Random Thoughts

Today is the first day of the Chinese Year of the Rooster, 2017. I am addressing this in particular to North American friends, since yesterday evening on TV we saw Michael Portillo on one of his…

I am spending a post-wedding vacation in the Dominican Republic these days, and very slowly the stress level in my veins and muscles is leveling down. As you might imagine, I am still reading my…

The Guardian, or as it is more affectionately known to its readers, The Grauniad, seems to think that it takes a native Russian speaker to write 'f' as 'ph'. Almost certainly, a native Russian…

I am happy to report, with this rather unconventional blog posting, that I am getting married on January 12. My companion is Kalliopi Petrou, a lyrical singer. There will be no huge party involved in…

The STENDEC Puzzle Ever since BSAA Avro Lancastrian Star Dust vanished on a flight from Buenos Aires to Santiago, the ending of its final transmission - STENDEC - has continued to puzzle experts and…

If I wanted to create a fake news story – I would lead with a sensational headline. Something that would incense and shock the readers and be extra “clickbaity”. Perhaps a hook about a teenager…

The Pitch and the Pendulum (Pace1 Edgar Allan Poe) Some people take comfort in the back-and-forth sway of the political pendulum. It is part of the greatness of our ‘two-party system’, they contend;…

Did Donald Trump Really Win Bigly? Did President-elect Donald Trump Win Bigly, or did he suffer an attack of the mumpsimus? We all know that the Donald loves to use superlatives, but 'bigly'? …

Allegation - a new -ism Having marked my return to blogging with one new word - egestatism - I thought I may as well invent another. We already have handwaving and whataboutery which appear to be de…

The Neglected Majority In every nation, state or county that I am aware of there is a tendency for lawmakers to discriminate against the poor, whether directly or indirectly. Some politicians favour…