journeys and destinations | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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.

Posted in Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Belief, faith and religion | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Belief, faith and religion | Tagged | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Belief, faith and religion, Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Politics and current affairs, Quotations | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Love and friendship | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Politics and current affairs | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in Belief, faith and religion | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment