Ablogation

The US AHCA.

Dave — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:29:18 +0000

Most of Europe (I don’t know about other places) has long been bemused by the fact that a country which aspires to be the greatest in the world doesn’t have something as rudimentary as free, universal healthcare. It’s great to see the US getting there. The UK’s NHS has its problems but on the whole it’s [...]

Our new leader?

footlight — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 10:03:26 +0000

In the news on 28.2.10: “David Cameron is expected to declare that it is his “patriotic duty” to oust Gordon Brown when he speaks at the Conservative’s spring conference.” Not sure this should be his overriding priority. Surely something about making the country a better place to live in would have been more appropriate and, whilst I [...]

Risotto ai 1’s e 0’s

Dave — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:28:42 +0000

Risotto ai 1’s e 0’s Ingredients for two people 1 Medium onion (red or white, as you prefer. I use red.) 120gm Squid or squid rings 120gm Prawns – your favourite type but huge, meaty king prawns work well in this. Thaw them before use. 6 Largish mushrooms and one medium mushroom, or equivalent. 6 to 8 Frozen asparagus spears 150 gm [...]

Happy New Year!

footlight — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 11:19:34 +0000

Another new year. Welcome to 2010! As a species, we have wallowed in the booze, eaten far too many chocolates and cakes, and said things to people we see once a year that we have already regretted. We have been to parties that were just noisy accompaniments to silly dancing. We [...]

Spaghetti quasi allo scoglio

Dave — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:16:26 +0000

This dish is hard work but I am assured it’s worth it. If you do all the preparation yourself, before starting the actual cooking, it takes around 1 1/2 hours. If you get help with the prep and do some of it whilst bits of it are cooking then you can easily get it down [...]

Stop mumbling

footlight — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:50:39 +0000

Aging is something we all take for granted, yet dread in our own future. We know that we are not immortal, yet push the inevitable to the backs of our minds as long as possible. Some of us spend a fortune every year in an attempt to stave off the ravages of time, [...]

On yer bike!

footlight — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:47:52 +0000

Once again, the country is ringing to the sound of people either lamenting the jobless figures or asking how we can get more people back into employment. There is a stunningly simple response to both these cries – forget it! The kinds of people who used to be out of work were those who were not [...]

Future Fiction

Dave — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 11:04:36 +0000

The craft wasn’t that large. It contained the essentials for movement, sustenance, communications and sensing within its skin. And it was a skin. Although human beings of 10 or so millennia previously would not have recognised it as such it fulfilled the same functions as their purely biological one did. It separated the organism from [...]

Islington Council is a disgraceful shambles

Lee — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 21:17:33 +0000

WARNING: this is a bit of a long one. There’s a lot to say, and a lot happened. I’ve tried to keep it brief, but even if you fold up an elephant to get it as small as possible, it still won’t fit into a juice box. That said, it’s worth reading and may, in [...]

Put your own house in order

footlight — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 10:29:42 +0000

Why is it that people are generally so selfish? Always me, me, me! Wanting to be first in the line for everything; last if it’s something nasty, like an injection. Looking for the easy buck, the least work for the most gain. Just – selfish. But selfishness has many guises, not just emotional ones. Take the [...]