Eternally Critical

Of Innocent Mistakes and Political Lies

2017-02-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

Kellyanne Conway strikes again. Shortly after entertaining the nation with the notion of “alternative facts”, she regales us once more, this time with tales of a massacre that never was. “The Bowling Green massacre”, which Kellyanne referenced in an interview on MSNBC’s “Hardball” with Chris Matthews, never happened. She was trying to defend President Trump’s migration ban, but delivered the next chapter in what is fast becoming a ridiculous comedy of PR errors.

Yes, Ms. Conway has owned up to part of this mistake and said she was referring to the “Bowling Green Terrorists”. However, the point of her message was to justify Trump’s ban by saying that Obama had done something similar. The whole attempt fell flat on its face because:

1. There was no Bowling Green Massacre

2. The terrorists were not planning an attack in the U.S., but were planning to ship weapons to Iraq

3. Obama’s administration did not at any time place a ban on refugees from Iraq. They did however review vetting procedures for Iraqi refugees and Special Immigrant Visa applicants in 2011, which slowed down the process.

I can see how one could make a mistake on live TV and say “Massacre” instead of “Terrorist”. Totally. Almost. Anyway, that doesn’t address the rest of the issue; the total basis for the statement was untrue. But of course, we don’t use the word “lie” anymore, do we?

Another case of "alternative facts" perhaps?

Trump vs. Putin

2017-01-24T19:19:00.000-08:00

So, in 2014 Trump called Russia a threat, but now if we got along with Russia “it wouldn’t be so bad”. I sort of agree with that. It would be great if the US and Russia were to work together towards the furtherance of world peace and stability. It would be an absolute nightmare if the two countries where to work together to nefarious self-serving ends, such as colonizing countries and “taking their oil”. However, I strongly suspect that the reality will be very different.

I don’t think either Donald Trump or Vladimir Putin trust each other very much. I think there is the hope that they will get along, but I’d be very surprised if Russia’s interests are found to align with those of the United States in most cases. Consequently, with Donald Trump pursuing an aggressive isolationist philosophy, I expect “America First” to ultimately fly in the face of any proposed long term alliance with Russia.

Does Vladimir Putin hope to profit from the Presidency of Donald Trump? I’m quite sure that he does. Will he do so? Maybe for a while, maybe for no period of time at all. Once the dust clears, words turn into action, speeches turn into policy and Twitter diplomacy gives way to real substantive conversations, I expect both sides to have a rude awakening; and that awakening will probably be ruder on Putin’s side. Donald Trump remains unpredictable on the world stage and if Russia banks on his support and friendship, they’d better have a good back-up plan.

Alternative Facts – The New United States of America

2017-01-23T09:06:00.000-08:00

I have lived under several governments in 3 continents and am sad to say that the present U.S. one already reminds me of a third world dictatorship. Am I being overly dramatic? Probably. However, when I hear things like Kellyanne Conway’s defence of White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer’s bold-faced lie, I can’t help but draw strong comparisons in my head to what I've seen before. Think about everything we’ve heard through the campaign, on inauguration day and now: bombastic rhetoric, over blown promises, overt and covert bullying (allegedly), brazen untruths that not only insult the viewer’s intelligence but takes said intelligence round the back shed and gives it a solid beating … I feel like I’m in the Twilight Zone. Is this the United States of America? Is this real? It all sounds disturbingly similar to what we’re accustomed to seeing from African and Middle-Eastern despots (among others.)

Kellyanne Conway is a bad liar. She visibly flinched as she talked about “alternative facts” and clearly didn’t believe what she was saying. Even Sean Spicer looked unconvincing in his speech. Why can’t any of these folks positively influence the President when he sets off on one of his tours of alternate reality? His loose relationship with the truth was on full display during the elections, and didn’t seem to stop him from ultimately winning the race. Perhaps that’s why he thinks he can keep going in the same direction.

Arguably, all politicians lie. Certainly, all politicians present the facts in a way that favors them most. However, most credible politicians do not make bold-faced lies which are easily controverted by a simple google search, a publicly available video recording or listening to an audio archive.

As a man of faith, I believe God can use anyone to fulfill His purposes on the earth. And yes, God can use Donald Trump. Some days however, it’s easier to believe than others.

May God continue to bless the United States of America.

We Shall Overcome

2017-01-15T19:09:00.001-08:00

We shall overcome
We shall overcome
We shall overcome someday
Deep in my heart
I do believe
We shall overcome someday

So starts the popular anthem that inspired a generation of civil rights activists, and still lives on today. My daughter came home from school singing the song, and I marveled. They're teaching this in schools? Wow, things have really come a long way. Having only recently seen the movie "Selma", one is reminded of the struggles at the heart of the civil rights movement in the '60's. Of course struggles remain today and we only need to watch the news to see that. The damning report on policing in Chicago, the spate of violence that has given rise to the "Black Lives Matter" movement, the intolerance which many Donald Trump supporter have unleashed on the diverse public in the light of his election victory, inflamed by the divisive rhetoric of the President-elect's campaign itself... yes, America still has a very long way to go before racial prejudice and attendant violent conflict is truly overcome.

