The International Writer's Magazine 2024 Our 25thYear on-line

*Hackwriters is digitally archived by the British Library

Share | - edited by Sam North

The International Writers Magazine: LIFESTYLES & COMMENT - ARCHIVE 2014/2016

LIFESTYLES

OPINION

Exile on Main Street Dean Borok I once had a cousin who was hanged at the U.S. Army prison in San Francisco as a thief. He did the hanging himself, one day before he was scheduled to be released. Martial Arts Styles Do Exist Antonio Graceffo Recently, I have heard a lot of people claiming that there are no martial arts styles, only “good technique” and “bad technique.” But this is simply not the case. Workawaying in Portugal: Adventurous Language Learning - Joseph Oberwinzer My first thought was “I must flee at once.” The Body Experiment James Campion I found a way to cut your cholesterol numbers in half in 40 days and so can you. A Tourist in my own Town Justin Dupée My Fantastic Voyage through the Streets of Hip Hop’s Past- As I hook a left onto Anaheim Blvd I try and imagine how different the street might have been twenty-five or so years prior. Whitehall Shannon N. Snyder I descended into Euston station, pulled further down by the fast pace of the crowd on their way to work, just like me. The escalators took me further and further underground Dear ‘Comrades’ Tom Kilcourse So, you lost the election and your leader. No doubt you are reviewing your position and your policies in an effort to discover why you lost. I cannot give you the answer, but I can tell you why you lost my vote. Saul Bellow - The Biography Dean Borok I am sunk into Zachary Leader’s biography of my uncle, Saul Bellow, and all my relations like a man whose whole life flashes back to him in the instant before his death ... Paris Blues Dean Borok I don’t know how it is today, but when I was a kid in Chicago, a place like France wasn't on the map at all. If France ever entered the conversation at all, it was on a level of perfumed lace panties. Hemlock for Everyone - The Drinks are on Me Dean Borok One of the hardest things in life is to face up to your own deficiencies. In this I have been lucky to know so many people willing to point them out to me. A Day in the Life Mel Hamson Autism is a life-long condition present from early childhood, for which the cause is unknown and there’s no cure. Nigeria relies on renewable energy Odimegwu Onwumere Nigeria targeting to accomplish 7 percent renewable energy use by 2025. Housekeeping Ben Rietema in New Zealand Three times a week, we order the linen. Three times a week we receive an arbitrary amount of towels and sheets that may or may not actually apply to what we first ordered A Hard Blow - Spain in Flux James Skinner Andalusia has the highest unemployment rate and the greatest number of corrupt politicians and trade union leaders embezzling public funds Mysteries of the Philippines Fred C. Wilson III A few years ago the Philippine National Police confiscated stolen antiquities smugglers tried to unload on the black market. How to be a traveler with a plan Andra Badea Wanderlust. A word that means discovering oneself through travel. But it also implies that you can’t do that unless you aimlessly walk around. Obesity John Alexander Obesity is a big problem in the United States- and I have a theory about where it all started. Truth and Consequences Dean Borok People these days are less inclined than ever to state obvious facts, because if the truth came out it would mean the end of civilization as we know it. Typo Confession Julie McSmith Father, I am sorry for I have sinned.  In particular, I am sorry for having made certain typos and mistaken contractual stipulations. In Memory of Joanna North (25.1.20 -13.2.15) 'No one is 'just' a mother - I am all I have accomplished'. The dangers of red objects Jodie Corney I prowled the railway station platform, listening to the same song over and over, my life caught in a stutter. I wore a faux fur coat even though it was a very warm late spring day. Rape Culture & Reponses to Adaptation Phillip Sutcliffe-Mott Rape culture comes for the most part from conservative ignorance and mass complacency When up is down, Perceptions in Linguistics - Antonio Graceffo On a map 'up' is something we have all accepted that up is North. There is no reason for that. We just all agreed on it. This language is easy or difficult because I said so Antonio Graceffo An American kid I met in Phnom Penh today told me Korean language was not difficult. He said, “Easy to read, easy to write.” The Art of Bliss Jude C Perera It is a beautiful concept, or is it just a myth? Happiness. I am not too sure sometimes. But I enjoy meditating on its infinite potential. The Man in the High Castle Sam Hawksmoor This has long been one of my favourite Philip K Dick novels and probably one his most fully realised works and is now on Amazon TV Where are we now…? K E Sidwell You’ve finished your degree ... Can you now honestly define in a nutshell what excites you - “the career path you want to take”? Besame Mucho Dean Borok Dancers are the ultimate snobs. She may work in an office or sorting mail all day, but on the dancefloor she is a star, and what the hell are you? Police Line: Do Not Cross Dean Borok A lot of this sloganeering of “Support the Police” can be construed as a declaration of war on Black people. Nigeria still at 54 The bad-luck of having Leaders that cannot lead Adewale T Akande A set of leaders are now tearing apart what is supposed to be the giant of Africa A Loose Guide to Conventions Patrick J. Ferri Jr. Conventions have risen to geeky prominence the same way that Steve Jobs and Bill Gates have. That is, while everyone has heard the names like ComiCon, E3, PAX, A-Kon and DragonCon, no one in their right mind has any idea what the appeal is. Nationalism and Democracy Tom Kilcourse Nationalism has received a bad press in recent years, particularly in the British media. Discoveries Walli F. Leff out West The trail along the Deschutes River in beautiful Tumwater Falls Park, just outside of Olympia, Washington, passes by the waterfalls... Asian-American Marriages Fred C. Wilson III Romanticism is the biggest blight to the concept of life-long marriage I Can't Breathe! James Campion Daniel Pantaleo killed Eric Garner. He choked him to death while four other men held him down and pulled his hands behind his back and proceeded to cuff him, leaning all of his weight on the man’s head as he pleaded, “I can’t breathe! I can’t breathe!” Turning Back the Clock Tom Kilcourse Critics of the present state of