History
Rise (& Fall) of Empire
As any fule kno, the word “imperialism” comes from the Latin word imperium. It refers to a nation or a state implanting its rule on other states, treating them as subordinates and in an inferior [more…]
China
America
The Current Thing
In the last piece I wrote I explained what I thought was going on with the war in Ukraine. Namely, China was pulling the strings in its geopolitical strategy to wage unrestricted war on the [more…]
Communism
Intentional Causes and Unintentional Effects
Ursula Von der Leyen, Chief of the European Commission, complains bitterly that the Chinese are keeping the price of their electric cars artificially low by “giving their manufacturers huge state subsidies, and this is distorting [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary – Week Two Hundred and Three
Monday Good morning everyone, it’s rather nice this morning, warm and sunny. For once the forecasters have got it right. The idiot on the radio annoyed me this morning going on about the government’s ‘ban’ [more…]
19th Century
3 Grains of Death The New Opium Wars
We are all aware daily of our ongoing “conflict” with our new chief “adversary” in the world, the Chinese Communist Party. Warnings about the need to increase defense spending to prepare for possible war with [more…]
Conservatives
Where Are We Now?
It’s been a while since I wrote anything for the blog for various reasons, but I was determined to, as the saying goes, squeeze one out. Last time I wrote I think Boris was PM [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary – Week One Hundred And Seventy-Six
Monday Good morning everyone, and what a lovely morning, bright, sunny and not too cold. Maybe it’s because it’s half term down here in the south of England and the kids can go outside to [more…]
America
History does not repeat, but sometimes it rhymes
Puffins of a certain age will recall that seminal moment in 1987 when Mathias Rust, a West German teenager, seemingly did the impossible when he flew a Cessna light aircraft through 500 miles of the [more…]
Authoritarianism
Year of the Rabbit
When I first arrived in Hong Kong, many years ago, I bought a microwave grill for the new flat from Park and Shop, a big supermarket chain. Could it be delivered? “Yes, when do you [more…]