Martin Luther King day is a good opportunity to reflect on the positive steps that America has taken towards racial equality, and to honor the memory of the man who, among others, gave his life in pursuit of that dream. Dr. King was a flawed man, as we all are, but he was instrumental in his life and in his death, in bringing the issue of racial inequality to the consciousness of a complacent nation.

Now, as America bids a long goodbye to its first African American President, it says hello to a new and uncertain era, where key participants in the incoming administration are dogged by accusations of racism and association with openly racist organizations. Will the new administration sincerely seek to govern in the interests of all Americans? I sincerely hope so, and we may all be about to find out.

The Crown (TV Series - 2016) - A Review

2017-01-11T12:42:00.000-08:00

The Crown is a Netflix series which chronicles Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The beloved British Monarch is portrayed by Claire Foy (Anne Boylen in the fantastic “Wolf Hall”), first as the Princess Elizabeth just before her marriage to Prince Philip, and Season One ends a few years into her reign. Matt Smith (a former Dr. Who) plays the young Prince Philip.

I came to the series with very high expectations, not all of which were met. Some episodes were positively riveting and I came away with a fresh appreciation of the humanity of the Queen’s father, King George VI. A couple of episodes verged on being slow, though being a keen lover of historical drama I never did feel like switching off and walking away.

When Season one was done, I felt as if not enough ground had been covered and there was still too much shut away behind closed doors. I was left wanting more depth to the story, to some of the characters, as much as is possible when dramatizing real events. Having said that, with multiple Golden Globe nominations and wins including best drama and best actress in a Drama series, Netflix has clearly done something right here.

Would I watch a Season 2? Certainly. Would I recommend the Crown to others? Yes I would, but with a caveat. You probably need to be a fan of historical drama, or an avid Anglophile to really enjoy this. It’s not even particularly Royalist in its treatment of the family; if anything I wouldn’t be surprised if it was made by people with Republican leanings (in the Monarchical sense).

Check it out, and let me know what you think!

Annie (2014) Movie Review

2017-01-06T12:35:00.000-08:00

I feel quite strongly about this one. Annie is a story about an optimistic young foster child who dreams of reuniting with her parents one day, and crosses paths with a rich man who is himself incomplete. The tale follows their interractions and effect on each other's life and world. The 2014 adaptation of the much-loved musical was almost universally panned by critics, and as I direct result I didn't bother to see it until recently. A quiet holiday afternoon afforded the perfect opportunity and I sat down to view this with the family. Despite the critical consensus, we all quite enjoyed this movie.

Let's get one thing out of the way right now. The voices are auto tuned, and I think this greatly detracts from the viewer's experience. You can't beat great, natural voices, but for whatever reason, this musical decided to go down the robotic route. This is my biggest criticism of the movie, and it's a big one for a musical.

Having said that, I enjoyed the modern take on the story, the reworked old songs, as well as the new ones. Stand out song for me is "Who am I" which features a sweet harmonic blend between Jamie Fox, Cameron Diaz and Quvenzhane Wallis. Yes, it's auto tuned as well but I really love the harmonies and it still sounds beautiful.

Cameron Diaz overreacts as Miss Hannigan, intentionally so, but I'm not sure it always works. I didn't always find Quvenzhane believable in the title role, but overall she did a good job. I think Jamie Foxx was excellent as Oliver Warbucks, and clearly the best singer of the main cast.

Why did critics hate this so much? I suspect nostalgia had a lot to do with it. This Annie did not pay enough deference to the 1982 version - indeed it was perceived by some to have poked fun at it - and I believe that most critics found the change too radical to endure. Some decried the movie's apparent materialistic message, but it's difficult to unreservedly side with that criticism, considering the fact that the film did try rather unsubtly to praise the value of integrity above financial gain. Quoting a couple of lines:

"Who am I, what have I become?
Do I stand for something, or for money?"

So, Annie 2014 is not a perfect movie, but it does not deserve 27% on rotten tomatoes. 56% would have been more in order, which is about where IMDB sits (5.3/10).

The Trouble With North Korea

2017-01-02T16:02:00.002-08:00

So, Kim Jung Un is now planning to test a nuclear launch missile which could potentially reach the United States. How did we get here? I remember the days when the UN was inspecting sites in North Korea; you know, those days before the second war in Iraq. North Korea asserted its rights to use nuclear power, and after a brief cat-and-mouse game, kicked the inspectors out of the country and re-opened their nuclear research facilities.

What did the UN do about it? Oh, the usual... strongly denounced North Korea's actions, tabled sanctions, then sat impotently by as North Korea gleefully progressed its nuclear programme. What did the United States do about it? Not much. They were too busy planning to invade Saddam Hussein in order to divest him of ... wait for it ... weapons of mass destruction.

There is something very wrong with your foreign policy if you ignore a country that's kicking out nuclear inspectors and openly restarting nuclear facilities, and attack the country that insists it has no weapons and is at least making a show of a last-minute attempt to cooperate with the international community.

