Articles
Looking back on Red Ken today
The Origin of the Specious began at the time when former London mayor and senior member of the Labour Party Ken Livingston claimed that Adolf Hitler was a Zionist. Yesterday, Livingston was suspended from the Labour Party for his comments which may be considered anti-semitic. Nine months ago I offered three interpretations on Livingston’s utterances … [Continue reading “Looking back on Red Ken today”]
Iso-Nationalism: the Brexit dictionary – Part 2
More from the Brexit Dictionary by The Origin of the Specious: British Nationalism The referendum campaign instilled a sense of nationalism or jingoism in the population that has been missing for decades outside of the 2012 Olympics, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the death of Princess Diana. That jingoism receives a Rosette for getting British … [Continue reading “Iso-Nationalism: the Brexit dictionary – Part 2”]
The death of democracy and an in-out-in-troduction to Brexit
It is not surprising that it took the United Kingdom nine months from the EU Referendum result to the triggering of Article 50. It is the gestation period of humans. Only I cannot help but think that what we have really witnessed here is the birth of a bastard child of democracy and a new, … [Continue reading “The death of democracy and an in-out-in-troduction to Brexit”]
Reality is warped
My sleep patterns have been interrupted over the past month, thanks to pains from my fractured wrist and the metaphorical medicine chest of pain relief medication. I have been sleeping at odd times. Awake in the middle of the night, I began relying on the idiot box (although I know who is the real idiot … [Continue reading “Reality is warped”]
Life is Punderful No. 5: The tingling in my back pocket
The other day I went to the local shop of my mobile phone network. I was hoping for a free upgrade since my current Blackberry is not supporting some of my favourite apps. Unfortunately, I am not eligible for a new phone until June. But, the good news the sales rep told me, is that … [Continue reading “Life is Punderful No. 5: The tingling in my back pocket”]
Tel Aviv Gridlock or Une étude de l’impatience
A piece for ten car horns Vehicle Fiat Bip Skoda (*) Beep Beep Beep Hyundai Honda Mitsubishi Chevrolet (**) Ford Volkswagen (***) Seat Mercedes Blaaap Blaap Vehicle Fiat Bip Skoda (*) Beep Beep Beep Hyundai Honk Honda Honk Mitsubishi … [Continue reading “Tel Aviv Gridlock or Une étude de l’impatience”]
Life is Punderful No 4: Darwin’s Origin of the Origin
When Origin of the Specious was first conceived, it was going to be called something different. When my oldest son was born, I began to write various observational pieces that I hoped might serve as an introduction to my world and his. The tentative, overarching title was going to be something that not only described … [Continue reading “Life is Punderful No 4: Darwin’s Origin of the Origin”]
An accumulation of love and hate relationships
When pop music is good, it can be very good and can sometimes border on genius. But when it is bad or even average, the product is, at worst, bland and forgettable or, at best, cloying and annoying. For every Rock On, Don’t Pull Your Love and Beach Baby there are plenty of missteps like … [Continue reading “An accumulation of love and hate relationships”]
The sound of one hand typing
Tip… Tap… Tip. True story: On Thursday I was in one of my favourite coffee shops. Tap. Tip tao. (Too damned confident.) The manager, who knows me on sight as a regular, looked at me and said, “What happened to you?” Backspace backspace p. “Fractured my wrist on Sunday,” I explained. “Had surgery on it … [Continue reading “The sound of one hand typing”]
A new, hit television show?
Years ago, when many people auditioned for Pop Idol, it was the start of a trend. Today, hopefuls continue to audition for reality TV contests such as The Voice and The X Factor with their promises of the future fame that winning could bring. These shows have done well in terms of market share and … [Continue reading “A new, hit television show?”]