-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- December 2007
- November 2007
- October 2007
- September 2007
- August 2007
- July 2007
- June 2007
- May 2007
- April 2007
- March 2007
- February 2007
- January 2007
- December 2006
- November 2006
- October 2006
- September 2006
- August 2006
- July 2006
- June 2006
- May 2006
- April 2006
- March 2006
- February 2006
- January 2006
- December 2005
- November 2005
- October 2005
- September 2005
- August 2005
- July 2005
- June 2005
- May 2005
- April 2005
- March 2005
- February 2005
- January 2005
- December 2004
- November 2004
- October 2004
- September 2004
- August 2004
- July 2004
- June 2004
- May 2004
- April 2004
- March 2004
- February 2004
- January 2004
- December 2003
- November 2003
- October 2003
- September 2003
- August 2003
- July 2003
- June 2003
- May 2003
- March 2003
- February 2003
- December 2002
- March 2002
- February 2002
- January 2002
- December 2001
- December 2000
- December 1999
- January 1999
Categories
Meta
Monthly Archives: November 2019
November 2019 books
Fiction (non-sf): 10 (YTD 41) (counting the two Dr Strangelove books in this category, even though the punchline depends on a fictional technology) Normal People, by Sally Rooney The Camelot Club, by Brian Killick The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison … Continue reading
My tweets
Fri, 12:18: The UK’s media failure, by @stephenkb. https://t.co/qQ7toCct6s Fri, 12:56: How Belgium Became Europe’s Den of Spies and a Gateway for China https://t.co/QtzGUXY3H4 @PeterMartin_PCM reports. Fri, 13:10: RT @FT: Prince Andrew, and some right royal corporate hypocrisy https://t.co/y7NLBntFIY Fri, … Continue reading
February 2004 books
The big work news of February 2004 was the tragic death in a plane crash of Boris Trajkovski, the genial President of Macedonia who was very friendly with me and many others. This was the day after we published a … Continue reading
My tweets
Thu, 12:40: RT @MichaelAodhan: Turns out Matt isn’t too hot on history either. Nancy Astor was not in fact the first female MP elected….. And the fir… Thu, 12:56: What happens if a prime minister loses their seat in a … Continue reading
Two Waterloo novels: One of the 28th, by G.A. Henty; A Close Run Thing, by Allan Mallinson
Second paragraph of first chapter of One of the 28th: "Yes, it's just right; neither too light nor too heavy. It's rather thick, and I shouldn't be surprised if we get it thicker; but that again don't matter." For in … Continue reading
My tweets
Wed, 12:41: RT @JeremyCliffe: Von der Leyen’s European Commission is on. Endorsed by a better-than-expected 461 MEPs. Priorities of the new “geopoliti… Wed, 12:41: RT @EPinUK: The European Parliament @Europarl_EN has given its green light to the new European Commission … Continue reading
In Black and White, and Other Stories, by Jan Mark
Second paragraph of third story (“Nule”): ‘What are they for?’ said Libby one morning, after roving round the house and pushing all the buttons in turn. At that moment Martin pushed the button in the front room and the indicator … Continue reading
My tweets
Tue, 12:56: California Dreamgirl https://t.co/UoWIUWy37G Fascinating profile of Michelle Philips (from 2007). Tue, 16:05: Fantastic thread on Sir Ivan Rogers’ latest – https://t.co/LOn7p0GQnJ – from @pmdfoster, including analysis of whet… https://t.co/KfQTpyJbfn Tue, 17:11: Very interesting interview. https://t.co/9uxI5glDEv Tue, 19:25: Tuesday … Continue reading
Tuesday reading
Current Children of Time, by Adrian Tchaikowsky My Century, by Günther Grass Dragon’s Claw, by Steve Moore Last books finished Halo: The Thursday War, by Karen Traviss Dr Strangelove: or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, … Continue reading
My tweets
Mon, 12:56: RT @fozmeadows: All political and immigration stresses aside, I can honestly say that the thing I most dislike about living in America is t… Mon, 18:05: Blake’s 7: the third series https://t.co/zbruEmCll6 Mon, 18:16: RT @Contempislesfic: @nwbrux And … Continue reading
Blake’s 7: the third series
So, the third series of Blake's 7 was originally broadcast from January to March 1980, when we were living abroad; but luckily eight of the episodes were repeated in June and July 1981, and I definitely remember watching three of … Continue reading
My tweets
Sun, 14:01: The Highgate Horror, by Mark Wright, David Roach, Mike Collins, Jacqueline Rayner, Martin Geraghty https://t.co/kY32RjSXqD Sun, 20:48: Nadine’s story: Day 262 | SheCan365 https://t.co/wPFP1WQEDO My old friend @NadineCCooper explains how she found hap… https://t.co/rIQ9dULNpq Mon, 09:30: RT @Mij_Europe: … Continue reading
The Highgate Horror, by Mark Wright, David Roach, Mike Collins, Jacqueline Rayner, Martin Geraghty