All that is ancient history... except that it isn't. The effects of those decisions, actions and distinct inaction from 14 years ago are still felt today, and may reverberate far into the future if nothing is done about it now. What does one do about North Korea? Dismiss and ignore the leader's statements? Assume they're just rhetoric, politically motivated and only loosely based on facts? Charge in with military might and risk destabilizing the Korean Peninsula - again?

I think it's a very bad idea to keep standing by while a notoriously reclusive and potentially unstable regime gets its hands on long-range nuclear capabilities. However, it's equally -if not more- dangerous to destabilize strong regional/national leadership and unwittingly unleash a flood of potentially disgruntled formerly suppressed militant groups upon the region and the world. Perhaps it's time for a proper negotiation with North Korea which will ease economic sanctions in return for a cessation of nuclear activities.

I pray for wisdom for those who do have to make the decisions in today's perilous world. May God help them, and us.

Is Russia in Charge Right Now?

2016-12-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

So, Vladimir Putin has announced a Syrian Ceasefire. Was the United States anywhere near that negotiation table? No. The UK? Not even remotely so. France? (What, who?) No, Russia and Turkey have apparently ground down their enemies and worked together to negotiate a ceasefire in Syria while the West stares impotently on.

Am I the only one who feels like he’s witnessing a changing of the guard? Is Russia in charge right now? In a potential close relationship between the United States and Russia, would this be a marriage of equals or the capitulation of a superpower to a re-emerging one?

I have the distinct fear that President-elect Trump’s lack of experience will play into the superior scheming hands of the Russian strongman. I don’t know Mr. Putin; I can’t claim to understand his deeper motivations or intentions for Europe, the Middle East or the world. I just know that he appears to be built in the mold of dictators past; strong, awe-inspiring to an extent, unassailable and well-loved by a solid cross-section of his people. On the surface there appears to be much to admire, but not far beneath there seems to lurk the threat of something more sinister. Real, or imagined? Who knows?

I remember an article about 20 years ago in Time Magazine which started something like this: “America rules the world, and that’s good. Who would you rather have in charge? China…?” Well, Donald Trump ran a campaign to “make America great again.” With Europe glancing nervously at its long-time ally, uncertain of what the future brings and where its true ideological allegiance will lie, with a resurgent – no – dominant Russia strutting the world stage and reshaping the global conflict landscape, with a strong China slowly buying out Africa and courting new friends and allies in South America, Donald Trump has his work cut out for him.

The Future of the United Nations

2016-12-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

I remember watching an episode of Dick van Dyke's “Diagnosis Murder” many years ago, in which a terrorist conspiracy theorist accused the “United Nations shadow government” of influencing US affairs. Watching that, I laughed as I considered how such a story line would not make it to the screen today. I would be surprised if even conspiracy theorists thought so much of the UN today as to presume that they could have a shadow government in place in any major nation.

Donald Trump has said that the UN is a club for people to “have a good time”. He has also said that “things will be different” after he takes office. What exactly does he mean? Of course, we can't be sure. But we can be sure that the UN cannot survive as a viable international body without the financial and moral support of the United States.

The US pays 22 percent of the world's contributions to the UN budget, 28 percent of the peacekeeping budget and is one of the 5 permanent members of the security council. The UN headquarters itself is located in New York City. It must be quite troubled for the UN leadership to witness the growing schism between the organisation and its primary benefactor.

I expect a Trump-led United States to be much more nationalistic than the Obama administration; President-elect Trump doesn't seem to take much interest in being the “leader of the free world”. On the contrary, he clearly stated during his ultimately successful election campaign: “I'm not running to be President of the World”. Where does this leave bodies devoted to international cooperation such as the UN? I submit that it puts those bodies on the path to quasi-irrelevance unless and until they fall in line with the will of the US Government. And if truly the UN cannot function without towing the US's diplomatic line, then what is the point of the body except as a thinly veiled cover aimed at legitimising US global foreign policy?

The new world order commences on January 20^th. What exactly will it look like? None of us knows for sure, but I bet it's going to be interesting!

The Little Prince (2015) - Movie Review

2016-12-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

My wife and daughter watched the little prince several weeks ago and were very moved by it. Over Thanksgiving and Christmas, my daughter's gifts have centred around Little Prince merchandise including a stuffed Mr. Fox, a star night-light and principal character figurines. Feeling rather left out, I decided to watch the recent Netflix production of the Little Prince this morning. I went into the movie not totally unaware of the story, having watched a Japanese Anime version as a child (which by the way only retains some characters, not the story) and having been told the end by a friend a few months ago. (Thanks pal).

The Netflix version is more closely based on the immensely popular book by Antoine de Saint-Expuery, and stars the voice-over talents of James Franco, Rachel McAdams, Marion Cotillard, Benicio del Toro and Paul Giamatti. It tells the tale of a little girl, burdened by the lofty expectations of a controlling but well-intentioned mother, who accidentally makes a friendship with an old man in the eccentric house next door. The old man proceeds to tell her of the little prince, a little explorer from another planet, who he met in the Sahara desert decades earlier.