Britain’s economy and society are frequently advised that ‘we cannot turn the clock back’, or told that what is happening is somehow ‘natural’. Podemos - Yes 'We Can' Spain's Coming Revolution James Skinner Spain would be led towards the Third Republic following in the steps of the 1930's, imposing a totalitarian and communist regime that could isolate the country from Europe and the rest of the world. The Devil Made Me Do It Dean Borok Bill Cosby is now revealed to be incapable of doing what he has insistently been advising the younger generation to do – pull your pants up. Optimism for 2015 Hawksmoor & North Leaning to Live the Now Mike Nichols 1931–2014 James Campion on The Graduate I hate endings. Never liked them; in books, films, sometimes songs (especially fades – what the hell is that?), whatever ... Dear Dave Tom Kilcourse Dave asks me to trust his government with the economy and not to threaten the remarkable economic progress being made. I feel obliged to reply. Values Tom Kilcourse Over forty years ago Milton Friedman declared that corporations have no social responsibility... Video Kingdom Dean Borok Now that we’re living in Video Kingdom, with drones flying over volcanos and speed demons racing motorcycles down bobsled tracks wearing a helmet camera, let’s take a minute and get back down to earth. An old fashioned Hero Leroy B. Vaughn I’m sure by now that readers are aware of the lone wolf terrorist that attacked the Canadian Parliament on Oct. 22, 2014. Spitting Into the Wind Tom Kilcourse There are a number of indications around that we are coming to the end of three decades of self-delusion and economic lunacy. During that period, since 1980, we have been following a single, narrow economic philosophy that goes by the name of neo-liberalism. 10 Reasons to Participate in Cultural Festivals Alina Jersey Cultural Festivals are meant to celebrate the heritage and culture of the hosts. Sturgeon Landing in Indian Country Fred C. Wilson III I volunteered to join our parish’s Legion of Mary for our annual mission trip abroad. For a month I was to minister to the Cree Indians. A Requiem for a Sri Lankan Christmas Jude C Perera For the past two decades, may be more, I have been haunted by the ghost of Christmas past. The Rules of Engagement Jude. C. Perera I was a casualty of war, there is no better way of putting it. It’s a war that was both sinister and stealthy and famously lacking in any decency and chivalry. I have been stabbed in the back without ever feeling the dagger Bert Tom Kilcourse In the late forties Bert lived in a Manchester rooming house of which my mother was the concierge. Unlike most of his contemporaries he had managed somehow to avoid military service during the war. Coping in Laos Lucy Munday A chill runs down my back as I walk around the COPE Centre in Vientiane. I am surrounded by empty bombs - ghosts of the industry of war. Clueless In Gaza Dean Borok You got to hand it to the Arabs of Gaza: they can burrow more tunnels than the gopher in “Caddyshack”. Maybe we should get them over here to work on the Second Avenue subway tunnel A Monsanto Twister Paul Hunt Falls City Municipal Court, Polk County, Oregon, is scheduled to hold a hearing on August 20, 2014, of a defense case using recently signed-into-law Senate Bill 863, otherwise known as the "Monsanto Bill". The Remaining Anachronism Tom Kilcourse Odd as it may seem, there is no clear dividing line between the private sector of medicine and the monolithic NHS How to Construct a Climate Change Simulator Mark Pierro There seems to be an awful lot of hullabaloo about climate change and the models used to attempt to simulate climate change and its effects across Chalfont-Saint-Peter, Berkshire... The Art of Dissent Madhura Shetty I was in my 3rd year of college when suddenly before my last semester all my friends were freaking out about placements, all I could hear was, which MNC did you get into? How much are they paying you? Living in Happy Valley Fred C Wilson 111 Retirement living in Chicago - Up Close The British & the Unions Tom Kilcourse ...for all the rhetoric and angst, the British attitude to trade unions remains confused. Brooklyn Monk Takes on Four Fighters in One Night Greg Isaacson Not quite kumite, but a spiritual victory for author-warrior The Hidden Life of the African Feminist Abigail George The African feminist is the feminine intellectual who in the final analysis is the square peg who does not fit into the round hole Life! No less than a struggle Shubhi S To be a writer Kundadri Hill Shubhi S It has been said that “to witness best of the scenes one has to have the zest and the zeal to travel outstation”. Quinn, Denise & Casey Kasem G. David Schwartz Things go in threes Donating Plasma in Kentucky Lawrence Hamilon Giving plasma, to me, is as Kentuckian as watching rednecks wave the flag, eating junk food and hating on Democrats Open Letter to My Wife 111 James Campion In Which We Discover Your True Grit After 15 Years Married To The Author Bar Mitvah Survival Techniques Dean Borok The problems with Bar Mitzvahs is that they are all about kids. I can take the three-hour ceremony in the synagogue. Everybody gets to say something, and it’s charming. But don’t invite me to the reception, where it’s six hours more of the same Wrestling for San Da Antonio Graceffo It’s no secret that MMA in the US is dominated by former wrestlers. In fact, 8 of the 10 current UFC champions are former collegiate or high school wrestlers. In China, MMA is dominated by san da fighters. SUS Wrestlers & San Da Fighters in the MMA Gym Antonio Graceffo I took my san da training mates and my wrestling teammates from Shanghai University of Sports to Fighters Unite MMA gym. Moral Necessity of Veganism Rob Marenghi Please join me in imagining a planet where the following happens – billions of cats and dogs are raised in unpleasant conditions, killed and the eaten by humans. Dear AR Julie McSmith I’m writing you a letter that I know you won’t be able to read, because you have dyslexia.  Yet, I feel I must write to you Charles Addams Family Values John M Edwards In Westfield, New Jersey, I finally found the moody manse of cartoonist Charles Addams, probably The New Yorker’s most famous and fiendish cartoonist The Oddness of Olaf Stapledon John M. Edwards Olaf’s far-sighted polemic philosophical books, not novels, still stay with readers long after digestion A True Statesman James Skinner on Sr Adolfo Suarez Who was this Spanish political figure that most of Europe had forgotten about including a great deal of today’s young Spanish generations? ‘Ou est Baudelaire?’ Joe Swain At about the age of 14, I decided to become French. Shadow Facts Thomas N. Hackney One of the most telling, no incredible, indications of intelligent design in Peekskill meteor/impact event is seen in the impact itself... Foreign Education in China Antonio Graceffo With tuition fees for foreign students of $38,000 or more per year, education in the US is way out of reach for the average Chinese family. The solution that China has found is to move the foreign education to China Nigeria at 100: Taking This Country Where It Needs To Go - Prince Tonye Princewill Looking around our country, it is not hard to focus first on the differences between us and dwell on the numerous negatives of today. Easy to miss the positives and overlook our strengths. Rangoon's Colonial Architecture Mark McGeachie Somerset Maughan, George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling! What did they all have in common? Yes obviously famous authors - however they, along with many other celebrities, were also guests of the Strand Hotel in Rangoon Dani Girl Roy Valenzuela When scrolling through the many faces of the google plus community, I mainly ignored all until I was slightly hooked and just had to take a look... The Thievery of an Alchoholic Roy Valenzuela What a complicated perusal into the maleficence of A “DRUNK”…. One need not serve in office to deceive and steal Bubba & Progeny of the Walrus Guest Columnist: Tiddal McStevens I showed up at the Waste Management Phoenix Open smartly dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and tassel loafers; the décor of choice for the sporting press. Need a Fix? Walli F. Leff Experienced “Master Fixers,” ... will help anybody repair a broken object or turn it into something else, including art The Beatles - The Week - The Legacy James Campion The Beatles were a moving pop sculpture, a walking billboard of patent waves and cheeky smiles; on stage the rhythmic bouncing and bobbing of heads and the choreographed bows became inseparable from the music. The Duke John P Brady I met a girl in a bar the usual way, whatever the hell that is, a few days before and we had exchanged numbers. Love Honeys Dean Borok Now that Canada’s Supreme Court has struck down all that country’s prostitution laws, it is only a matter of time... Buying India: A solution for our times Shubhi S We do not favor Indian products and go for imported goods. Why do we let our money flow outside country? Ethics in “Modern” Indian society Schubi S It is said that do whatever you want to do but be honest. Be honest in doing your work; be honest in every single thing that takes place around you. Travel for Artist’s Sake Elisa Korenne Art of Moving to New Places  Six years ago, I had the great pleasure and challenge of moving from New York City - to New York Mills, Minnesota, a hamlet of 1152 people in rural, west central Minnesota. Resolved Roy Valenzuela My plans are very simple going into the new year but are also culture defying. I'm a trainer, a carpenter, and a writer and between the three I've been able to solidify my financial base ... Keith Richards at 70 James Campion It is hard to explain to those who are unfamiliar with the life and exploits of Keith Richards to marvel as I do this week that the man is still breathing The Art of Preparation Diane Malk Like a fireman summoned to the scene, I raced across town to my friends’ house in response to a panicky phone call the night before. Could I help them pack? Gayle and Hal wondered.   The Last Impression J S Wright What will people think of you after you've gone? 1913 - When Electric Cars Ruled The Road Can they do so again? Mad About Mad Magazine John M. Edwards A Serious Interview with Bill Gaines John M. Edwards, as a snot-nosed enfant terrible, tries to get a job at his favorite magazine: MAD. The Gettysburg Address at 150 James Campion Lincoln’s Oratory Masterpiece Heralded The Modern Age Of America - One-hundred and fifty years ago, Abraham Lincoln presented his address on the hallowed grounds of an American massacre A Literary Adventure James Skinner I came across a small diary in a forgotten desk drawer the other evening - about the time I decided be a writer ... A future wrecked by divorce Odimegwu Onwumere Tom was 4 years old when his parents were divorced in 2012. Ugo did not go to school in the following year due to the degenerating home situation Santo Che Dean Borok I would suggest that the monolithic ascendance of the left developing in Latin America is almost entirely the result of the rise of Internet populism. Waterloo Dean Borok People, as a rule, are not interesting. That’s why they need artists, to make them seem fascinating. Major League Baseball Still broken after all these years James Campion Major League Baseball continues its over a century of government-sanctioned fraud, racketeering, suspension of civil rights, and illegal business practices this week... Contextualising Julius Nyerere’s Ujamaa as a liberating political philosophy Ronald Elly Wanda The story of Africa in the last century is one characterized by action and response.    Search this site or the web powered by FreeFind   Site search Web search Theology of Science James Campion We possess a denial chip in our psyches that obliterates what should be an intrinsic sense that our resources are finite and the abuse of them bear consequences VOX James Skinner Now we have this new centre right party emerging with tsunami strength to challenge many of the right wing policies with their own recipe of management Vodka With Sochi Dean Borok Conditions for the Sochi games couldn’t be more optional. The snowboarding events showed dreamy packed snow and cloudless sunshine that would electrify any skiing enthusiast. It’s as though Putin had found a way to even control the weather. Prelude to Irrelevance James Campion State of the Union Turns into Beginning of the End For President & Congress That was a weird State of the Union address. Last Chance Power Drive Chris Christie: Welcome to Thunderdome James Campion ...none of this is any good for Chris Christie if he has designs on being president of the United States, or even to continue governing N.J. Life and Death in Spain James Skinner Just before the Spanish Parliament was dissolved it announced a reform of the abortion laws that had been introduced during the Socialist (Zapatero) government. New York Promises to Be Different Dean Borok New York mayor-elect Bill De Blasio is already generating a cottage industry of