250 years ago a choice was made. This was not inevitable. Nor was the country that came after it. And choices have continued to be made. What Comes Next? In the musical Hamilton, when George III realizes he’s lost the colonies, he switches from asserting ‘you’ll be back’ to asking “What comes next?…Do you know… Continue reading A Republic, If You Can Keep It
Category: Blethers
Thinking about Death
Yesterday was the anniversary of the day my Dad left us. This week, my dear friend Marta’s father joined him in the great whatever. A week or so ago, a friend my age finally stopped being able to outrun the chronic illness that should have prevented him doing the many remarkable things he did with… Continue reading Thinking about Death
Who Speaks, Next?
I was listening to Werner Herzog on the Conan O’Brien podcast, over the past week. As I listened to the calm voice of this man who were born in the middle of–and on the wrong side of–World War II, talking about environmentalism and the glorious potential of technology and Ai along with its obvious risks;… Continue reading Who Speaks, Next?
We are all Zelenskyy
“I would like Trump’s team to be more truthful,” said Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, today, speaking for all of us. Source When I went and looked at what he was responding to I may have (once again) screamed into the void: YOU CANT JUST SAY STUFF AND HAVE IT BE “TRUE”!!! Except, apparently you can just say… Continue reading We are all Zelenskyy
Back to Blogging
OK, I was – briefly – using this blog for one of my business ventures, but I’m reclaiming it as my space online. I need somewhere to just be me. Yeah, I got sucked in to social media, and didn’t we all stop blogging when Facebook came along? And aren’t we all now regretting it?… Continue reading Back to Blogging
Let The Summer Time Roll
I enjoyed our two weeks away, and it was definitely long enough for me to start thinking about all the things I wanted to do when I got back. There are many writing-related things, of course, but I’m trying to let them take a back-seat to family life, since I have my boys (9 and… Continue reading Let The Summer Time Roll
Normal
Today’s post is a private one on my boys’ blog. You probably won’t be able to read it, unless you’re me. (You’re not, are you?)
Things I Did Today
1. Woke up surprised that I wasn’t hungover given the amount of booze I consumed yesterday to celebrate becoming an American citizen. Realized it was 9:45 and both of us were still asleep while the boys played in the basement and helped themselves to salt&vinegar crisps for breakfast. Parents of the Year! 2. Walked to… Continue reading Things I Did Today
Welcome To America
I have a question for everyone on my list who is not American but has traveled here (or lived here). Imagine you have a friend who is traveling to the US for the first time. Previously they’ve only ever taken package holidays to beach resorts but now they’re branching out to a couple of weeks… Continue reading Welcome To America
Hot Now, Hot Then
“Healthfully Air-Conditioned!” When they filmed “The Blob” at our local movie theater in the 1950s, there was a banner on the cinema proclaiming it to be “Healthfully Air-Conditioned”. Every year for Blobfest they put up a replica banner (among other things. You really ought to come for Blobfest some year) and it takes me right… Continue reading Hot Now, Hot Then