The tale is fantastical, multi-layered and emotional. This version beautifully blends the original tale with a modern story, which offers up additional tools to help with interpreting the story; and yes, this story does require interpretation – a lot of it. This is the chief strength of the Little Prince. It's not just an entertaining tale for children; in fact, I wonder if it was ever truly intended to be a children's story at all. I encountered multiple layers of meaning in the story and found myself quite seriously contemplating my life at the end of it. The themes are not new, but they are beautifully and artistically considered and delivered.

I will say that I questioned the suitability of one of the themes for children (again lending credence to my theory that this was never intended to be a children's story) but the treatment of that theme was done tastefully and artistically, in such a way that the impact on young minds would be minimized.

All things considered, I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and would give it 5/5.

The New Nuclear World – Of Putin, Trump and the Power of a Tweet

2016-12-24T09:35:00.005-08:00

Earlier this Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed the need for Russia to “strengthen the military potential of strategic nuclear forces, especially with missile complexes that can reliably penetrate any existing and prospective missile defense systems.” U.S. President-elect Donald Trump responded (at least it appeared to be a response to Putin's statement) with the following tweet:

“the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes.”

The world reacted with disbelief. Putin and Trump? Aren't they supposed to be on good terms? Did the President-elect of the United States just start a new nuclear arms race with a tweet?! If there is any reason to take away the President-elect's mobile devices for a while, this is one. Did he intend to be provocative? Did he mean to send a message to the world that America is strong and won't be bullied and will never back down? Or was he simply emphasising the need to modernize and maintain America's existing nuclear capabilities?

The fact that the tweet is so ambiguous about such a sensitive matter affecting world peace and security is extremely troubling. Is this a foretaste of things to come? I view President Putin as a reasonably sensible leader. Strong, authoritarian and certainly not to everyone's taste, but he's no Kim Jung-Il. What happens down the line if the US President engages in loose or ambiguous exchanges with a more volatile nuclear regime? Isn't this the very thing the Clinton Campaign warned America about?

Trump reportedly gave further colour to his tweet in a telephone conversation with MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski:

“Let it be an arms race. We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all.”

There's no need going on about the US 2016 elections anymore. They are past, Trump is President-elect and he will become the 45^th President of the United States. The world must wish him well and work with him for all our sakes, or the consequences could be very dire indeed. My generation has been very lucky, in not having seen any major global conflict - yet. However, such conflicts are not necessarily consigned to the history books; it would not be the first time that millions have been led to their doom on the back of a leader's avoidable mistakes.

This is where we must look to those who surround the President-elect; those who are more diplomatic, who have more experience of the reality of world affairs beyond the cold hard world of business-driven brinkmanship. This is where the team around Trump will need to step in, to bring out the best in the man, and keep the worst at bay.

I wish them well. I wish us all well.

Adam Saleh, the Boy Who Cried الذئب (Wolf) ? #Boycott Delta

2016-12-23T08:10:00.000-08:00

The “Youtube sensation” Adam Saleh recently made an accusation that he was kicked off a Delta Airlines flight for speaking Arabic. My first reaction to this story was utter shock and horror. According to Mr. Saleh, he was speaking on the phone to his mother when a “white” lady nearby said she was uncomfortable. There was a verbal altercation, and he and his friend got kicked off the plane. Adam Saleh recorded part of the episode, and aired it on his popular Youtube channel.

What is or was your reaction upon hearing this story for this first time? Anger? Sadness? Confusion? What is the world coming to, right? Well, this is one of those situations where it pays to check the facts before drawing a conclusion. Who exactly is Adam Saleh? My independent research (cough… Google) has shown that he is a young man well known for “crying wolf.” For example, he once published a video of himself being allegedly frisked by a policeman for dressing like a Muslim. It later emerged that this video was faked and that the “policeman” was an actor. Adam’s defence? Apparently it was a re-enactment of what had happened earlier. I agree that a person’s prior wrongdoing does not conclusively prove that their current action is wrong. It does however make you think twice, thrice and even four times about the integrity of their current position.

An alternative version of events, according to a witness on the plane, is that Adam Saleh randomly pumped his first in the air and shouted in Arabic on 3 occasions, causing her to state that she was uncomfortable, and that this is what kicked off the whole debacle. Now that puts a whole different spin on things. I know I would feel extremely uncomfortable under those circumstances! Here is a great summary by David Wood.

Whatever the facts, this is a lesson that life has taught me well. There’s always another side to the story, and you are forming your opinion on incomplete facts, if you have not heard that other side. As much as possible, always seek out both sides of the story, digest them, and then decide what you believe.

What is your opinion of Adam Saleh and the #boycott Delta trend?