fear and derision among white ethnic New Yorkers and the sources of media power Birth of a Cynical Age James Campion ...no human drama had better crystallized America – its psyche, its message and medium, its resolve and destiny quite so completely and violently as what transpired that overcast autumn afternoon in Dallas, Texas... Money, Corruption & The Free Thinker Principle - James Campion This week the Supreme Court further removed the shackles for wealthy donors to contribute as much as they wish for political candidates, building on the momentum of the Citizens United ruling of 2007. The decision was 5-4 right down the line of political ideology Religious Nonsense & The law James Campion Religious freedom is not a free pass to discriminate or ignore laws. This was the point of obliterating the egregious Jim Crow horror show which originated in churches in the South Crimea: The Russian Problem James Cameron Take a moment and thank your preferred deity or talisman that John McCain didn’t become president in 2008. Regardless of what you think of this current model, McCain is certifiably insane with aggression Indian Economics Shubhi S. No matter who forms the government they will undergo a lot of pressure to rectify and bring about some changes in the present economic state of the country My Friend - The Next Governor of New York? James Campion While being a professional colleague of mine for nearly twenty years, during which he has displayed nothing but an enviable commitment to ethics in all forms, Rob Astorino has managed to succeed at the impossible ... State of the Union James Skinner on Spain It will be a test for the present government to see which way the political ideological wind is blowing and how the majority of Spaniards feel about all the hardship that they are still enduring Rob Astorino Takes The Stage James Campion Republican Candidate for Governor of New York On The Road Less Traveled: ...they are looking at a hard road against a political brawler in Andrew Cuomo whose pedigree to personally eviscerate opponents is well documented No Cure For Stupid James Campion + Readers Responses It is time we begin to phase out the word racist from our vocabulary. Not expunge it in some social construct like what we so cautiously present as the “N” word now, as if an acronym can lessen its impact... The Constitution - Spain James Skinner The founding members made one mistake. The whole document was buried in solid concrete, bound and gagged never to be altered under any circumstances Bundy Ranch Solution: Free-For-All in Nevada James Campion Right now this scofflaw has been sitting on miles of my land; American taxpayer…I. That’s right. Squatter. Freeloader. Welfare King. Deport Everyone Dean Borok If they’re going to deport people for driving offenses, that’s going to have to include everybody. Desperate Democrats Lowball Strategy James Campion The Paycheck Fairness Act, a desperate attempt at useless legislation that has no chance of becoming law, but will make Republicans, who will certainly piss on it, appear anti-woman The Last Gasp for Citizen Trump James Campion 08.19.16 The Lunatic Fringe Just Got A Whole Lot Loonier - There are few people remaining with any idea of what is happening in the real world which operate under the delusion that Donald Trump is not doomed, and he just grabbed two of them... New Yawk, New Yawk James Campion All Empire State Presidential Election & Its National Referendum - Trump is silly with New Yawk. There isn’t five seconds of anything Trump says whether in interviews, rallies or on the stump that doesn’t reek of it. Revenge of the Politicians + Readers Responses James Campion 8.5.16 Democratic National Convention 2016 The System Punches Back “Old School” In Philadelphia - This is all you need know about what went down for four days in late July in Philadelphia at the Democratic National Convention. Impasse 28.07.16 James Skinner on the lack of a Government in Spain Spain is back to square one. It’s like a game of musical chairs, except that they are all sitting without moving. The Trump Show James Campion 22.07.16 Plagiarism, Insurrection and High Theater in Cleveland Republican National Convention 2016 The most dramatic, chaotic, and in every possible way historic national party convention of my lifetime has ended, and with it what you know of the Republican Party. Hypocrites & Sore Losers on Parade James Campion Republican Lifers are either sitting this one out or openly running for cover Now... It's Over James Campion Madam Shoo-In Avoids Prison & Will Coast to the White House: The “Broom Handle” theory, soon to be an iron-clad axiom, is simply this: You can run a broom handle for president as a Democrat now... An Uncertain Future in Spain James Skinner (Our Vigo correspondent) 27.06.2016 The Repercussions of Brexit & the Spanish Elections This last week has seen two unprecedented political events in Europe that could be considered as a Tsunami followed by a Hurricane. Second Chance in Spain James Skinner 17 June update Not since the end of the Franco dictatorship and the introduction of democracy 40 years ago has this country been faced with a new and dramatically uncertain future. Back to the Voting Table in Spain James Skinner 1.5.16 The shortest Parliament in Spain’s history has been dissolved. New General Elections are schedule for the 26th of June. It’s party time all over again. Why Bernie Sanders Matters + Readers Responses James Campion At this juncture it would take an act of God or the teamsters or something dreamed up by the ghost of Frank Capra for 74 year-old Independent Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to wrest the Democratic nomination away from Hillary Rodham Clinton Donald J. Trump, Republican Nominee - WTF? James Campion + Readers Responses “Outsider” Donald Trump became the voice of the disenfranchised tired of the GOP lie. His support was that of a defiantly powerful weapon against bullshit. This is the social media era and Donald Trump is its demigod. What's the Point of Ted Cruz? (Or For That Matter John Kasich) James Campion 30.4.16 Maybe I’m mistaken. It would not be the first time and will hardly be the last. But someone please tell me that the point and purpose of the presidential candidacy for Texas Senator Ted Cruz is not just “Vote for me, because I’m not Donald Trump.” Jordan Islamists and the precipice Marwan Asmar The current tensions between the government and the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan is clearly rising to the boil with no end in sight

