I merely belong
When I lived in the USA, I was always amused and confused by people who puffed out their chests and said how proud they were to be American.…
More mindless killing
To continue for a moment the theme of senseless killing for squalid and trivial ends, I’m reading a book of essays by…
How about a little humanity?
Does this sound familiar? A war in the Middle East launched for obscure reasons. The justification changing constantly according to what ministers…
Remembering Haymarket
I am often too cynical for my own good. So I am taking time to reflect on the fact that on 1st…
American left-wing blogs are myopic
I’m very new to blogging. I go out into the world and look for blogs that I might be interested in —…
International Workers’ Memorial Day
Thanks to Aotearoa-based Spanblather, I have discovered very belatedly that it’s International Workers’ Memorial Day today. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were 5,734 fatal occupational…
Library cuts
I love libraries. Always have. I could spend all day in a library, working my way through the stock. I even love…
Strange experience in a public toilet
I was coming out of a public toilet in central London today (Paternoster Square, near St. Paul’s, if anyone’s interested), when I…
Rip Your Heart in Two
The Sunday papers often have sad stories. People with cancer, children needing transplants. Tug-at-the-heart-strings-over-your-tea-and-Cornflakes stuff. This Sunday’s Observer was different, though. The…