Max Lucado's The Christmas Candle - 2013 - Movie review

2016-12-21T20:55:00.001-08:00

I saw Max Lucado's "The Christmas Candle" last night on Amazon Prime and quite enjoyed it. The story, based on Mr. Lucado's book, starts off with a tale about a candle which is touched by an angel once a year; whoever lights that candle and prays is sure to get an answer. It then moves on to a subsequent generation and follows the tale of a preacher whose faith has been derailed by personal tragedy, and looks to find it again in the small town from which - coincidentally - originated the legend of the Christmas Candle.

Ultimately this is a tale about faith and doubt, reason and superstition, and the discerning viewer can draw lessons from the parable even where they are not clearly stated. While I enjoyed the movie and it delivered more than I expected (for I grant I expected a simpler, lighter Christmas tale), I do think it lost an opportunity to clearly articulate a particular lesson; I would have written the end slightly differently, to accentuate the message that had been implied by other events in the movie.

Hans Matheson shines in the lead role as the preacher David Richmond, while Sylvester McCoy (Dr. Who 1987 - 1989!) also does a fantastic job as Edward Harrington, the old keeper of the candles, supported by Leslie Manville. Susan Boyle's debut movie performance leaves much to be desired; she's a truly gifted singer, but she seemed stiff and uncomfortable on set, and I even suspected that her speaking voice had been dubbed over - even if by herself - in a couple of scenes.

The critics hated this movie - not a surprise given the subject matter and the way it was treated - but most audiences responded positively according to the scores on Rotten Tomatoes. I'm with the audiences on this one. It could have been executed better, but it was entertaining and inspiring, without being saccharine.

If you get the chance to see it, let me know what you think!

Murder in Ankara

2016-12-20T14:14:00.002-08:00

The assassination of the Russian Ambassador in Turkey is a cruel, senseless act which cannot be justified by Russia’s actions in Syria. War is a complicated and brutal thing, and it’s difficult to summarize the rights and wrongs of any conflict – where they can be defined at all. Regardless of the merit or otherwise of Russia’s actions in supporting Bashar Al-Assad, the taking of a life outside of legitimate combat is nothing short of murder, and the main actor(s) in such an affair are nothing but cold-blooded killers. There is no honor in shooting a man in the back and then ranting like a lunatic waiting to be taken out. There is no glory in robbing a wife of her husband and a son of his father.

The killer has wasted his own life, as well as Andrei Karlov’s. He has changed nothing in Syria and his actions will do nothing to further the interests of the besieged, persecuted and oppressed. He has only taken a life, lost his own and thrown his own family and friends as well as Mr. Karlov’s into disarray.

What a broken world we live in, and how sad that people are moved to treat their fellow man so.

What a broken world we live in.

I Love Lucy (TV Series 1951 - 1957) - Brief Review

2016-12-19T21:43:00.000-08:00

For a comedy series this old, it's amazing how current and funny the jokes are. Of course I've heard about the series since I was a child, but never had the opportunity of watching it. Having recently discovered it on Hulu, it's become one of my favorite comedies. There are 4 main characters; Lucy (Lucille Ball) - a wide-eyed slightly neurotic housewife; her husband Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), and their landlord & landlady, Fred (William Vance) and Ethel (Vivian Vance).

Lucy is the main comical character, with Ricky playing the sensible one. Neither Fred nor Ethel are particularly sensible, which adds to the fun. The series is fully scripted, but you wouldn't know it; wonderfully acted, genuinely funny (and not much is these days) and full of old-fashioned heart, I whole-heartedly recommend this to lovers of clean family comedy.

Black or White (2014) Movie Review

2016-12-18T20:58:00.000-08:00

Black or White stars Kevin Costner, Octavia Spencer and Gillian Jacobs in a drama about a custody battle for Elliott Anderson's (Costner's) mixed race grand-daughter. I watched this yesterday on Netflix - after much procrastination - and enjoyed it. The casting of the little girl was impeccable; totally believable as the child torn between loyalty to and love for her grandfather, and her love for her wider African-American extended family. Add to this the longing for a father she never knew and you have the makings of a good dramatic tale.

I had feared that this movie would be predictable and preachy, but I was wrong. The subject matter, I feel, was appropriately handled with a good dose of realism mixed with smatterings of Hollywood caricatures and absurdities, for dramatic and sometimes comic effect.

Having said that, I didn't find myself as emotionally invested as I should have been, and I'm not sure why. There was plenty of emotional bait drip-fed to the viewer, so perhaps this speaks more to my state of mind while watching than to the movie's power to engage its audience and make them feel something.

If you like dramas and movies about race/ racial identity, then you might well enjoy this one.

This Is Us (TV Series - 2016) - A Brief Review

2016-12-16T23:39:00.000-08:00

I first encountered this delightful drama after my wife started watching it on Hulu several weeks ago. I started from the last 10 minutes of Episode one, got busy, and dropped in again halfway through Episode 3. A couple of episodes later, I realized that this show was a keeper. If you've been lucky enough not to have not had the story spoilt, then please start from Episode one, pay attention and enjoy the unfolding drama.