The Great Republican Lie on Abortion James Campion + Readers Responses if I were a woman in no way, shape or form would I ever support a major political party that stands by the concept of allowing the government to manipulate my insides. Ever. Moment of Truth in Spain James Skinner In or Out - Shake it all about - no winners in chaotic lust for power - One half, that back the leader Sr. Sanchez are willing to strike a deal with almost everyone on the left ... the other half are dead against. Playing Statues in Spain James Skinner Spain is still immersed in its own political mayhem trying to sort out a new government after the debacle of elections in December of last year. Madam Shoo-In - The Sequel James Campion 18.03.16 The Clinton Machine Revs Up Hillary Rodham Clinton is about to be the first woman to ever lead a major party’s ticket for the presidency in the 240-year history of this republic. Civil War James Campion The Republican Party Vs Citizen Trump For the first time since 1964, the Republican Party is engaged in an open and hostile coup d'etat against its overwhelming frontrunner for the nomination. Myth Buster In Chief James Campion Donald Trump Reshapes GOP Platform, Takes Down Bush Era Nonsense & Rolls On - A private citizen less than eight months ago has now managed to effectively burn down the entire idea, purpose and foundation of Republican politics. A Nasty Declaration James Skinner on the electoral plight of Spain However often you punch out the numbers, the sums just don’t add up - Sr Rajoy predicts new elections in June as there is no way that the mess, as it is at the moment will be sorted out. The Scalia Bomb James Campion Once the death of ultra-conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was announced February 13, the wheels of political discourse, the fluidity of the 2016 presidential campaign, and the very core of the United States Constitution was put into play. Mistah Christie - He Dead James Campion Our mostly absentee governor has returned home utterly and completely defeated. His over one-year, suicidal presidential campaign, beginning in scandal with the so-called “Bridge-Gate”, ended with barely whimper ... Who Can You Trust? Tom Kilcourse Why is it that in today’s society there is so much mistrust, of politicians, the media, businesses, you name it? Explaining Bernie Sanders James Campion There was a time, not long ago, that it seemed complete madness to consider a 74 year-old, Jewish, self-described Democratic Socialist, who is not even a member of the Democratic Party, as a serious candidate for president of the United States.The The Naked Emperor vs The Man Behind the Curtain James Campion 01.29.16 How Donald Trump’s Political Farce Uncovered Political Farce. Every once and awhile comes an unexpected series of events that transpires, as they did over the past 72 hours, which defies the gravity of our system A New Decadence Tom Kilcourse The politerati in the West have lost their way and are increasingly divorced from their subjects. Everywhere in the western world we see the rising phenomenon of unconventional politicians and political parties, with either Left or Right labels. Why Donald Trump Must Be The Republican Nominee - James Campion No new candidate running for president of the United States has dominated the media landscape, the rhetorical space, and, most importantly, the polls the way citizen Donald J. Trump has done, consistently and without waver. Guns: Money, Politics & Hyperbole James Campion a measured approach to increasing background checks and closing gun-show loopholes as a minor step in perhaps toning down the nearly 30,000 gun-related deaths in this country Democracy at Stake in Spain James Skinner Chaos Beckons in Turbulent Spain in 2016 Borrowing Time Tom Kilcourse The OBR estimates that by 2020 the household debt to income ratio will reach 163%, that is, by the time of the next general election... Time to Hold Your Breath in Spain James Skinner With recent terrorist attacks in France, Belgium and elsewhere in the world it is only natural that the present Spanish government, similar to the rest of Europe is on a ‘high alert’ mode during the upcoming general election 20.12.15 War Crimes, Genocide, Terrorism Defining Terror - Antonio Graceffo In the aftermath of the November, 2015 terrorist attacks on Paris, the internet was ablaze with arguments and opinions, many of which were understandably emotionally charged... Apres Paris Le Deluge James Campion + Readers Responses The tragedy in Paris last Friday 13th was horrifying; one might say, terrifying, which is the whole point of terrorism Cultural Values Tom Kilcourse There are many in our society who are sufficiently keen to promote what they call ‘universal values’ that they play down or ignore features of our culture. The Revolution is Televised James Campion Conflict In The Republican Party Fuels Presidential Campaigns - Priebus is facing a full-out revolt, not just ideologically, but quite literally... 2015 No Rhyme or Reason Dean Borok 12.10.15 Just because the Republicans are indulging in their Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown does not mean that the Democrats still do not have time to step on their own dicks and mess up the election. Syria - A Big Mistake James Campion This latest move by the Obama Administration to “shift gears” or “change strategies” in the current bedlam that is Syria is a mistake; check that – a big mistake. Shootout at OK Corral Dean Borok Anybody who takes the intellectual approach to American presidential politics is a non-starter. The elephants' graveyard is littered with the bones of serious policy thinkers Spain on the Edge James Skinner What will stop the break-up of Spain? American Hegemony Tom Kilcourse Since the second world-war corporate America has ruled the economic roost, spreading its influence through globalisation...yet American corporatism is devoid of any national allegiance. The Sound of the Barrel's Bottom Being Scraped James Campion Eleven Hours of Political Theater On Your Dime - whatever the hell this thing was, it was a bust Yemenis Attempt Peace Talks Geneva Marwan Asmar  Yemenis have to put their heads together once and for all and re-establish a state away from violence, confrontation and war. A House Divided James Campion + Readers Responses 10.16.15 Who The Hell Wants To Be Speaker of the House? Who wants to be two heartbeats from the president and lord over the making of law and handling a multi-trillion dollar national budget? Who wants to lead the leaderless...? Syria & The Middle East Either/Or Theory James Campion The party will soon be over for ISIS. This half-cocked theological throw-back had a shelf life anyway, and it has certainly gone on longer than most sane people could have predicted. But this is the beginning of the end; the autumn of 2015. Mark it down. Elections and Democracy in Tanzania: in search of the Mwalimu moral factor Ronald Elly Wanda Tanzania has a highly charged general election slated for 25th October 2015, when the country’s 24 million electorate is expected to bless their next ‘Mwalimu’ with votes for a five year mandate. The Ace Card - Catalonia James Skinner Elections have taken place in the autonomous region of Catalonia, the votes have been counted and the end result is a political