Monthly Archives: July 2011

Labour In Goverment

Posted on July 30, 2011 by

So, what has it been so far? Pension raiding, property tax, household charges, water charges, the closure of A&Es, third level registration fees, the inklings of full on third level fees, the final collapse of FAS, Cloynes, future social welfare cuts. … Continue reading →

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The Lord Of The Rings. Chapter By Chapter: The Palantir

Posted on July 29, 2011 by

We’ve reached the end of Book Three and the mid-point of the entire story. The heroes turn their backs on Saruman and ride out of Isengard. As they leave, Tolkien gives us witness to the symbol of this bad guy, … Continue reading →

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The Greatest Day In History By Nicholas Best

Posted on July 26, 2011 by

A mixed bag. It’s an interesting narrative of the final week of the First World War, told by following numerous personalities, from statesmen to soldiers, spies to civvies, as they head towards the Armistice and beyond. It’s readable and offers … Continue reading →

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Eight Quick Thoughts On Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire

Posted on July 25, 2011 by

1. While not as good as the previous two entries, it’s still decent enough. Trips along nicely, some good set piece sequences, and some good expansion of the main characters. 2. That being said, this one betrays Rowling’s lack of … Continue reading →

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Losing My Religion, Sort Of

Posted on July 23, 2011 by

I was really impressed by the Vatican when I saw it a few years ago. It’s a magnificent little state, exuding power and authority in every part of it. You feel, very much so, as if you are in the centre of … Continue reading →

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I’m A Racist…Nah

Posted on July 23, 2011 by

I’d like to add an addendum to my post about the Oslo terror attacks from yesterday. Firstly, the spiking death toll is utterly shocking. Secondly, while I did not definitively state my opinion that an Islamic extremist group was behind the … Continue reading →

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The Lord Of The Rings, Chapter By Chapter: The Voice Of Saruman

Posted on July 22, 2011 by

We’re rounding off this little trilogy of chapters with one of fantasy’s most famous meetings. It’s time for the big confrontation. This chapter is the only time that we will actually see one of the primary villains of the whole … Continue reading →

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‎”I Dag Er Vi Alle Norske.”

Posted on July 22, 2011 by

Firstly, my sympathies and my condemnations. Secondly, to address something I’m seeing all over: this attack was almost certainly not motivated by the publication of the Muhammad cartoons that caused such a well-publicised ruckus the other year. While that might be a … Continue reading →

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Quick Reviews, Batch #2: The Guard, We Were Soldiers, Emerald Knights, The Warlord Chronicles

Posted on July 19, 2011 by

Updates have been slow lately, I know, due in large part to outside forces (I got a job, and a girlfriend, so the blog has taken a backseat). In lieu of full reviews of some of the stuff I’ve been … Continue reading →

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The Lord Of The Rings, Chapter By Chapter: Flotsam and Jetsam

Posted on July 15, 2011 by

The first time I read this chapter, I had no idea what “Flotsam and Jetsam” meant. For the unaware, it’s a term for debris and the like, especially the kind found floating in water. This is a short catch-up chapter … Continue reading →

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