Freedom has a price. Most people aren’t willing to pay it. – Jack Kevorkian (American activist) The government’s recent decision to sharply increase the cost of giving up British citizenship represents a new low point in the Brexit saga. Just as you thought that the UK government couldn’t get any more cynical in its treatment […]
Month: May 2018
Avanti La Musica – The Italian Flop
There’s good news, and bad news, coming from Rome. The good news is that Italian coalition governments don’t last that long. Since WWII, there have been 19 general elections, but more than 60 different governments. The chances are, then, that the latest coalition will not last very long. Now for the bad news. The latest […]
Weinstein For Dummies
I feel really sorry for all the victims of Harvey Weinstein’s sexual assaults. All that these naive little girls wanted to do, is talk with him about culture. It was just unfortunate that if you happen to be a woman, he immediately gets the urge to unzip his trousers. There’s an old saying that […]
The Art Of Censorship, And The Censorship Of Art
MENU Film producers Jafar Panahi (Iran) and Wanuri Kahui (Kenya), A lady “Blackface” who lost her heads (Réunion Island), A poem that got lost in the web, A painting that got lost in a gallery in Manchester, but found its way back. ….welcome to the world of art. [beautifulquote align=”left” cite=””]Home, Sweet Home[/beautifulquote] Iranian film […]
POÉSIE: Le Feu Rouge/The Traffic Light
Version Française (Scroll down for English translation) Je vous regarde, Madame, assise sur votre vélo. Pourquoi êtes vous si pressée? Transpirez-vous de ce rendez-vous illicite? Je les connais les trompeuses, Elles laissent la marque du rouge sur le visage des hommes, Et portent en elles l’odeur de la trahison, Sous une eau ruisselante vous serez celle qui n’est […]
Freedom Of Movement – Caught In The Tape
In agreeing a deal for EU citizens in the UK, and British citizens in the EU, Theresa May has promised to keep the administrative red tape to a minimum. EU citizens, living in the UK, will still have to justify their eligibility for “settled status”, in what the UK government promises to be a streamlined […]
Adam And Eve Fell In Love, and Humanity Showed Up
I have never shown much enthusiasm for the royal family, and the latest royal wedding was no exception. However, having not seen English royalty on television for such a long time, I decided to watch the royal wedding like you listen to background music, occasionally paying attention to the television set, whilst doing other things. […]
French Ambulance Service Mocks Dying Caller
On 29th December, 2017, Naomi Musenga, aged 22, was alone at home, in the French town of Strasbourg. She found the strength to call Strasbourg’s ambulance service, despite suffering from severe stomach pain, and bleeding. “I’m going to die,” she said, to which the operator replied, “You’ll definitely die one day, like everyone else.” This […]
Brexit Musings (22) – Hegel’s Song For Europe
I’m trying to understand, and have an interest in, a European phenomenon that has withstood the test of time, in a similar fashion to the iconic Doctor Who, but one that I have no understanding of, or interest in, at all. And, before all you unconditional Europhiles take a pick at me on Facebook, let […]
May 1968 – I Love Paris In The Springtime
It may not have escaped your notice that this month marks the 50th anniversary of the riots that took Paris by the scruff of the neck. The widespread violence, of May 1968, resulted in… well not much, apart from transforming Parisian little brats, dependent on their parents’ money into… liberated Parisian little brats, dependent on […]