mess. Banking Tom Kilcourse There was a time, not so long ago, when a British bank had a manager who was integrated into the community that he or she served. New York Trumps Everybody Dean Borok I vote the straight Democratic line. It wouldn’t matter to me if the Democrats put up Pee Wee Herman or Lassie at the top of the ticket, they have got my vote. Joe Cool Dominating + Readers Responses James Campion Don’t Look Now – Barack Obama Is Beating Second-Term Jinx Life, Right, Halt! Tom Kilcourse 21.09.15 The rapid and extensive development of social media offers tremendous learning opportunities... sadly the possibilities are not fully exploited. White Guy Writing About #BlackLivesMatter James Campion If I were to say walk down the street in a fairly suburban neighborhood at ten pm, a cop car would not slow down to check me out or stop to ask me where I was going. A New Twist on Weekly Shooting James Campion This is a murder/suicide emblematic of our media-obsessed times. A TV guy shoots other TV people on TV and uses social media to promote it. Capitalism Tom Kilcourse Critics of the present economic system are often called ‘anti-capitalists’, and perhaps socialists or Marxists. Most do not deserve such labels. Capitalism, like socialism, is a generic terspam covering widely varying systems. Spain Awaits a Crisis - Autumn 2015 James Skinner We are in the center of a hurricane waiting for the fury of high speed winds to hit as the storm moves away. This is precisely the case of the Spanish political arena at this moment in time. Evaluating Conspiracy Media for Reliability Antonio Graceffo Conspiracy theories have always existed in America, but they have gained popularity since 9/11 ... Media, Money & Donald Trump James Campion For a political junkie, the Donald Trump Show is a welcomed distraction; especially the stuff about how he has made a living off purchasing the system and how it is a sham Planned Parenthood James Campion 'What needs to be pointed out is this gnawing penchant for political activists – both on the Left and the Right (this time it is the Right) to go off half-cocked and just make shit up to support its agenda.' Send in the Clowns James Skinner on politics in Spain Weed legal, Salvadore Dali banned. Welcome to the new radical Spain Educashun! Tom Kilcourse a philosophical shift that took place in British teacher training in the nineteen-sixties when new ‘learning theories’ were swallowed whole by teacher training colleges Watch Your Words Tom Kilcourse I have no special interests in semantics, but when the definition of a word becomes sufficiently loose to affect decision making and cause general confusion it is time to clarify its meaning. The word I have in mind is ‘economy’. The Iran Deal & the Secret War on ISIS James Campion Let me be the first journalist or pundit or columnist or politician or radio host or prime minister to admit I have not read the entire Iran Deal. Europe and Greece Tom Kilcourse Democracy under threat in humiliated Greece? If the European heads, particularly the Germans, feel in any way triumphant, I suggest that they reflect ..Equality ... Of Course James Campion + Readers Responses Let it be so marked that on June 26, 2015, 239 years after declaring the right to be free and sovereign to pursue life’s ambitions under the law, and not some theocratic monarchy, that we have once again embraced our truest nature as a nation... Al Andalus James Skinner Spain Vulnerable in ISIS Geo-Political Aim. All you have to do is take a look at the geographical snapshot of the North of Africa and the ‘view from above’ is more than frightening Progress? Tom Kilcourse Britain requires a strategy that encourages greater investment in productivity, but the omens do not appear favourable. Flags are Bullshit James Campion Or An Ornery Stroll Down Our Useless, Pathetic Clinging To Symbols Welcome (Back) to the Jungle James Campion Our antiwar president is slowly being dragged into a giant mess we’ve already made of Iraq with the kind of “cautious” speak we’ve heard for a century around here Goodbye Patriot Act James Campion Hello USA Freedom Act the odious unconstitutional boondoggle passed into law during the über paranoia of 9/11 and renewed time and again for 14 long years is gone ... Crying Wolf? James Skinner As Podemos surges - Spain is on the Venezuelan path to ruin Elizabeth Warren Unleashed James Campion Elizabeth Warren is what makes writing about politics interesting. She is the Democrats answer to Ted Cruz. She represents the polar end of a national party and can and will make waves to muck up the works when she can. Fight Night Dean Borok The Fight of the Century blah blah blah… Most sportswriters never played sports and they can’t write either. Like entertainment writers – they can’t sing so how are they supposed to know enough to write about it? Baltimore is Burning + Readers Responses James Campion At some point cops will stop killing black guys and black neighborhoods will stop ending up in flames. Not sure when that will be; maybe when my daughter (now seven) will be around to see it. Hard to tell ... Musical Chairs in Spain James Skinner The circus acts have already started... rest assured it is going to be exciting, especially as the present government are losing ground due to mounting corruption scandals Iran: So Far Away James Campion Here’s hoping that a deal can be nailed down with Iran over its nuclear capabilities. Not sure what that deal would be or how it would eventually be stricken, but it is the best course of action now. Madam Shoo-In Part 11 James Campion Ms. Rodham’s Déjà vu Trail Begins Again - People assumed it, had faith in its coming, and now that it has come, you kind of have to observe it as sort of news Reflection or Reflexion Tom Kilcourse During the election campaign in the UK I am increasingly struck by the behaviour of those charged with choosing a government: the electorate... the ignorance revealed is quite astonishing. Middle East Blood Juggle James Campion or How To Hold Onto A Fistful of Rain & Not Have Too Many People Killed A Black and White Issue Tom Kilcourse ...many years of being subjected to anti-racist rhetoric has affected the behaviour of the white population in Britain. Capitalism’s Slow Suicide Tom Kilcourse In seeing people as a cost to be avoided or reduced whenever possible, we forget that they are also consumers The Equality of Hate James Campion Or The Delicate Balance of Us - bigotry, in any way, shape or form is never going away ... Where There Is No There...There James Campion The Perfect Political Storm Rolls In and Out of Washington - political melodrama that means less than nothing beyond the massive egos involved The Importance of Process Tom Kilcourse ...inflation in a large, but narrow, market is extremely dangerous for the British economy A Case for Conflict Ben Cooke Whomever says war is wholly bad just doesn't look hard enough Is Spanish Socialism Dying? James Skinner What is causing this strange political cauldron that is liable to endanger not only the Eurozone but the whole of the European Union? A Philosophical Error Tom Kilcourse The European Union’s crisis with Greece symbolises a fundamental philosophical error in modern thinking, the intellectual dislocation of three symbiotic areas: society, politics and economics. The