This is us is well acted - the entire cast is strong - well written and layered with emotion. It's exactly the sort of program I enjoy watching; definite progress is made each week as the story unfolds, as opposed to some dramas which stretch out a theme or premise like some sort of never-ending cliffhanger. This show is one that satisfies, episode after episode, and yet simultaneously leaves you questioning and wanting more.

If I have a criticism of the show, it's that a story arc was inserted towards the end of the season that I found difficult to reconcile with a character we had slowly grown to and love. It wasn't believable to me and seemed to have been written in as an after-thought.

Season one is now over in the US, and I can't wait for season two. Hopefully the show will not falter, stumbling down unnecessary routes but will stick to heart of the compelling unfolding tale which has gripped many fans, including this one, for the last several weeks.

What Does it Take To Be President? The Playbook from 2016

2016-12-14T08:28:00.001-08:00

1 Speak with confidence. It doesn’t matter if you know what you’re talking about, or if what you’re saying makes sense. Just say it. Say it loud, and say it like you mean it. (No, it doesn’t matter if you mean it either).

Take every opportunity that comes your way to drum up publicity. Think of the most outlandish thing you can say, and just say it! Okay, it may hurt you for a while but folks can be pretty forgiving; you’ll be okay.

3. Grab cats. Lots of them. Work it out.

4. Be a master of social media. Don’t worry about looking a bit odd sending random tweets in the middle of the night. It shows you’re engaging with your public and what’s more, that you’re entertaining!

5. Appear different. Promise to drain swamps or something. Again, you don’t have to think through what this means in detail. It’ll sound great.

And if you follow these steps and do become president? Tear up the playbook and start from scratch. Just hire smart folks and let them run the country for you, freeing up your time to remotely manage your business investments and produce celebrity reality shows.

Done deal! Based on a true story.

America is Good and Russia is Bad. Right?

2016-12-12T09:13:00.000-08:00

I grew up in a world where Russia was bad and America was good. These were the final cold war years, the time of Gorbachev and Reagan, when even superhero comic books had our caped wonders battling the evils of communism and contemplating the assassination of Soviet leaders. How times have changed.

The election of Donald Trump in the United States has made a lot of people question the future of the established world order. That settled state of affairs where America stands for freedom and tolerance and democracy, against despots and tyrants and terrorists, is a thing which can no longer be taken for granted.

In this writer’s opinion, President-elect Trump said and did many troubling things during his successful presidential campaign, two of which were to publicly speak in favor of Russia’s Vladimir Putin and suggest his (Trump’s) support of Russia’s alleged hacking into the Democratic Party’s emails. He stated clearly that he admired the Russian strongman, and that Putin had bested Obama at every step.

Now that Trump is weeks away from being sworn in as the President of the United States, what are we to expect from the United States – Russia relationship? Is this apparent chumminess a good thing? Does it signal the start of a safer more coordinated era of peaceful diplomacy among major world powers? Or is it the start of a troubling decline towards pragmatism and away from social and philosophical ideals that have held sway in Western world politics since the end of World War II?

Only time will tell.

An Eye For An Eye

2014-07-15T00:09:00.000-07:00

An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind. So said India's spiritual leader, Mahatma Gandhi. I can't help but remember this quote as I watch events unfold in the Middle East. I speak particularly of the on going escalation of conflict between Israel and the people of Palestine.

In June this year, 3 Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and cruelly murdered by as yet unknown criminals. Israel blamed Hamas for the horrific act, and warned of retribution. Shortly afterwards, a Palestinian teenager was dead. Tensions escalated in Palestine, rioting ensued. Israel threatened Hamas, while Hamas threatened Israel. Cue the firing of rockets from Hamas, air and naval attacks from Israel, and multiple Palestinian deaths. My heart bleeds for the parents of the three murdered teenagers. I weep for the parents of the murdered Palestinian teenager. I cry for the families of the 180 people who have reportedly been killed as a result of Israel's attacks in Palestine. There are no winners in this. Killing one more, or hundreds of people will not bring back those poor boys. Rather, the continued bombardment of a people who consider themselves to be under oppression, is more likely to breed further resistance, hate and revenge down the line. On the other hand, the continued firing of tickets towards Israel will only serve to increase that country's reserve to defeat the "terrorists".

An eye for an eye will keep the middle east in a perpetual state of war, unless one side succeeds in completely destroying the other. Palestine is not capable of destroying Israel, and Israel is not likely to pursue full-fledged genocide against Palestine. Therefore, the current course of action is destined to fail and to be self-defeating for both sides.

The only hope for peace in the region is the same path that brought about the end of apartheid in South Africa; forgiveness, truth and reconciliation. The chances of this happening seem very slim indeed, but until this prospect is entertained by both sides, we are likely to keep seeing this cycle of violence played out over and over again.

I wish it were different. I wish we would "turn the other cheek" instead of seeking "an eye for an eye". I wish for peace in a broken world.