Second frame of third story (the title story, "The Highgate Horror", by Mark Wright with art by David A. Roach – NB the character here is not Bill as portrayed by Pearl Mackie, though there are obvious similarities): The comics … Continue reading
My tweets
Sat, 12:56: RT @Noelle_OC: Much commentary online re: @anandMenon1 thought provoking piece in @FT on EU’s approach to #Brexit negotiations – some tho… Sat, 14:48: terrible bosses: the boss sending stripper pics, the bully boss, and more https://t.co/lpONoxFXNx Grimly fascinatin… … Continue reading
January 2004 books
The most crucial event of January 2004 was that little U took her first steps, at 13 months. My first work outing of the year was to the Liberals' New Year reception in Brussels, after which I note that I … Continue reading
My tweets
Fri, 12:56: RT @andymcsmith: 1/3 My favourite story about the late Chris Moncrieff – possibly apocryphal – is that he was sent to Aylesbury one morning… Fri, 14:21: RT @poppy_northcutt: My father’s response to the ad was “The only thing … Continue reading
“Catch That Zeppelin!”, by Fritz Leiber
This won the 1976 Hugo and 1975 Nebula Awards for Best Short Story. Third paragraph of the main section of the story (there is also a short introduction): And then my gaze clambered higher still, up the 222-foot sturdy tower, … Continue reading
My tweets
Thu, 12:09: New booktuber in town: @_mschacha_ reacts to “Little Darlings” by Jacqueline Wilson, Chapter 1 #booktube #booktuber https://t.co/SEYyikwcRP Thu, 12:56: The 2-Word Trick That Makes Small Talk Interesting https://t.co/sCf0RRHor1 “I’m curious.” Thu, 16:05: Welcome To The United Airlines Economy … Continue reading
The Bluest Eye, by Toni Morrison
Second paragraph of third chapter: Sunk in the grass of an empty lot on a spring Saturday, I split the stems of milkweed and thought about ants and peach pits and death and where the world went when I closed … Continue reading
My tweets
Wed, 12:56: RT @michael__42: A small 2019 thing I don’t understand is how the Telegraph has a Europe editor who just logs on to Twitter every day and e… Wed, 16:05: RT @BillGates: Even a single child paralyzed by polio … Continue reading
How the 2010s have been for me: the decade meme
I see a lot of people writing blog posts etc about how the second decade of the century has changed their lives, so thought I would join in. (I saw a lot of people writing in similar vein about the … Continue reading
My tweets
Tue, 12:56: RT @RepStones: @AlexKane221b @NewtonEmerson @dmcbfs you election nerds might like this thread https://t.co/plANCc2qxV Tue, 16:05: RT @A_B_Evans: Interesting thread on what the local govt results may tell us about potential outcomes in Northern Ireland’s 18 constituenci… Tue, 16:55: … Continue reading
Tuesday reading
Current Two Brothers, by Ben Elton Halo: The Thursday War, by Karen Traviss One of the 28th: A tale of Waterloo, by G. A. Henty Last books finished A Close Run Thing, by Allan Mallinson Red Alert, by Peter George … Continue reading
My tweets
Mon, 12:56: RT @RichardBullick1: Once again @nwbrux performs a considerable public service by updating his website … how people voted as recently as… Mon, 16:05: RT @Clare_Rice_: Great thread from @nwbrux for anyone interested in what #GE19 might bring for … Continue reading
Northern Ireland local election votes from May 2019 projected onto #GE2019 boundaries
I've been going belatedly through the May 2019 local government election results for Northern Ireland, and projecting them onto the Westminster / Assembly constituency boundaries. Westminster projection In three cases, the party with most votes in May does not hold … Continue reading
My tweets
Mon, 10:45: RT @UKPoliticalNews: Great insights from our colleague @nwbrux on what to look out for in Northern Ireland #GE2019 https://t.co/ZfecHumFhs
My tweets
Sun, 15:53: December 2003 books https://t.co/lTfxXA4pny Sun, 17:37: RT @davidschneider: Tories: “There’s absolutely no need for everyone to have broadband. It’s a stunt!” Also the Tories: “The only way you… Sun, 19:38: #GE2019 I’ve been going belatedly through the May … Continue reading
December 2003 books
In December 2003 we celebrated little U's first birthday, and at work I was dealing with the fallout from the previous month's events, rushing out a report on Georgia on the first of the month (actually most of it had … Continue reading
My tweets
Thu, 12:56: RT @patrickkmaguire: Disgusted. Booked tickets to this musical under the assumption it was about Winnie Ewing’s by-election victory and jus… Thu, 15:29: RT @DavidHenigUK: Sorry Greg, but still no, existing UK-EU alignment does not help get a quick … Continue reading
My tweets
Wed, 12:28: Come and join APCO! https://t.co/IZ567AEzuD Wed, 12:56: RT @LeslieProll: Could Texas be any more intentional? Houston voters elect 19 Black women to judgeships. GOP then introduces bill to repl… Wed, 13:23: Nice quote from @VeraJourova: “Optimists are sometimes … Continue reading