Disjecta

Check this out: https://www.youtube.com/embed/bU4JKV9Opt0 One supposes that the Yeats-ian reference is deliberate ...

Sometime in the early 90s I came back in from somewhere to my parents’ house. It was late and I was tired. I flicked on the news and channel-hopped, and, purely by chance, came across this young guy, unaccompanied, no conductor, no notes - playing all 24 of Paganini'sCaprices, on Channel 4. It was likeContinue reading "Markov does Pag!"

I love all types of music - original late '70s punk, traditional Irish fiddle music, string quartet, jazz (esp Ethiopian), classical, disco, metal, hip hop, rap, grime, trash, ska, industrial, electronic, opera, etc. To me, there is good and bad in all types of music. Country usually gets a bad rap though. This is largelyContinue reading "My kinda country:"

Racial and sexual discrimination are difficult to get away with in the legal profession; and that's as it should be. Interestingly though, this widespread equality culture has 2 vast blind spots. I've written previously about the acceptability of class discrimination, in my blog post entitled "<The bias that nice people will never admit to>". However, whilstContinue reading "Lawyer wanted, aged 24 – 29"

Short, clear, rational article by Paul Mason, on why the hissy-fit Brexit project, always dumb, is now firmly in reverse gear - article <here>.

Interesting article on the Russian negotiating style, with some observations on the Chinese style too: "Although negotiation theorists speak about the overall opportunity, and finding “win-win” outcomes that can benefit both sides, Russians find it difficult to adapt to this negotiation approach. Indeed, the word “victory” itself in the Russian language means that the otherContinue reading "Drafting an assassination clause"

Michèle Mouton I show my girls (10 and 8) you tube clips of car rallying from the 1980s. It's part of my one-man crusade to counter the Taylor Swift effect. Taylor Swift is a cynical charlatan with a heart full of dust. They talk about female "role models" among the various brain-dead oompa-loompa slebs; butContinue reading "International Women’s Day"

Fact 1: Tories accepting Russian bungs - article <here>. And who said this? "Russian influence in the UK is the new normal. Successive Governments have welcomed the oligarchs and their money with open arms, providing them with a means of recycling illicit finance through the London ‘laundromat’, and connections at the highest levels with accessContinue reading "Join the dots"

I've been going to Iceland since the turn of the century. At that time, when you ventured into the interior, you had the entire place to yourself. It's one of my favourite places on earth. Some pics of black beaches. You have to explain to people who haven't been that "No, I did not useContinue reading "Life’s a"

After Brexit, proud Brexiter Mr. Jacob Rees Mogg's Somerset Capital Management firm promptly repatriated a large amount of capital to the EU (Dublin). Actions always speak louder. 71% of British businesses surveyed this week state that <Brexit has damaged their businesses>. Rees Mogg is now reduced to appealing to Sun readers to give him goodContinue reading "Planet Zorg"