Why I Pray For The Pope

2014-07-13T14:00:00.000-07:00

I am a Christian and make no secret of this. I believe, whole heartedly, in the birth, death, resurrection and future return of Jesus Christ. I attended a Roman Catholic primary school and was brought up in Protestant churches. I have lost count of the number of churches I've regularly attended, but I'll take a stab at naming the denominations: Catholic, Presbyterian, Evangelical, Methodist, Non-denominational (independent), Anglican and Baptist. I currently attend a Pentecostal church, but I do not accept the label for myself. The only labels I generally accept are "Christian" and "believer (in Christ)". I advocate to all who will listen, that we have to look for, celebrate and preserve the things that bind us Christians together, and not those which pull us apart. After all, Jesus himself prayed that we all should be one, as he and the Father are one.

Why do I pray for the Pope? Not because I consider him to be my leader, or the successor to St. Peter, or the head of the church. Not because I believe in the exultation of Mary, prayer to saints and angels, or any of the usual doctrinal issues that separate a "Catholic" from a "Protestant". I pray for the Pope because he is a leader and is my brother in Christ. He professes to believe in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the hope of salvation for himself and for the world, and this fact alone makes him my brother. The Pope wields enormous influence over large swathes of the world's population. He was named in 2014 by Twiplomacy as the most influencial person on Twitter, measured not just by the number of people following him (over 14 million) but by the number of times his tweets are retweeted (17,000 times per tweet). His words carry far and are heard by millions, and his opinions and decisions have the potential to affect the lives of so many, that it would simply be irresponsible not to pray for him.

The Apostle Paul wrote that we ought to pray for our leaders, and this injunction clearly extends to praying for both political and spiritual leaders; praying for them to speak and act with wisdom and to rule justly. I encourage all who share my faith to take some time each day to do just that. Pray for your local Councillor, your Mayor, your Governor, your Parliament, your President, your Prime Minister, your King, your Queen. Pray for your Pastor, your Priest, your Bishop, your Archbishop. Spend less time criticising without action, and more time praying. By all means speak up against injustice, folly and oppression but don't forget to petition the one who sits as King above all Kings.

When all is said and done, please do not neglect to pray for the Pope. Heaven knows he needs it.

Brazil - The Legend is Dead

2014-07-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

The football loving world looked on in shock and awe on Tuesday as Brazil was humiliated by Germany in the former's worst world cup defeat since 1920. The score: 7 goal to 1, in favour of Germany. I watched the drama unfold from the comfort of my living room, periodically pinching myself to check that I hadn't slept off before kick off. For hours after the game had ended, I was still asking myself the question, "did that just happen?" I thanked God that I was not Brazilian that night.

It's easy to understand hurt and humiliation such a proud footballing nation felt, and feels, at the utter decimation of its team at such a high profile stage, when they had harboured such hopes of glory. In my view, their hope was misguided in the first place. Brazil had managed to get to the semis without ever having played particularly well. They really ought to have been beaten in the quarter finals by Columbia, but crowd-power pulled them through. With the benefit of hindsight, it would probably have been better for Brazil had they lost gallantly at that earlier stage. As it is, we will probably never be able to see Brazil the same way again. The myth has been shattered, the legend tainted, and the once-proud footballing nation has been reduced to a by-word by the ruthless German machine.

Would the result have been different had the Brazilian star Neymar not been injured and unable to play? We will never know. What we do know is that one man does not, and should never make a team. Was the absence of defender and captain Thiago Silva to blame? Well, he ought not to have conceded an unnecessary yellow card against Columbia and then he would have been in the fray, marshalling his men against the German onslaught. Whichever way you look at it, there was no excuse for and no way to predict a 7 - 1 thrashing in that game.

As I write, I watch the third place match is drawing to a close, 3 - 0 to Holland and 4 added minutes left to play, and I shake my head. This isn't Brazil. Perhaps we must wait for another generation of players to excite and amaze us with "samba football". For now, all eyes turn towards tomorrow's final. Will the Germans be brilliant once more and kill Argentina's dream of a first world cup win since 1986?

By this time tomorrow, we'll know.

The Invasion of Iraq - 10 Years On

2013-03-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Well done George W. Bush. Kudos to you too, Mr. Blair. How many lives lost? Homes destroyed? Families torn apart forever? And for what exactly, remind me? Oh yes, to liberate the people of Iraq. Funny how the media, at least on this side of the pond, no longer keeps up the façade of commenting on the “liberation of Iraq” and now correctly refers to it as “the invasion”. What exactly has been achieved by this act of aggression, 10 years on? Saddam Hussein is dead, yes. But in his place Iraq now has what has been called one of the most corrupt governments on earth. The country has been turned into a breeding ground for militant extremism, and Iran has been freed from the threat of a powerful hostile neighbour, allowing them to focus their energy on quietly building their nuclear capabilities while the rest of the world looks on in impotent horror.

