Authoritarianism
What will come first?
I must admit that I have been feeling a bit guilty of late. Twice now, Swiss Bob has appealed for new articles and I have gone through all sorts of internal machinations considering not only [more…]
Rookwood
21st Century
Warfare – Snake style
Puffins that have their ears to the ground (or is it ears to the clouds?) will no doubt be aware of the excellent series of lectures by David Betz which very convincingly argues that we [more…]
Politics
The 50 rules of Uniparty membership
Rule #1 You do not talk about the Uniparty * Rule #2 You do not talk about the Uniparty * Rule #3 Someone yells “Stop,” goes limp, or taps out, the debate is over. Any [more…]
Cooking
The Rookwood guide to culinary excellence
I don’t know what it is – genetics, environment or culture, but I have always enjoyed cooking and entertaining friends and family. There is nothing as pleasurable or important in my book as blessing guests [more…]
Communism
We are running out of bread and circuses
It takes a lot to keep a population anaesthetised. Anaesthesia, as medical Puffins will attest, is a very tricky and demanding mistress. A dash too much potion here, or an insufficient soupçon of elixir there, [more…]
Conservatives
Authoritarianism
I want my free stuff
Everywhere you go, regardless of media platform, you hear this sad and deluded refrain – “To compete, xxx must be sustainable”. This political sound-bite, which is in effect a dog-whistle for “Make the listener feel [more…]
Cooking
Sous Vide for dummies
So what exactly is Sous Vide? If you have ever been served the most perfectly cooked steak, piece of chicken or fish in an upmarket restaurant, the chances are that it has been cooked sous [more…]
20th Century
The culture destroyers
They are everywhere these damned people. More dangerous to society than a knife wielding Jihadi, more potent than radioactive fallout, these individuals more frequently than not look just like you or I. Some are fat, [more…]