University education today

I read a piece in the UK News section of Google, which gave the league tables of the first hundred universities of the world, starting at the top with America. It was noticeable how few British universities appeared on the list. The comment accompanying this list was a verbal wringing of hands. To me, who… Continue reading University education today

I am all astonishment.

Forgive me for plagiarism but I believe the phrase fits the bill. I’m referring to Peter Mandelson’s return to British politics from his role as Trade Commissioner to the EU. I find it surprising in view of the fact that he resigned twice from the Cabinet in his days with Tony Blair. What astonishes me… Continue reading I am all astonishment.

Criticism,Art and Chicanery

Art today is driven more by money and exposure, than by genius and the quality of the work. So many of the artists, whose paintings are now so in demand as investments, were quite often very poor. In the earlier centuries they had to depend upon patronage or commission. At the time of the Impressionists… Continue reading Criticism,Art and Chicanery

Irrational thinking

With the governments of the world clearly in a tailspin, it is difficult to sort the wheat from the chaff and this hasn’t been helped with respect to our own economy, when doubts have been cast on the high reputation of the last Chancellor, and few seem to trust our current one. There are some… Continue reading Irrational thinking

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Cause and Effect, part 3

Yesterday I received an e-mail from my friend in Holland . Previously I had said that I would like somebody to elucidate. And while I’m not sure that he has done that totally, he has certainly given me yet another slant on the whole sorry business. It is interesting that a quiet and charming, very… Continue reading Cause and Effect, part 3

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Cause and Effect, part 1.The cause of our current situation

It started with the ‘Silly Sixties’, when anything was permissible, and coincided with the new age of the computer. Prior to the sixties the average man in the street had pretty parochial horizons and ambitions, because he was not wealthy, but he was sure of his own security of tenure in employment and some if… Continue reading Cause and Effect, part 1.The cause of our current situation

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The Ilogicality of the Law

What I write here is really only relevant to people who are interested in the law, or over 50 years of age. The fact that a woman had to go to the High Court to discover whether her husband would be charged with the criminal offence or not, of aiding and abetting suicide, if he… Continue reading The Ilogicality of the Law

A letter to my MP.

Having listened to David Cameron stating that the Conservatives intend saving money by getting rid of consultants, I felt I had to write to you, as I believe this short-term approach would lead to total disaster. I believe him to be wrong both in principle and in practice, what is required is long-term change in… Continue reading A letter to my MP.