Anthropology of The Middle Class James Campion A Disjointed Primer from the Front Here’s the deal: There are too many humans on this planet. Way too many. Before we get into this little dissection of the failing middle class in this country, it is important to get that major flaw out of the way. The Scourge of Brian Williams... James Campion + Readers Responses It is important to reiterate an obvious dictum: What is done here weekly hardly represents even the slightest hint of journalism. Yet, somehow I consider myself a journalist. Democratic Compromise Tom Kilcourse Democratic society is a collaborative institution in which each is enabled to express individuality by surrendering to mutually agreed constraints Economic Turnaround in Spain James Skinner Last year’s macro-economic results have come through and there is no doubt that a positive turnaround has occurred. Super Taint James Campion + Readers Responses New England Patriots Befoul Super Bowl Again 114th Congress Welcome to the Jungle James Campion And so the right to govern is upon the Republican Party, which has bitched for six years that it was the minority, throwing stones at the systemic glass house Thatcher’s Legacy Tom Kilcourse The roots our our discontent Free Speech Tom Kilcourse There is enormous irony and not a little hypocrisy to be found in the reaction to the massacre in Paris of the staff of Charlie Hebdo, the satirical magazine. JE SUIS CHARLIE A Call For Satirical Jihad James Campion Another year, another attempt by violent religious idiots to stem the tide of human evolution Rudderless Britain Tom Kilcourse In 2015 we British will be asked to elect a new government that will be responsible for leading the country until 2020. The pre-election bun-fight has begun already Little Nicolas and more James Skinner on Spain More corruption cases at all levels of public entities continue to surface on practically a daily basis... VIVA La Cuba! James Campion It is important to point out that this “normalizing” of relations with Cuba is a long way from lifting the 50-plus-year useless embargo on the Castro regime, which is still an oppressive communist construct Conveniently Invisible America James Campion Our National Apathy Over Dirty Little Secrets Through five administrations representing both parties, the CIA literally ran amok ... Does Size Matter? Tom Kilcourse There is much being said presently about the British government’s deficit, with excuses flying between political parties, and everyone promising to reduce it 2014 Fear of a Barrack Planet James Campion + Readers Responses 11.14.14 The Fallout of The 2014 Mid-Term Elections McConnell is very old. Not sure how old, but likely not able to quickly get through a supermarket line quickly or maneuver a car in city traffic without causing some delays. He speaks as if someone has a gun to his head in a spy film... Immigration & Globalisation Tom Kilcourse Immigration is much in the news of late, largely because of David Cameron’s panic response to the rise of UKIP. Most of the discussion on immigration ignores the context in which immigration takes place... New Jersey: Home Office Tryanny James Campion Governor Chris Christie and his partner in crime, Governor Mario Cuomo in neighboring New York... stood in front of the citizens of their respective states and stripped them all of their civil rights. Spain's Watergate James Skinner Corruption in Spain has taken on a new dimension that could threaten the government. Final Observations - One Week Out - James Campion A Caffeinated Political Notebook If voting made any difference they wouldn’t let us do it.- Mark Twain Too Little Too Late? Tom Kilcourse It is remarkable, and amusing, to see the leaders of the two largest parties suddenly pronouncing on the need to control immigration: two parties that have ruled Britain since Adam was a lad, or so it seems. Rob Astorino Unplugged Parts 1 & 2 James Campion A Candid Discussion with the Republican Candidate for Governor of New York Catalonia’s defiance James Skinner Today’s new generations definitely believe that they are not part of Spain and should therefore be given the freedom to choose their future. The Gates of Hell Dean Borok Ferguson MO is the story that Tom Wolfe wishes he could have written for “The Bonfire of the Vanities” By George! Tom Kilcourse On Friday, 3rd October, George Osborne made a speech to the Institute of Directors in which he accused the Labour Party, trades unions, the Eurozone, UKIP and charities of being anti-business. Obamawar + Readers Letters James Campion Okay, now the anti-war president is at war. This makes sense. Sure it does. Where is Saudi Arabia? Where is Jordan? Where is Turkey? MacMuffins Dean Borok One is compelled to wonder, what is the role of France in the Scottish separatist movement? Thank you Alex Tom Kilcourse As Alex Salmond resigns, following defeat in the referendum, we English perhaps owe him a vote of thanks for shaking the tree of the oligarchy that rules us. Here We Go Again James Campion Iraq 2003 to 2014 - No Plan, No Dice Hung by our own words The NFL Question James Campion on Ray Rice ...no one has explained why seeing a man punch a woman is more serious than having him merely admit to it Gibraltar Again James Skinner With all the problems that have sprung up around the world in recent months, the Spanish Government has nothing better to do than to start yet another riff raff with Britain over Gibraltar. Markets & Democracy Tom Kilcourse What does ‘free market’ mean? Use of the term reminded me of protests by economics undergraduates some time ago against the narrowness of their curriculum. The Effects of Social Conditioning Tom Kilcourse When, on the BBC radio’s Today Programme, broadcaster John Humphrys introduced an item on the Rotherham rapes scandal by asking ‘How can this happen? How can it be?’ I felt the question had the ring of disingenuousness, or simply naivety. St. Louis Blues Dean Borok Ferguson MO is a fascinating control group for anybody interested in speculating how far American attitudes have progressed during the last 150 years. The Middle Ground Tom Kilcourse The first step on the road to political perdition in Britain was taken when someone discovered a land known as the middle ground Fearguson, USA James Campion + Readers Responses Ferguson is a city of around 21,000 citizens in St. Louis County, Missouri. For nearly two weeks now it has been the focal point of the nation, as the shooting death of an unarmed African-American man by a Caucasian police officer has sparked debate, protest, riots, armed guards, and, well…you know the routine. The Sultan Democrat  Marwan Asmar  Erogan's win was never in doubt. However, many fear he will become a dictator and adopt repressive measures on anyone who will oppose his rule, something which he is at pains to deny Contemplating Gaza James Campion “No, I don’t think peace is possible there, not even a tenuous one that appears to be the norm for most of this planet.” The Seeds of Reality Check James Campion This was my introduction to American politics; murder and crime. Where Now for Spain? - All Change James Skinner Most Spaniards, those that can still afford it, are packing their bags and heading for the beaches. But stroll through the streets of any town and you will still see beggars