I composed the following short essay as the Brexit negotiations got under way. I was struck by the two senior negotiators and specifically, how they found themselves in their latest roles. Readers will see that Sovereignty is an underlying theme in my piece and people will remember that the Brexit referendum was preceded by people on both sides talking about sovereignty. In fact, people will, and have, argued that the EU has diminished Sovereignty or, from the ...

Dan/Michael, read Giles' link below first. I agree with a lot of the points concerning mass attitudes of the common man. What I would disagree with is that this problem is an American problem. It is a global problem fuelled by globalisation (if that isn't tautology) and the inability of the western world to cope with the burgeoning economies of China and India and the lesser but still burgeoning economies from other nations in the Far East and south east Asia. ...

Initially, it was Robert Peston's report from Athens that got me thinking about Greeks, Philosophy and the Meaning of Life. I thought, I'll post that essay on reality I've half done. It might cause me to finish the bloody thing. Here it is: Reality Part 1a: What is it? The Greeks to their credit were the first society that realized the importance of thought. How we think can actually change the way we are. In fact, there is evidence that thinking not only ca...

So, on Friday, the Irish are having a world's first referendum on whether or not to allow gay marriage. Few high profile individuals seem to be in the "No" camp, save for the usual suspects. I note Archbishop Eamon Martin, Primate of All Ireland and obviously a prominent "No" man, said: "Until now, Ireland has accepted that it is in the best interests of children and of society to promote and protect the model of children being born and raised in a family with...

My good friend in Spain asked me by e mail what I was doing so far today. She asked if I was still in bed whilst we were corresponding. I sent her an e mail telling her about my day so far. She said it made her laugh, so I've reproduced it here. Dear Sair I was in bed, checking e mails and other messages, like the sensational one you passed on from Eirlys and the incredible Lenny story. Rob, the poor soul! In fact I'd originally been woken up by Twertville at...