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Showing posts from December 8, 2019

A Slogan And An Enemy

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- He did not need a programme, a manifesto or a vision. All that Donald Trump needed as he ran for the Presidency of the United States was a slogan, and an enemy. He successfully demonised Hillary Clinton. She, he said, " lies  like crazy about everything".  He called her "crooked Hillary".  His supporters lapped it up.   Who can forget the crowds chanting "lock her up, lock her up", led of all people, by a retired Army General. The programme, the plan, was summed up in four words Make America Great Again.  He did not have to define the greatness that supposedly had been lost; he did not have to say what a renewed greatness would look like; he did not have to set out a plan to "renew" that greatness. He did not need to do any of those things - his devoted supporters, perhaps 20,000 of them in a gathering place, a

What made the cut this week.

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On the left as you look at the photo' Zion's Wednesday incision. On the right   Dr. Bogart's Friday incision.   MOHS SURGERY THIS MORNING. Incisive comments are welcome, but please, no cutting remarks.

Prince Zion of Sarasota (the perfect dog) bit me

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Or maybe he didn't. Last evening, 11th Dec 2019 I was having my usual good night snuggle with Zion. He, quite out of character, barked in the midst of our love fest. And I, to my great surprise, suffered a Zion bite to my forehead. Oh my dear, precious and wonderful Zion. I know that you did not mean to bite me;  but as you barked, your teeth and my forehead came into connection.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Of course I did not scold Zion.  He did not growl or snarl,he simply "woofed". What I suppose is that as I cuddled with Zion some outside noise spooked him, so he barked, and hit my forehead by mistake. He always  lets out just one deep throat-ed bark when ever a person or dog is close to my front door.  That's good. Indeed, if a passing butterfly farts , Z. lets out a strong bark

U.K. General Election

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The voting is today.   We will not know the full result until Friday 'cause the Brits  (thank goodness) still use paper ballots, to be counted by hand. In some constituencies the count will not begin until Friday morning. Whatever the result, know this Boris Johnson is a lying weasel.

Do you know this place?

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Photo' taken of a postcard which I found in my ex-bankers box of treasures. ------------------------------------------------------- It was probably more than twenty five years ago that I, staying in a Hotel in Paris,  tuned into a silly and lovely British sit-com called "Waiting for God".  ( French T.V. in those days was less exciting than watching molasses running up a hill). As I watched the outdoor shots I thought "surely I know that place". I waited for the credits at the end of the show which confirmed my suspicions. The outdoor shots were from a lesser mansion in the village of Farmoor (near Oxford), known as Oaken Holt. Gosh and be-golly, indeed I knew Oaken Holt.  I worked there in the early 1970's when it was the home of the Westminster Bank Staff College.   I was a tutor at what were called "Induction Courses" for  newly recruited Bankers, which   wasn't that much of a big deal. When the T.V. programme was o

Music for the time of the year: The wild and wonderful; and the deep and peaceful. Good for believers and non-believers one and allli

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The wild and wonderful - fabulous for the Christian season of Advent; utterly wonderful for all. (thank you Mark D for the head tip on this link) https://youtu.be/c1SiaCV26aQ John the Baptist   ( as you have never seen him before)  in London ------------------------------------------------------------------- The deep and the peaceful from Ireland;  set to gorgeous music by John Rutter and sung by Libera https://youtu.be/Eve2y-P-Zjk ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Libera John Rutter

Cafe Baci nails it (truth in humour)

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As well as having a deserved reputation for excellent Italian food, Sarasota's Cafe Baci is also known for its corny or funny signs. Today's took the biscuit.  I couldn't stop to take a photo' 'cause of heavy traffic.  But here is what it said: If you are paying $5 for a bottle of smart water then it isn't working. (Tee and Hee from Mee)

The Human Costs Of Urban Environmental Degradation..

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Little Village, Chicago. A vitally important paper by my friend Derrick Z Jackson. https://prospect.org/greennewdeal/toxic-injustices-little-village-chicago/?fbclid=IwAR3P5VaXteoezK8KF3wfiiAYjhkVjbn-vZDmBZINsYABUbCd8VdxZ8S27QY#.Xeq0tiZA3x8.facebook