Richard D North.

On culture, Nature, liberal issues, monasticism, spirituality

Page 45 of all posts

JCHR’s feeble report on policing protest

I know, I know, it's the parliamentary committee on human rights. So it's bound to fret about whether the police bend over backwards to safeguard protest. But even so, this new report does rather miss the point. Read more...

Published

23 March 2009

Filed in

Politics & campaigns

Julie Myerson’s gift to Jake

The Myerson family saga is a perfect media event. I can think of no-one who is losing. Jake, especially, stands a good chance of benefiting. Read more...

Published

12 March 2009

Filed in

Mind & body

Rachel Getting Married (2009)

Neurotic young women closely observed make for great movies. Such films set themselves a splendid challenge: can they keep the audience roughly on-side? Kym - our anti-heroine in this piece - is a perfect case in point. Read more...

Published

16 February 2009

Filed in

On movies

Depression or recession: how bad?

It is commonly said that we are facing "the worst" recession or depression for decades or even a century or so. If this is true, how much does it matter? Read more...

Published

15 February 2009

Filed in

Crosby isn’t the worst rat this week

I have no idea how much of the Banking Crisis can be blamed on Sir James Crosby, but there is certainly an unseemly rush to blame him for everything now. The Prime Minister, politicians, and journalists are all piling in and it's ugly. Read more...

Published

12 February 2009

Filed in

Stay home, David Shukman of the BBC!

The Galapagos Islands are under threat from mass tourism and climate change, says David Shukman, reporting from them for the BBC's Today Programme this morning. Read more...

Published

12 February 2009

Filed in

On TV & Radio

Great British bankers!

The four ex-leaders of HBOS and RBS were impressive in their account of their parts in the Banking Crisis. They were smarter and more interesting than most of their questioners from the Treasury Select Committee today. Read more...

Published

10 February 2009

Filed in

Politics & campaigns

Shareholders will save the banks

Is it time to blame shareholders for the credit crunch? I've tried thinking through blaming nearly everyone else and was surprised to see that for some reason I'd left the firms' owners off the list. That's weird, since I normally assume that shareholders are the ultimate arbiters of a firm's values. Read more...

Published

07 February 2009

Filed in

Carol Thatcher’s “Golly Wog” hell

As I write, I have what used to be called a "Golly Wog" on my desk. I like it. Golly! Carol Thatcher has of course been a complete clot, but you can't help feeling sorry for her. Read more...

Published

04 February 2009

Filed in

Mind & body, Politics & campaigns

Time for a new British defence policy?

Overstretched. Undermanned. Unloved. And given silly things to do. Sensible people are saying this of the British military. Isn't it time the politicians explained why they think the sacrifice is worthwhile - and at least spent the money which might help? Read more...

Published

31 January 2009

Filed in

Politics & campaigns
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