Nobody talks about the weapons of mass destruction any more. Yes, I mentioned the WMD. The ones the war was fought over. The ones George W. said we'd find sooner or later. The ones dear Mr. Blair said Saddam could use to hit us within 45 minutes. If we wanted to hit a country which was clearly developing deadly weapons the target in 2003 was obvious. North Korea. (The fact that they kicked out the UN nuclear inspectors and said they were going to restart their nuclear programme for electricity purposes was a big hint). But of course that would've been too complicated. I'm sick and tired of the leaders of powerful countries treating their citizens like imbeciles. A little honesty now and again wouldn't go amiss. For example, “I don't care if Saddam has WMDs or not. He tried to kill my pa, so he's going down.” I get that argument. Or “Listen chaps, if we don't get alongside America on this one, we could get sidelined on the world stage. He really needs our help, and I trust him. Let's do this; I'm not sure of the details, but I think it's the right thing to do and we should stand by our special friend.” Loyalty, while admitting ignorance of the details; I get that too. Alas, we didn't get much honesty leading up to the invasion. It was instead a symphony of lies, half-truths and not-so-hidden motives (oil anyone?).

I used to have an online friend from Iraq, many years ago. She used to say that the Americans made things bad in Iraq and she wished they'd never come. Recent interviews by the BBC in Iraq echo the same sentiment. Perhaps those truly helped by the invasion, you know, those cheering crowds who are thrilled that the Americans and the British stormed in to give them back their freedom, are camera shy. Or maybe I just watch the wrong channels.

A lot of us have got over the anger triggered by the war in Iraq. Unfortunately it's not so easy for the Iraqis to do so, nor for the families of the departed soldiers; brave men and women who put themselves in harm's way, following their leaders' orders to the bitter end.

Mission accomplished, Mr. Bush?

The Great British Weather

2013-03-22T12:03:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it. Here we are, at the end of March, and frosty winds assault me daily. I feel as if I were living somewhere much closer to Antarctica than the map suggests. England, dear England. Yet again you have disappointed me. It's not enough for your football team (not soccer, FOOTBALL) to underperform on a regular basis, or for your politicians to woo voters with promises of great things only to turn around and impose illegal wars, tuition fee rises and modern marital rights in place of genuine economic and social advancement. No, on top of it all, you have to choose to act like the Swiss Alps right now, at the Spring Equinox. Rule Britannia. Where is my spring? Dare I hope for a summer?

We are the undisputed champions of miserable weather. Not catastrophic weather, mind; earthquakes, typhoons and tsunamis are rarely seen, if at all. I'm talking about that constant drizzle that can't decide if it's going to turn into rain or not, and takes entire day to make up its mind; the dark, long, cold and miserable nights which begin at 4pm for a sizeable proportion of the year. Even when the sun decides to shine, it's either to taunt you for a few minutes before it ducks behind those lingering dark clouds, or to blaze with such ferocity that, with the accompanying humidity, you pray ferverently for a return to cooler times. We British are never satisfied with the weather, and I think the weather knows it. This must be why it has decided to punish us. If this keeps up, I'll be moving to Bermuda. I wish...

The Trouble with UK Politics

2013-03-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

I remember when I first came to the UK in 2003. I lived with my Uncle, a staunch Labour supporter, who made me understand that for the UK's immigrant population, there was no real alternative to a Labour government. I believed that for years, until, like the animals in George Orwell's classic, I looked from pig to man and man to pig, and couldn't tell the difference any more.

What, really, is the difference between the Labour and Conservative Parties these days? Even the Liberal Democrats have abandoned their "party of protest" status and jumped in bed with the Conservatives. They have no identity whatsoever.

I have no idea who to vote for in the next elections. I don't even have a credible protest party to vote for! No, the Monster Raving Loonie party doesn't count.

(Sigh). A few years ago I was ready to defect from Labour to the conservatives. I was ready to be a card-carrying member, actually. Now, I seriously feel the Conservatives are a party designed to maintain the traditional status quo - the hereditary rich preserve their status, the 'old boys' are taken care of and rich corporates shake hands with the politically powerful behind closed doors, smiling as they draw up plans to throw crumbs to the deserving poor, to help them some way up the social ladder. Not too far up, mind. The status quo must be maintained, after all. After all these years under a Conservative-led coalition, I now understand why my dear Uncle felt there was no option for socially mobile immigrants than Labour. I just wish, dearly wish, I could look at the Labour party and believe that they'd produce credible alternative policies.

I'm rambling, I know. I'm just upset right now. Upset at a political system that prides itself on open theatre (read Prime Ministers Questions), ministers and shadow ministers jostling for cheap party-political points, the main goal apparently being to hold office. The good of the country and its masses don't seem to be paramount in any politician's mind.

This is why I've often touted the idea of benevolent dictatorship. An epiphany! Eureka! I've finally got it! The trouble with UK politics is that nobody cares, really. The politicians don't care, the people don't care, everyone's just trying to live from day to day, to build up their careers and their lives. People know politicians aren't working for them, politicians know that we know, and just do enough to convince us that there's no point changing them for an alternative set of rogues sitting across the room.

What's the solution? Let's just abolish Parliamentary democracy altogether and hand powers back to the Monarchy. Wait a second... Charles is next in line... (sigh)... I'm not so sure about that idea now....