outside most churches and baker shops. The Age of Political Inertia James Campion or How A Humanitarian Crisis Sheds Greater Light on Washington Dysfunction - Everything has now become so political that it has crippled the government to work together to solve even an obviously open/shut case British Liberalism Tom Kilcourse I wonder how J S Mill, and Dickens, would regard the society that they originally inspired. Would Mill approve of what today passes for liberalism? Issues about Community Tom Kilcourse It appears now that some people have had second thoughts on multiculturism. ‘We were wrong : all cultures are not equal’ Civil Rights Act at 50 James Campion Thirteen years before the United States of America was plunged into a long and bloody Civil War from which over 600,000 would be slaughtered beneath the nation’s original sin, Fredrick Douglas poured from his heart the core of patriotism World Cup Madness Dean Borok Tthe World Cup is as much a cultural event as a sporting tournament, where the world’s national social and geopolitical rivalries are played out in a relatively civilized setting King Felipe V1 James Skinner It has been quite a hectic month for Spain, the most important news was the abdication of King Juan Carlos I after forty-nine years and the crowning of his son as the new king of Spain, King Felipe VI In Praise of Freedom of Speech James Campion Ignoring the glaring hypocrisy of the ruling this week, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the First Amendment by striking down a 2007 Massachusetts law that created a 35-foot buffer zone around family planning centers. Ebola Virus: How Prepared Is Nigeria? Odimegwu Onwumere Disease claims 338 lives in Africa so far this year Time Warp by James Campion The Never-Ending Crapshoot That Is Iraq I leave the country for seven days and end up in a time warp? Or did I misread this latest madness on getting “involved” with Iraq again, as if that is an option Rwanda & Burundi: Twins in Central Africa Fergus Simpson Over the last two decades, these twins of Central Africa have begun to go their separate ways... When to Use the ‘G’ Word Fergus Simpson In the Central African Republic (CAR), a society long depressed in poverty... is convulsing: belching out chunks of unprocessed sectarian hate. Murder on a Bridge James Skinner in Spain I was going to start this month’s review on a violent political murder of Isabel Carrasco that took place in the city of Leon. It shook the nation VA Scandal:Our Legacy, Our Sin + Readers Letters James Campion Over two administrations now, both Republican and Democrat, there have been revelations of egregious treatment of veterans by our system 2016 Next Up - Oust Christie James Campion Freeing the Garden State of Assholes since November, 2016 Turns out standing behind a candidate trying to appear relevant during campaign rallies netted him a whole lot of nothing The Ballad of District Five James Campion How Acting Like a Total Jack Ass Helps Flip the Tide of Politics  - What really happened is I got involved. For the first time. And I kicked ass. After Castro James Skinner on Spain Two prominent figures have passed away recently. One, of international fame and the other of local national interest. Both will have, for different reason an impact on this country. President Donald J Trump An Explanation in Two Parts James Campion + Readers Responses Trump was an eight-to-one underdog and he swept the table he needed to sweep. American history was written on November 8, 2016, for good or ill Final Thoughts on Election 2016 James Campion Rogues, Insults, Sexual Assault, FBI Investigations & Treason - The very core of our nation’s grand experiment has been revealed and it is all the things it should be – ugly, petty, furious, passionate, covered in bullshit and innuendo Aleppo is Bleeding Marwan Asmar Aleppo today stands as the city of death, it is a deserted wasteland. Aleppo stands divided into east, the destroyed, obliterated part and the west which is controlled by the government, the Baath regime, stands as one piece. Spain needs a Nostradamus James Skinner So what happens now? Predictions are hard. These will be in order of priorities, untouchables and uncertainties in hands of - at least - a constitutional government, one that upholds the Constitution and the State of Law, vital for the future of Spain and the European Union. Scott Garrett's Intimidation Machine Versus Me James Campion Humorless NJ Congressman Sics Local Police on Lil’ Ol’ Journalist Scott Garrett Pt 1 James Campion Garrett is proudly anti-gay, steeped in religious falderal. He reeks of hatred. It steams from his pours like cat piss in the sun After Trump James Campion What Will Be Left of the Republican Party When Trump Loses? The end game for Citizen Donald J. Trump has begun in earnest, and it is ugly, spiteful and completely nuts, but do not be fooled; it is not without method. The Joke's Over + Readers Responses James Campion Donald J. Trump - Myth Buster Busted Those 90 minutes in front of a record 84 million viewers has eradicated any and all plausible reasons why Trump could govern anything at any time with even the remotest efficiency, never mind be president... but as debates will do, and should do, the veil as been lifted on this particular canard. Yes is Yes in Spain James Skinner 8.10.16 A new face has appeared on the scene, Sr. Javier Fernandez, President of the autonomous region of Asturias, to take up the slack and start talking to Sr. Rajoy before the end of the month. His first speech was to remove the ‘Podemos’ (Sr. Pablo Iglesias communist movement) element from the party... Stiffed Indeed Nigel West Towards the end of April 1964 a slightly disheveled, disorientated middle-aged man stumbled through RAF Northolt after his arrival from Berlin where he had been exchanged in a spy-swap for the former KGB illegal rezident in London, Konon Molody, who had been arrested in January 1961 Time for Chris Christie to Go to Jail James Campion Obstruction of Justice, Perjury, Abuse of Power - Time for our governor to go to jail. - He won’t. - But he should. The Gary Johnson Factor James Campion Libertarian Candidate’s Mighty Wrench Any way you slice it, Gary Johnson is a factor in 2016, which is why he should be allowed to debate on September 26 Why Not Alice? James Campion As Chaos Reigns: The Coop Launches Late Run for the Presidency Madam Shoo-In: Daily Crisis James Campion ...when people ask me how a woman could become president, look no further than her opponent and the party for which he stands – antiquated, racially insulated, unrealistic and tone deaf. Will there be a Government in Spain? James Skinner 27.09.16 Can a Spanish Government be formed or face a third election on Christmas Day. Madrid is tense as the political divisions seem entrenched. ISIS - The End is Nigh James Campion 08/27/16 Out of Money, Losing Ground and Soon Mosul- What appeared as a rather aggressive prediction in this space sometime this past winter is now all-but a reality. The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria will soon have to remove Iraq from its fancy acronym by Christmas.

Life 1 1999-2001

Life 2 2002

Life 3 2003-2007

Life 4 2008-2010

Life 5/6 2011-2

Life 7 2013

Life 8 2014/16

Life 9 2016 -2019

Lifeop10 2019-2021

More comment

Share |